Tool
Scrap Metal Price Calculator (UK)
Pick a metal and grade, enter the weight in kg or tonnes, and we multiply it by the verified yard price per kg — prices last verified .
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.
Worked examples
Estimated values at common weights, using today's verified yard prices. Yard prices from Simvic, Chertsey — one yard's prices, not a UK average.
| Grade | 1 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 25 kg | 100 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry bright copper wire | £9.00 – £9.20 | £45.00 – £46.00 | £90.00 – £92.00 | £225.00 – £230.00 | £900.00 – £920.00 |
| Mixed brass | £4.80 – £5.00 | £24.00 – £25.00 | £48.00 – £50.00 | £120.00 – £125.00 | £480.00 – £500.00 |
| Clean mixed HE9 | £1.00 – £1.40 | £5.00 – £7.00 | £10.00 – £14.00 | £25.00 – £35.00 | £100.00 – £140.00 |
| Lead | £1.10 – £1.15 | £5.50 – £5.75 | £11.00 – £11.50 | £27.50 – £28.75 | £110.00 – £115.00 |
| Household cable | £2.50 – £3.00 | £12.50 – £15.00 | £25.00 – £30.00 | £62.50 – £75.00 | £250.00 – £300.00 |
Prices verified . Estimates, not guaranteed offers.
How to weigh your scrap
For small loads, bathroom scales work: weigh yourself holding the metal, then without it, and subtract. Weigh metal in a container only if you can subtract the container's weight, and keep different metals separate — a mixed load is weighed and paid as one grade, usually the lowest. For anything vehicle-sized, the yard weighs the whole load on a weighbridge and gives you a weighbridge ticket.
How to calculate scrap metal value
Estimated value = weight in kilograms × price per kilogram. If you enter tonnes, we convert first: 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg. A price quoted per tonne converts the other way — divide by 1,000 to get the per-kg rate.
Worked example: dry bright copper wire at £9.00 – £9.20 per kg. 25 kg × £9.00 = £225.00 at the low end, and 25 kg × £9.20 = £230.00 at the high end.
Why your offer may differ
- Grade. Clean, sorted metal pays the listed grade rate; mixed loads are graded down.
- Contamination. Plastic, rubber, wood, oil, solder or fittings attached to the metal reduce the grade or the payable weight.
- Moisture. Wet cable and waterlogged material weigh more but the extra weight is water, not metal — yards allow for it.
- Minimum loads. Very small quantities may be rounded or priced differently; confirm before travelling.
Check the full scrap metal price list to compare grades, see how our prices are checked, or request a quote to confirm the value before selling.
Calculator FAQs
How do I calculate scrap metal value?
Multiply the weight in kilograms by the price per kilogram. For example, dry bright copper wire is £9.00 – £9.20 per kg (verified 25 Oct 2026), so 10 kg would be worth £90.00 – £92.00. If you only know the weight in tonnes, multiply by 1,000 first: 1 tonne = 1,000 kg.
How much is 10kg of copper worth?
10 kg of dry bright copper wire would be worth £90.00 – £92.00 at the verified yard price of £9.00 – £9.20 per kg (verified 25 Oct 2026). Other copper grades pay less, and mixed or contaminated loads are graded down.
How much is 1 tonne of scrap iron worth?
Heavy iron is priced per tonne, at £130 – £150 per tonne (verified 25 Oct 2026), so one tonne would be worth £130 – £150. Light and mixed iron grades pay less.
Can I enter tonnes instead of kilograms?
Yes. Switch the unit to tonnes and we convert for you: 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg. A price listed per tonne is divided by 1,000 to get the per-kg rate, and the other way round.
Is the estimate what the yard will actually pay?
No — it is an estimate, not a guaranteed offer. The final price depends on the grade, condition and quantity, and handling or transport can change it. Confirm with the yard before travelling.
Why do I see a low and a high estimate?
Where the yard publishes a price range, we show both ends. Mixed brass is £4.80 – £5.00 per kg (verified 25 Oct 2026), so 10 kg is worth £48.00 – £50.00. Where a single price is published, the low and high are the same.