How Much Is Scrap Copper Worth Per Kg in Melbourne? Complete 2026 Price and Selling Guide

EDITOR NOTE: The figures below are indicative market ranges for general guidance only and are not Sky Scrap Metal’s current buying rates. Copper prices change daily with the global market. Call Sky Scrap Metal on 0402 757 290 for a real time price on your copper.

Quick Answer

Scrap copper in Melbourne is worth roughly $2.50 to $11.80 per kilogram in 2026, depending on the grade. Bare bright copper, the cleanest grade, sits at the top at about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram. Number 1 heavy copper returns around $9.50 to $11.20, number 2 or mixed copper around $8.00 to $9.70, and insulated copper wire about $2.50 to $4.45 because the plastic coating has to be processed out. Copper is the most valuable of the common scrap metals, so the grade, cleanliness, and preparation of your copper make a large difference to your payout.

Scrap Copper Prices in Melbourne 2026

Indicative ranges are compiled from publicly available Melbourne market data, including West Metal Recycling, Metro Copper Recycling, Vic Star Metals, Metal Force Recycling, and Union Metal Recycling, cross checked against Sky Scrap Metal’s 2026 Melbourne price guide. West Metal Recycling lists bright copper at about $11.80 and heavy copper at about $11.20 per kilogram, and Metro Copper Recycling lists copper broadly around $10 to $13 per kilogram, in line with the ranges above.

EDITOR NOTE: Price ranges in this guide are compiled from publicly available Melbourne and Australian market data (accessed June 2026) and are indicative only. They are not Sky Scrap Metal’s buying rates and do not constitute a quote or an offer. Scrap metal prices change daily with the global market, the grade of your metal, and the volume you bring. For an accurate, current price, call Sky Scrap Metal on 0402 757 290.

How Much Is Copper Worth Per Kg, Per Kilo, and Per Pound?

Per kilogram and per kilo mean the same thing, and in Australia copper is priced per kilogram. Clean copper is worth roughly $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram, with lower grades and insulated wire below that. If you have seen a per pound figure, note that one kilogram is about 2.2 pounds, so a rate of $11.00 per kilogram is around $5.00 per pound. Copper is not sold per troy ounce in the scrap trade, since troy ounces are used for precious metals such as gold and silver, so ignore any per troy ounce copper figure when selling scrap.

Copper prices move every day with the London Metal Exchange and the Australian dollar, so a figure you read last week may be out of date. When people search for what copper is paying right now or what copper scrap is worth today, the honest answer is to call for the day’s rate before you sell. Sky Scrap Metal will quote you over the phone on 0402 757 290 or from a photo.

What is copper worth by weight?

Here is roughly what common quantities of clean copper return at a midpoint rate. Lower grades and insulated wire return less.

How Much Is Copper Worth by Item?

Copper wire

Clean, stripped copper wire is bare bright and earns the top rate. Insulated copper wire that still has its plastic coating is worth less, roughly $2.50 to $4.45 per kilogram depending on how much copper is inside. Unstripped wire is paid at the insulated rate, so stripping heavier cable before you sell can almost double your return.

Copper pipe and tubing

Clean copper pipe and tubing from plumbing and heating is usually number 1 heavy copper, around $9.50 to $11.20 per kilogram, provided it has no excessive solder, paint, or fittings. Pipe with brass fittings or heavy solder is downgraded, so removing fittings lifts the rate.

Copper bars and bus bars

Solid copper bars and electrical bus bars are clean heavy copper and sell near the top of the heavy copper range. They are simple to grade and are among the easiest copper items to sell.

Copper cylinders, radiators, and braziery

Hot water cylinders, soldered copper assemblies, and copper radiators contain copper mixed with solder or other metals, so they sit a little lower. Copper and brass radiators are priced on their copper content. If you are not sure what you have, send a photo and we will identify it.

How to Strip and Clean Copper for a Higher Price

The single most effective thing you can do is remove insulation from copper wire, which moves it from the insulated wire tier up to a clean copper grade. For heavier cable this is well worth the effort. You can strip wire by hand with a knife or wire stripper, or run it through a manual cable stripping tool. For copper pipe, remove brass fittings, solder blobs, and any steel brackets, and brush off heavy dirt. You do not need to polish copper, since it is melted down, but it must be free of attachments and other metals. For thin offcuts and short lengths, the labour of stripping may not be worth it, so weigh the effort against the quantity.

How to Sell Copper in Melbourne: Step by Step

1. Identify and sort your copper by grade. Separate bare bright, heavy copper, pipe, and insulated wire so each is priced correctly.
2. Strip and clean where it pays. Remove insulation from heavier wire and take fittings off pipe.
3. Weigh up an estimate. Knowing your rough weight helps you compare quotes and spot a fair price.
4. Get a quote. Call a licensed buyer with your grades and weight, or send a photo for a fast estimate.
5. Bring photo ID. Victorian yards must record valid photo identification for every metal transaction.
6. Weigh in and get paid. Your copper is weighed and inspected, and at Sky Scrap Metal you are paid on the spot.

This same process applies whether you are selling copper wire, copper pipes, copper bars, or mixed copper scrap. For a fuller walkthrough of your options, see where to sell scrap copper in Melbourne, and you can view what we accept on our copper scrap service page.

Copper Wire, Cable, Brass, and Appliances

If most of your copper is cable, our electrical wire and cable scrap page explains how insulated and bare wire is graded. If your load is a mix of copper and brass, the two are priced separately, with brass generally lower than copper, so sort them apart and see our brass scrap page for current brass values. A surprising amount of copper also sits inside old appliances. A split system air conditioner, for example, contains copper in its coils and pipework, which is one reason these units have scrap value. We cover this on our air conditioner scrap removal page.

Why Copper Prices Are Strong in 2026

Copper demand is driven by the global shift to electrification, including electric vehicles, solar and wind energy, and the rapid growth of data centres, while supply from major mines in Chile and Peru has tightened. The result is firm prices for sellers. We explain the demand picture in our guide on why copper scrap is in high demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much is copper worth per kg?

Clean copper in Melbourne is worth about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram in 2026. Heavy copper, mixed copper, and insulated wire are priced lower. Call 0402 757 290 for today’s rate.

Q. How much is scrap copper worth per kilo?

Per kilo is the same as per kilogram. Clean scrap copper is roughly $10.50 to $11.80, heavy copper about $9.50 to $11.20, mixed copper about $8.00 to $9.70, and insulated wire about $2.50 to $4.45.

Q. How much does copper sell for per kg?

In Melbourne in 2026, clean copper sells for about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram, with lower grades below that. Prices move daily with the global market.

Q. How much is copper per kg in Australia?

Across Australia, clean scrap copper is broadly $10 to $13 per kilogram in 2026 depending on grade and the daily market, with Melbourne yards in the same band.

Q. How much is copper wire worth per kg?

Stripped, clean copper wire is bare bright and worth about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram. Insulated, unstripped wire is worth about $2.50 to $4.45 per kilogram depending on copper content. Stripping heavier wire can nearly double the return.

Q. How much is insulated copper wire worth?

Insulated copper wire is generally worth about $2.50 to $4.45 per kilogram, with thicker, higher copper cable at the top of the range and thin or data cable at the bottom.

Q. How much is copper pipe worth?

Clean copper pipe is usually number 1 heavy copper at about $9.50 to $11.20 per kilogram, provided it is free of fittings, heavy solder, and paint.

Q. How much is copper tubing worth?

Clean copper tubing is priced as heavy copper, roughly $9.50 to $11.20 per kilogram. Remove brass fittings and solder to keep it in the clean grade.

Q. How much is 50kg of copper worth?

At a clean copper rate of about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram, 50 kilograms is roughly $525 to $590. Lower grades and insulated wire return less.

Q. How do I sell copper in Melbourne?

Sort your copper by grade, strip and clean it where worthwhile, bring photo ID, and take it to a licensed yard such as Sky Scrap Metal, or send a photo for a quote. You are paid on the spot after weighing.

Q. How do I remove insulation from copper wire for recycling?

Strip wire by hand with a knife or wire stripper for small amounts, or use a manual cable stripping tool for larger quantities. Removing insulation upgrades the wire from the insulated tier to a clean copper grade, which pays much more.

Q. How much is clean copper worth?

Clean bare bright copper is the premium grade at about $10.50 to $11.80 per kilogram in Melbourne in 2026, the highest of all common copper grades.

Q. How much are they paying for copper right now?

Copper prices change daily with the London Metal Exchange and the Australian dollar. For the current rate on your grade, call Sky Scrap Metal on 0402 757 290 or send a photo for a quote.

Sell Your Scrap to Sky Scrap Metal in Dandenong

Sky Scrap Metal is a licensed scrap metal buyer based at 297 Hammond Road, Dandenong, in Melbourne’s south east. We buy all grades of ferrous and non ferrous metal from homeowners, tradies, demolition crews, and businesses, and we pay on the spot after weighing and inspection. Call or send a photo for a quick estimate, drop in to the yard, or book a collection for larger loads.

Call: 0402 757 290 or 03 8753 6373

Yard: 297 Hammond Road, Dandenong, VIC 3175

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am to 12:30 pm

Get a quote: Request a price for your scrap