26 May Chicago Scrap Metal Prices – Week of May 25, 2026
Copper held steady this week in the low $5-per-pound range after pulling back from last week’s highs. Aluminum prices stayed flat with no big moves up or down. If you’ve been sitting on a load, this is a reasonable week to bring it in to your Chicago scrap yard.
Copper Prices in Chicago This Week
Bare bright copper is running $5.00 to $5.15 per pound at Chicago-area yards this week. That’s off slightly from the $5.35 peak we saw earlier in May, but still well above where it was sitting at the start of the year. The pullback is tied to softer futures trading and some caution in the market after a strong run. Nothing dramatic, just the market catching its breath.
For sellers, the grade spread still matters a lot. If you’re bringing in clean copper pipe with no fittings and no solder, you’re in #1 copper territory and that pays closer to $4.90 per pound. #2 copper, which covers painted pipe, light fittings and wire with insulation stripped, is around $4.75 to $4.80. If you’ve got a mix, separate it before you come in. A few minutes of sorting at home can add real money to your payout.
Aluminum Prices This Week
Cast aluminum and extrusion are holding in the $0.85 to $0.90 per pound range this week across Illinois yards. Aluminum/copper radiators are coming in much higher, around $2.50 to $2.60 per pound, so don’t lump those in with sheet aluminum. Cans are at the low end of the scale as usual. No big movement in aluminum this week, the market is flat and steady.
Steel and Iron Prices
Ferrous is where it’s been all month. Light iron and appliances are paying in the $220 to $235 per net ton range, clean sheet steel around $260 to $270 per net ton. Steel prices in Chicago are set at the start of each month and rarely shift mid-month, so what you see now is likely what you’ll get through the end of May. If you’ve got heavy melt or cast iron, give us a call for the current number.
What This Means for Chicago Scrappers
Copper is still paying well above historical averages, so this is not the time to hold back waiting for a spike. Clean your material, separate your grades, and bring it in while the market is strong.
Bring your scrap to Central Metal Recycling at 5618 W. Fillmore St. We’re open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm and Saturday 7am-11am. Call (773) 345-8610 for today’s exact rates.
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