Copper Scrap Prices in Iowa
National average for every copper grade we track, updated Nov 10, 2026. Yard quotes in Iowa vary with volume and prep — use these as your baseline and call ahead.
Copper Grades — Iowa
| Grade | US Avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright Copper | $5.54 | /lb |
| #1 Copper | $5.31 | /lb |
| #2 Copper | $4.73 | /lb |
| Insulated Copper Wire | $2.60 | /lb |
| Copper Pipe (Clean) | $5.14 | /lb |
Copper scrap in Iowa
Copper scrap in Iowa moves through yards that serve agriculture, food processing, finance, and biofuels. The grades yards commonly quote are Bare Bright Copper, #1 Copper, #2 Copper, Insulated Copper Wire, and Copper Pipe (Clean); Bare Bright Copper usually earns the top rate and #2 Copper the lowest, so sorting before you arrive pays. Dozens of yards in Iowa take copper, and sellers near Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Cedar Rapids have the largest number of buyers to compare. Midwest mills, auto plants, and rail links put Iowa yards close to the consuming buyers of copper rod mills, tube mills, and refineries. Use the national averages here as your baseline. Individual Iowa yards move with volume, cleanliness, and local freight, and a quick call with your grade and weight gets you an exact number.
Scrap Yards Buying Copper in Iowa
- A-Line Iron & Metals— Waterloo
- ABC Rolloff Dumpsters— Des Moines
- Ace Auto Recyclers Inc— Iowa City
- Air-Con Mechanical Corp— Des Moines
- Al-Jon Manufacturing— Ottumwa
- Aline Iron & Metals— Kellogg
- All Metals Recycling— Ottumwa
- Alter Metal Recycling— Waterloo
- Alter Metal Recycling— Mason City
- Alter Metal Recycling— Council Bluffs
- Alter Metal Recycling— Davenport
- Alter Metal Recycling— Dubuque
- Alter Scrap Processing— Dubuque
- Alter Scrap Processing— Burlington
- Aspen Waste— Des Moines
- B G Salvage— Maquoketa
- Bacon C J & Sons— Hopkinton
- Behr Iron and Metal— Riceville
- Bell Salvage— Ames
- Berman Sam & Sons— Grinnell
- Blum Co— Dubuque
- Bonestroo Salvage— Hull
- Buck's Recycling LLC.— Belmond
- CC Recycling— Cedar Rapids
- Can Farm— Le Mars
Frequently asked about copper in Iowa
What is the copper scrap price in Iowa today?
The table above shows today's national average per grade, refreshed daily. Yards in Iowa quote around those numbers depending on how much you bring, how clean it is, and what it costs them to ship onward.
Which scrap yards in Iowa buy copper?
Dozens of yards in Iowa list copper among the materials they buy; the yards on this page are the ones we have on record, with the largest concentration around Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Cedar Rapids. Confirm grades and hours before you drive.
How do I get the highest copper price in Iowa?
Sort by grade before you arrive, strip insulation jackets, solder joints, and attached brass fittings, and keep Bare Bright Copper separate from #2 Copper. Weigh your load yourself, ask for the price per grade rather than a lump sum, and compare two or three Iowa yards on the same day.
What prep gets the highest copper price at a Iowa yard?
Separate grades, remove insulation jackets, solder joints, and attached brass fittings, and keep loads dry. Yards pay for the grade they can see, so mixed or dirty material is priced at the lowest grade in the pile.
Do I need ID to sell copper scrap in Iowa?
Scrap yards routinely ask for a government photo ID and record the sale, and state law often requires it for metal purchases. Bring ID, expect a photo of the load, and ask whether the yard pays cash or check.