Copper · Surrey & London
Scrap Copper Prices per KG
Our copper prices from Chertsey, serving Surrey and London. These are our own prices, not UK averages.
Copper is usually the most valuable common scrap metal, and it is also the one where grading makes the biggest difference. Two bags of copper of the same weight can be worth noticeably different amounts depending on whether the metal is bare and bright, or carries solder, paint, insulation or brass fittings.
Our confirmed copper prices are listed below by grade, in pounds per kg. The final price depends on the condition and weight of your copper.
Copper prices
| Metal / grade | Price |
|---|---|
Electric motors | £0.30 – £0.40 per kg |
Dry bright copper wire | £9.00 – £9.20 per kg |
Clean flat electro copper | £8.90 – £9.00 per kg |
New copper tube | £8.70 – £9.00 per kg |
Greasy bright wire | £8.70 – £8.90 per kg |
98% heavy copper | £8.40 – £8.60 per kg |
Copper cylinders | £7.50 – £7.70 per kg |
Copper braziery | £7.30 – £7.50 per kg |
Mixed copper (min. 96%) | £7.00 – £7.40 per kg |
Final price depends on the grade, condition and weight of your metal.
Copper grades we track
- Dry bright copper wire
- Clean, dry, uncoated bare copper wire with no insulation, tinning or oxidation.
- Clean flat electro copper
- Clean flat copper bar and busbar, uncoated and free of attachments.
- New copper tube
- New, clean copper tube free of fittings, solder and paint.
- Greasy bright wire
- Bright copper wire with a maximum of 5% grease.
- 98% heavy copper
- Heavy copper of at least 98% purity.
- Copper cylinders
- Hot-water cylinders and tanks.
- Copper braziery
- Mixed copper with brass, minimum 88% copper.
- Mixed copper (min. 96%)
- Mixed copper with a minimum of 96% copper.
- Electric motors
- Scrap electric motors containing copper windings.
How to identify copper
- Bright copper wire (often called No. 1 or ‘bright and shiny’) is bare, uncoated and unalloyed wire, at least roughly the thickness of a pencil lead, with no tarnish, tinning or insulation.
- Clean copper tube (No. 2) is plumbing pipe with fittings and soldered joints cut off. Light surface oxidation is usually accepted.
- Mixed copper covers pipe with solder, paint, plaster or small brass fittings still attached, and tinned or burnt wire.
- Copper cylinders are graded separately because they typically include brass bosses, immersion heater fittings and foam lagging.
Preparation and contamination
- Cut off brass fittings and sort them into a separate brass bag — they are worth less than copper and drag the whole load down if mixed in.
- Strip cable insulation only where it is safe and practical; never burn cable, which is illegal and destroys value.
- Remove foam lagging, plastic and plaster before weighing.
- Keep bright wire, clean tube and mixed copper in separate containers.
What affects the price
- Copper's value follows global market reference prices, which can move daily.
- Yards apply a margin for sorting, transport and processing, so their buying price is always below the market reference.
- Purity: solder, tin coatings and attachments reduce what a yard can pay.
- Quantity: larger, well-sorted loads may attract better rates.
Estimate the value of your copper
Your estimate will appear here
Estimated value = weight in kg × price per kg. For a price range we show both the low and high value.
Copper price FAQs
What is the difference between bright copper wire and mixed copper?
Bright wire is bare, untarnished and free of coatings or attachments, so it can be melted with little processing. Mixed copper has solder, paint, oxidation or fittings that must be removed or refined, so yards pay less for it.
Are copper prices on this site live?
No. Every price is entered and checked manually against a named source and shows its verification date. Records older than our freshness threshold are clearly marked as out of date.
Will a London scrap yard pay me in cash?
No. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, licensed dealers in England and Wales cannot pay for scrap metal in cash. Expect a bank transfer or cheque, and bring photo ID and proof of address, which dealers are required to record.