Copper is one of the most valuable scrap metals you can sell, and the amount you receive depends on the grade, cleanliness and current market conditions. At Johnny Metal Recycling, we provide competitive copper scrap prices in Melbourne, with rates assessed according to the type and condition of your copper. Clean, separated copper generally attracts a better rate than mixed, insulated or contaminated material. If you’ve got copper to sell, call JMR on 0449 894 456 for today’s copper scrap price, or send us a photo and rough weight for a quote.
Disclaimer: All prices on this page are estimates for general guidance only. They aren’t a quote or an offer to buy. Brass metal scrap prices change daily, and your final price depends on material grade, contamination, weight and market conditions at the time of sale. Contact JMR for a current quote.
Today's copper scrap prices in Melbourne
| Grade | What it is | JMR rate per kg |
| Bright / clean copper (Grade 1) | Bare wire or strip, no insulation, no oxidation | up to $11.80 |
| Heavy copper (Grade 2) | Thick pipe, bus bars, slightly oxidised copper | up to $11.20 |
| Bare bright (market range) | Clean bright wire | $10.50 – $12.50 |
| Heavy insulated copper cable | Mains and industrial cable, 50–70% copper by weight | $4.00 – $7.00 |
| House wire / light insulated | TPS and light flex, roughly a third to a half copper | $2.50 – $4.00 |
| Mixed brass | Taps, valves, fittings | around $7.20 |
Why scrap copper prices are up in 2026?
Two things are pushing copper, and both look like holding.
Supply is tight. Major mining disruptions across Chile, Peru and the DRC — labour disputes and declining ore grades — have squeezed global supply through 2026.
Victoria is building. Metro extensions, the renewable energy rollout and broadband expansion all consume serious quantities of power cable and transformers, and that demand lands locally.
The result is copper scrap prices in Melbourne are up around 18% this year. That’s the difference between a 50kg load being worth a few hundred dollars and being worth meaningfully more, which is why we’re seeing tradies clear out copper they’d been sitting on for two years.
Copper scrap price per kg in Melbourne, grade by grade
The gap between the top and bottom of the copper scrap price range is close to five times. Knowing which grade you’re holding is the difference between a good weigh-in and a disappointing one.
Bright and clean copper — Grade 1
Bare bright wire and strip with no insulation, no solder, no oxidation and no paint. Offcuts from electrical work, stripped mains conductor, clean busbar. This is the top of the copper scrap prices JMR pays and it’s worth keeping scrupulously clean.
Heavy copper — Grade 2
Thick copper pipe, bus bars, tank copper, heavier fittings, material that has picked up some surface oxidation or has light solder on it. Plumbing offcuts usually land here. Still excellent money.
Heavy insulated copper cable
Mains and industrial cable, typically 50 to 70% copper by weight once the insulation is off. Because JMR sets the copper scrap prices in Melbourne on recoverable copper, the thicker the conductor relative to the sheath, the better the rate.
House wire and light insulated cable
TPS building cable and light flex, roughly a third to a half copper by weight. The insulation-to-conductor ratio is worse, so the rate is lower. Our electric cable recycling guide runs the numbers on whether stripping this yourself is worth the hours — short version, usually not for light cable.
Brass and mixed copper alloys
Taps, valves, fittings and mixed brass sit around $7.20/kg. Worth separating from your copper rather than letting it drag the grade down. See our brass page for detail.
Copper scrap we buy at JMR
Copper pipe and tube · bare bright wire and strip · busbar and tank copper · insulated cable and flex · mains and industrial cable · copper sheet and offcuts · hot water cylinders · radiators and copper coils · electric motor windings · brass and mixed alloys.
Johnny Metal Recycling takes copper in any condition and any quantity. No minimum if you’re dropping off at the yard. Free pickup on loads over 500kg, seven days a week, no weekend surcharge.
Full material detail is on our copper scrap Melbourne page.
Why sell your copper to Johnny Metal Recycling
Copper is worth enough per kilo that who you sell to really does matter. A few cents a kilo across a 200kg load is real money, and so is being weighed honestly.
Rates that track the live market. JMR sets copper scrap prices against the market on the day you sell, not off a board that was printed in March.
Weighed in front of you. Every load goes across verified digital scales while you watch. No estimating, no figure worked out somewhere you can’t see.
Graded in front of you too. If we’re calling something Grade 2 rather than Grade 1, we’ll show you why. Copper grading is where customers get quietly short-changed elsewhere, and it’s the part we make visible.
Paid the same day. Bank transfer or cheque, no waiting on invoices.
No hidden fees. No handling charge, no processing deduction, no surprise at the end. The quote is the payment.
Free pickup. Over 500kg, anywhere in Melbourne, seven days a week with no weekend surcharge.
Six years and licensed. Johnny Metal Recycling has been buying scrap copper in Melbourne for over six years as a licensed buyer operating under Victorian regulations.
How to get more for your copper
Copper rewards preparation more than any other metal, simply because copper scrap prices are high enough to make the effort worth it.
Strip what’s worth stripping. Heavy cable with a thick conductor is usually worth the time. Light flex generally isn’t — the guide linked above does the maths properly.
Keep Grade 1 pristine. Bare bright copper drops to Grade 2 the moment it’s mixed with oxidised or soldered material. One clean bucket, kept clean, is the single easiest lift available.
Pull the brass out. Taps and fittings at around $7.20/kg shouldn’t be riding along with copper at $11.80.
Remove steel and plastic fittings. Anything bolted, clipped or moulded to your copper is weight that isn’t copper.
Don’t burn cable. It’s illegal, it’s dangerous, it ruins the copper’s grade, and JMR won’t buy burnt cable. Strip it or sell it whole.
Bring it in together. One weigh-in, one quote, one payment.
How JMR weighs and pays
Every load is weighed on site on verified digital scales while you watch. With copper scrap prices where they are, that transparency is the whole relationship.
Payment is same day by bank transfer or cheque. Johnny Metal Recycling doesn’t pay cash — Victoria tightened the rules on cash in the scrap trade back in 2018 and we’ve worked to them since. No deductions afterwards and no hidden fees.
Copper recycling across Melbourne
Johnny Metal Recycling quotes copper scrap prices in Melbourne from our Braeside yard and collects right across the city: the south-east and bayside, the eastern and northern corridors, and out west. Pickup runs seven days a week with no weekend surcharge, usually within one to two business days of your call.
Copper recycling Melbourne-wide matters more than most people realise. Copper can be recycled indefinitely with no loss of quality, and recovering it uses a fraction of the energy of mining new ore — which, given what’s happening to global ore grades, is exactly why scrap copper prices are where they are.
Get today's copper scrap price
Ring Johnny Metal Recycling on 0449 894 456, tell us what grade you think you’ve got and roughly how much, and you’ll have today’s copper scrap prices in Melbourne in a couple of minutes.
Or send photos and an estimated weight through the contact form and JMR will come back with a quote and a collection time.
Why Choose Us?
With over 6 years of experience, we are trusted scrap car buyers in Melbourne, offering competitive cash for old cars Melbourne residents rely on. Our team specialises in car removal and car recycling Melbourne, ensuring unwanted and scrap vehicles are removed safely and recycled responsibly to support a cleaner and more sustainable future.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scrap Copper Recycling
What is the scrap copper price per kg for bare bright?
Bare bright sits in the $10.50 to $12.50 range in the Melbourne market, and JMR’s published Grade 1 rate is up to $11.80/kg. It’s the cleanest, highest-paying grade — bare wire with no insulation, oxidation or solder.
What's the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2 copper?
Grade 1 is bright, bare and clean. Grade 2 is heavier material — thick pipe, busbar, tank copper — that may carry light oxidation or solder. The gap is around 60 cents a kilo on JMR’s published rates, so keeping them separate pays.
Why have scrap copper prices gone up in 2026?
Mining disruptions in Chile, Peru and the DRC have tightened global supply, while Victoria’s metro, renewables and broadband projects have lifted local demand for cable and transformers. Copper is up roughly 18% across the year.
Do I need to strip my cable before selling it?
Heavy cable with a thick conductor is usually worth stripping. Light flex and TPS generally isn’t — the labour outweighs the gain. Our cable guide runs the actual numbers. Either way, JMR buys cable whole.
Does JMR buy burnt copper cable?
No. Burning cable is illegal, dangerous and it damages the copper’s grade. Bring it whole or stripped and you’ll do far better.
Is there a minimum quantity for copper recycling in Melbourne?
No minimum if you’re dropping off at the Braeside yard. Free pickup applies to loads over 500kg, seven days a week with no weekend surcharge.
How and when does JMR pay?
Bank transfer or cheque, the same day we collect or you drop off. Johnny Metal Recycling doesn’t pay cash, in line with the Victorian rules introduced in 2018.