Galvanized steel scrap is worth $0.03 to $0.08 per pound, or roughly $60 to $160 per ton. It prices slightly below clean steel because the zinc coating must be burned off during remelting, which adds processing cost for the mill. Most yards accept galvanized material as light iron or shred steel without a separate category, so heavy items like fencing, ductwork, roofing, and guardrails are sold by total weight.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel (clean) | $0.03 | $0.08 | USD/lb |
| Galvanized per ton | $60 | $160 | USD/ton |
| Galvanized pipe / fence | $0.03 | $0.07 | USD/lb |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.03 – $0.08 /lb | $60 – $160 | USD |
| Canada | C$0.04 – C$0.11 /lb | C$80 – C$220 | CAD |
| United Kingdom | £0.05 – £0.13 /kg | £50 – £130 | GBP |
| Germany / EU | €0.06 – €0.15 /kg | €60 – €150 | EUR |
| Australia | A$0.09 – A$0.24 /kg | A$90 – A$240 | AUD |
| India | ₹20 – ₹30 /kg | ₹20,000 – ₹30,000 | INR |
Rates for every other metal grade are collected in the complete scrap metal price index.
What Galvanized Steel Is and Why It Prices Below Clean Steel
Galvanized steel is ordinary carbon steel dipped in molten zinc, leaving a corrosion-resistant coating with that familiar spangled, matte-gray finish. The zinc layer is the whole point of the product and, ironically, the reason it earns a small discount at the scrapyard.
When mills remelt galvanized scrap, the zinc vaporizes and must be captured by emission systems, then recovered from the dust. That extra handling cost flows back down the chain as a few dollars per ton off the clean steel price.
The discount is modest. In practice, most yards simply weigh galvanized material into the general light iron or shred pile at $0.03-$0.08/lb, the same tier as fence posts and appliance shells.
Common Galvanized Items and Their Values
- Roofing and siding sheets: Barn teardowns yield hundreds of pounds at a time.
- Chain link fencing: Light per foot but a full yard removal adds up to a few hundred pounds.
- HVAC ductwork: Renovation demo generates piles of thin galvanized sheet.
- Pipe and conduit: Old galvanized plumbing pulled during repipes.
- Guardrails and structural pieces: The heaviest and best-paying galvanized category.
- Water heater shells: $5-$12 each, and the anode rod inside may be zinc or magnesium worth pulling. Our zinc scrap guide covers those anodes.
How to Identify Galvanized Steel
The spangle pattern gives it away: crystalline, snowflake-like zones on the surface from the zinc dip. Older weathered galvanized turns uniform dull gray. It’s fully magnetic (unlike stainless), and scratching the surface reveals darker steel beneath the gray coating.
The stainless confusion costs sellers real money in the other direction. If a gray metal item is non-magnetic, stop: you may be holding 304 stainless worth 10x the galvanized rate. Run the magnet before anything hits the light iron pile, and check our stainless steel scrap guide for the grade breakdown.
Common Mistakes That Shrink Galvanized Payouts
- Trashing it instead of scrapping: The rate is low, but a barn roof or full fence line is a few hundred pounds of free money already loaded in your trailer.
- Missing stainless in the pile: One magnet pass protects you from giving away nickel-bearing metal at iron prices.
- Leaving concrete on fence posts: Yards reject or heavily dock posts with concrete footings attached. Break them off.
- Hauling small loads: At $0.05/lb, anything under a few hundred pounds barely covers fuel. Accumulate.
- Ignoring attached non-ferrous: Brass fittings on galvanized pipe and copper wire in conduit are worth 40-80x the steel rate. Strip them first.
Getting the Best Price
Consolidate loads, break off concrete, strip brass and copper attachments, and run a magnet over anything questionable. Call ahead to confirm the yard’s light iron rate and whether they take thin sheet without deductions.
Galvanized steel is pure volume scrap: no grades to learn, no premium to chase, just weight times rate. Treat it as the base layer of a mixed load, stack your cast iron and motors on top, and every demolition day ends with a worthwhile scale ticket.