Bare Bright Copper Price Today: $5.14/lb
Current US scrapyard prices for Bare Bright Copper average $5.14/lb, typically trading between $5.00 and $5.55/lb across 35 reporting facilities. Review physical grading criteria, preparation tips to prevent scale downgrades, and regional price spreads nationwide.
What counts as Bare Bright Copper
Bare bright is shiny, uncoated copper wire with no insulation, paint, tin, or solder. It is usually about pencil-thick (16 gauge) or heavier. It is the cleanest and highest-paying everyday copper grade, because a mill can melt it almost as it is.
Estimate your scale payout
Calculate the estimated cash payout for your Bare Bright Copper based on current low, average, and high scrapyard scale rates.
Bare Bright Copper Price Trend (12 Months)
12-month historical price chart showing seasonal peaks, scale price momentum, and wholesale exchange benchmark spreads (COMEX Copper (HG)) for Bare Bright Copper.
Bare Bright Copper Prices by State
Compare average Bare Bright Copper prices across reporting US states to identify regional price spreads and local buyer demand.
| State | Average Price | Typical Range | Reporting Yards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $5.11/lb | $5.00 – $6.00 | 9 | State Rates → |
| Texas | $5.48/lb | $5.10 – $5.72 | 5 | State Rates → |
| New Jersey | $5.61/lb | $5.50 – $5.70 | 3 | State Rates → |
| West Virginia | $4.83/lb | $4.55 – $5.40 | 3 | State Rates → |
| Connecticut | $5.00/lb | $5.00 – $5.00 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Illinois | $5.04/lb | $4.04 – $5.52 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Pennsylvania | $5.20/lb | $5.00 – $5.40 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Florida | $5.40/lb | $5.40 – $5.40 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Kansas | $5.10/lb | $5.10 – $5.10 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Kentucky | $4.18/lb | $3.75 – $4.25 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Massachusetts | $5.30/lb | $5.30 – $5.30 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Ohio | $5.23/lb | $5.10 – $5.35 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Tennessee | $4.30/lb | $4.30 – $4.30 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Wisconsin | $4.40/lb | $4.40 – $4.40 | 1 | State Rates → |
How to get the best price for Bare Bright Copper
Follow these scrapyard grading standards and preparation tips to ensure your Bare Bright Copper meets top-tier scale specifications without deductions.
Strip all insulation, and make sure the copper is bright, with no tarnish, tinning, or burn marks.
Keep it free of solder, fittings, and lacquer or enamel coating.
Wire thinner than about 16 gauge is usually paid as #1 copper.
Keep it in its own bucket. A few dirty pieces can drop the whole load a grade.
How it compares with similar grades
Bare bright pays more than #1 and #2 copper. #1 is clean but may be slightly tarnished or have a little solder. #2 has paint, plating, or heavier contamination. The price gap is the extra cleaning the mill has to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common answers on scrap metal grading standards, scale payout rules, sorting methods, and scale ticket calculations.
What is bare bright copper worth per pound today?
Bare Bright Copper averages $5.14/lb nationally as of Oct 12, 2026. That is about 76.7% of the COMEX Copper (HG) price.
What is the difference between bare bright copper and similar grades?
Bare bright pays more than #1 and #2 copper. #1 is clean but may be slightly tarnished or have a little solder. #2 has paint, plating, or heavier contamination. The price gap is the extra cleaning the mill has to do.
Why is my scrap yard paying a different price for bare bright copper?
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 $5.00 and $5.55 per pound. Call two or three yards and ask what grade they would pay for your bare bright copper.
Is it worth stripping copper wire to get bare bright?
For thick wire in any volume, usually yes. Bare bright pays far more per pound than insulated wire, even after you lose the weight of the jacket. Compare the insulated wire price with this page, estimate how much copper is inside, and decide. A wire stripping machine makes short work of heavy commercial cable, but thin appliance cord and Cat 5 wire aren't worth the labor—sell those as-is as insulated wire.
How do I know if my copper is bare bright?
It should be shiny, salmon-pink metal with no coating, no solder, and no green or brown tarnish, and at least about 16 gauge. If you are not sure, ask the yard to grade a small sample before you mix it into a larger pile.