Scrapyards.io

Steel & Iron Scrap Prices in Illinois

National average for every steel & iron grade we track, updated Nov 10, 2026. Yard quotes in Illinois vary with volume and prep — use these as your baseline and call ahead.

Steel & Iron Grades — Illinois

GradeUS AvgUnit
Steel (Heavy Melt)$285.00/ton
Light Iron / Sheet$215.00/ton
Cast Iron$0.18/lb
Stainless Steel (304)$0.62/lb

Steel & Iron scrap in Illinois

Illinois yards that buy steel & iron draw most of their supply from manufacturing, finance, food processing, and rail logistics. The grades yards commonly quote are Steel (Heavy Melt), Light Iron / Sheet, Cast Iron, and Stainless Steel (304); Steel (Heavy Melt) usually earns the top rate and Light Iron / Sheet the lowest, so sorting before you arrive pays. Dozens of yards in Illinois list steel & iron among what they buy, with the widest choice around Chicago, Springfield, and Chicago Heights. Because electric arc furnaces and foundries are concentrated across the Midwest, Illinois yards rarely sit on steel & iron for long. 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 Steel & Iron in Illinois

Frequently asked about steel & iron in Illinois

What is the steel & iron scrap price in Illinois today?

This page lists the current US national average for every steel & iron 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 steel & iron?

The yards listed on this page accept steel & iron. In Illinois the largest number of buyers to compare are around Chicago, Springfield, and Chicago Heights. Call ahead to confirm which grades a yard takes and whether it is open for public drop-off.

How do I get the highest steel & iron price in Illinois?

Sort by grade before you arrive, strip attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers, and keep Steel (Heavy Melt) separate from Light Iron / Sheet. Weigh your load yourself, ask for the price per grade rather than a lump sum, and compare two or three Illinois yards on the same day.

What prep gets the highest steel & iron price at a Illinois yard?

Sorting is the single biggest lever: keep grades apart, strip attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers, and avoid mixing in anything the yard has to hand-sort. Dry, clean loads weigh and price honestly.

Do I need ID to sell steel & iron scrap in Illinois?

Expect to show a photo ID and have the transaction logged; scrap metal purchase records are standard practice and required by law in much of the country. Some Illinois yards also photograph the material and pay by check for larger amounts.

Find scrap yards in Illinois →View all states for Steel & Iron →