Category 05 — Copper conductor
SELL BARE AND INSULATED COPPER WIRE
Bare copper and clean insulated copper are the most straightforward surplus to quote, provided the gauge and the footage are known. Grounding conductors, coil remnants and welding cable all fall in this category.
Bare, tinned and insulated copper
Bare copper grounding conductors in solid or stranded construction, tinned copper, bare neutral and bonding jumpers. Insulated copper in THHN, XHHW, RHW and welding cable constructions, on reels, in coils, or in factory cartons.
Copper is priced on the metal and the construction, not on the weight alone. A reel of 4/0 THHN and a reel of 14 AWG have very different value per pound, so list the gauge for every reel in the submission.
What to photograph
Photograph each reel flange with the tag, then a close-up of the conductor end. For bare copper that has been stored outside, include a photo of the surface so oxidation is visible before anyone visits.
Insulated copper that has been stripped, burned or mixed with other metals should be described as such. We buy wire and cable, not mixed scrap, and a clear description keeps the quote honest.
Constructions in this category
- Bare copper Grounding conductors, bare neutral, bonding conductors; solid or stranded.
- Tinned copper Often used in marine and industrial grounding; reviewed separately.
- Insulated copper THHN, XHHW, RHW and similar constructions, priced by gauge and insulation.
- Welding cable Flexible stranded copper cable, usually 2 to 4/0, in coils or on reels.
Sizes we see most often
From #14 through 1000 MCM, in single-conductor and multi-conductor constructions. Mixed lots are welcome — list each size separately so the footage can be priced against the right gauge.
- #14
- #12
- #10
- #8
- #6
- #4
- #2
- #1
- 1/0
- 2/0
- 3/0
- 4/0
- 250
- 300
- 350
- 400
- 500
- 600
- 750
- 1000
What to include with your quote request
These details turn a question into a number. Anything you do not know can be estimated; say that it is an estimate.
- Gauge or MCM and conductor count
- Bare, tinned or insulated, and the insulation type if known
- Solid or stranded construction
- Approximate footage or total weight
- Photos of the tag, the coil and the conductor end
Not sure whether it is worth quoting?
Send it anyway. A short reel, an odd construction or a faded tag costs nothing to review, and the answer is usually more useful than the guess.
Questions
Bare & Insulated Copper questions
Category-specific answers, before you fill in the form.
Do you buy copper wire that has been stripped?
Stripped copper is not electrical wire anymore, so it falls outside what this site buys. Send insulated or bare conductor that is still in cable form.
How is bare copper priced?
Bare copper is priced against the metal market with an adjustment for gauge, form and condition. Oxidation and mixed lengths affect the final number.
Related pages
Request a quote
Sell your bare & insulated copper
Send the details and photos for a purchase quote. The form goes to the same inbox as every other category, and the review starts as soon as it arrives.
Quote request — Bare & Insulated Copper
Eight photos are enough for most lots. Tag, legend, cut end and a wide shot per reel.
Sell your surplus wire
Have a bare & insulated copper reel to move?
Send the details and photos. We will tell you what the material is worth and how a pickup would work.