Scrap Prices for Oxygen Tanks: Aluminum vs Steel Cylinder Values

Scrap oxygen tanks are worth $2 to $30 depending on material and size. Aluminum cylinders fetch $0.40-$0.60 per pound at scrap (roughly $8-$20 for a typical medical or scuba tank), while steel cylinders pay only $0.03-$0.06 per pound ($2-$8 per tank). The brass valve alone can add $2-$5. Tanks in good condition with current hydro test dates are worth far more resold intact ($30-$100+) than scrapped.

Rates for every other category are collected in the complete scrap metal price index.

Why Oxygen Tanks Have Scrap Value

Old oxygen tanks pile up everywhere: medical supply closets, welding shops, dive shops, garages. Whether they came from home oxygen therapy, welding rigs, or scuba gear, every cylinder is a chunk of recyclable metal with a market price.

The value depends almost entirely on what the tank is made of. Aluminum cylinders (most modern medical and scuba tanks) trade at aluminum scrap rates, currently strong thanks to elevated LME aluminum prices. Steel cylinders (older medical tanks, most welding oxygen bottles) pay steel scrap rates, which are far lower per pound.

One often-missed bonus: the valve. Most cylinder valves are solid brass, and brass scrap pays $1.50-$2.50 per pound. A chunky valve can be worth more than a small steel tank itself.

Current Oxygen Tank Scrap Price Breakdown

• Aluminum scrap rate: $0.40 – $0.60/lb (tanks are typically “cast” or “clean” grade)
• Steel scrap rate: $0.03 – $0.06/lb (light iron / prepared steel)
• Brass valve: $1.50 – $2.50/lb removed
• Typical aluminum medical tank (M size): $7 – $18
• Typical steel welding cylinder: $2.50 – $8
• Resale value (current hydro test): $30 – $100+

Notice the resale line. If your tank has a current hydro test date and passes visual inspection, selling it intact on a marketplace or to a dive/welding shop beats scrap value by 5-10x. Scrap is the right call only for expired, damaged, or out-of-spec cylinders. The aluminum rates track the same market covered in our aluminum scrap price guide.

Aluminum vs. Steel: How to Tell What You Have

The magnet test. Stick a magnet on the cylinder. If it grips, it’s steel. If it slides off, it’s aluminum. This 5-second test can be a 10x difference in payout.

Check the shoulder stamps. US cylinders carry DOT specifications stamped near the neck. “DOT-3AL” means aluminum. “DOT-3A” or “DOT-3AA” means steel. The stamps also show the manufacture date and hydro test history.

Weight is a clue too. An aluminum 80 cu ft cylinder weighs about 32 lbs. The equivalent steel tank runs heavier and feels denser for its size.

Critical: Prepare the Tank Before Any Yard Accepts It

Scrapyards will not take a sealed pressure cylinder. A closed tank is a potential bomb in a shredder, and every yard knows it. Here’s the required prep:

• Empty the tank completely. Open the valve in a ventilated outdoor area and let all pressure vent. Oxygen isn’t flammable itself, but it accelerates combustion violently. Keep it away from oil, grease, and flames.
• Remove the valve. This proves the tank is empty and gets you a separate brass payout. A pipe wrench and some leverage usually does it once pressure is fully vented.
• Some yards want it cut. Many yards require the cylinder cut in half or a hole drilled so they can visually verify it’s empty. Call ahead and ask.
• Bring ID. Standard scrap regulations apply. Some regions also track cylinder sales because rental cylinders (Airgas, Linde) are technically supplier property.

Watch Out: Rental Cylinders Aren’t Yours to Scrap

Many welding and medical oxygen cylinders are leased, not owned. If the tank has a supplier collar or stamp from Airgas, Linde, Praxair, or a medical supply company, it likely belongs to them, even if it’s been in your garage for a decade.

Scrapping supplier-owned cylinders can create legal problems, and reputable yards often refuse them. The fix is easy: return the cylinder to any branch of the supplier. Owned cylinders (stamped with no supplier collar, purchased outright with a receipt) are yours to scrap or sell freely.

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Payout

• Scrapping a resale-worthy tank: Current hydro + good condition = sell it intact for 5-10x scrap value.
• Leaving the valve on: You lose the brass money and the yard may reject the tank entirely.
• Mixing up aluminum and steel: Run the magnet test. Don’t let a busy yard weigh your aluminum tank as steel.
• Showing up with a pressurized tank: Instant rejection, and it’s genuinely dangerous.
• Scrapping rental cylinders: Return supplier-owned tanks instead of risking a stolen property issue.

Getting the Best Price

Sort your tanks by material first: aluminum in one pile, steel in another, valves in a bucket. Call 2-3 yards for their current aluminum and brass rates, since those two categories carry nearly all the value. If you have a truckload from a shop cleanout or estate, ask about volume pricing.

And always run the resale check before scrapping. A $12 scrap tank with a fresh hydro stamp might be an $80 marketplace sale. The same rule applies across the scrap world, from car batteries to catalytic converters: know what you’re holding before you let the yard set the price.

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