Steel (Heavy Melt) Scrap Price Today
National average and per-state rates. Last updated Nov 10, 2026.
Steel (Heavy Melt) — 90-day price history
What drives the Steel (Heavy Melt) market
Most Steel (Heavy Melt) flows through the scrap market because of structural steel and rebar production. Yard inflow comes mainly from demolition jobs and end-of-life equipment, which sets the pace of what hits the scale each week. Activity in construction and steel mill feed ends up showing in posted yard prices over a couple weeks. I-beams, plate cutoffs, and heavy machinery is one of the regular streams sellers bring in. Recovered material feeds structural beams, rebar, and heavy plate, which keeps the recycling loop tight. For sellers, the practical takeaway is that posted yard rates for Steel (Heavy Melt) reflect both the broader commodity benchmark and the local downstream demand from construction and steel mill feed, so calling two or three nearby yards on the same morning gives a useful read on what rates are doing that week.
How Steel (Heavy Melt) grades differ on the price board
The price gap between Steel & Iron grades comes from contamination, attached parts, and recovery yield. Heavy-Melt Steel sits at the top of the scale; it is sold as EAF mill feed for new structural product. Light Iron carries the discount because of thin gauge and attached non-ferrous parts. Sellers who remove attached copper wiring, oil residue, or sealed containers ahead of time often clear into a higher grade on the scale.
Frequently asked about Steel (Heavy Melt)
- Will I get a higher price if I sort or clean my Steel (Heavy Melt)?
- Yes — removing attached copper wiring, oil residue, or sealed containers 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 lowers the price a yard pays for Steel (Heavy Melt)?
- The main deductions come from thin gauge and attached non-ferrous parts. If the material has visible attached copper wiring, oil residue, or sealed containers, the yard either downgrades the ticket or applies a flat deduction.
- What does Steel (Heavy Melt) go into after the yard?
- Sorted Steel (Heavy Melt) is shipped to mills or refiners that produce structural beams, rebar, and heavy plate. The recovered material reduces the need to mine new ore and keeps the recycling loop tight.
- Where can I sell Steel (Heavy Melt) near me?
- You can search yards by ZIP code from the search page and filter for ones that accept Steel (Heavy Melt). Yards typically post their daily rates by phone or on a sign at the scale.
- How is Steel (Heavy Melt) weighed and paid?
- Yards weigh material on a public scale and pay by the ton. The posted rate on the day you bring it in is what applies — calling ahead is the safest way to confirm.
- How are yard prices for Steel (Heavy Melt) 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.
Find yards near you that buy Steel (Heavy Melt)
Enter your ZIP to see scrap yards in the Steel & Iron category within range.
Compare other Steel & Iron grades
Steel (Heavy Melt) Prices by State
Local market context and yards buying steel (heavy melt) in each state.