Lead Scrap Prices in Illinois
National average for every lead grade we track, updated Nov 10, 2026. Yard quotes in Illinois vary with volume and prep — use these as your baseline and call ahead.
Lead Grades — Illinois
| Grade | US Avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Soft) | $0.72 | /lb |
| Lead Wheel Weights | $0.51 | /lb |
Lead scrap in Illinois
Lead scrap in Illinois moves through yards that serve manufacturing, finance, food processing, and rail logistics. Yards price lead by grade: Lead (Soft) and Lead Wheel Weights. Keep Lead (Soft) apart from Lead Wheel Weights and mixed loads, because a mixed pile is paid at the lowest grade in it. Dozens of yards in Illinois list lead among what they buy, with the widest choice around Chicago, Springfield, and Kankakee. Midwest mills, auto plants, and rail links put Illinois yards close to the consuming buyers of secondary lead smelters and battery plate makers. Use the national averages here as your baseline. Individual Illinois 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 Lead in Illinois
- A Metals Scrap Inc— Chicago
- A Reliable— Blue Island
- A Scrap Metal Company— Alsip
- Ace Iron & Metals Inc— Joliet
- Adams Scrap Metal— Roselle
- Addison Metals— Elmhurst
- Addison Recycling— Addison
- AdelmanВ’s Resource Solutions— Chicago
- Advance Enterprises, Inc.— Mokena
- Advanced Antennas— Springfield
- Advanced Recycling— Springfield
- Advantage Recycling— Champaign
- Advantage Recycling— Danville
- Akat Scrap Metal— Hinsdale
- All Around Auto & Tire— Pekin
- All Metal Recycling— Franklin Park
- All-Brite Anodizing— Northlake
- Allegiance Metal Recycling— Naperville
- Alliance Metal Recycling Inc— Aurora
- Alpha Metals— Chicago
- Alter Metal Recycling— Rock Island
- Alter Metal Recycling— Peoria
- Alter Metal Recycling— Peoria
- Alter Recycling— Bartonville
- Alter Scrap Metal Recycling— Bloomington
Frequently asked about lead in Illinois
What is the lead scrap price in Illinois today?
This page lists the current US national average for every lead grade, updated daily from commodity markets. Illinois yards set their own rates around that figure based on volume, prep, and local freight, so use it as a baseline and confirm by phone.
Which scrap yards in Illinois buy lead?
Dozens of yards in Illinois list lead among the materials they buy; the yards on this page are the ones we have on record, with the largest concentration around Chicago, Springfield, and Kankakee. Confirm grades and hours before you drive.
How do I get the highest lead price in Illinois?
Clean material earns the top of the board: remove steel clips, zinc alloy substitutes, and dirt, separate Lead (Soft) from lower grades, and bring ID. Calling two or three Illinois yards with your exact grade and weight usually surfaces the highest rate.
What prep gets the highest lead price at a Illinois yard?
Sorting is the single biggest lever: keep grades apart, strip steel clips, zinc alloy substitutes, and dirt, and avoid mixing in anything the yard has to hand-sort. Dry, clean loads weigh and price honestly.
What do Illinois yards require from sellers of lead?
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.