Ontario Scrap Metal Prices

Scrap metal prices in Hamilton today

What a typical yard around Hamilton pays for copper, brass, aluminum, stainless, batteries and steel, checked October 28, 2026, with the 9 local yards to call.

GradeTypical priceRangeSince yesterday
Copper
Bare bright copper$8.10/lb$7.61 – $8.59+$0.07
#1 copper$7.82/lb$7.35 – $8.29+$0.06
#2 copper$7.45/lb$6.93 – $7.97+$0.06
Insulated copper wire (heavy, 70%+)$5.31/lb$4.67 – $5.95+$0.05
Insulated copper wire (light, Romex, cords)$3.35/lb$2.85 – $3.85+$0.03
Brass
Yellow brass$5.18/lb$4.77 – $5.59+$0.05
Red brass$6.30/lb$5.80 – $6.80+$0.05
Copper/brass radiators$3.71/lb$3.34 – $4.08+$0.03
Aluminum
Aluminum extrusion$1.67/lb$1.50 – $1.84+$0.02
Aluminum sheet and siding$1.22/lb$1.07 – $1.37+$0.02
Cast aluminum$1.14/lb$1.00 – $1.28+$0.01
Aluminum rims$1.57/lb$1.38 – $1.76+$0.02
Aluminum cans$0.88/lb$0.75 – $1.01+$0.01
Aluminum radiators$0.98/lb$0.83 – $1.13+$0.01
Stainless
Stainless steel 304$0.65/lb$0.57 – $0.73no change
Stainless steel 316$1.40/lb$1.23 – $1.57−$0.01
Lead
Soft lead$0.82/lb$0.72 – $0.92no change
Wheel weights$0.17/lb$0.14 – $0.20no change
Car batteries$0.34/lb$0.29 – $0.39no change
Mixed
Electric motors$0.70/lb$0.59 – $0.80+$0.01
Sealed units / compressors$0.31/lb$0.26 – $0.36+$0.01
Tungsten carbide$10.00/lb$7.00 – $13.00—
Catalytic converters$175 each$53 – $298—
Steel
Light iron / shred$280/tonne$238 – $322no change
#1 heavy melt steel$330/tonne$290 – $370no change
Cast iron$264/tonne$224 – $304no change
Whole vehicles (complete)$290/tonne$232 – $348no change

Ontario-wide estimates from exchange prices; Hamilton yards set their own rates and most don't publish them. Use the table to judge an offer, then call. How we calculate these.

Yards in Hamilton to call for a quote

Getting the top of the range in Hamilton

  • Call two yards with your list of metals and rough weights. Prices differ by 10–15% across town.
  • Sort by metal and grade before you go. Mixed loads are paid at the lowest grade in the pile.
  • Ask whether steel is quoted per tonne, per net ton or per 100 lb.
  • Bring photo ID. Hamilton yards record it for every sale.

Questions people ask

What are scrap metal prices in Hamilton today?

A typical yard near Hamilton pays about $7.82/lb for #1 copper, $5.18/lb for yellow brass, $1.67/lb for clean aluminum extrusion, $0.65/lb for 304 stainless and $280/tonne for light iron (checked October 28, 2026).

Which Hamilton yard pays the most?

Yards rarely publish prices, and the best payer changes with what each one needs that week. Call two or three from the list with your metals and weights. The spread is usually 10–15%.

Are prices the same across Ontario?

Close, but not identical. Yards near Hamilton's mills and the GTA's exporters tend to pay a little more for steel and copper; remote yards pay less because of trucking. Our table is a provincial benchmark.

All scrap yards in Hamilton · Scrap pickup in Hamilton