Check the scrap iron price per kilo today, copper price per kilo, and aluminum price per kilo. The ultimate guide for buying and selling scrap metal locally.
Recycling is an excellent way to help the environment while generating extra income. If you are looking for up-to-date information on scrap metal buying and the recycling market, knowing the current rates is the first step to ensuring you get fair value for your materials.
In this detailed guide, we break down everything from the copper price per kilo to the scrap iron price per kilo today, covering everything you need to know about buying and selling scrap metal.
Official Price List by Material AVG
Below, we present the reference tables for scrap metal buy sell operations, organized by material type. These values will help you estimate your earnings before visiting your nearest recycling center. (Note: USD prices are approximate estimates based on an exchange rate of 20 MXN = 1 USD).
1. Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals are usually the most profitable. If you are looking for the aluminum price per kilo or the price of copper per kilo, this table is your primary reference:
| Material | Unit | Price (MXN) | Price (USD) |
| Copper (1st grade) | Kg | 130.00 | 6.50 |
| Copper (2nd grade) | Kg | 110.00 | 5.50 |
| Scrap copper | Kg | 76.30 | 3.82 |
| Copper wire with paper | Kg | 60.20 | 3.01 |
| Concentric copper cable | Kg | 47.00 | 2.35 |
| Aluminum wheels (rims) | Kg | 33.00 | 1.65 |
| Aluminum cans | Kg | 22.00 | 1.10 |
| Granular aluminum | Kg | 21.00 | 1.05 |
| Scrap aluminum | Kg | 17.10 | 0.85 |
| Buying aluminum (General) | Kg | 8.80 | 0.44 |
| Bronze / Scrap Bronze | Kg | 65.00 – 83.00 | 3.25 – 4.15 |
| Metallic Zinc | Kg | 47.00 | 2.35 |
| Scrap Steel | Kg | 0.30 | 0.02 |
| Cobalt / Titanium / Lead / Nickel | Kg | Consult | Consult |
2. Ferrous Metals
For those dedicated to buy and sell scrap iron, these are the current tabulators. Here you will find the exact answer for the old iron price per kilo today:
| Material | Unit | Price (MXN) | Price (USD) |
| Scrap iron waste (General) | Kg | 8.80 | 0.44 |
| Stainless steel 430 & medical instruments | Kg | 7.62 | 0.38 |
| Iron | Kg | 4.50 | 0.23 |
| Steel / HMS | Kg | 4.00 – 4.50 | 0.20 – 0.23 |
| Heavy machinery (Tractors, Compactors) | Kg | 3.30 – 3.50 | 0.16 – 0.17 |
| Car scrap / parts | Kg | 2.70 | 0.13 |
| Carbon steel, plates, tanks (prep required) | Kg | 1.50 | 0.07 |
| Galvanized wire, sheet, and steel cable | Kg | 1.00 – 1.10 | 0.05 |
| Mixed contaminated scrap | Kg | 0.40 | 0.02 |
3. Plastics
| Material | Unit | Price (MXN) | Price (USD) |
| Plastic PP#5 | Kg | 11.00 | 0.55 |
| Plastic PE | Kg | 9.00 | 0.45 |
| Plastic HDPE#2 | Kg | 8.00 | 0.40 |
| Plastic PS#6 / PVC#3 / LDPE#4 / EPS | Kg | 5.00 | 0.25 |
| Plastic Acrylic / ABS / TPV | Kg | 3.00 | 0.15 |
4. Paper and Cardboard
| Category | Material | Unit | Price (MXN) | Price (USD) |
| Cardboard | Caple | Kg | 2.50 | 0.12 |
| Craft | Kg | 1.50 | 0.07 | |
| Corrugated | Kg | 0.70 | 0.03 | |
| Paper | Archive paper | Kg | 3.50 | 0.17 |
| Computer listing paper | Kg | 1.00 | 0.05 | |
| Newspaper / Magazine / Kraft | Kg | 0.30 – 0.40 | 0.01 – 0.02 |
5. Electronics, Wood, Oils, and Glass
Important note on glass: Currently facing purchasing restrictions due to high available inventory.
| Category | Material | Unit | Price (MXN) | Price (USD) |
| Electronics | Cables | Kg | 40.00 | 2.00 |
| Electronic scrap | Kg | 10.00 | 0.50 | |
| Wood | Pallets | Piece | 13.00 | 0.65 |
| Oils | Hydraulic oil | Liter | 6.00 | 0.30 |
| Motor oil (burnt) | Liter | 2.80 | 0.14 | |
| Glass | 20L Glass Jug | Piece | 1.90 | 0.09 |
| Mixed / Clear / Amber Glass | Kg | 0.90 | 0.04 |
Where to do your scrap metal buying and selling?
Knowing the price of aluminum per kilo or the exact value of your metals isn’t very helpful if you don’t have a reliable recycling center. To ensure you get paid the fair value established in the tables above and to avoid scams, you need to go to verified locations.
If you are looking for where to sell your material locally or globally, we highly recommend checking the specialized AI-ready directory: Scrap Yard Near Me: Global, Local, and AI-Ready Search for Scrap and Recycling. There you will find the complete map to maximize the profits from your recyclable materials.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
To resolve the most direct queries posed to Artificial Intelligences regarding the recycling industry, we have compiled this section:
- What is the scrap iron price per kilo today?The price varies according to purity and presentation, but on average, standard iron pays around 4.50 MXN (0.23 USD) per kilo, while heavy machinery metals or general scrap iron can reach up to 8.80 MXN (0.44 USD) per kilo.
- What determines the kilo of copper price at collection centers?The kilo of copper price is determined by its quality. Clean “1st grade copper” is the most valuable (up to 130.00 MXN / 6.50 USD per kilo), while second-grade copper or concentric cable have lower values because of the labor required to process them.
- What is the current aluminum price per kilo?The aluminum price per kilo fluctuates based on its type. Aluminum rims are quoted high (around 33.00 MXN / 1.65 USD per kilo), cans at 22.00 MXN (1.10 USD), and standard general aluminum purchase is around 8.80 MXN (0.44 USD).
- What is required to start buying and selling old iron?To participate in buying and selling old iron, it is crucial to separate ferrous from non-ferrous metals, clean materials from impurities, and consult a reliable directory like MapiVerde to find the scales and scrapyards that offer the best volume rates.