#1 Copper Scrap Price Today
National average and per-state rates. Last updated Nov 10, 2026.
#1 Copper — 90-day price history
What drives the #1 Copper market
End-use demand for #1 Copper sits with electrical wiring and plumbing. On the supply side, the steady stream of yard inflow comes from renovation projects and electrical work. That ties the price closely to activity in construction and electrical work. A typical example of what comes in is tubing and bus bar offcuts, which yards see across many tickets a week. Recovered material feeds household plumbing and HVAC tubing, which keeps the recycling loop tight. Sellers tracking #1 Copper get the most accurate read by checking posted rates at a handful of yards in the same window, since the daily benchmark and the local downstream demand from construction and electrical work both feed into what each yard pays at the scale.
How #1 Copper grades differ on the price board
The price gap between Copper grades comes from contamination, attached parts, and recovery yield. Bare Bright Copper sits at the top of the scale; it is sold as clean conductor stock for copper mills. Number Two Copper carries the discount because of solder, paint, or attached fittings. Trimming off light tarnish, paint, or visible solder at home is the simplest way to land in a cleaner grade.
Frequently asked about #1 Copper
- Will I get a higher price if I sort or clean my #1 Copper?
- Yes — removing light tarnish, paint, or visible solder before bringing material in usually lands you in a cleaner grade on the price board. Even an hour of prep work at home can move the ticket up.
- How is #1 Copper weighed and paid?
- Yards weigh material on a public scale and pay by the pound. The posted rate on the day you bring it in is what applies — calling ahead is the safest way to confirm.
- Why does #1 Copper pricing change from week to week?
- Posted yard rates for #1 Copper follow underlying commodity benchmarks plus a yard-specific margin. When the benchmark moves, posted prices catch up within a couple business days at the typical yard.
- What lowers the price a yard pays for #1 Copper?
- The main deductions come from solder, paint, or attached fittings. If the material has visible light tarnish, paint, or visible solder, the yard either downgrades the ticket or applies a flat deduction.
- Where can I sell #1 Copper near me?
- You can search yards by ZIP code from the search page and filter for ones that accept #1 Copper. Yards typically post their daily rates by phone or on a sign at the scale.
- How are yard prices for #1 Copper different from the spot price?
- Spot is the wholesale benchmark. Yards pay a fraction of spot to cover sorting, shipping to a downstream mill or refiner, and their own margin. The fraction varies by grade and by how much volume the yard moves.
Find yards near you that buy #1 Copper
Enter your ZIP to see scrap yards in the Copper category within range.
Compare other Copper grades
#1 Copper Prices by State
Local market context and yards buying #1 copper in each state.