Scrap transformers currently sell for $0.10 to $0.60 per pound depending on winding material. Copper-wound transformers average $0.35/lb with competitive yards paying $0.45-$0.60/lb, while aluminum-wound units bring $0.10-$0.20/lb. A microwave transformer nets $2-$5, a pole-mount utility transformer $50-$300+, and large industrial units can bring four figures. The copper-to-steel ratio inside determines everything.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric motors | $0.15 | $0.40 | USD/lb |
| Transformers, copper-wound | $0.35 | $0.60 | USD/lb |
| Transformers, alu-wound | $0.10 | $0.20 | USD/lb |
| Car batteries | $0.15 | $0.28 | USD/lb |
| Car batteries (each) | $5 | $15 | USD/unit |
| Oxygen tank, aluminum | $8 | $20 | USD/unit |
| Oxygen tank, steel | $2 | $8 | USD/unit |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.15 – $0.40 /lb (motors) | $330 – $880 | USD |
| Canada | C$0.45 – C$1.20 /kg | C$450 – C$1,200 | CAD |
| United Kingdom | £0.25 – £0.65 /kg | £250 – £650 | GBP |
| Germany / EU | €0.30 – €0.80 /kg | €300 – €800 | EUR |
| Australia | A$0.50 – A$1.35 /kg | A$500 – A$1,350 | AUD |
| India | ₹30 – ₹78 /kg | ₹30,000 – ₹78,000 | INR |
Rates for every other category are collected in the complete scrap metal price index.
Why Transformers Are a Scrapper’s Steady Earner
Transformers are everywhere: microwaves, power supplies, doorbell systems, HVAC equipment, industrial machinery, and every power pole in the country. Each one is a package of steel laminations wrapped in copper or aluminum wire, and the wire is where the money lives.
With #2 copper trading at $3.50-$4.00/lb, a transformer’s value comes down to one question: what percentage of its weight is copper? Small electronic transformers run 20-30% copper. Larger units vary widely, which is why yards buy them as a mixed category at a blended rate rather than paying full copper prices.
That blended rate is the game. Sell a copper-wound transformer as-is and you get $0.35/lb. Break it down and separate the copper, and that same material pays 10x per pound.
Current Scrap Transformer Prices
- Copper-wound transformers: $0.25 – $0.60/lb (average $0.35/lb)
- Aluminum-wound transformers: $0.10 – $0.20/lb
- Microwave transformer: $2 – $5 each (5-10 lbs)
- Pole-mount utility transformer: $50 – $300+ (drained)
- Stripped copper windings: $3.20 – $3.90/lb as #2 copper
- Copper #2 benchmark: ~$3.50 – $4.00/lb
Notice the gap between whole-unit and stripped pricing. That 10x spread is why serious scrappers break transformers down when volume justifies the labor.
Copper vs. Aluminum Windings: The 5-Second Test
Scratch the winding wire with a knife. Copper shows its unmistakable reddish shine under the enamel coating; aluminum stays silver-white. Newer and cheaper transformers increasingly use aluminum windings, and yards will check, so know before you claim.
Color of the enamel doesn’t tell you anything, since both metals get coated in similar amber insulation. Always scratch to bare metal.
Where the Money Hides in Common Transformers
Microwave transformers are the classic scrapper find. Every dead microwave has a 5-10 lb transformer with copper primary and secondary windings. Pull it in two minutes with a screwdriver.
Power supplies and wall chargers contain small transformers that add up in bulk. A banker’s box of dead chargers is a few dollars of blended-rate weight.
Fluorescent light ballasts contain small transformers, but pre-1979 ballasts may contain PCBs. Ballasts marked “No PCBs” are safe to scrap; unmarked older units should go to hazardous waste programs.
Utility and industrial transformers are the whales. A drained pole-mount unit weighs 100-500 lbs with substantial copper content. Industrial three-phase units can top 1,000 lbs. Access to these usually requires electrician or demolition connections.
The Oil Problem: Read Before Hauling
Large transformers are oil-filled for cooling, and that oil is the biggest complication in transformer scrapping. Yards will not accept units leaking or full of oil, and older transformer oil (pre-1979) may contain PCBs, a regulated hazardous substance.
- Drain oil completely into sealed containers before transport.
- Check the nameplate: units marked “Non-PCB” or manufactured after 1979 are generally fine.
- Unmarked older units need testing or hazmat disposal. Don’t gamble; PCB violations carry serious fines.
- Some yards charge a handling fee for oil-filled units even when drained. Call ahead.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Payout
- Selling copper-wound at aluminum rates: Scratch-test and tell the yard what you have.
- Not separating when volume justifies it: 100 lbs of transformers at $0.35/lb is $35. The same units stripped might yield 25 lbs of copper at $3.50 = $87 plus steel.
- Hauling oil-filled units without draining: Rejected at the scale, and now it’s leaking in your truck.
- Scrapping unmarked old ballasts: PCB risk isn’t worth $0.15/lb.
- Ignoring the steel core: Laminated cores are clean steel worth $0.04-$0.08/lb. Weight adds up on big units.
Getting the Best Price
Sort copper-wound from aluminum-wound before the yard visit, drain any oil, and call 2-3 yards for their transformer rate since the spread between yards is wide on this category. If you’re accumulating from appliance teardowns, stockpile until you have 50+ lbs to make the trip worthwhile.
Transformers pair naturally with other appliance scrap runs. Check our guides on washing machine scrap value and aluminum scrap prices to price out a full appliance haul before you load the truck.
Related scrap price guides
- Mercury Recycling Prices: What Pays, What Costs, What’s Illegal
- Scrap Electric Motors Cost: Per-Pound Prices & What Pays More
- Scrap Prices for Oxygen Tanks: Aluminum vs Steel Cylinder Values
- AC Compressor Scrap Price: Sealed Unit Values & Copper Math
- Scrap metal price index — all 25 materials and part types