Metal Scrap Recycling Calculator
Instantly calculate what your scrap metal is worth at the yard, factoring in weight, metal grade, live market price, and dealer fees. Perfect for homeowners, contractors, and demolition crews before making a trip to the scrapyard.
About this calculator
Scrap metal value depends on four variables: how much you have, how pure it is, what the market is paying, and how much the dealer retains as a fee. The formula is: Payout = weight × marketPrice × (grade / 100) × (1 − dealerFee / 100). Weight is measured in pounds, and marketPrice in dollars per pound. Grade (0–100%) reflects metal purity or alloy quality — a lower grade means the dealer receives less usable metal per pound, so they pay proportionally less. The dealer fee (%) covers processing, sorting, and profit margin, and is deducted from the gross value. Common scrap metals and approximate prices fluctuate daily: copper trades around $3–4/lb, aluminum $0.30–0.60/lb, and steel $0.05–0.10/lb. Always verify live prices with your local yard before visiting, as they track commodity exchanges in real time.
How to use
You have 200 lbs of #1 copper pipe (grade 95%), the market price is $3.50/lb, and the dealer charges a 10% fee. Step 1 — Enter weight = 200 lbs. Step 2 — Enter marketPrice = $3.50. Step 3 — Enter grade = 95. Step 4 — Enter dealerFee = 10. Calculation: Payout = 200 × 3.50 × (95/100) × (1 − 10/100) = 200 × 3.50 × 0.95 × 0.90 = $598.50. If the same copper were graded at 70% (bare bright vs. #1), payout drops to $441.00 — demonstrating how grade classification significantly affects your take-home value.
Frequently asked questions
How does metal grade affect the scrap payout I receive at the yard?
Metal grade reflects the purity and cleanliness of the scrap — for example, bare bright copper (grade ~100%) commands top price, while copper with insulation, solder, or alloy contamination is downgraded to #2 or #3 copper and may be rated at 70–85% of the top price. Scrap yards apply these grades because refining lower-quality metal costs more in processing and yields less pure output. Always strip wires and remove fittings where possible before weighing — a few minutes of preparation can shift your material from a lower to a higher grade and meaningfully increase your payout.
What are current scrap metal prices and how often do they change?
Scrap metal prices are tied to global commodity markets and fluctuate daily based on supply, demand, energy costs, and trade policy. As rough benchmarks: copper is typically $2.50–$4.50/lb, aluminum $0.25–$0.65/lb, stainless steel $0.20–$0.50/lb, and ferrous (iron/mild steel) $0.03–$0.12/lb. Prices at your local yard may differ by 10–20% from spot commodity prices due to regional supply and dealer margin. Check iScrapApp, ScrapMonster, or call your local yard directly for the most current prices before making a trip.
Why do scrap dealers charge a processing fee and how can I minimize it?
Dealers charge processing fees to cover the cost of sorting, weighing, baling, and transporting metal to refiners or mills, as well as to generate a profit margin. Typical fees range from 5% to 20% depending on the metal, volume, and regional competition. You can minimize fees by delivering clean, pre-sorted, single-metal loads — mixed or contaminated loads require more sorting labor. Bringing larger volumes gives you negotiating leverage, as yards often reduce fees for bulk transactions. Building a relationship with a regular yard contact can also result in preferential rates over time.