"Scrap copper pipe price" is searched about 70 times a month in Australia, according to Ubersuggest, and "sell scrap copper pipe" about 10. The people searching have pipe from a renovation, a plumbing job or a demolition and want to know what it is worth. The answer is that copper is among the most valuable of the common scrap metals, and the way you present the pipe changes what you are paid. This guide explains the grades, how to prepare pipe and what to ask a yard. The grade definitions we found are from US, UK and New Zealand recyclers, and the one Australian source gave none, so treat them as the pattern and not as an Australian standard. We give no prices. ScrapTrade runs a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Clean tube and pipe with joints
The sources agree on the basic split. Clean copper tube, free of fittings, insulation, paint and solder, is the higher grade, usually called number 1, and light oxidation is tolerated. One source adds that the tube should generally be thicker than about one sixteenth of an inch. Pipe that still has joints, brass fittings or solder on the ends is usually downgraded to number 2, which needs more processing before it can be reused and so pays less. Grade names and rules differ by yard, so ask which terms yours uses.
Preparing it
- Sort by metal. Keep copper away from steel, brass and plastic. In our reading, a magnet picks out steel and brass looks yellow.
- Cut off brass fittings. Brass must be separated from the copper, and sources say leaving it on drags the grade down. Sell it as brass. Our guide to scrap brass prices explains that side.
- Clean off solder. Once the bulk is removed, a wire brush or coarse sandpaper deals with the residue, according to one source.
- Remove insulation and non-metal parts. One source says taking off rubber and plastic can make a big difference.
- Keep it dry and separate. Do not mix grades in one bin.
Whether the extra work pays depends on your time and the yard's spread between grades, and we found no Australian figures for that spread. Ask the yard what it pays for clean tube and for pipe with fittings, and compare it with what you would spend on the cutting and cleaning.
Rules for selling copper
Copper is a theft target, and several states regulate scrap dealers. The common elements in what we read are dealer registration, a cash ban, transaction records and identification. Our guide to selling scrap copper cable summarises what we found by state, and the rules change, so check yours with the regulator and your yard before you load the car.
A plumbing job's worth of metal
A bathroom or kitchen strip-out rarely gives only copper pipe. It also yields brass taps and fittings, chrome-plated items, steel and sometimes lead. Sorting these into piles before you go means each pile is graded and paid on its own, and a pile of mixed fittings is likely to be graded at the lowest rate. Ask your yard what it does with plated brass, and see our guides to brass prices and old hot water systems for the other pieces. We did not research lead or plated fittings, so ask the yard.
Questions to ask a yard
- What grades do you use for copper tube, and what is the difference in rate? Ask for clean tube and for pipe with fittings or solder.
- Do you take brass fittings separately?
- What minimum quantity do you take? Some yards weigh small loads in a different way.
- What do you need from me? Identification and records may be required.
- How do you pay? The state rules on cash are changing, as our cable guide explains.
Where to sell
- Local scrap yards and metal recyclers. The simplest route, with the price set by grade and weight.
- Plumbing and building suppliers. Some may take offcuts, and we did not research this.
- A marketplace. For a lot of clean tube, listing it for verified buyers to bid may suit a plumber or contractor, as below.
For current metal prices see our guide to scrap copper prices, and treat them as a guide to the metal and not a quote for your pipe. Pipe from a hot water system is covered in our guide to old hot water systems.
Where ScrapTrade fits
A few lengths of pipe belong with the local yard, and ScrapTrade is not the right route for them. The marketplace may suit a plumber, a contractor or a demolition crew with a sorted lot of clean tube and separated brass. There is no charge to list and no commission, price and terms are agreed live in chat and the buyer's 5 percent deposit goes into escrow when a bid is accepted. Both businesses and individuals can sell once verified, and the traders bidding are in more than 50 countries. Whether lots of sorted pipe are accepted, and how they are graded, is not something we could confirm, so ask cs@scraptrade.com.au first.
For the global view, with US, UK and EU examples, see Copper Pipe Scrap: #1 and #2 Grades Explained.
What we could not verify
- What any grade pays in Australia. We found no figures and give none.
- Australian grade definitions. Ours come from overseas recyclers.
- The minimum thickness rule. One source gives it, and yards differ.
- Current dealer rules in each state.
- Whether ScrapTrade lists sorted pipe lots.
Frequently asked questions
Is copper pipe worth scrapping?
Copper is among the most valuable common scrap metals. What you get depends on the grade and weight, and we found no Australian price.
What is number 1 copper pipe?
Clean tube without fittings, solder, paint or insulation, according to the sources we read. Yards define grades differently.
Should I cut the brass fittings off?
Yes, according to the sources, because brass lowers the grade. Sell the brass separately.
Do I need to remove the solder?
It helps, and pipe with solder is usually graded lower.
Can I sell copper pipe on ScrapTrade?
Verified sellers can list scrap. Ask support about a sorted lot.
Sources
- Ubersuggest keyword data, Australia, queried November 2026.
- US, UK and New Zealand recycler guides on copper grades and preparation, and one Australian blog, as summarised in search results.
- ScrapTrade website, accessed November 2026.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Grades and rules vary by yard and state.