Chicago Scrap Metal Prices – Week of June 1, 2026

01 Jun Chicago Scrap Metal Prices – Week of June 1, 2026

Copper is holding strong heading into the first week of June, with bare bright sitting around $5.10/lb in the Chicago market. Aluminum prices are steady and in decent range for sellers. If you have been sitting on a load, this is a reasonable week to bring it in.

Copper Prices in Chicago This Week

Bare bright copper is running around $5.10/lb this week in Chicago. Clean #1 copper tubing and flashing is coming in at $4.76/lb, and #2 copper tubing is around $4.49/lb. The LME copper market has been supported by continued demand from manufacturing and infrastructure projects, with no major selloffs in recent weeks keeping prices above the $4.40 floor we saw earlier this spring.

For anyone selling copper wire, bare bright pays the most, but it has to be clean – no insulation, no connectors. Insulated wire pays less, in the $4.00 range depending on the jacket. If you have copper pipe from a plumbing job, sort your #1 from your #2 before you come in. That extra step usually puts more money in your pocket on the spot.

Aluminum Prices This Week

Aluminum is steady this week in Chicago. Cast and old sheet aluminum is trading around $1.05-$1.06/lb. Clean aluminum cans are coming in around $0.81/lb. Extrusions and rims vary by grade and condition. Nothing dramatic is moving the aluminum market right now – it has been flat for a few weeks, which is fine for sellers who need to move material consistently.

Steel and Iron Prices

Ferrous prices are stable this month as expected. Light iron and sheet is running in the $100-$140 per net ton range, with HMS sitting at the lower end of that band. Steel prices are set at the start of the month and do not move around like copper does, so what you see this week is likely what you get for the rest of June. Cast iron is running a little better than sheet.

What This Means for Chicago Scrappers

Copper and aluminum prices are solid right now – no reason to wait if you have a load ready. Sort your material before you arrive and keep grades separate so you get paid on the better number, not the blended rate.

Bring your scrap to Central Metal Recycling at 5618 W. Fillmore St, Chicago. We’re open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm and Saturday 7am-11am. Call (773) 345-8610 for today’s exact rates.