Lead Scrap Prices in Iowa
National average for every lead grade we track, updated Nov 10, 2026. Yard quotes in Iowa vary with volume and prep — use these as your baseline and call ahead.
Lead Grades — Iowa
| Grade | US Avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Soft) | $0.72 | /lb |
| Lead Wheel Weights | $0.51 | /lb |
Lead scrap in Iowa
In Iowa, lead reaches the scrap stream by way of agriculture, food processing, finance, and biofuels. The grades yards commonly quote are Lead (Soft) and Lead Wheel Weights; Lead (Soft) usually earns the top rate and Lead Wheel Weights the lowest, so sorting before you arrive pays. Across Iowa, dozens of yards accept lead; the largest clusters are in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Cedar Rapids. Midwest mills, auto plants, and rail links put Iowa yards close to the consuming buyers of secondary lead smelters and battery plate makers. 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 Lead 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 lead in Iowa
What is the lead scrap price in Iowa today?
This page lists the current US national average for every lead grade, updated daily from commodity markets. Iowa 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 Iowa buy lead?
Dozens of yards in Iowa list lead 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 lead price in Iowa?
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 Iowa yards with your exact grade and weight usually surfaces the highest rate.
How should I prepare lead before selling it in Iowa?
Separate grades, remove steel clips, zinc alloy substitutes, and dirt, 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.
What do Iowa 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.