Copper wire scrap is one of most valuable recyclable materials. Copper wire, for example, is a recyclable material that can be used in construction, motors, computers and industrial machinery.
How to get the most for copper scrap wire is a common question among scrap metal dealers.
What are the different grades of copper scrap wire? What is the best way to sell your scrap copper wire?
Bluedog Wire Strippers created the guide below to help you answer these questions, and also understand how your scrap copper is valued.
Check out the Table 1 for detailed pricing information on copper wires per grade.
Background: Scrap copper wire is highly valued because it can be repurposed and reused without affecting the metal’s original quality. Around 80 percent of the copper that is used today can be recycled and repurposed.
It is important to understand the differences between scrap copper wire grades and which one offers the highest value.
Find out how much you can earn per grade by comparing the grades of copper wire. (See Table 1 for more details)
The most common grades of copper wire scrap
Bare Bright Copper aka Millberry
1 Copper aka Candy
2 Copper aka
1 Insulated wire
2 Insulated wire
3 BX Cable
4 Christmas Lights
Barebright Copper – Stripped Copper WireBare Bright Copper aka Millberry:
Copper wire that is uncoated and bare is the most valuable. This copper wire is uncoated, unalloyed, and stripped of paint, insulation, and other impurities. It can be reused or recycled. Scrap buyers are usually looking for it first.
- way to convert your scrap copper into Bare Bright.
Bare Bright Copper shall consist of uncoated, clean, untinned copper wires and cables, no smaller than No. B & S 16 gauge wire, free from burnt wire that is brittle.
Bluedog Stripping tip: Remove the insulation from #1 insulated wire to reveal bare bright copper. It pays to invest in a wire stripping machine for scrap copper wire.
To get bare bright Copper, you must have very clean scrap copper wire, free of any oxidation or discoloration. In the scrap industry, it’s not uncommon to hear people refer to Bare Bright Copper as “Bright and Shiny”.
Scrap Copper aka Candy: #1 Copper Photo
Copper grade #1 is the second most profitable. This category of copper is similar to bright bare copper, but with traces oxidation. This grade includes bus bars, clips, and clean copper tubes free of insulation, paint and solder.
The second most valuable type of scrap is #1 copper. Copper scrap that is classified as #1 must contain bus bars, clips, commutator segment and scrap wires with a minimum diameter of 1/16th inch. The copper should be uncoated, unalloyed, and clean.
Copper tubing that is free of insulation, paint, solder and other materials, such as fittings, is the most valuable. Most copper tubes and pipes can be graded #1 if they have few signs of corrosiveness and their fittings are removed. Tubing with traces of oxidation is generally acceptable. Scrap copper wire can also qualify for # 1 grade copper with traces of oxidation.
Scrap copper wire: 2 Copper wire aka Birch/Cliff:
Scrap copper with a dirty look is classified as #2 copper. The copper content of the material must be between 94 and 96 percent to qualify. All unalloyed pipe or wire that is tarnished by paint, solder, or other tarnishing agents are classified as copper #2. As long as the damage to copper fittings is not severe, they are usually accepted.
The copper scrap shall be unalloyed, miscellaneous and have a nominal copper content of 96% (minimum 94%). This is determined by an electrolytic test. The scrap copper should not contain excessively leaded, tinned or soldered copper, brasses, bronzes, excessive oil, non-metallics, copper tubing, copper wire with insulation, hair wire and burnt wire that is brittle.
1 Insulated:
This type of scrap wire includes clean, unalloyed copper wires that are not coated, uncoated, or tinned. Plastic insulation that is 16 gauge or higher in thickness will be accepted. The insulation does not have to be stripped. To get this rate, all ends of the wires must be removed.
There are many different types of # 1 Insulated Wire: Romex, THHN (Thickness), 12 AWG (12 AWG), 14 AWG (16 AWG), 3/0, Single, Multi-Standard, 500 MCM (750 MCM), 1000 MCM (1000 MCM), XPLE Cable and more.
Bluedog Wire stripping tip: Strip #1 Insulated to get the bare bright copper price.
2 Insulated Copper Wire:
This category includes unalloyed wires with a gauge smaller than 16. Included in this category are wires with heavy, double, or plastic insulation. Acceptable are wires from electronic gadgets, extension cords and other gadgets.
When the insulation is removed, the wire should#2 grade insulated copper consists of unalloyed wire – thinner than 16 gauge – which includes heavy, double or plastic insulation. The wire should be inspected after removing the insulation. This grade is used for many types of wiring, including telecommunications and electronics like extension cords and outlet cords. The scrap will be classified according to the coatings, like tin or nickel, and the degree of corrosion.
The wires are smaller than 1/16 inch AWG. It can be coated with shellac or tin or red lacquer.
There are many types of 2 insulated wire. Some examples include: telephone wire, computer cable, angel hair wire (tin-coated), adapters, speaker cables, extension cord wire.
Bluedog Scrapping tip: After its insulation is removed, the wiring will look like copper #2 wire. This rate is available without removing plug ends.
3 Scrap BX Cable:
BX cable can be either aluminum shielded, or steel jacketed if older. BX cable contains single-strand copper wire. This is easily scrapped. BX comes in a range of sizes from 0.5″ to 1″.
You can get solid THHN cable by removing the armored jacket. Stripping this cable will yield bare bright copper, which is more valuable per lb but not worth the effort.
Scrap copper wire prices are high if you sell the Aluminum and Barebright Copper from BX cable. Scrap metal prices.
4 Insulated Xmas lights:
It is not recommended to remove Christmas lights. This scrap copper wire is usually intended for Smelting. It may be worth selling this scrap copper wire as is, since most scrap yards will pay between $ 0.10 and $ 0.25 USD/lb.
What is the value of scrap copper wire?
The chart below will give you an idea of how much money you can make per lb, based on the grade of copper scrap wire. The more pure your scrap is, the more a scrap buyer is willing to pay. The more weight that you have the more money the scrap buyer is willing to pay.
The chart below shows a range of prices that scrap yards are likely to charge. This chart shows how much scrap yards are likely to make per lb.
