Insulated Copper Wire Price Today: $3.26/lb
Current US scrapyard prices for Insulated Copper Wire average $3.26/lb, typically trading between $2.28 and $4.09/lb across 21 reporting facilities. Review physical grading criteria, preparation tips to prevent scale downgrades, and regional price spreads nationwide.
What counts as Insulated Copper Wire
Insulated copper wire is paid for the copper inside, not the total weight. Thick, easy-to-strip building wire pays more than Romex, appliance cord, or thin electronics wire. The price here is a blended average of the insulated grades reported.
Estimate your scale payout
Calculate the estimated cash payout for your Insulated Copper Wire based on current low, average, and high scrapyard scale rates.
Insulated 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 Insulated Copper Wire.
Insulated Copper Wire Prices by State
Compare average Insulated Copper Wire prices across reporting US states to identify regional price spreads and local buyer demand.
| State | Average Price | Typical Range | Reporting Yards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $3.03/lb | $0.550 – $4.95 | 5 | State Rates → |
| Tennessee | $2.34/lb | $1.17 – $3.50 | 4 | State Rates → |
| Arizona | $2.79/lb | $2.00 – $4.00 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Connecticut | $2.55/lb | $1.50 – $3.40 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Florida | $2.46/lb | $1.11 – $3.80 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Georgia | $2.19/lb | $1.50 – $2.90 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Illinois | $3.37/lb | $1.91 – $4.67 | 2 | State Rates → |
| New Jersey | $2.39/lb | $0.350 – $4.35 | 2 | State Rates → |
| New York | $3.00/lb | $3.00 – $3.00 | 2 | State Rates → |
| Kansas | $1.40/lb | $1.40 – $1.40 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Ohio | $1.71/lb | $0.750 – $2.50 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Oklahoma | $2.43/lb | $1.91 – $2.97 | 1 | State Rates → |
| Pennsylvania | $1.42/lb | $0.500 – $4.00 | 1 | State Rates → |
| West Virginia | $1.38/lb | $0.600 – $1.90 | 1 | State Rates → |
How to get the best price for Insulated Copper Wire
Follow these scrapyard grading standards and preparation tips to ensure your Insulated Copper Wire meets top-tier scale specifications without deductions.
Sort by type: thick building wire (THHN), Romex, and thin or electronics wire in separate piles.
Never burn wire to remove insulation. Yards heavily dock 'burnt copper' down to #2 or refinery grade, and open burning violates EPA Clean Air regulations and state law.
Cut off plugs, and strip off steel or aluminum flex casing from MC/BX cable to upgrade your recovery rate.
Keep aluminum cable out of the copper pile. Check the color of the metal in the cut end.
How it compares with similar grades
Insulated wire is not directly comparable with bare bright, because the jacket is waste. Compare the copper you would recover, not the gross weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common answers on scrap metal grading standards, scale payout rules, sorting methods, and scale ticket calculations.
What is insulated copper wire worth per pound today?
Insulated Copper Wire averages $3.26/lb nationally as of Oct 12, 2026. That is about 48.6% of the COMEX Copper (HG) price.
What is the difference between insulated copper wire and similar grades?
Insulated wire is not directly comparable with bare bright, because the jacket is waste. Compare the copper you would recover, not the gross weight.
Why is my scrap yard paying a different price for insulated 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 $2.28 and $4.09 per pound. Call two or three yards and ask what grade they would pay for your insulated copper wire.
Should I burn wire to get the copper out?
No. Burnt wire is graded lower than clean stripped copper, burning wire is illegal in many cities and states, and the smoke is toxic. Strip it by hand or with a stripping machine, or sell it insulated.
What percentage of insulated wire is actual copper?
It depends on the wire type and jacket thickness. Single-conductor THHN commercial wire yields 75% to 80% copper recovery. Standard household Romex (NM-B) averages 60% to 65% recovery. Extension cords and appliance wire yield 35% to 45% recovery, while thin telecom and computer cables yield 30% to 35%. Yards price wire into tiers based on these recovery percentages.