Scrap metal prices per kg
What we're paying for copper, cable, brass, aluminium, stainless, lead and steel at our McDougalls Hill yard, minutes from Singleton and open to the whole Hunter Valley. All rates are in AUD per kilogram and are a guide only — the final price depends on grade, cleanliness, contamination and volume, and is confirmed on the scale when you arrive.
Prices as at 17 August 2026.
Scrap metal markets move daily — these prices are subject to change at any time without notice. Call 1300 599 099 or send an enquiry for today's confirmed rate.
Copper prices per kg
Copper is the highest paying metal we buy. The grade comes down to how clean and bright the metal is: bare bright wire pays the most, plumbing tube and dull or painted copper drop back to No.2, and anything mixed with brass fittings, solder or steel is priced as No.3.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright and Shiny Copper | $13.50 | $17.00 |
| No.1 Copper / Clean Copper | $13.00 | $14.50 |
| No.2 Copper | $10.00 | $12.50 |
| Mixed / No.3 Copper | $9.00 | $10.50 |
How to get the top rate
- •Bare bright must be clean bare wire — no insulation, tinning, solder or paint.
- •Strip fittings, tap ware and gate valves off copper tube to keep it at No.1 or No.2.
- •Keep copper separate from brass — mixed bins are paid at the lower rate.
Insulated cable prices per kg
Cable is priced on copper recovery — how much bare metal is left once the insulation is off. Heavy single-core and building mains sit at the high-grade rate, standard house and PVC cable in the middle, and thin data, phone and Christmas-light style cable at the low-grade rate.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| High-grade insulated cable | $6.00 | $8.00 |
| Medium PVC copper cable | $4.00 | $5.50 |
| Low-grade insulated cable | $1.50 | $3.00 |
How to get the top rate
- •Sort cable by thickness rather than by colour — recovery is what sets the rate.
- •Steel-armoured and aluminium-cored cable is priced separately, so keep it apart.
- •If you can strip it cleanly yourself, bare bright pays well above cable rates.
Brass prices per kg
Clean yellow or honey brass — taps, fittings, pipe and machine turnings free of steel and oil — pays the top brass rate. Anything with steel screws, chrome plating, rubber washers or plastic bodies is bought as mixed or dirty brass.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Yellow / Honey Brass | $6.00 | $8.00 |
| Mixed / Dirty Brass | $4.00 | $6.00 |
How to get the top rate
- •Pull steel spindles and screws out of tap bodies to lift the grade.
- •Chrome-plated brass is still brass, but plating pulls it into the mixed grade.
- •Keep gunmetal and bronze aside — we price those on inspection.
Aluminium prices per kg
Aluminium rates depend on the alloy and what is attached. Clean 6063 and 6061 extrusion pays best, mag wheels are graded on whether the tyre and steel weights are off, and cast housings, old sheet and radiators sit at the lower end. Aluminium/copper radiators are paid on copper content.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|
How to get the top rate
- •Extrusion must be free of glass, rubber, screws and thermal breaks to stay clean.
- •Tyres off and steel weights removed moves mag wheels from dirty to clean.
- •Aluminium/copper radiators are worth far more than all-aluminium ones — sort them.
Stainless steel prices per kg
304 is the everyday stainless found in kitchen benches, sinks, tanks and balustrade. 316 is marine grade with added molybdenum and is priced on the day against the current nickel market, so give us a call for a firm figure.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 304 Stainless | $1.00 | $1.50 |
| 316 Stainless | Call for price | |
How to get the top rate
- •A magnet helps: 304 and 316 are mostly non-magnetic, cheaper 400-series sticks.
- •Remove plastic laminate, timber and rubber seals from bench tops and tanks.
- •Large 316 loads are worth quoting before you load the truck.
Lead, batteries, motors and units
Lead sheet, flashing, pipe and ingots are bought clean. Car and truck batteries, small electric motors, transformers and air-conditioning units are all priced by weight because the value sits in the copper and lead inside them.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Lead | $1.50 | $2.50 |
| Car Batteries | $0.30 | $0.70 |
| Small Electric Motors | $0.50 | $1.20 |
| Transformers | $0.75 | $1.00 |
| Air-conditioning Units | $0.40 | $0.60 |
How to get the top rate
- •Keep lead free of steel clips, plastic and paint for the clean rate.
- •Batteries must be whole and upright — cracked cases can't be accepted.
- •Leave motors and transformers assembled; we pay on the copper content.
Steel and iron prices per kg
Heavy melting steel (HMS) is anything over about 6 mm thick — RSJ, plate, machinery and axles. Light iron covers roof sheeting, car panels, appliance shells and thin tube. Steel is a volume game, so it pays best when you bring a full load.
| Material / grade | From ($/kg) | To ($/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Steel / HMS | $0.10 | $0.18 |
| Light Iron / Sheet | $0.05 | $0.10 |
How to get the top rate
- •Separate heavy steel from light iron before you tip — they pay different rates.
- •Strip motors, batteries, tyres and timber out of steel loads.
- •Talk to us about a bin if you have an ongoing steel clean-up.
How we work out your price
01
Sort and weigh
Your load is sorted into grades and weighed on our scale in front of you, so you can see exactly what each grade came to.
02
Grade and rate
Each grade is matched to the rate on the day. Clean, sorted metal sits at the top of the range; contaminated or mixed metal at the bottom.
03
Get paid
Bring photo ID and your bank details. Payment is made by electronic transfer — cash for scrap metal isn't permitted in NSW.
Scrap metal price questions
How often do scrap metal prices change?
Scrap metal is traded on global commodity markets, so the underlying price moves every business day. The rates on this page were set on 17 August 2026 and are a guide only — call 1300 599 099 for the rate that applies today.
Why is a price shown as a range?
Where you land in the range depends on grade, cleanliness and volume. Clean, sorted metal with no contamination sits at the top of the range; mixed, painted, wet or attached material sits at the bottom.
How is my scrap weighed and paid?
Your load is weighed on our scale at 1 Foybrook Avenue, McDougalls Hill, sorted into grades in front of you, and paid out on the confirmed weight. Bring photo ID — it's required for scrap metal transactions in NSW.
Is there a minimum load?
No. We buy anything from a bucket of copper offcuts up to full truck and bin loads. For larger or ongoing volumes we can quote a rate and arrange collection.
Do you pay cash for scrap metal?
Cash payment for scrap metal is prohibited under NSW law. Payment is made by electronic transfer once your load is weighed and graded, so bring your bank details along with photo ID.
Can I get a price before I come in?
Yes. Send photos and a rough weight through the enquiry form or call 1300 599 099 and we'll give you an indicative price and a drop-off time before you load up.
Want today's confirmed rate?
Tell us what you have and roughly how much, and we'll come back with a firm price or a drop-off time.