Scrap copper grades, explained
Yards pay by grade, not just by weight. Knowing how your copper is classified — and sorting it before you arrive — is the single biggest thing you can do to lift your payout. Here are the three grades that cover almost everything the trade brings in — known in the US as bare bright, #1 copper and #2 copper.
TOP GRADE
Bright & Shiny Copper (Bare Bright)
Clean, uncoated, bright copper wire — typically stripped cable. The highest-paying everyday grade.
READ GUIDE →GRADE 1
No. 1 Copper (#1 copper)
Clean copper tube and heavy wire, unalloyed and free of solder, paint and fittings.
READ GUIDE →GRADE 2
No. 2 Copper (#2 copper)
Unclean or tarnished copper with solder, paint or light attachments. Worth keeping separate.
READ GUIDE →Find scrap copper prices near you
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