Which Copper Wire is Most Valuable?

Bare bright copper wire is the most precious copper wire. The wire can be spotted by its shiny, light-orange hue. To qualify as bare bright copper wire, the wire must be 99 percent copper and free of coating, corrosion, or other impurities. The bare bright copper wire must be at least 16 gauge to qualify.

#1 copper wire is bare bright copper wire that is of lower quality. The value of #1 copper wire will be less than wire graded as bare bright copper. Based on looks, the wire is the same color as bare bright and at least 16 gauge but displays some slight corrosion or patches of the coating.

#2 copper wire is the third more valuable clean copper wire. The wire is unalloyed, has a minimum of 94 percent pure, and may have a coating of shellac. Bare bright copper and #2 copper wire share a similar look, but this wire has a darker orange or reddish color.

The value of insulated copper wire depends highly on what is on the inside. Recyclers often choose to strip scrap insulated copper wire to earn the best scrap prices. However, this step is not always necessary or cost-effective, as many metal recyclers will pay for insulated copper wire. Though the price may vary varying on whether the wire is stripped, the value depends on the grade of the copper inside.

Copper is the electrical conductor in many categories of electrical wiring. Copper wire is often used in power generation, power transmission, power distribution, telecommunications, electronics circuitry, and countless types of electrical equipment. High quantities of the material and its alloys are in use today that eventually reach an end-of-life status. So, which kinds of copper wire are the most valuable when it comes to scrap?