Prices from a London-area yard (Simvic, Chertsey), not a UK average.
Brass grades · Surrey & London
Mixed Brass Price per kg today — £5.00 (25 Oct)
Mixed brass is £4.80–£5.00 per kg (£4,800–£5,000 per tonne), verified 25 Oct 2026.
Mixed brass is the everyday brass grade: taps, valves, plumbing fittings, door furniture and similar items, including pieces with steel spindles, plastic handles or chrome plating still attached. Because brass is mostly copper and zinc, it is one of the more valuable common scrap metals.
Mixed brass value today
£4.80 – £5.00per kg
Yard price, verified . Final price depends on grade, condition and weight.
| Weight | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | £4.80 – £5.00 |
| 5 kg | £24.00 – £25.00 |
| 10 kg | £48.00 – £50.00 |
| 25 kg | £120.00 – £125.00 |
How yards grade mixed brass
- Solid brass items with minor attachments — steel screws, spindles, rubber washers, plastic handles — are accepted as mixed brass.
- Chrome-plated taps and handles are usually brass underneath; a scratch on a hidden edge shows the yellow metal.
- Brass-plated steel is not brass at all: if a magnet sticks firmly, the item is steel and will be rejected or graded as steel.
- Heavily contaminated loads — lots of plastic, die-cast zinc (mazak) or steel mixed in — may be graded down or refused.
- Turnings and swarf are handled differently from solid fittings and may attract a lower rate.
How to prepare it
- Run a magnet over everything. Remove steel screws, spindles and handles — a cleaner bag can move up a grade.
- Remove plastic, rubber washers and any lead or copper pipe stubs; bag copper separately because it is worth more.
- Keep brass separate from copper, zinc die-cast and aluminium so nothing drags the bag down.
- Keep turnings dry and free of cutting oil where possible.
What affects the price
- Copper and zinc market reference prices, since brass is an alloy of the two.
- Contamination from steel, plastic, rubber and plating.
- Whether the material is solid fittings or turnings.
- Load size and sorting quality.
The rules when you sell
Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, a licensed dealer in England or Wales cannot pay cash for scrap metal — payment must be by bank transfer or cheque. The dealer must also verify and record your identity, so bring photo ID and proof of address. These rules apply to every dealer, not just one yard.
Mixed Brass FAQs
How much is 1kg of mixed brass worth today?
Mixed brass is £4.80 – £5.00 per kg at Simvic in Chertsey (verified 25 Oct 2026). 5 kg would be worth about £24.00 – £25.00. Final price depends on condition; confirm before travelling.
How do I tell brass from copper and from plated steel?
Copper is reddish-brown and brass is yellow-gold; both are non-magnetic. If a magnet sticks firmly, the item is brass-plated steel and not worth a brass price. A scratch test on a hidden edge shows whether a chrome fitting is brass underneath.
Why is my brass priced as mixed instead of clean?
Usually because of attachments: steel spindles, plastic handles, rubber washers or plating. Stripping these off can move the load into a better grade — ask the yard how they define clean brass before you bring it in.
Can I be paid cash for scrap brass?
No. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 bans cash payments for scrap metal at licensed dealers in England and Wales. Expect a bank transfer, and bring photo ID and proof of address.