What is the copper scrap price per kg in Canada today?

Copper scrap prices in Canada depend on grade and province. Bare bright copper — the highest grade — currently pays approximately $12–$18/kg at Ontario yards, $13–$19/kg in BC, and $11–$17/kg in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Copper #1 runs about 88% of bare bright; Copper #2 is about 75–80%. Check the province table on this page for current ranges, updated weekly from live commodity data.

What is copper scrap price per kg in BC?

BC has the highest copper scrap prices in Canada due to Port of Vancouver export access and proximity to Pacific markets. Bare bright copper at BC yards typically pays $13–$19/kg, Copper #1 around $11–$17/kg, and Copper #2 around $10–$15/kg. These figures update weekly. Use the ScrapHub province page for British Columbia to see today's full non-ferrous price table.

What is the difference between Copper #1 and Copper #2?

Copper #1 is clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper with no solder, paint, or fittings — pipe, conductors, and bus bars that have been cleaned. Copper #2 allows solder joints, paint, small amounts of foreign material, or minor alloying. The difference typically means 10–15% less at the yard for #2 compared to #1. Strip fittings, clean off solder where possible, and remove all non-copper components to upgrade #2 to #1.

How much is scrap copper wire worth in Canada?

Stripped bare bright copper wire is worth $12–$19/kg depending on province — the top price. Insulated copper wire (wire still in plastic) pays much less: typically $1.50–$5/kg, depending on the copper recovery percentage. Thicker cables (THHN, building wire) have higher recovery and pay more than thin lamp cord. If you have significant volume, stripping the wire is worth the time — the difference can be $8–$14/kg.

Do scrap yards in Canada buy automotive copper — radiators, wiring harnesses?

Yes — automotive copper is accepted at all licensed Canadian scrap yards. Copper/brass radiators (from older vehicles) typically pay $5–$9/kg depending on the brass content. Aluminum radiators (from most vehicles made after ~1985) are a different category and pay lower aluminum rates. Vehicle wiring harnesses are priced as insulated copper wire based on estimated recovery — typically $1.50–$3.50/kg.

Why does BC pay more for copper than Alberta or Saskatchewan?

BC copper prices are higher because of Port of Vancouver export access. BC yards can export directly to Asian smelters via Pacific container routes, reducing transport costs and allowing higher buying prices. Ontario is second, with Great Lakes shipping access. Inland provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) have higher export logistics costs, which reduce what yards can pay — typically 5–12% below BC for equivalent copper grades.

What is the best way to get the most money for scrap copper in Canada?

Sort by grade — bare bright, #1, #2, and radiators should be kept separate. Strip insulation from wire if you have volume. Remove all non-copper material (plastic, solder, fittings, rubber). Weigh your material before visiting the yard so you can verify the payout. Call two yards for quotes on larger lots — copper is commodity-priced but yard premiums vary. Avoid selling immediately after a sharp copper price drop; even 1–2 weeks can mean 5–10% more if prices recover.

Copper Scrap Prices in Canada 2026

Current copper scrap prices by grade and province — updated weekly from live commodity data. Bare bright copper pays the most; insulated wire pays the least per kg.

Last updated: 2026-09-28

Quick answer

Copper scrap prices in Canada range from $12–$19/kg for bare bright (the highest grade) down to $1.50–$5/kg for insulated wire still in its plastic. British Columbia pays the most due to Port of Vancouver Pacific export access; Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia pay the least due to inland logistics costs. Copper #1 runs about 88% of bare bright; Copper #2 runs about 75–80%. Prices update weekly with LME copper spot and USD/CAD exchange rates. To maximize your payout: sort by grade, strip wire insulation if you have volume, and remove all non-copper material before visiting the yard.

Copper scrap prices by province (CAD/kg)

Prices reflect what licensed Canadian yards pay — updated weekly from LME copper futures and USD/CAD rates.

Province	Bare Bright	Copper #1	Copper #2
British Columbia	$13.99–$16.11	$12.32–$14.18	—
Ontario	$13.65–$15.72	$12.02–$13.83	—
Quebec	$13.31–$15.33	$11.72–$13.48	—
Manitoba	$13.10–$15.09	$11.54–$13.28	—
Alberta	$12.97–$14.93	$11.42–$13.14	—
Nova Scotia	$12.97–$14.93	$11.42–$13.14	—
Saskatchewan	$12.83–$14.78	$11.30–$13.00	—

Prices are per kg CAD. Bare bright is the benchmark grade — #1 and #2 are calculated from it. Actual yard prices may vary ±10%.

Copper grades explained

Copper scrap is graded by purity and contamination level. Higher grades = higher price per kg.

Bare Bright (#1 Bare)

Uncoated, unalloyed copper wire ≥ 1/16" diameter — the highest grade

Examples: Clean electrical wire stripped of insulation, clean bus bars

Top price

Copper #1

Clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper with no solder, paint, or fittings

Examples: Clean copper pipe, clean bus bars, clean electrical conductors

~88% of bare bright

Copper #2

Copper that may have solder, paint, small amounts of foreign material, or mixed alloys

Examples: Copper pipe with solder joints, copper sheet with paint, mixed wire

~75–80% of bare bright

Insulated Copper Wire (ICW)

Copper wire still in its plastic insulation — graded by copper recovery percentage

Examples: Household wiring (Romex), appliance cords, extension cables

30–65% of bare bright depending on recovery %

Copper Radiators

Automotive and industrial copper/brass radiators — priced as a category

Examples: Car and truck radiators, industrial heat exchangers

~50–65% of bare bright by weight

Light Copper / Copper Turnings

Thin gauge, oxidized, or mixed copper with foreign material

Examples: Copper turnings, corroded pipe, copper coils with debris

~55–70% of bare bright

Copper from cars — what your vehicle contains

Component	Grade	Approx. weight	Notes
Wiring harness	Insulated wire	15–40 kg	Varies hugely by vehicle size; EVs have more
Alternator / generator	Mixed copper	2–5 kg copper content	Sold as whole unit; copper recovered after shredding
Starter motor	Mixed copper	1–3 kg copper content	Sold as whole unit to rebuilt-parts market first
Electric motor (EV)	Copper windings	5–20 kg	EV drive motors are pure copper winding — very high value
Copper radiator (older vehicles)	Copper/brass radiator	4–8 kg	Pre-1990 vehicles; modern vehicles have aluminum radiators
AC condenser / evaporator	Copper/aluminum	1–3 kg	Mixed material; valued at a blended rate

For whole-car scrapping, the catalytic converter typically adds more value than the copper wiring harness — see our catalytic converter price guide.

How to get the best copper scrap price in Canada

1
Sort by grade before you go
Keep bare bright, #1, #2, and insulated wire in separate bags or bins. A mixed load gets downgraded to the lowest grade in the pile. Sorting 20 minutes before the yard visit can increase your payout by 20–40%.
2
Strip wire insulation if you have significant volume
Stripping converts insulated wire to bare bright — a jump from ~$2–$5/kg to $12–$19/kg. At even 5 kg of wire, that's $50–$70 extra. Break-even on time depends on the wire gauge: heavy cable strips in seconds; thin lamp cord is slower. Most scrap yards also offer wire stripping machines you can use on-site for free.
3
Remove all non-copper material
Solder, fittings, paint, plastic inserts, and rubber fittings downgrade clean #1 copper to #2. A few minutes with pliers and a scraper moving fittings can be the difference between #1 and #2 pricing on the full load.
4
Call two yards for quotes on larger lots
Copper is commodity-priced but yard premiums vary. On a 30–50 kg lot, a $0.50–$1.00/kg difference is $15–$50. A two-minute call is worth it.
5
Avoid selling after a sharp copper price drop
LME copper can drop 5–10% in a week on global demand news. If you can wait 1–2 weeks, copper often partially recovers. Watch kitco.com base metals for the copper daily chart.

Frequently asked questions

Scrapping a whole car in Canada?

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