Scrap metal is not worth a fixed amount. The price you get depends on the commodity market, the grade of your material, the quantity, and where you are.
The commodity market
Non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel) are traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Scrap prices track these, typically at 70–90% of the primary metal price, depending on grade. Ferrous metals (steel, iron) are traded on regional indices and fluctuate with supply and demand in the local market.
Grade and purity
Within each metal type, grade determines price. Bright copper wire (clean, stripped) is worth more than mixed copper (tinned, insulated, painted). Clean aluminium extrusions are worth more than painted or mixed cast aluminium. The yard grades your material when you deliver it — ask to see the grading criteria.
Quantity
Yards pay more per kilo for larger quantities because handling costs are spread over more material. A 10 kg batch and a 1,000 kg batch of the same material will not get the same per-kg price. This is not the yard being difficult — it is economics.
Transport distance
The closer you are to a yard, the less transport costs. A yard 20 km away can pay more per kg than one 200 km away, because their collection cost is lower. This is why local competition matters — European Scrap Market connects you with yards in your country.
Currency
Within the eurozone, prices are in EUR. In non-euro countries (Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, etc.), prices are in local currency but track the same commodity markets. Currency fluctuations can affect what you get.
How to check
European Scrap Market shows reference prices per material class. These are indicative — your actual offer will depend on grade, quantity, and location. Use them as a starting point, then get bids from multiple yards to see where you stand.