Scrap Metal Pickup for Cash Near Me: Where to Sell & What It's Worth [2026]

Scrap metal prices fluctuate daily based on commodity markets. These are approximate buying prices from scrap yards as of March 2026.

• •Copper (bare bright): $3.40 to $3.55 per pound — the most valuable common scrap metal. Found in wiring, pipes, and appliance motors.

• •Copper (insulated wire): $1.00 to $2.50 per pound depending on copper content and insulation type.

• •Brass: $1.80 to $2.20 per pound. Found in plumbing fixtures, valves, and decorative hardware.

• •Aluminum (clean): $0.45 to $0.55 per pound. Found in gutters, siding, window frames, and cans.

• •Stainless steel: $0.25 to $0.45 per pound. Found in appliances, sinks, and cookware.

• •Steel/iron: $0.06 to $0.10 per pound. The most common but least valuable scrap metal. Found in everything from bed frames to filing cabinets.

Prices vary by location, yard, and quantity. Larger loads generally get better per-pound rates. Check Rockaway Recycling or iScrap App for daily prices at yards near you.

Getting cash for scrap metal requires either hauling it to a yard or finding a service that picks up from your location.

Drop off at a scrap yard is the most common and highest-paying option. You load your metal, drive to the nearest yard, and they weigh and pay you on the spot. Ace Metal Company, SA Recycling, Alter Trading, and hundreds of local yards buy all types of scrap. No appointment needed for most yards. Bring a valid ID — scrap yards are required to verify seller identity in most states.

Free scrap metal pickup is available from some yards and independent collectors for large quantities. Sgt. Scrap offers mobile pickup across NJ, PA, DE, NY, and MD. Kevin's Free Junk Removal in Arizona provides free pickup for heavy scraps, machinery, and equipment. Most free pickup services require a minimum amount — typically 500+ pounds or multiple large items.

Scrap metal pickup services from junk removal companies cost $79 to $300+ but handle the loading and hauling for you. Junk King offers scrap metal recycling as part of their standard service. LoadUp provides scrap metal removal with curbside and full-service options. 1-800-GOT-JUNK takes mixed-material items that scrap yards often reject.

Dropcurb removes metal items curbside starting at $79. Place old appliances, metal furniture, bed frames, or exercise equipment at the curb and a hauler picks them up. Some haulers offset disposal costs by recycling the metal.

Many common household items contain scrap metal worth recycling.

Appliances are the most valuable everyday scrap items. According to TakeMyAppliance, a refrigerator contains $15 to $35 in scrap metal (compressor copper, steel body, aluminum coils). A washing machine yields $12 to $25. A dryer produces $8 to $15. A dishwasher contains $5 to $10. Okon Recycling confirms that appliance compressors and motors are the most copper-rich components.

Old plumbing fixtures — faucets, valves, pipe fittings — are often solid brass worth $1.80 to $2.20 per pound. A single brass faucet weighs 2 to 5 pounds and is worth $4 to $11.

Copper pipes and wire from renovations bring the highest per-pound prices. A 10-foot section of 1/2-inch copper pipe weighs about 2 pounds and is worth $7 at current prices.

Aluminum gutters, siding, and window frames add up quickly. A standard 10-foot gutter section weighs 2 to 4 pounds and is worth $1 to $2.

Steel items — bed frames, filing cabinets, metal shelving, old grills — are abundant but low-value. A steel bed frame weighs 50 to 80 pounds but is only worth $3 to $8 at the scrap yard. At those values, hauling it yourself for cash barely covers gas money.

The math determines whether scrap metal is worth your time to sell or cheaper to pay for removal.

Sell your scrap metal when:

• •You have copper, brass, or aluminum in significant quantities (10+ pounds). These metals pay enough per pound to justify a trip to the yard.

• •You have large appliances in working or non-working condition. Refrigerators, washers, and dryers contain $8 to $35 in metal each. If you have multiple appliances, the total justifies a trip.

• •You already own a truck or trailer. The cost of hauling is just gas and time.

• •A scrap yard or collector offers free pickup. For 500+ pounds, many yards will come to you.

Pay for removal when:

• •You have mostly steel or iron items worth under $10 total. A bed frame worth $5 at the scrap yard is not worth 2 hours of loading and driving. Dropcurb picks it up curbside for $79 — and removes everything else you need gone in the same trip.

• •Items are mixed materials that scrap yards reject. Upholstered furniture with metal frames, electronics with metal cases, or items with non-recyclable components need junk removal, not scrap recycling.

• •You do not have a vehicle to haul metal. Renting a truck costs $20 to $50+ just for the rental, often erasing any scrap profit.

• •Time matters more than money. Loading, driving, and waiting at a scrap yard takes 2 to 4 hours for a typical household load.

Start with these resources to find scrap metal buyers and pickup services in your area.

iScrap App lists scrap yards nationwide with current prices, hours, and accepted materials. Search by ZIP code to find the closest yard.

Google Maps search for "scrap yard near me" or "metal recycling near me" shows local yards with reviews, prices, and pickup availability.

Yelp search for "free scrap metal pickup" reveals independent collectors and small operators who pick up for free or pay cash for larger loads.

Craigslist "free" section often has scrap metal collectors actively seeking metal. Post a "curb alert" with photos and you may find someone willing to take metal items for free within hours.

For items not worth scrapping — or when you want everything gone in one trip — Dropcurb handles curbside metal item removal starting at $79 in 980+ cities across 39 states. Book online, place items at the curb, and a hauler picks up same day.