California Scrap Metal Prices - USA

Selling Scrap in California

The most populated state in the whole of the US, California has over 40 million people living there. This makes it one the best states for finding and selling scrap metal.

Before we go through the best locations that will give you the best scrap metal price in the California, we need to discuss the laws surrounding the buying and selling of scrap metal.

First make sure to bring your ID. If you're selling scrap you must present a valid driving license so that the scrap yard can make a copy. In addition, they will keep a record of the car that you visit the scrap yard with. This means they take your license plate and a brief description of your car (make, model, color, etc.). The scrap yard will also need to take fingerprints, normally the right index, and a photo or video of the seller and any material that they bring. All this may seem intrusive for the seller; however, it is vital in protecting the market from scrap theft.

Scrap yards are legally required to keep records of all purchases for 2 years and law enforcement have the right to inspect these records at any time. Payments will be made via cheque, which can be picked up or sent to the seller home address 3 days after the sale.

The final law specific to California and probably the strictest is that law enforcement can force a scrap yard to hold any materials with a value of over $20 for up to 90 days. This is over 10 times longer than most states.

If you want to check out some of the bills that the California State Legislature passed to make it more difficult for thieves to earn money selling stolen metal, then have a look at SB 691 (2008), AB 844 (2008) and AB 1859 (2008). Please note that local ordinances may also exist which impact  scrap metal recycling.

If you want to get more details on current scrap prices and the best scrap yards for each large city in California, then please have look at the cities below.

Best Scrap Yards in California

We will give you a couple recommended scrap yards in each of these cities plus a few other large cities in California. If you need more info on a scrap in California that is closer to you please contact us.

The state capitol, Sacramento and its largest city by population Los Angeles are home to over half the states' inhabitants. The scrap yards in Sacramento that we recommend are Rudy's metals and Junk King Sacramento.

In Los Angeles, the most reliable are C & M Metals and Los Angeles Scrap Metal Buyers. For those in the San Diego area we recommend Ekco Metals, SA Recycling and Ecology Recycling. These scrap yards offer great prices and the staff are helpful.

If you are in San Jose then the scrap yards, that we recommend, are Alco Iron & Metal Company, Sims Metal Management and San Jose Metals Recycling. Each of these scrap yards have great customer service and competitive prices. If you are in the San Francisco area, we think you should go to Circosta Iron & Metal Co, A-1 Scrap Metals and GreenWorx. These have the most competitive prices in the San Francisco area.

Finally, for those in the Fresno area we recommend Western Metal Co, Bruno's Iron and Metal and Schnitzer Recycling Centre. You will not regret visiting any of the scrap yards that we recommend - all offer the best prices and have helpful staff.

Scrap Metal Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
Aluminum$1.32
Aluminum Alloy$1.11
Copper$4.80
Brass$3.69
Lead$1.02
Nickel$8.80
Tin$16.56
Zinc$1.55

Last Updated On 2024-10-12

Scrap Aluminum Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
Aluminum 1100$0.91
Aluminum 3003$0.91
Aluminum 356 Wheels (clean)$0.91
Aluminum 356 Wheels (dirty)$0.65
Aluminum 5052 Scrap$1.23
Aluminum 6061 Extrusions$0.81
Aluminum 6063 Extrusions$1.07
Aluminum 6063 Extrusions/Fe$0.78
Aluminum/Cu Radiators$2.14
Aluminum/Cu/Fe Radiators$1.98
Aluminum Radiators$0.52
Aluminum/Fe Radiators$0.38
Transformers$0.22
Breakage 50% Recovery$0.29
Chrome Wheels$0.86
E.C. Wire$1.41
Litho Sheets$0.91
Mixed Turnings $0.53
MLC Clips$0.90
Aluminum Old Cast$0.87
Aluminum Old Sheet$0.86
Painted Siding$0.85
UBC$0.90
Zorba 90% NF$0.86
Aluminum Cans (clean)$0.66
Aluminum Cans (dirty)$0.33

Scrap Brass Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
Red Brass$2.51
Yellow Brass$2.36
Brass Rod$2.31
Brass Hair Wire$2.48
Brass Pipe$2.25
Brass Radiators$1.91
Brass Shells$2.13
Brass Turnings$2.17
Bronze$2.59
Bronze Turnings$1.35
Dirty Brass$1.13
Dirty Brass Radiators$1.13
Plumbers Brass$2.25
Semi-Red Brass$2.29

Scrap Copper Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
#1 Bare Bright Copper Wire$4.20
#1 Copper Tubing$3.92
#1 Flashing Copper$3.92
#2 Copper Tubing$3.70
#2/3 Mix Copper$3.59
#3 Copper with Tar$3.36
#3 Roofing Copper$3.47
Dirty Roofing Copper$3.25
Electric Motors - Copper$2.91
Enameled Copper$3.31
Insulated Copper Wire$3.36
Lead Coated Copper$2.84
Silver Plated Copper$3.59
Tin Coated Copper$3.14
Tin Insulated Copper Wire$3.14

Scrap Lead Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
Lead Batteries$0.21
Lead Shot$0.48
Lead Wheel Weights$0.31
Solid Lead$0.65
Soft Lead$0.67

Scrap Zinc Prices per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
New Zinc Die Cast$0.96
Old Zinc Die Cast$0.83

Scrap Gold Prices

MetalPrice per GramPrice per Troy Ounce
9ct Gold$34.11$1,060.90
14ct Gold$53.21$1,654.99
18ct Gold$68.22$2,121.75
22ct Gold$83.31$2,591.38
24ct Gold$90.95$2,828.72

In the table above you'll find today's scrap gold price for the different purities of gold. Scrap gold prices (as well as scrap prices for other precious metals) are usually set in troy ounces.
One troy ounce (Oz) is equal to around 31.1 grams.

Scrap Prices for other Precious Metals

MetalPrice per GramPrice per Troy Ounce
Palladium$27.71$862.02
Platinum$25.23$784.87
Silver$0.91$28.31

Above are today's scrap prices for silver, palladium and platinum.

Scrap Prices for Steel per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
#1 Bundle$0.11
#1 Busheling$0.11
#1 HMS$0.08
HMS 80/20$0.07
Sheet Metal$0.06
Shredded Auto Scrap$0.08
Structural Steel$0.08

Scrap Prices for Stainless Steel per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
201 SS$0.32
301 SS$0.48
304 SS Solid$0.68
304 SS Turning$0.59
309 SS$0.89
310 SS$1.34
316 SS Solid$0.89
330 SS$2.19

Above are today's prices for stainless steel. Stainless steel is very much in demand currently due to it's use in construction.

Scrap Prices for other Ferrous Metals per Pound

MetalPrice Per Pound
Scrap #1 Prepared$0.08
Scrap #2 Prepared$0.09
Scrap #1 Unprepared$0.07
Scrap #2 Unprepared$0.07
Scrap Auto Slabs Whole$0.07
Scrap Cast Iron$0.11
Scrap Dishwashers$0.07
Scrap Dryers$0.07
Scrap Oversize Torch$0.10
Scrap Rebar$0.22
Scrap Washing Machines$0.07
Scrap Water Heaters$0.07

Scrap Electronics Prices per Pound

ElectronicsPrice Per Pound
Scrap Back PanelsContact local scrap yard
Scrap Cellphones
Scrap Computer Wire
Scrap CPU Chips
Scrap CRT Monitors
Scrap Empty PC Servers
Scrap Graphics Cards
Scrap Hard DrivesContact local scrap yard
Scrap Hard Drive Boards
Scrap Laptops
Scrap LCD Monitors
Scrap Low Grade Boards
Scrap Mainframes
Scrap Memory
Scrap Mice
Scrap MotherboardsContact local scrap yard
Scrap Non-Green PC Boards
Scrap PC Boards
Scrap PC Tower
Scrap Power Supplies
Scrap Printers/Fax Machines
Scrap Servers
Scrap Speakers
Scrap Telecom EquipmentContact local scrap yard