Aluminum Copper Radiators Price Today: $2.22/lb
Current US scrapyard prices for Aluminum Copper Radiators average $2.22/lb, typically trading between $1.90 and $2.80/lb across 21 reporting facilities. Review physical grading criteria, preparation tips to prevent scale downgrades, and regional price spreads nationwide.
What counts as Aluminum Copper Radiators
Aluminum Copper Radiators (often called ACR or fin stock) come from HVAC air conditioning condensers, heat pumps, and commercial refrigeration coils. They consist of copper tubing running through thin aluminum cooling fins. The copper content makes them one of the most valuable heating and cooling scrap items.
Estimate your scale payout
Calculate the estimated cash payout for your Aluminum Copper Radiators based on current low, average, and high scrapyard scale rates.
Aluminum Copper Radiators Price Trend (12 Months)
12-month historical price chart showing seasonal peaks, scale price momentum, and wholesale exchange benchmark spreads (COMEX Copper (HG)) for Aluminum Copper Radiators.
Aluminum Copper Radiators Prices by State
Compare average Aluminum Copper Radiators prices across reporting US states to identify regional price spreads and local buyer demand.
| State | Average Price | Typical Range | Reporting Yards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $2.00/lb | $2.00 – $2.00 | 6 | State Rates → |
| Georgia | $2.05/lb | $1.70 – $2.40 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Texas | $3.01/lb | $2.70 – $3.18 | 2 | State Rates → |
| West Virginia | $1.88/lb | $1.85 – $1.90 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Florida | $2.85/lb | $2.85 – $2.85 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Kentucky | $2.00/lb | $2.00 – $2.00 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Massachusetts | $2.70/lb | $2.70 – $2.70 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Missouri | $2.50/lb | $2.50 – $2.50 | 1 | State Rates → |
| North Carolina | $2.20/lb | $2.20 – $2.20 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Oklahoma | $2.94/lb | $2.94 – $2.94 | 1 | State Rates → |
| South Carolina | $2.32/lb | $2.32 – $2.32 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Tennessee | $1.92/lb | $1.92 – $1.92 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Wisconsin | $0.750/lb | $0.750 – $0.750 | 1 | State Rates → |
How to get the best price for Aluminum Copper Radiators
Follow these scrapyard grading standards and preparation tips to ensure your Aluminum Copper Radiators meets top-tier scale specifications without deductions.
Use a reciprocating saw (Sawzall) or cutoff wheel to slice off the steel end brackets and side plates.
Trim away heavy iron or brass manifolds and mounting flanges so the core is free of attached ferrous metal.
Keep clean ACR in its own pile. Coils with steel brackets still attached are graded as irony ACR, which pays substantially less.
Drain any residual oil or moisture from the copper tubing before weighing.
How it compares with similar grades
Clean ACR pays significantly more per pound than irony/dirty ACR and clean aluminum car radiators, but less than pure #1 copper tubing or copper & brass radiators because the aluminum fins dilute the total copper percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common answers on scrap metal grading standards, scale payout rules, sorting methods, and scale ticket calculations.
What is aluminum copper radiators worth per pound today?
Aluminum Copper Radiators averages $2.22/lb nationally as of Oct 12, 2026. That is about 33% of the COMEX Copper (HG) price.
What is the difference between aluminum copper radiators and similar grades?
Clean ACR pays significantly more per pound than irony/dirty ACR and clean aluminum car radiators, but less than pure #1 copper tubing or copper & brass radiators because the aluminum fins dilute the total copper percentage.
Why is my scrap yard paying a different price for aluminum copper radiators?
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 $1.90 and $2.80 per pound. Call two or three yards and ask what grade they would pay for your aluminum copper radiators.
What makes an ACR radiator "clean"?
An ACR is clean when all steel side plates, iron brackets, screws, and rubber seals have been removed. Only the copper tubing and aluminum fins should remain. If a yard finds steel ends attached, they will buy the entire load as irony ACR.
Is it worth cutting off the steel ends on ACR coils?
Yes. Trimming the steel side plates takes just a few minutes with a reciprocating saw and can increase your payout by 30 to 50 cents per pound across the entire coil.
Are HVAC condensers aluminum-copper or all-aluminum?
Older and higher-efficiency units use copper tubes with aluminum fins (ACR). Many modern residential units use microchannel all-aluminum coils. Check the return bends on the side: if you see reddish copper tubes, it is ACR; if silver throughout, it is clean aluminum.