Steel & Iron Scrap Prices in Iowa
National average for every steel & iron grade we track, updated Nov 10, 2026. Yard quotes in Iowa vary with volume and prep — use these as your baseline and call ahead.
Steel & Iron Grades — Iowa
| Grade | US Avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Iowa
Iowa yards that buy steel & iron draw most of their supply from agriculture, food processing, finance, and biofuels. Yards price steel & iron by grade: Steel (Heavy Melt), Light Iron / Sheet, Cast Iron, and Stainless Steel (304). Keep Steel (Heavy Melt) apart from Light Iron / Sheet and mixed loads, because a mixed pile is paid at the lowest grade in it. Dozens of yards in Iowa list steel & iron among what they buy, with the widest choice around Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Cedar Rapids. Because electric arc furnaces and foundries are concentrated across the Midwest, Iowa yards rarely sit on steel & iron for long. 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 Steel & Iron in Iowa
- A-Line Iron & Metals— Waterloo
- ABC Rolloff Dumpsters— Des Moines
- Ace Auto Recyclers Inc— Iowa City
- Al-Jon Manufacturing— Ottumwa
- Aline Iron & Metals— Kellogg
- All Metals Recycling— Ottumwa
- Alter Metal Recycling— Waterloo
- Alter Metal Recycling— Council Bluffs
- Alter Metal Recycling— Mason City
- Alter Metal Recycling— Davenport
- Alter Metal Recycling— Dubuque
- Alter Scrap Processing— Burlington
- Alter Scrap Processing— Dubuque
- 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
- Can Shed— Iowa City
Frequently asked about steel & iron in Iowa
What is the steel & iron scrap price in Iowa today?
This page lists the current US national average for every steel & iron 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 steel & iron?
Dozens of yards in Iowa list steel & iron 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 steel & iron price in Iowa?
Clean material earns the top of the board: remove attached copper wiring, oil residue, and sealed containers, separate Steel (Heavy Melt) 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 steel & iron before selling it in Iowa?
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 Iowa?
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.