Scrap metal prices in the UK vary from city to city due to local demand and supply. To provide you with the most accurate information, we've averaged data from various scrap metal dealerships and user submissions. Here's a detailed breakdown of the average scrap metal prices in the UK
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
EMR Scrap Metal Prices in the UK
European Metal Recycling (EMR) is a leading recycler of metal in the UK, offering competitive prices for various grades of scrap metal. Prices vary based on market conditions, metal type, and location, with common categories including ferrous metals (such as steel and iron), non-ferrous metals (like copper, aluminum, and brass), and specialty metals. EMR also provides a convenient way for sellers to check and negotiate prices at their local recycling centers.
EMR Scrap Metal Prices (2024 Average Data)
| Metal Type | Grade | Price per Ton (£) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Bright Copper Wire | £6,800 - £7,000 | Highest value, clean and uncoated. |
| Aluminum | Clean Aluminum (Sheet) | £950 - £1,100 | No paint, plastic, or screws. |
| Brass | Mixed Brass | £3,000 - £3,200 | Includes taps, valves, etc. |
| Steel | Light Iron | £140 - £180 | Bulkier items, general grade. |
| Lead | Clean Roofing Lead | £1,800 - £2,000 | Free from contamination. |
| Stainless Steel | 18/8 (304 Grade) | £800 - £1,000 | Commonly used in kitchen items. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change daily based on market demand and global metal trends. Contact local EMR centers for precise pricing.
UK Scrap Metal Prices by City
Scrap metal prices in the UK fluctuate based on local market conditions. Transporting large quantities of metal is expensive, so selling in your local market often yields the best returns. Scrap metal dealers, who must be licensed and registered, set these prices. You can verify a dealer's legitimacy by checking their license number.
Prices are generally calculated per kilogram (£/kg) except for specific cases like catalytic converters. You can find individual traders on Yell or larger companies on our site under the city pages listed below.
Factors Affecting Scrap Metal Prices
- Local Demand and Supply: Market forces influence prices locally and nationally. Factors like seasonality and tariffs can impact demand and supply. For instance, Brexit has increased import costs, driving up local demand.
- Market Trading Prices: The London Metal Exchange (LME) is a key hub for industrial metal trading. Checking LME prices helps understand scrap metal price trends in the UK and globally.
- Treatment Facilities: Cities with more dealers who have in-house treatment facilities (sorting, crushing, cutting, shearing, baling) can offer better prices due to reduced transport costs.
- Specialisation: Some dealers specialize in specific metals. For example, a dealer focusing on aluminium might offer higher prices if they have a specific buyer need.
- Dealer Judgement: Each dealer uses their judgment to predict market trends and set competitive prices. Shopping around can help you find the best deals.
Scrap Copper Prices UK 2024
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
Bare Bright Copper
£5.65 - £6.15
per kg
Copper 1
£5.65 - £6.10
per kg
Copper 2
£4.65 - £5.65
per kg
Copper Tanks
£4.50 - £4.65
per kg
Braziery Copper
£3.40 - £4.50
per kg
Insulated Wire 1
£1.63 - £1.90
per kg
Insulated Wire 2
£1.15 - £1.36
per kg
Scrap copper tends to have a higher scrap metal price per KG in the UK market. Ranging from £4 per kg.
Scrap Aluminium Prices UK 2024
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
Aluminium Extruded
£0.84 - £0.92
per kg
Aluminium Cast
£0.50 - £0.55
per kg
Aluminium Turnings
£0.21 - £0.30
per kg
Scrap aluminium is relatively cheap compared to some of the other types of scrap metal. Aluminium prices, for most scrap yards in the UK, tend to vary between £0.50 per kilo and £2. This is equivalent to £500 to £2000 per tonne of scrap aluminium. While aluminium is a very commonly used metal in almost all industries, there is no shortage of supply from within the country and via major shipping lanes from Europe and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the abundance of aluminium has pushed its price right down throughout almost all parts of the UK and this is unlikely to change at any point soon. Over the past 15 years, the price of aluminium has remained relatively stable when taking in to account inflation. Consequently, unless there is suddenly a huge spike in demand for the metal, or a lull in the supply, scrap aluminium prices are likely to remain as they are today.
Scrap aluminium prices, in much the same way as the copper prices described in the previous section, are much higher for the clean variants. Some examples of “clean” aluminium include wire, beams or sheets. If you manage to get your hands on any clean aluminium, make sure that you retain this as it is substantially more valuable than anything which is mixed. Conversely, if you have mixed aluminium, then you should spend some time removing all of the other pieces of scrap from it to boost its price potential. This logic applies to all types of scrap metal, by doing this you can see prices increase by as much as 50% at an average dealer. Aluminium is also graded, however it is not done in the same way as copper, instead it is typically done on a percentage purity basis.
As aluminium and copper are the most commonly recycled pieces of metal, it is very easy to source within the home or in many types of industrial settings too. You will be able to source aluminium for scrapping in the UK from heating or cooling units, natural gas or plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, a wide away of frames (doors or windows) and many more locations too.
Scrap Brass Prices UK 2024
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
Clean Brass
£3.00 - £3.40
per kg
Mixed Brass
£2.95 - £3.15
per kg
Scrap brass is another infrequently traded form of scrap metal. In the UK there is sometimes a shortage of the metal and so the prices are known to fluctuate from month to month. As it stands, scrap brass prices are relatively low compared to the other metal types on this page. You can expect to receive anywhere between £2 and £3 for a kilo of the metal, or £2000 to £3000 for a tonne. Most scrap yards in the UK do accept brass, but you will find that the prices between them vary wildly.
Scrap Stainless Steel Prices UK 2024
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
Stainless Steel 316
£0.45 - £0.92
per kg
Stainless Steel 18/8
£0.45 - £0.67
per kg
Scrap stainless steel prices in the UK are often quite strong throughout the year and across the entirety of the country. Obviously, this still depends on the quality of the metal you have to sell, the grading of the steel and what the demand for scrap steel is in your local area. Often stainless steel can be sold for between £0.60 per kilo and £1 per kilo, with the highest prices coming for things such as sheets and beams. Stainless steel is one of the most profitable forms of metal.
Scrap Lead Prices UK 2024
Prices last updated 11th November, 2024
Lead
£1.00 - £1.12
per kg
Scrap lead is a much rarer type of scrap metal and so the prices for it are quite strong in the UK. You will find that it's quite difficult to source lead anywhere in the house, or actually in most industries too. There are a few places where you can readily find lead are in certain types of piping, wires or sheets. Other items which contain large quantities of lead include batteries, however it can be fairly difficult to extract the metal from these and so we do not recommend it. Scrap lead prices in the UK are often around £1-£1.15 kilo, this is equivalent to between £1,000 and £1,150 per tonne.
Scrap Iron Prices UK 2024
Scrap iron prices are also fairly low at the moment. The cause of this price recession for the metal is unknown, however it is likely due to either a drop in demand or increase in supply. In all of the scrap yards across the country, only a small handful were actively seeking out additional supplies of iron for their manufacturers.
Scrap Metal Prices FAQ
What are the current prices of scrap metal?
This is an incredibly difficult question to answer with any degree of certainty as the UK’s scrap metal prices are always evolving. Our recommendation to you is to follow the link through to the page on our website which provides pricing tables for the city closest to your location. This will give you an idea of the prices for each type of metal in your area, however even these are liable to change at a moment’s notice. The prices of scrap metals are driven by demand, this is ultimately set by the needs of businesses who purchase metal from the scrap yards.
Will scrap metal prices increase this year?
Again, it is very difficult for us to predict whether or not prices will increase or decrease on a daily, monthly or yearly basis. Generally, for most forms of scrap metal in the UK, we have seen prices increase over the past ten years. However, given the relatively unstable political climate right now, it is increasingly challenging to make these predictions.
What are the different varieties of scrap metal?
As mentioned previously, there are a number of different types of scrap metal which are frequently traded in the UK. These are a combination of ferrous (containing iron) and non-ferrous metals (not containing iron):
What are the different scrap metal grades?
Every type of metal has a different way of being graded, however the concept for how each of them is graded is broadly the same. The different grades (for example: 1, 2 and 3 for copper) each correspond to a different purity level. In all instances, the more pure the scrap metal in question, the more it is valued by scrap metal recycling facilities, yards or dealers in the UK. For US visitors, check out https://scrapyards.io/
How can I find the best scrap yards near me?
The best way to find scrap yards in the UK is to use the links situated towards the top of this page. These links will help you identify all of the scrap yards and scrap dealers closest to you. Additionally, it will also show you what the prices these dealers are purchasing each type of scrap metal for. This is the most important bit of information as the best dealer is often equivalent to the one giving the best price for scrap, and this changes frequently.
What are the benefits of recycling scrap metal
Aside from the obvious benefits in the form of additional money to play around with or to save. There are actually a whole host of other benefits that scrap metal recycling can deliver. Firstly, it is one of the best ways to stop unnecessary pollution of the environment, as recycling and re-purposing metal is considerably less polluting and damaging than creating products from newly mined metal.
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