Bare bright copper is worth $3.90 to $4.40 per pound today, making it the highest-paying grade in the entire scrap metal market. The price tracks COMEX copper, which has been setting record highs above $4.10 per pound. To qualify as bare bright, wire must be clean, uncoated, unalloyed, shiny copper at least 16 gauge thick, with no insulation, tarnish, solder, or attachments.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare bright copper | $3.90 | $4.40 | USD/lb |
| #1 copper (clean tubing) | $3.60 | $5.25 | USD/lb |
| #2 copper | $3.37 | $5.05 | USD/lb |
| Light copper / sheet | $2.50 | $3.32 | USD/lb |
| Insulated copper wire | $1.20 | $2.60 | USD/lb |
| Copper/alu coil (clean) | $1.55 | $3.02 | USD/lb |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $3.37 – $5.25 /lb | $7,400 – $11,600 | USD |
| Canada | C$10 – C$15 /kg | C$10,000 – C$15,000 | CAD |
| United Kingdom | £5.60 – £8.50 /kg | £5,600 – £8,500 | GBP |
| Germany / EU | €6.70 – €10.00 /kg | €6,700 – €10,000 | EUR |
| Australia | A$11 – A$17 /kg | A$11,000 – A$17,000 | AUD |
| India | ₹650 – ₹1,000 /kg | ₹650,000 – ₹1,000,000 | INR |
| UAE / Dubai | 27 – 42 AED/kg | 27,000 – 42,000 AED | AED |
Rates for every other metal grade are collected in the complete scrap metal price index.
Why Bare Bright Is the King of Scrap
Every scrapper’s hierarchy ends at the same summit: bare bright. It’s the purest, cleanest copper grade a yard buys, and it pays within 90-97% of the actual COMEX exchange price. Nothing else in the scrap world gets that close to spot.
The name describes the standard exactly. Bare means no insulation, coating, or plating. Bright means shiny, untarnished surface. Add the thickness requirement (16 gauge or heavier, roughly the thickness of a standard pencil lead or more) and you have the full spec.
Copper’s record run is driven by electrification demand: EVs, data centers, grid buildouts, and renewable installations all consume enormous amounts of copper while mine supply lags. That structural squeeze is why bare bright pays more today than at any point in history.
What Qualifies as Bare Bright (And What Doesn’t)
Yards enforce the spec strictly because refiners do. Your wire qualifies if it’s:
- Uncoated: No insulation, varnish, tin plating, or nickel plating anywhere.
- Bright: Shiny copper color. Green patina, dark tarnish, or burn discoloration drops it to #1 or #2.
- Thick enough: 16 gauge minimum. Thin stranded wire, even when perfectly clean, grades as #1 at best.
- Unalloyed: Pure copper only. Brass fittings, solder joints, or steel cores disqualify the piece.
One tarnished strand in a bright bundle can downgrade the whole lot, so sort ruthlessly before the scale.
Where Bare Bright Comes From
The main source is stripped electrical wire: THHN building wire, Romex conductors, and heavy service cable all yield bare bright once the insulation comes off. Electricians and demolition crews generate it constantly.
The strip-or-not decision is pure math. Insulated wire sells at recovery-based rates ($1.20-$3.30/lb depending on copper percentage), while the stripped copper inside sells at $3.90-$4.40/lb. A wire stripper machine ($100-$400) pays for itself quickly at volume, but stripping thin wire by hand rarely beats selling it insulated. Never burn insulation off; burnt wire grades down to #2 and open burning is illegal nearly everywhere.
Common Mistakes That Cost You Money
- Mixing grades in one container: Yards grade to the lowest visible item. Separate bare bright, #1, and #2 completely.
- Leaving solder or fittings attached: One brass fitting downgrades a clean tube from #1 pricing.
- Burning insulation: Instant downgrade plus legal exposure.
- Selling small amounts frequently: Copper is worth accumulating. Many yards pay tiered rates above 100 lbs.
- Ignoring the COMEX chart: Yard prices follow the exchange within a day or two. Sell into strength.
Getting the Best Price
Sort strictly, strip what the math supports, and call 2-3 yards with the exact words “bare bright” to compare real quotes. Ask about volume tiers if you’re bringing serious weight.
Copper’s structural bull market means bare bright is the scrap category most worth your patience and precision. The same copper story drives values in electric motors and AC compressors, but bare bright is where the market pays you closest to full value.