The 23 Most Profitable Metals to Scrap: Prices, Sources, and Smart Selling Tips

If you want a simple way to turn clutter into cash, scrap metal is a direct path. The most profitable metals to scrap live in garages, sheds, closets, and project piles. With a magnet, a scale, a few labeled bins, and a plan, you can sort fast, sell clean, and walk out of the yard with money. This guide ranks the 23 best metals to scrap, shows you where to find them, and gives you a repeatable, legal process that works in the real world.

How Scrap Makes You Money

The three levers that drive profit

Scrap profit depends on price per pound, purity, and volume. Non ferrous metals like copper, brass, aluminum, and the platinum group pay more than ferrous metals like iron and steel. Clean metal earns more than mixed, dirty, or painted metal. Volume multiplies small wins. Five minutes collecting thick copper wire often beats an hour pulling tiny screws from a busted device.

Simple shop routine that never fails

• Use a magnet to split ferrous from non ferrous in seconds.
• Keep a cheap digital scale to estimate value before you leave.
• Sort by type in sturdy, clearly labeled bins.
• Remove screws, rubber, wood, and plastic whenever practical.
• Know your local laws, bring ID, and only sell what you legally own.

Prices move, but you do not need to chase pennies. Track the board price at your yard, wait for a reasonable number, then move your stack. A retired machinist wrote that he sold a coffee can of carbide inserts and brass offcuts and paid for a week of groceries. Common sense, repeated, wins.

Precious Metals: Small Pieces, Big Payouts

These five sit at the top for value per ounce. They are not always easy to gather in bulk, but they are worth handling with care. Never scratch test items that could be collectible. Verify hallmarks, weigh accurately, and keep stones separate from metal so the scale is honest.

• Gold: Broken jewelry, dental crowns you legally own, and high grade electronic connectors. Keep lots separated by karat when possible.
• Silver: Sterling flatware, serving pieces, and older coins. Look for 925 or sterling marks, not plated labels like EPNS.
• Platinum: Dense, white, and tarnish resistant in jewelry and older lab gear. Do not confuse with white gold.
• Palladium: Present in some jewelry and electronics, and a key value component in catalytic converters.
• Rhodium: Primarily found inside catalytic converters. Treat converters as a legal and safety issue at all times.

Catalytic converter rule of thumb: only touch converters you own, removed during legitimate repairs with paperwork. Many yards require proof and serial logging. Keep it clean and legal, and you keep the industry healthy.

The Non Ferrous All Stars, 1 to 12

These steady earners are the most profitable metals to scrap for most homeowners. Label bins, keep grades separate, and avoid overcomplication.

• 1. Copper: Thick wire, pipe, and heavy cable pay best. Strip insulation only when the math justifies the time.
• 2. Brass: Faucets, valves, and fittings. Separate yellow brass from clean brass if your yard pays different rates.
• 3. Aluminum: Extrusions, siding, ladders, and wheels. Keep cast, sheet, and extrusion grades apart for better pricing.
• 4. Stainless steel: Non magnetic sinks and restaurant gear. Higher nickel grades usually pay more.
• 5. Nickel: Less common at home, but found in industrial parts and premium alloys. Low bulk, solid value.
• 6. Bronze: Marine hardware, bushings, and older decor. Heavier than brass, strong payouts when clean.
• 7. Lead: Wheel weights, old pipes, and batteries. Handle batteries safely and use a buyer that accepts them.
• 8. Zinc: Roof flashing and hardware. Not a headliner, but worth a bin as volume grows.
• 9. Tin: Often a plating on steel. Pure tin is rare, but pewter mugs and plates can add up.
• 10. Titanium: Golf club heads, bike parts, and medical scraps. Light for its strength, confirm identity with a proper spark test if trained.
• 11. Tungsten carbide: Drill bits and machining inserts. Very dense and excellent price per pound.
• 12. Cobalt: Present in some tool steels and batteries. Niche, but valuable when clean and sorted.

Feeling unsure at the bench is normal. Slow down, magnet test, weigh, and label. Confidence grows fast when you sell your first clean load.

Rounding Out the 23, 13 to 23

These categories rarely grab attention, but stacked neatly in consistent grades they move the needle. Ten pounds of the same thing beats a random soup every time.

• 13. Aluminum copper radiator: AC coils from replacements you own with paperwork. Remove steel and plastic to improve grade.
• 14. Brass radiator: From older vehicles and machinery. Heavy, dependable value when ownership is clear.
• 15. Electric motors: Copper windings inside. Some yards buy by motor weight, others want windings separated.
• 16. Insulated copper wire: Separate by thickness. Thick insulation lowers payout unless you strip. Run the math first.
• 17. Aluminum wheels: Auto rims without weights or stems. Clean wheels bring a premium.
• 18. Monel: Nickel copper marine alloy. Corrosion resistant and valuable in boat hardware.
• 19. Inconel: High temperature nickel alloy in aerospace and turbines. Rare at home, great value when clean.
• 20. Magnesium: Lightweight auto and tool parts. Sparks fiercely when ground. Keep separate and sell clean.
• 21. Cast iron: Engines, stoves, and old radiators. Low price per pound, volume can still pay.
• 22. Carbon steel: The most common metal. Low payout, high volume. Add when you already plan a yard run.
• 23. Gold plated connectors and pins: From older electronics you own. Small mass, good value when batched by type.

A neighbor replaced a failing central air unit, saved the old coil, cleaned the frame, and brought a neat, documented load. One ticket and one payment. That is the goal.

Where to Find Profitable Scrap at Home

Fast sources in the house

• Kitchen: Stainless sinks, old flatware, and broken aluminum cookware.
• Bathroom: Brass faucet bodies and shower valves under chrome plating.
• Lighting: Outdated fixtures in aluminum or brass, plus heavy gauge lamp wire.

Garage and yard wins

• Dead lawn equipment: Steel frames, aluminum housings, and brass fittings.
• Ladders and frames: Aluminum extrusions from old windows and doors.
• Auto parts you own: Aluminum wheels and radiators with plastic removed.
• Power cords: Heavy extension cords and appliance cables with copper inside.

Electronics are a separate rhythm. Keep desktop towers and older audio gear in a separate pile. Remove obvious steel cases, then jar gold plated connectors and pins by type. Do not lose hours chasing tiny screws. Focus on boards, heavy cable, and visible metal. Keep receipts for appliance replacements so you can document coils and compressors.

How to Sell to Yards Like a Pro

Price check before you roll

• Call two or three local yards for prices on your top categories.
• Split loads when one yard is strong on copper and another is strong on aluminum.
• Ask for a printed price sheet and save it for your records.

Present clean, consistent loads

• Group items by category. Motors with motors. Brass with brass.
• Remove obvious contaminants to avoid downgrades.
• Weigh bins at home. Use a bathroom scale and write the number on painter’s tape.

Know when to walk away

• If a clean load is downgraded without cause, take it back and leave.
• Never cut or sell converters you do not own. Keep transactions clean and legal.
• Track prices over time. You will learn the rhythm of your local market.

Timing matters, but do not obsess. If prices rise, great. If they dip, you still cleared space and turned junk into cash. The scoreboard is dollars in your pocket and a safer shop.

Tools, Safety, and Setup

Starter kit for smarter scrapping

• Strong magnet and handheld digital scale.
• Cut resistant gloves, safety glasses, and a wire brush.
• Hand truck, tarp, and sturdy bins labeled for each category.
• Notebook or phone log with dates, weights, prices, and the yard used.

Safety and legal basics

• Batteries are heavy and corrosive. Use a buyer that accepts them and follow instructions.
• Refrigerants require licensed removal. Do not vent or cut into sealed systems.
• Paint on old metal can contain lead. If unsure, avoid grinding and ask your recycler.
• Keep invoices and repair paperwork for items like AC coils and radiators.

A former firefighter treats scrapping like a weekly workout. One hour every Saturday, the same route, the same yard, and only sorted material. The routine keeps him safe and the cash predictable.

Quick Price Math You Can Do in the Garage

Estimate value in minutes

• Weigh each bin and jot down pounds on tape stuck to the lid.
• Multiply by the latest price per pound from your chosen yard.
• Subtract a small buffer for paint, screws, or moisture if a bin is not fully clean.
• Decide whether to strip wire by comparing insulated price to bare bright price and your time per pound.

These simple estimates stop surprises at the scale and make you a better negotiator. Your yard will recognize a seller who knows their numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Profitable Metals to Scrap

Should I strip insulated copper wire?

Strip if your yard pays a big premium for bare bright and you can process a pound quickly. If the insulation is thick and time is short, sell as is and keep moving.

How clean is clean enough?

Clean means no obvious screws, plastic, rubber, or wood. A quick pass with a screwdriver and wire brush often upgrades the grade and the payout.

Do I need a professional spark test?

Only perform spark tests if you have training and proper safety gear. When in doubt, sell unknown alloys as mixed and learn over time.

What documents should I keep?

Keep receipts for appliance and auto part replacements, plus your yard price sheets. Documentation speeds up intake and protects you and the buyer.

Conclusion: The Most Profitable Metals to Scrap, Without the Hype

The 23 most profitable metals to scrap are not lottery tickets. They are everyday materials that pay when you sort clean, keep records, and sell to the right yard. Focus on copper, brass, aluminum, stainless, and legitimate precious metal items you own. Batch similar items, weigh before you go, and present consistent loads. Stay safe, stay legal, and keep your process simple. If you work the plan, you turn clutter into steady cash and a cleaner, safer home, one smart load at a time.