Copper Scrap Prices: How to Get the Best Value
26 June 2026Copper is the highest-value metal most businesses handle, so getting the grade and presentation right makes a real difference to your cheque. Here's how copper pricing works and how to maximise it.
The grades that matter
- Bare bright — clean, uncoated wire; the top price
- No.1 — clean tube, busbar and heavy copper, no solder
- No.2 — braziery, painted or lightly contaminated
- Insulated cable — priced on recoverable copper inside
Why the LME drives the price
Copper is benchmarked against the London Metal Exchange, which moves every trading day. A quote good on Monday may differ by Friday — which is why we price on the day rather than publishing fixed figures.
How to get the best price
Keep grades separate, strip obvious contamination, and don't mix bright wire with braziery. Clean, single-grade copper always pays closest to market. If you're unsure of a grade, send us a photo and we'll tell you.
Related: learn more on our Copper Scrap page.
Need a quote or a collection?
Call, WhatsApp a photo, or send us the details for a fast, fair price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best-paying copper grade?
Bare bright — clean, uncoated copper wire — pays the most, followed by No.1 clean copper.
Do you buy copper cable?
Yes, priced on the recoverable copper content. Send a photo of the cable type for an accurate quote.
How often do copper prices change?
Daily, in line with the London Metal Exchange — so we quote on the day for accuracy.
