Published June 11, 2026 • ScrapMetalBuyers.com

Copper Wire Grades Explained: Bare Bright vs. #1 vs. #2 Copper

Walk into any scrap yard and you'll hear terms like "bare bright," "#1," and "#2" copper. These grades determine your payout, and understanding them is the single most important skill for anyone selling copper scrap. Here's the complete breakdown.

The Copper Grade Hierarchy

Copper scrap is classified from highest to lowest value based on purity and contamination:

Bare Bright Copper (BB)

Price: $3.80–$4.50/lb (2026)

Bare bright is the highest grade of copper scrap. To qualify as bare bright, copper wire must be:

• Completely free of insulation (no plastic, rubber, or enamel coating)
• Unalloyed — pure copper, not brass or bronze
• Free of solder, paint, or coatings
• Shiny and clean in appearance
• Minimum 16-gauge thickness (thinner wire is harder to process)

Common sources: stripped THHN wire, bus bar, clean copper pipe with no fittings.

Copper #1 (Clean Copper)

Price: $3.50–$4.20/lb (2026)

Copper #1 includes clean, unalloyed copper that may have:

• Light oxidation or tarnish (but no heavy corrosion)
• No solder, paint, or coatings
• No attached fittings or other metals

Common sources: clean copper pipe, bus bar with light oxidation, clean copper sheet.

Copper #2 (Dirty Copper)

Price: $3.20–$3.90/lb (2026)

Copper #2 is copper that has been contaminated with:

• Solder joints (even small amounts)
• Paint or coatings
• Heavy oxidation or patina
• Small amounts of attached metals

Common sources: plumbing pipe with solder, painted copper, copper with light coatings.

Insulated Copper Wire (ICW)

Price: $0.80–$2.50/lb depending on insulation percentage

Insulated wire is priced based on the estimated copper content (recovery percentage). Thick-gauge wire (like Romex 12/2) has a high copper percentage and pays more. Thin wire (like phone wire) has a low copper percentage and pays much less.

How to Identify Your Grade

Use this quick test:

1. Is there any insulation on it? → Insulated wire grade
2. Is there solder, paint, or fittings? → Copper #2
3. Is it clean but slightly tarnished? → Copper #1
4. Is it shiny, clean, and completely bare? → Bare Bright

The Price Difference Matters at Scale

At 100 lbs, the difference between bare bright ($4.20/lb) and #2 copper ($3.50/lb) is $70. That's why sorting and upgrading your copper grade before selling is always worth the effort.

For large copper lots, ScrapMetalBuyers.com pays top-of-market rates for all copper grades. Call 954-488-0700 for a same-day quote.

FAQ

1. What happens if I mix bare bright with #2 copper?

The yard will price the entire mixed load at the #2 rate. Always keep grades separated.

2. Can I upgrade #2 copper to #1 by cleaning it?

Sometimes. If the contamination is light oxidation, some yards will accept it as #1 after inspection. Solder cannot be removed easily, so soldered copper stays at #2.

3. What is "burnt copper"?

Burnt copper is wire that has had its insulation burned off. It's illegal to burn wire in most jurisdictions due to toxic fumes, and many yards won't accept it or will pay a lower price for it.

4. Is enamel-coated magnet wire bare bright?

No. Magnet wire (the fine wire in motors and transformers) has an enamel coating and is classified as #2 copper at best. It cannot be classified as bare bright.

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