Insulated Copper Wire Scrap Price Today
National average and per-state rates. Last updated Nov 10, 2026.
What is Insulated Copper Wire?
Common scrap sources: thhn stranded wire (insulated).
How to prep Insulated Copper Wire
Prep guidance for items that contain Insulated Copper Wire:
- THHN Stranded Wire (Insulated): Sort by gauge before stripping — heavier gauges (10 AWG and below) pay back stripping effort fastest because more copper per linear foot. Lighter gauges (14 AWG and above) are often more economical to sell whole at the insulated copper rate. Use a benchtop stripper for volume.
Insulated Copper Wire — 90-day price history
What drives the Insulated Copper Wire market
End-use demand for Insulated Copper Wire sits with electrical wiring and plumbing. On the supply side, the steady stream of yard inflow comes from telecom upgrades and home rewiring. Activity in construction and electrical work ends up showing in posted yard prices over a couple weeks. A typical example of what comes in is Romex cable and extension cords, which yards see across many tickets a week. Recovered material feeds household and commercial wiring, which keeps the recycling loop tight. For sellers, the practical takeaway is that posted yard rates for Insulated Copper Wire reflect both the broader commodity benchmark and the local downstream demand from construction and electrical work, so calling two or three nearby yards on the same morning gives a useful read on what rates are doing that week.
How Insulated Copper Wire grades differ on the price board
Yards split Copper into several grades, and the spread between them is mostly about cleanliness. The cleanest grade, Bare Bright Copper, pays the most because it goes straight into clean conductor stock for copper mills. Number Two Copper pays a lower rate, which reflects solder, paint, or attached fittings. Trimming off PVC or rubber insulation jackets at home is the simplest way to land in a cleaner grade.
Frequently asked about Insulated Copper Wire
- Do all yards buy Insulated Copper Wire?
- Not always. Some yards focus on auto salvage, others on industrial scrap. The yard search filters by accepted material, so you can quickly see who in your area takes Insulated Copper Wire.
- Will I get a higher price if I sort or clean my Insulated Copper Wire?
- Yes — removing PVC or rubber insulation jackets 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.
- What does Insulated Copper Wire go into after the yard?
- Sorted Insulated Copper Wire is shipped to mills or refiners that produce household and commercial wiring. The recovered material reduces the need to mine new ore and keeps the recycling loop tight.
- How is Insulated Copper Wire 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.
- Where can I sell Insulated Copper Wire near me?
- You can search yards by ZIP code from the search page and filter for ones that accept Insulated Copper Wire. Yards typically post their daily rates by phone or on a sign at the scale.
- How are yard prices for Insulated Copper Wire 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.
What does Insulated Copper Wire go into?
Common items that contain Insulated Copper Wire. Click any item to see its full value breakdown.
Find yards near you that buy Insulated Copper Wire
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Compare other Copper grades
Insulated Copper Wire Prices by State
Local market context and yards buying insulated copper wire in each state.