#1 Copper / Copper Wire Price Today: $4.98/lb
Current US scrapyard prices for #1 Copper / Copper Wire average $4.98/lb, typically trading between $4.52 and $5.35/lb across 46 reporting facilities. Review physical grading criteria, preparation tips to prevent scale downgrades, and regional price spreads nationwide.
What counts as #1 Copper / Copper Wire
#1 copper is clean copper that may have light tarnish or a bit of solder, but no paint, plating, or heavy corrosion. It is often sold as #1 copper tubing or #1 copper wire. Typical sources are cleaned pipe, bus bar, and heavy wire that is not quite bright enough for bare bright.
Estimate your scale payout
Calculate the estimated cash payout for your #1 Copper / Copper Wire based on current low, average, and high scrapyard scale rates.
#1 Copper / Copper Wire Price Trend (12 Months)
12-month historical price chart showing seasonal peaks, scale price momentum, and wholesale exchange benchmark spreads (COMEX Copper (HG)) for #1 Copper / Copper Wire.
#1 Copper / Copper Wire Prices by State
Compare average #1 Copper / Copper Wire prices across reporting US states to identify regional price spreads and local buyer demand.
| State | Average Price | Typical Range | Reporting Yards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $4.66/lb | $4.52 – $5.80 | 9 | State Rates → |
| Texas | $5.31/lb | $5.00 – $5.60 | 6 | State Rates → |
| Pennsylvania | $5.14/lb | $4.90 – $5.30 | 4 | State Rates → |
| Tennessee | $5.23/lb | $4.20 – $5.68 | 4 | State Rates → |
| West Virginia | $4.69/lb | $4.50 – $5.25 | 4 | State Rates → |
| Florida | $5.12/lb | $4.90 – $5.30 | 3 | State Rates → |
| Georgia | $4.87/lb | $4.50 – $5.10 | 3 | State Rates → |
| New Jersey | $5.31/lb | $5.25 – $5.40 | 3 | State Rates → |
| Connecticut | $4.75/lb | $4.75 – $4.75 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Illinois | $5.08/lb | $4.20 – $5.45 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Kansas | $4.95/lb | $4.95 – $4.95 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Kentucky | $4.10/lb | $4.10 – $4.10 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Massachusetts | $5.20/lb | $5.20 – $5.20 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Missouri | $5.25/lb | $5.25 – $5.25 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Ohio | $5.13/lb | $5.00 – $5.25 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Oklahoma | $5.39/lb | $5.24 – $5.54 | 1 | State Rates → |
How to get the best price for #1 Copper / Copper Wire
Follow these scrapyard grading standards and preparation tips to ensure your #1 Copper / Copper Wire meets top-tier scale specifications without deductions.
Cut off brass fittings, steel connectors, and soldered joints.
Set painted or plated pieces aside for the #2 pile.
Drain all trapped water and wipe off grease. Scale operators will deduct tare weight or dock your load for contaminated pipe.
Keep it apart from bare bright and from #2, so each pile keeps its grade.
How it compares with similar grades
It pays less than bare bright and more than #2. If a yard sees more than a trace of contamination, it will pay the #2 price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common answers on scrap metal grading standards, scale payout rules, sorting methods, and scale ticket calculations.
What is #1 copper / copper wire worth per pound today?
#1 Copper / Copper Wire averages $4.98/lb nationally as of Oct 12, 2026. That is about 74.2% of the COMEX Copper (HG) price.
What is the difference between #1 copper / copper wire and similar grades?
It pays less than bare bright and more than #2. If a yard sees more than a trace of contamination, it will pay the #2 price.
Why is my scrap yard paying a different price for #1 copper / copper wire?
The figure here is a national average of prices posted by US scrap yards. Each yard sets its own price based on nearby mill demand, freight, how much you bring, and how it grades your load. Most reports fall between $4.52 and $5.35 per pound. Call two or three yards and ask what grade they would pay for your #1 copper / copper wire.
What is the difference between #1 and #2 copper?
#1 is clean copper with at most light tarnish. #2 has paint, plating, heavy solder, or corrosion. A quick upgrade is to cut off soldered joints and painted sections. A small pile of clean pipe can often move up to #1.