Stainless Steel (304) Scrap Price Today
National average and per-state rates. Last updated Nov 10, 2026.
What is Stainless Steel (304)?
Common scrap sources: beer keg (1/2 bbl stainless, empty), dishwasher, bbq grill (gas, 3-4 burner), and washing machine.
How to prep Stainless Steel (304)
Prep guidance for items that contain Stainless Steel (304):
- Beer Keg (1/2 BBL Stainless, Empty): Return the keg to the distributor or retailer for the deposit refund — this is almost always better economically than scrap and is the legally correct channel. Yards typically require brewery release paperwork to accept kegs; without it they are required to refuse and report the attempt.
- Dishwasher: Check whether the inner tub is stainless by magnet test (stainless 304 is non-magnetic; painted steel is magnetic). If stainless, cut it out and sell separately. Remove the pump motor for copper windings.
- BBQ Grill (Gas, 3-4 burner): Remove and exchange or sell the propane tank separately (most yards refuse grills with tanks attached). Pull stainless burners and grates and sell at the higher stainless rate. Remove cast-aluminum control panels and side tables if present. Strip any plastic side handles before weighing.
- Washing Machine: Removing the stainless inner drum and selling it separately roughly doubles the per-pound rate for that portion. Cut motor leads and pull the motor for #2 copper windings. Drain residual water; many yards refuse wet units.
Stainless Steel (304) — 90-day price history
What drives the Stainless Steel (304) market
Stainless Steel (304) pricing tracks the part of the broader Steel & Iron market that supplies food service equipment, sinks, and chemical tanks. On the supply side, the steady stream of yard inflow comes from restaurant equipment turnover and industrial scrap. Activity in food service and chemical processing ends up showing in posted yard prices over a couple weeks. A typical example of what comes in is kitchen sinks and restaurant prep tables, which yards see across many tickets a week. On the consumer side, recovered Stainless Steel (304) feeds appliances, sinks, and food service equipment. Anyone selling Stainless Steel (304) regularly will see that posted rates move with the broader commodity benchmark plus the rhythm of food service and chemical processing, with each yard's volume and downstream relationships then setting where they land inside that band.
How Stainless Steel (304) grades differ on the price board
Unlike copper or aluminum, Stainless Steel (304) is normally posted as one grade on the price board. Yards apply deductions for attached carbon steel, plastic, or rubber on a case-by-case basis. Cleaning off attached carbon steel brackets, rubber feet, or fasteners at home is the simplest way to avoid a deduction. After the yard, the material moves on to remelting into new stainless plate and sheet, and that downstream destination is what sets how strict the yard is about contamination.
Frequently asked about Stainless Steel (304)
- What lowers the price a yard pays for Stainless Steel (304)?
- The main deductions come from attached carbon steel, plastic, or rubber. If the material has visible attached carbon steel brackets, rubber feet, or fasteners, the yard either downgrades the ticket or applies a flat deduction.
- Do all yards buy Stainless Steel (304)?
- 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 Stainless Steel (304).
- How are yard prices for Stainless Steel (304) 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 Stainless Steel (304) go into after the yard?
- Sorted Stainless Steel (304) is shipped to mills or refiners that produce appliances, sinks, and food service equipment. The recovered material reduces the need to mine new ore and keeps the recycling loop tight.
- Will I get a higher price if I sort or clean my Stainless Steel (304)?
- Yes — removing attached carbon steel brackets, rubber feet, or fasteners 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.
- Why does Stainless Steel (304) pricing change from week to week?
- Posted yard rates for Stainless Steel (304) 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 does Stainless Steel (304) go into?
Common items that contain Stainless Steel (304). Click any item to see its full value breakdown.
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Stainless Steel (304) Prices by State
Local market context and yards buying stainless steel (304) in each state.