Prices from a London-area yard (Simvic, Chertsey), not a UK average.
Copper grades · Surrey & London
Heavy Copper Price per kg today — £8.60 (25 Oct)
98% heavy copper is £8.40–£8.60 per kg (£8,400–£8,600 per tonne), verified 25 Oct 2026.
Heavy copper — listed on our price table as 98% heavy copper — is thick, solid copper such as busbar, heavy plate, large sections and chunky castings, with a minimum copper content of about 98 per cent. It pays just below the bright wire and clean tube grades.
Heavy copper value today
£8.40 – £8.60per kg
Yard price, verified . Final price depends on grade, condition and weight.
| Weight | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | £8.40 – £8.60 |
| 5 kg | £42.00 – £43.00 |
| 10 kg | £84.00 – £86.00 |
| 25 kg | £210.00 – £215.00 |
How yards grade heavy copper
- Pieces must be thick and solid — the grade exists for material that melts cleanly without the surface-area problems of wire or turnings.
- The 98 per cent threshold means only minor solder, light tarnish or small attachments are tolerated.
- Heavily soldered, painted or oily pieces drop into braziery or mixed copper.
- Copper cylinders are a separate grade on our list because of their brass bosses, immersion fittings and lagging — they are not heavy copper.
How to prepare it
- Remove steel bolts, brackets and fittings with a magnet test — anything magnetic must come off.
- Cut away heavily soldered sections and bag them as braziery.
- Wipe off oil and grease where practical.
- Keep heavy copper apart from sheet, turnings and cylinders so the load is not graded down to the lowest item in the bag.
What affects the price
- Copper market reference prices, which can move daily.
- Whether the load genuinely meets the 98 per cent purity threshold.
- Attachments and contamination — steel, solder, paint and oil.
- Load size and how well grades are separated.
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.
Heavy Copper FAQs
How much is 1kg of heavy copper worth today?
Heavy copper is £8.40 – £8.60 per kg at Simvic in Chertsey (verified 25 Oct 2026). 5 kg would be worth about £42.00 – £43.00. Final price depends on condition; confirm before travelling.
What does 98% heavy copper mean?
It is a purity threshold: the load must be at least about 98 per cent copper, with only minor solder, tarnish or attachments. Material below that is graded as braziery or mixed copper, which pay less per kg on our confirmed list.
Is a copper hot water cylinder heavy copper?
No. Cylinders carry brass bosses, an immersion heater fitting and foam lagging, so yards grade them separately. Our price list has a dedicated copper cylinders grade, priced below heavy copper per kg.
Can I be paid cash for scrap copper?
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.