Copper Scrap Grades Explained: #1, #2, Insulated Wire & Radiators (2026)

Copper scrap grades rank scrap copper by purity and cleanliness: bare bright is the top grade, then #1 copper, #2 copper, light copper, insulated wire, radiators and copper/aluminum coils, with brass graded separately. EcoScrap.ca buys every grade from shops and private sellers across the GTA and within 200 km of Toronto, picks up free and pays cash on the spot. Call (647) 915-5440 for today’s prices.

For background, see the overview of scrap metal recycling and the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI).

If you run an auto repair shop, an HVAC company or a muffler shop, you produce copper every week. How much that copper is worth depends almost entirely on which grade it falls into. Two pails of the same weight can be worth very different amounts simply because one is clean tubing and the other has fittings and solder still attached.

This guide explains copper scrap grades in plain language: what each grade looks like, how yards test it, what causes a downgrade and how to sort your scrap so you are paid for the grade you actually have. It is written for shops in Toronto and across Ontario, but the grading basics apply anywhere in North America.

Copper scrap grades at a glance

The table below ranks the main copper scrap grades from highest to lowest typical value. It is a general guide only; actual prices move daily with the copper market, so always call for a current quote.

Grade	Common names	What qualifies	Typical sources
Bare bright	#1 bright, Barley	Clean, stripped, uncoated, untarnished copper wire	Stripped building wire, heavy cable
#1 copper (wire)	#1 wire, Berry	Clean unalloyed copper wire, light oxidation allowed	Heavy-gauge wire, cable ends
#1 copper (heavy/tubing)	#1 heavy, Candy	Clean pipe, tubing, bus bar, clippings with no solder or paint	HVAC line sets, plumbing offcuts
#2 copper	#2 wire, #2 heavy, Birch, Cliff	Copper with solder, paint, coatings, fittings or heavy oxidation	Old plumbing, burnt or tinned wire
Light copper	Sheet copper	Thin sheet, gutters, flashing, roofing copper	Roofing and renovation work
Insulated copper wire	High-grade or low-grade insulated	Copper wire still in its jacket, priced by recovery	Battery cable, harnesses, cords
Copper/brass radiators	Ocean	Copper cores with brass tanks	Older cars, trucks, equipment
Cu/Al coils and radiators	Talk, ACR-style coils	Copper tubes with aluminum fins	AC condensers, HVAC coils
Yellow brass	Honey	Brass fittings, valves and castings	Plumbing, hose and air fittings
Copper-bearing parts	Electric motors	Steel housings with copper windings	Alternators, starters, motors

If you just want to sell, skip to our page on how to sell scrap copper and brass for free pickup and cash on the spot.

What are copper scrap grades and why do they matter?

Copper scrap grades are standard categories that buyers, processors and smelters use to describe scrap copper. Each grade has a minimum purity and a list of allowed and banned contaminants. Because every downstream buyer knows what a grade means, scrap can be priced and traded quickly.

Grades matter because the cleaner the copper, the less work it takes to turn it back into new copper. Bare bright and #1 copper can often be melted with minimal refining. #2 copper and lower copper scrap grades need more processing to remove solder, tin, paint and other metals, so they are worth less per kilogram.

For a shop, this means sorting is money. If you put clean #1 tubing in the same pail as soldered pipe, the whole pail is graded #2. Understanding copper scrap grades is the fastest way to raise the value of material you already have.

Where do copper scrap grade names come from?

Most North American copper scrap grades are based on the Scrap Specifications Circular published by ISRI, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, which merged into ReMA (Recycled Materials Association) in 2024. The circular gives each grade a formal description and a one-word code name used in trading.

Common code names include Barley for bare bright wire, Berry for #1 copper wire, Candy for #1 heavy copper, Birch and Cliff for #2 copper, Ocean for mixed copper/brass auto radiators, Talk for aluminum/copper radiators and Honey for yellow brass. You do not need to memorize them, but you may hear them at larger yards and processors.

In everyday conversation, most shops and yards in Toronto and across Ontario simply use the plain names: bare bright, #1, #2, insulated wire, rads, coils and yellow brass. That is the language we use too when we quote copper scrap grades over the phone.

Bare bright copper: the top grade

Bare bright copper is the highest of all copper scrap grades. It is unalloyed copper wire that has been fully stripped of insulation and is clean, bright and free of tarnish, paint, solder, tin coating and other contamination. It has a shiny salmon-pink colour.

To qualify as bare bright, wire generally needs to be reasonably heavy gauge. Very fine, hair-thin wire and wire that is tinned (silver-coloured) or burnt does not qualify. Wire that has dulled or oxidized slightly usually drops to #1.

Where shops find bare bright

• Stripped heavy building wire and service cable.
• Stripped thick battery cable and welding cable.
• Clean offcuts of solid copper ground wire.

If you strip your own wire, keep bare bright in a clean, covered pail and never let other material fall in. A single piece of tinned or burnt wire can be enough to have the batch graded lower.

#1 copper: clean wire, tubing and heavy copper

#1 copper covers clean, unalloyed copper that does not quite meet the bare bright standard, plus heavy copper and tubing. It is the second-highest of the copper scrap grades and the grade most HVAC contractors should aim for.

#1 copper wire

#1 copper wire is clean, uncoated copper wire with light oxidation allowed. It must be free of insulation, solder, tin and burnt material. Heavy wire that has been stripped but has dulled over time often lands here.

#1 heavy copper and tubing

#1 heavy copper includes clean copper pipe and tubing, bus bar, clean copper clippings and punchings. Tubing must have no fittings, no solder, no paint and no insulation. A few centimetres cut off each end of a soldered pipe is often all it takes to upgrade it to #1.

#2 copper: still valuable, but contaminated

#2 copper is unalloyed copper scrap that carries some contamination. It is still a good grade, but it trades below #1 because of the extra refining needed. Most renovation copper and much shop copper falls into this group.

Typical #2 copper includes:

• Copper pipe with solder, soldered joints or brass fittings attached.
• Painted or coated copper pipe and wire.
• Tinned (silver-coloured) copper wire.
• Heavily oxidized or corroded copper.
• Burnt wire, where insulation was burned off.
• Thin copper wire that is too fine for #1.

If you have a lot of #2 copper pipe, it may be worth cutting the fittings off to turn some of it into #1. For small amounts, it is usually better to sell it as #2 and save your time.

Light copper: sheet, gutters and flashing

Light copper is thin copper scrap such as sheet copper, gutters, downspouts, flashing and roofing copper. It may have some paint, solder or other coatings. It sits below #2 copper in most copper scrap grades lists because thin, coated material yields less clean copper.

Shops rarely produce much light copper, but renovators and roofers often do. If you have it, keep it separate from your tubing and wire.

Insulated copper wire grades

Insulated copper wire is priced by its recovery rate: the share of the total weight that is copper once the insulation is removed. The higher the recovery, the higher the price. Yards often split insulated wire into several copper scrap grades based on wire type and recovery.

Insulated wire type	Recovery	Examples
Heavy single-conductor cable	High	Battery cable, welding cable, heavy building wire
Building wire (multi-conductor)	Medium to high	Household and commercial wiring
Extension cords and appliance cords	Medium to low	Power cords, jumper cables
Automotive wiring harnesses	Low	Harnesses from cars and trucks
Communication and fine wire	Low	Phone wire, data cable, small electronics wire

Separate high-recovery wire from low-recovery wire. Mixing them almost always means the whole lot is paid at the lower rate. Never burn insulation off wire: it is harmful, can break Ontario environmental rules and actually lowers the grade because burnt wire is treated as #2 copper.

Copper and brass radiators

Copper/brass radiators, often called Ocean in trade specifications, have copper cores and brass tanks. They come from older cars, trucks, buses and heavy equipment. They are one of the most common copper scrap grades produced by auto shops and fleets.

To grade well, radiators should be drained of coolant and free of steel brackets, mounting hardware, plastic shrouds and rubber hoses. Radiators with steel side frames or heavy iron attachments are often graded lower, so it pays to remove them.

Modern radiators with aluminum cores and plastic tanks are not copper scrap grades at all. They are bought as aluminum radiators, which is a lower-value category. Keep the two types in separate stacks.

Heater cores

Heater cores are small radiators mounted under the dashboard. Older and heavy-duty heater cores are copper/brass and go with your copper radiators. Many newer cores are aluminum and should be kept apart. Remove plastic end tanks and steel clips where possible.

Copper/aluminum AC coils and condensers

AC condensers and evaporator coils usually have copper tubes passing through thin aluminum fins. These Cu/Al coils, sometimes called Talk or ACR-style coils, are a mixed-metal grade. They are worth more than aluminum but less than clean copper.

Coils grade best when they are clean, free of steel brackets and frames, and have no attached hoses, sensors or plastic. Refrigerant must always be recovered by a licensed technician before a coil, condenser or compressor is scrapped.

Straight copper refrigeration tubing (ACR tubing) without fins is a different case. Clean ACR tubing with ends cut off is usually #1 copper. Tubing with brazed fittings or fins still attached grades lower.

Brass grades: yellow brass and red brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, so it is related to copper scrap grades but graded on its own. The most common brass grade is yellow brass, known in trade specifications as Honey. It includes plumbing fittings, valves, compression and flare fittings, hose barbs and brass hardware.

Red brass contains more copper than yellow brass and has a reddish tone. Water meters, gate valves and many pump parts are red brass. Bronze, which is copper with tin, appears in bushings and bearings. Red brass and bronze usually pay more than yellow brass, so separate them when you have enough.

Clean brass has no steel, iron, plastic or rubber attached. A magnet test is the quickest check: brass is not magnetic, so a piece that sticks is plated steel or has a steel core.

Copper-bearing parts: alternators, starters and motors

Alternators, starters and electric motors contain copper windings inside steel or aluminum housings. They are not copper scrap grades in the strict sense, but they are bought as their own category because of the copper inside. They pay more than plain steel but much less than clean copper.

Most shops are better off selling these parts whole rather than breaking them down. See our page on selling scrap car parts for how we buy alternators, starters, engines and transmissions.

How scrap yards test and grade copper

Grading copper is mostly visual, backed up by a few simple tests. When we pick up from your shop, we grade and weigh each category in front of you. The same checks are used at most yards:

• Visual inspection. Colour, shine, tarnish, coatings, solder and attachments all show at a glance.
• Magnet test. Copper and brass are not magnetic. Anything that sticks contains steel.
• Scratch or file test. A scratch reveals the base metal under paint or plating: pinkish-red for copper, gold for yellow brass, grey for steel.
• Gauge check. Wire thickness affects whether it qualifies as bare bright or #1.
• Cut test. Cutting wire or radiators shows what is inside and how much copper there is.
• XRF analyzers. Some larger processors use handheld X-ray fluorescence analyzers to confirm alloy content for brass and bronze.

What causes copper scrap to be downgraded?

Contamination is the main reason copper drops from one grade to a lower one. The table below shows common problems and how they usually affect copper scrap grades.

Contamination	Likely effect	Easy fix
Solder or soldered joints on pipe	#1 drops to #2	Cut the ends off
Brass or steel fittings on tubing	#1 drops to #2	Cut or unscrew fittings
Paint or coating	#1 drops to #2	Sell as #2 or remove painted sections
Tinned wire	Bare bright drops to #2	Keep tinned wire separate
Burnt insulation	Wire drops to #2	Never burn wire; sell insulated
Steel brackets on radiators or coils	Graded lower or deducted	Remove brackets and bolts
Plastic tanks on radiators	Graded lower	Remove tanks or sell as a lower grade
Coolant, oil or water	Weight deducted, lower grade	Drain fully before pickup
Mixed grades in one pail	Paid at the lowest grade	Use separate labelled pails

How to sort copper scrap grades in your shop

A simple sorting system takes a few minutes to set up and pays off on every load. Here is how we suggest shops organize copper scrap grades:

1. Set up labelled containers. Use separate pails or bins for bare bright, #1 copper, #2 copper, insulated wire (high and low recovery), copper radiators, Cu/Al coils, yellow brass and red brass.
2. Keep a magnet and a file handy. Test anything you are unsure about before it goes in a pail.
3. Cut fittings off tubing. Turn #2 into #1 when it takes only a few seconds.
4. Strip brackets and hardware. Remove steel from radiators, coils and brass valves.
5. Drain fluids. Empty coolant, oil and water from radiators, heater cores and coils.
6. Store it dry and covered. Clean, dry copper keeps its grade and is less tempting to thieves.
7. Book a pickup when bins are full. Call (647) 915-5440 and we will come to you.

Copper scrap grades by type of shop

Different shops produce different mixes of copper scrap grades. Knowing what to expect helps you set up the right bins.

Auto repair and mechanic shops

Expect copper/brass and aluminum radiators, heater cores, AC condensers, battery cables, wiring harnesses, alternators and starters. Brass fittings come from brake, fuel and transmission cooler lines. See our mechanic shop scrap pickup page.

HVAC and refrigeration contractors

Line sets, ACR tubing, coils, condensing units and brass service valves make HVAC one of the best sources of #1 copper. Cutting brazed ends on the job is the biggest single upgrade you can make.

Muffler and exhaust shops

Copper is a smaller part of the mix, but brass fittings and hardware add up. Most of the value comes from catalytic converters and exhaust scrap, which we pick up on the same trip. Read our guide to catalytic converter scrap value in Ontario.

Tire shops, body shops and dealerships

Tire shops collect brass valve cores and stems alongside rims; see tire shop scrap pickup. Body shops and dealership service departments produce radiators, condensers and wiring from collision and repair work.

How do copper scrap grades affect price?

Each step down the copper scrap grades ladder means a lower price per kilogram. Bare bright pays the most, followed by #1, then #2, then light copper. Insulated wire, radiators, coils and brass are priced according to their copper content and how much processing they need.

All copper scrap grades follow the global copper market, which trades on exchanges such as the LME and COMEX. When copper rises, every grade usually rises; when it falls, every grade falls. The gap between grades stays fairly consistent, which is why sorting always pays.

We do not post fixed prices online because they change every day. Call (647) 915-5440 with your material types and approximate amounts, and we will quote today’s price for each grade.

Example: sorting a typical shop load

Picture a busy auto and light HVAC shop at the end of a month. In the back corner there is a mixed pile: a few old copper/brass radiators, two aluminum radiators with plastic tanks, a bundle of battery cables, a box of wiring harnesses, a dozen AC condensers, some copper line set offcuts with brazed ends and a coffee can of brass fittings.

Sold as one mixed pile, most of it would be paid at a low, averaged rate. Sorted, it becomes several separate grades: copper/brass radiators, aluminum radiators, high-recovery cable, low-recovery harness wire, Cu/Al condensers, #1 tubing once the ends are cut, #2 for the brazed ends themselves, and yellow brass. Each is weighed and paid at its own price.

The sorting takes perhaps half an hour with a magnet, a pair of cutters and a few pails. That is the practical value of understanding copper scrap grades: the same metal, sorted, earns noticeably more.

Copper scrap grades for renovators and homeowners

Private sellers often have different material from shops. Kitchen and bathroom renovations produce copper pipe with fittings, brass valves and faucet bodies. Electrical upgrades produce insulated building wire and sometimes old service cable. Roof work can produce sheet copper and flashing.

The same rules apply: separate pipe from wire, cut fittings where it is quick, keep brass apart from copper and do not burn wire. If you only have a small amount, you can still call us; we often combine small loads with other scrap such as a junk car or old car parts so a free pickup makes sense.

Copper recycling and Ontario’s circular economy

Copper can be recycled repeatedly without losing its properties, and recycled copper needs far less energy to process than newly mined ore. Clean, well-graded scrap is what makes that possible. When shops sort copper by grade, more of it can go straight back into new wire, tubing and fittings.

Ontario’s waste strategy aims to keep valuable materials out of landfill and in use. Selling your copper and brass to a recycler, rather than throwing it in a general waste bin, supports that goal and puts money back into your business at the same time.

Common myths about copper scrap grades

• “All copper pays the same.” It does not. The gap between bare bright and #2 copper, or between #1 tubing and a copper radiator, is significant.
• “Burning wire gets you bare bright.” Burnt wire is downgraded to #2 and burning is harmful.
• “Leaving fittings on adds weight, so it pays more.” The extra weight is usually outweighed by the drop in grade.
• “Small amounts are not worth sorting.” Sorting habits matter most over time. A few minutes per week adds up across a year.
• “Brass is the same as copper.” Brass is a copper alloy with its own grades and prices.

How selling copper scrap to EcoScrap works

1. Call (647) 915-5440. Tell us which copper scrap grades you have and roughly how much.
2. Get a free quote based on today’s copper market.
3. Book a pickup. Same-day or next-day pickup is often available.
4. We load it ourselves from your shop, yard or garage.
5. We grade and weigh in front of you, explaining any downgrade.
6. You get paid on the spot in cash, or by Interac e-Transfer if you prefer.

You will need to show valid government-issued photo ID. We record every transaction and do not buy stolen material. Learn more on our scrap metal pickup page or our guide to free scrap pickup within 200 km of Toronto.

Who we buy copper scrap from

• Auto repair and mechanic shops.
• HVAC and refrigeration contractors.
• Muffler and exhaust shops.
• Tire shops and body shops.
• Dealership service departments and fleet operators.
• Plumbers, electricians and renovators.
• Homeowners and private sellers, including people selling junk cars.

Shops that produce scrap every week can join our scrap program for mechanic, tire and muffler shops for regular scheduled pickups.

Service area: free pickup within 200 km of Toronto

We pick up every copper scrap grade across the GTA and Golden Horseshoe, including Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions, Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo Region and Simcoe County. City pages include Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Hamilton.

East and north, we serve Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Newmarket, Aurora, Barrie and Peterborough. West and south, we serve Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge, Brantford, London and St. Catharines, plus Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Welland, Stoney Creek, Georgetown, Bradford, Orillia and Bowmanville.

Why sell your copper scrap to EcoScrap?

• Free pickup anywhere within 200 km of Toronto.
• Cash on the spot, or Interac e-Transfer if you prefer.
• Fair, transparent grading done in front of you.
• Quotes tied to the live market, not an old price sheet.
• One trip for everything: copper, brass, rims, brake rotors, batteries, converters and car parts.
• Responsible buying with ID checks and records.

Read more about EcoScrap or see all our services.

Tips to get more for every copper scrap grade

• Keep each grade in its own labelled pail and never mix.
• Cut fittings and soldered ends off tubing when it is quick to do.
• Separate thick cable from thin harness wire.
• Drain and strip radiators and coils before pickup.
• Store copper indoors, dry and out of sight.
• Save up for a larger load or set up a regular pickup schedule.
• Call ahead with your material list so we can quote every grade.

Frequently asked questions about copper scrap grades