How Much Is Copper Per Pound?
Get clarity on copper's market value, understand price fluctuations, and learn how different forms affect its per-pound worth.
Copper, a reddish-brown metal, serves as a fundamental commodity in global industries, used widely in construction, electronics, and manufacturing. Its value comes from excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, malleability, and corrosion resistance. Copper’s price interests individuals and businesses, as it is a key raw material and frequently recycled. Understanding copper pricing is valuable for those selling scrap metal or comprehending its economic significance.
Understanding Current Copper Prices
The price of copper is determined by two main markets: the global commodity exchanges and local scrap metal yards.
Global prices, such as those on the London Metal Exchange (LME) or COMEX, reflect refined copper trading and are influenced by global supply and demand. For example, on August 6, 2025, LME copper traded around $4.39 per pound. Prices fluctuate daily, sometimes hourly, based on complex factors.
Local scrap yards offer lower prices for scrap copper than the global market. This accounts for costs like sorting, processing, transporting, and smelting scrap into reusable forms. Rates vary by location and day, but scrap copper prices range from $2.00 to $5.00 per pound, depending on grade and purity. For example, on August 6, 2025, “Bare Bright Copper” was listed around $5.00 per pound and “Copper #2” at $4.65 per pound. Contact multiple local scrap dealers to compare current rates.
Factors Influencing Copper Prices
Copper prices are sensitive to global economic conditions due to the metal’s extensive industrial applications. Supply and demand dynamics drive price movements; when demand surpasses supply, prices rise, and vice versa. Industrial consumption in construction, electrical infrastructure, and automotive manufacturing directly impacts demand. Global inventory levels in major stockpiles, like the LME, also influence prices; declining inventories lead to upward pressure.
Broader economic indicators play a role in copper’s valuation. Economic growth increases demand for copper in infrastructure projects and manufacturing, pushing prices higher. Conversely, economic slowdowns reduce demand, putting downward pressure on prices. Geopolitical events, trade policies, and monetary policies of major economies, including interest rates and inflation, cause fluctuations in copper’s value. A strong US dollar can make copper more expensive for international buyers, reducing demand and affecting its price.
Different Grades of Scrap Copper
Not all copper scrap holds the same value at recycling centers; its purity and form determine its per-pound price. Bare Bright copper is the most valuable grade. It is clean, shiny, unalloyed, and uncoated, often sourced from stripped electrical wiring. This grade commands the highest price due to its purity.
Following Bare Bright, #1 Copper is another high-value grade, consisting of clean, unalloyed, and uncoated copper tubing, clippings, or heavy-gauge wire at least 1/16th inch in diameter. While it may show slight oxidation, it maintains a high copper content, at least 98%. #2 Copper, a slightly lower grade, includes miscellaneous unalloyed wire, pipe, or solid metal that might have solder, paint, or other coatings, or show some tarnish. This grade contains at least 94% to 96% copper. Insulated copper wire is accepted, but its value is lower because insulation must be removed to extract pure copper, adding processing costs.
Selling Scrap Copper
Selling scrap copper involves steps to maximize your return. Local scrap yards and metal recycling centers are the primary venues for selling materials. Before visiting, contact several facilities to compare prices, as rates vary considerably and fluctuate daily.
Proper preparation of your copper scrap can increase its value. Sorting copper by grade and removing any non-copper attachments, such as insulation, plastic, steel, or brass fittings, is recommended. For instance, stripping insulation from wires for Bare Bright copper, or separating copper from steel in motors and transformers, leads to a higher payout. Scrap yards weigh material on scales and issue payment based on current rates for each grade, often through cash or check.