Brass scrap occupies an interesting position in the non-ferrous market. It is less common than copper or aluminum scrap, but the prices are high enough to make collection worthwhile, and the grades are distinct enough that proper sorting significantly increases value. Understanding brass scrap pricing per pound is important for scrapyard operators, plumbing contractors, and anyone building pricing tools for the non-ferrous market.
What Determines Brass Scrap Price
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and its scrap value is primarily determined by copper content. Higher copper content means a higher price per pound. This is why the two main brass scrap grades, yellow brass and red brass, have meaningfully different prices.
Yellow brass (ISRI code HONEY) contains 60 to 70 percent copper and 30 to 40 percent zinc. Common sources include plumbing fixtures, valves, decorative hardware, and spent ammunition casings. It is the most common brass scrap grade and serves as the benchmark for brass pricing.
Red brass (ISRI code EBONY) contains 80 to 85 percent copper with the remainder being zinc, tin, and lead. Plumbing fittings, pump impellers, and certain valve bodies are typical sources. The higher copper content means red brass trades at a meaningful premium, often $0.30 to $0.60 per pound more than yellow brass.
Current Price Ranges
Brass scrap prices correlate strongly with COMEX copper prices since copper is the primary value component. When copper trades around $4.00 per pound on COMEX, yellow brass scrap typically falls in the $1.80 to $2.40 per pound range, and red brass trades between $2.40 and $3.00 per pound.
These ranges vary by region, volume, and the specific buyer. Large consumers like brass mills and ingot makers pay more than small local scrapyards because they have lower per-unit processing costs and more direct market access.
Common Pricing Mistakes
The most frequent error in brass scrap pricing is failing to distinguish between yellow and red brass. Mixing them together and selling at the yellow brass price leaves significant money on the table. Even within yellow brass, separating clean brass from contaminated material (brass with iron, rubber, or plastic attachments) can increase value by 10 to 15 percent.
Another common issue is confusing brass with bronze. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual speech, bronze (primarily copper and tin) has different scrap values and end markets.
Accessing Brass Price Data
The ScrapMetal API tracks both yellow brass and red brass prices, reported per pound in line with industry convention. Query the /v1/prices/current endpoint with a metal=brass filter to get current prices for both grades, including ISRI codes for unambiguous identification.