Steel & Iron Scrap Prices Today
4 steel & iron grades tracked. National averages updated daily.
About Steel & Iron
Yards keep a posted rate for Steel & Iron alongside the other commodity metals on the price board. Downstream demand for structural steel, rebar, and cast machine parts is what sets the floor on yard prices. Supply that reaches yards is paced by demolition jobs, end-of-life equipment, and appliance turnover. After sorting and weighing, material moves on to electric arc furnaces and foundries. Sellers bringing in Steel & Iron should plan on calling ahead — posted rates shift with the underlying commodity benchmark, and the spread between yards in any one area usually comes down to volume and shipping logistics.
Steel & Iron Grades
| Grade | Current Price | Unit | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel (Heavy Melt) | $285.00 | /ton | Nov 10, 2026 |
| Light Iron / Sheet | $215.00 | /ton | Nov 10, 2026 |
| Cast Iron | $0.18 | /lb | Nov 10, 2026 |
| Stainless Steel (304) | $0.62 | /lb | Nov 10, 2026 |
What drives the Steel & Iron market
What sets Steel & Iron prices is the daily commodity benchmark plus a yard-specific margin. Activity in industries that consume structural steel, rebar, and cast machine parts feeds directly into posted yard rates. demolition jobs, end-of-life equipment, and appliance turnover controls how much material reaches yards in a given week. Yards split the category into four grades, with Steel (Heavy Melt) paying highest and Light Iron / Sheet carrying the discount tied to attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers. Sellers tracking Steel & Iron get the cleanest read by checking posted rates at a couple of yards in the same window, since both the daily benchmark and local downstream demand feed in.
How Steel & Iron grades compare
The price gap between Steel & Iron grades comes from cleanliness, attached parts, and the cost of downstream processing. The cleanest grade, Steel (Heavy Melt), pays the highest because downstream buyers can use it as-is. Light Iron / Sheet carries the lowest rate of the family because of attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers. Sellers who remove attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers ahead of time often clear into a cleaner grade on the scale.
Steel & Iron Prices by State
Frequently asked about Steel & Iron
- Is it worth driving farther for a higher Steel & Iron price?
- Calling a couple of yards in your area on the same morning gives a useful read on local rates. The price spread between yards is usually small enough that fuel cost eats most of the gain unless you're hauling a heavy load.
- Which grade of Steel & Iron pays the highest?
- On a per-pound basis, Steel (Heavy Melt) pays the highest of the family because downstream buyers can move it straight into electric arc furnaces and foundries without further sorting.
- Do all scrap yards buy Steel & Iron?
- Steel & Iron is one of the staple categories, so the typical yard handles it. Some yards focus on auto salvage, demolition, or industrial accounts and may not post rates for every grade.
- How can I get a higher price for my Steel & Iron?
- Removing attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers before bringing the load in is the simplest way to land in a cleaner grade on the scale. Sorting by grade ahead of time also helps the yard process your material faster.
- Why does Steel & Iron pricing change from week to week?
- Posted yard rates follow the underlying commodity market, which responds to industrial demand and inventory cycles. When the benchmark moves, yard rates usually catch up within a couple of business days.
- Where can I find Steel & Iron to scrap?
- Steel & Iron shows up in demolition jobs, end-of-life equipment, and appliance turnover. Common sources include parts tied to structural steel, rebar, and cast machine parts — old wiring, removed plumbing, salvaged appliances, and trade scraps from contractors and remodelers.
- How much is steel & iron per pound at a scrap yard today?
- As of Nov 10, 2026, the US national average is $0.62/lb for Stainless Steel (304) and $215/ton (about $0.11/lb) for Light Iron / Sheet. Yards quote around these figures depending on grade, cleanliness and volume, so call two or three with your weight for a firm price.
- Which steel & iron grade pays the most?
- Stainless Steel (304) pays the most at $0.62/lb; Light Iron / Sheet is the lowest at $215/ton (about $0.11/lb). Sorting by grade before you arrive is the biggest lever on your payout, because a mixed load is paid at the lowest grade in the pile.
- How much can you get for 500 pounds of steel at a scrap yard?
- At today's Steel (Heavy Melt) average of $285/ton (about $0.14/lb), 500 pounds (a quarter ton) comes to about $71 before any yard adjustment for prep or contamination. Steel is priced per ton, so weight matters more than grade for most loads.