Quick answer
To work out what your scrap is worth, multiply the weight of each metal by its rand-per-kilogram rate for that grade, then add the metals together. For example, 100 kg of clean bright copper at about R150–R177/kg is roughly R15 000–R17 700. Clean, sorted metal earns the most; the final figure is set by verified weight on our legal-for-trade weighbridge.
Quick Facts & Key Takeaways
The essentials before you value or sell a scrap load.
- Prices move daily. Scrap rates track the London Metal Exchange and the rand, so the figure shifts day to day — confirm today’s rate with us before you sell.
- You’re paid weight × grade. Value = weight in kilograms × the R/kg rate for that exact metal and grade. Copper and brass pay the most per kg; steel and iron pay less but make it up by volume (quoted per ton).
- Clean, sorted metal earns more. Separating copper, brass and aluminium and stripping insulation off cable can lift the rate by around 30% versus a mixed, unsorted load. Never burn cable — it’s illegal and downgrades the metal.
- What we buy. Copper, brass, aluminium, stainless, steel, iron, lead, zinc, tungsten/carbide, e-waste and lead-acid batteries — priced per kg; catalytic converters are quoted per unit on their precious-metal (platinum, palladium and rhodium) content.
- Collection is on us. Same-day skip-bin drop-off and 24-hour removal with 8-ton crane trucks.
- Paid on verified weight. Your final payout is set on legal-for-trade scales and paid by immediate EFT. Bring your SA ID and proof of address (Second-Hand Goods Act).
- Use the estimate as leverage. Know your load’s range before you arrive so you don’t accept a lowball offer at the scale.
Estimate your value
What's your scrap load worth?
Add a row for each metal and grade in your load, enter the weight in kilograms or tonnes, set the condition and your area — the tool totals the whole load into an indicative rand range.
Indicative range using current mid-market rates × condition and area.Not a binding offer — the final price is confirmed by weight at a registered weighbridge.
What affects your price
- Add a row for each metal and grade — the tool totals the whole load into one rand range.
- Clean, sorted metal pays the most; mixed or contaminated loads are graded down.
- Copper and brass pay the most per kg; steel and iron are lower but make it up in volume (quoted per ton).
- Rates track the London Metal Exchange and the rand daily; the final figure is set by weight at a registered weighbridge.
Example: 100 kg of clean bright copper wire at about R150–R177/kg is roughly R15 000–R17 700, before condition and area adjustments.
How to use the calculator
- 1Pick the metal and gradeChoose the metal and the grade that best matches your scrap — bare bright copper pays the most, heavy melting steel is your bulk earner, and so on. Grading matters more than weight.
- 2Enter the weightType the weight and choose kilograms or tonnes. Add a row for each different metal in a mixed load.
- 3Set condition and areaPick how clean and sorted the load is and your area, so the estimate reflects contamination and local demand.
- 4Read the rand rangeThe calculator multiplies weight by the per-kg rate for each grade and totals the load into a low–high rand range.
- 5Confirm with a quoteSend the load for a verified, weight-based quote — the final figure is set on our legal-for-trade weighbridge and paid by immediate EFT.
Payouts, collection & turnaround
The scrap market moves fast, and heavy metal left to rot in your yard is lost revenue. Whether you're clearing a site or managing offcuts, we turn your industrial waste into immediate cash and handle the logistics so you can focus on your business.
Selling to us cuts out the common yard traps that cost you money:
- Trucks that never show up.
- Short-weighted weighbridge readings.
- Clean copper downgraded to low-grade prices.
- Security risks from storing high-value scrap.
- Estimated rates: copper about R105–R177/kg | scrap steel R1.20–R4.00/kg — see the full table below.
- Collection: same-day bin placement; 24-hour removal.
- Payment: immediate EFT once your weight is verified on legal-for-trade scales.
Worked examples
50 kg bare bright copper wire
at R150–R177/kg
R7 500–R8 850
300 kg heavy melting steel
at R2.5–R4/kg
R750–R1 200
100 kg clean aluminium extrusion
at R42–R45/kg
R4 200–R4 500
Indicative figures using July 2026 rates, before condition and area adjustments. Clean, sorted metal earns the top of each range.
Indicative scrap metal rates used
| Metal | What sets the rate | Indicative rate (R/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Clean bright wire at the top; motor and contaminated copper lower | R105–R177 |
| Brass | Red brass and bronze highest; turnings and shavings lowest | R25–R75 |
| Aluminium | Clean sheet and cast alloy high; cans and oily turnings low | R5–R45 |
| Stainless steel | 316 pays more than 304, then 430, then mixed scrap | R5–R32 |
| Zinc | Clean diecast and Zamak highest; galvanised lower | R20–R55 |
| Lead | Clean soft lead and battery lead at the top | R9–R24 |
| Scrap steel & iron | Common heavy and light steel; alloy and tool steel pay far more | R1.20–R4.00 |
| Tungsten / carbide | Carbide tips, inserts and tool offcuts | R120–R270 |
| Lead-acid batteries | Priced whole, per kg, on lead content | R8–R15 |
| Catalytic converters | Priced on platinum/palladium/rhodium content, not per kg | Quoted per unit |
| E-waste | Varies widely by device — phones high, mixed boards low | R1.50–R90.00 |
Per ton (per kg × 1,000): clean copper sits around R105 000–R177 000/ton, while common steel and iron sit closer to R1 200–R4 000/ton. We quote per kg for small loads and per ton for bulk and factory clearances.
For the full per-grade breakdown, see the scrap metal prices hub, or per-metal guides such as copper, brass and aluminium.
What a scrap metal calculator does
A scrap calculator converts weight into a cash estimate. It applies current per-kilogram rates — which move with the London Metal Exchange (LME) — to the weight and grade you enter. Because scrap trades in US dollars, a weaker rand usually means a higher local payout for you, and the tool handles that conversion for you.
Getting an accurate estimate
Enter your load to get a baseline before you visit the yard — grading matters more than weight. Select the grade that matches your scrap: bare bright copper (clean, stripped wire) pays the most, while steel moves with foundry demand. For a mixed load, add a row for each metal so the tool totals the whole lot. Precise input prevents lowball offers at the scale.
Why it pays to sort first
Transparency is leverage. If you know your copper is worth around R150/kg, you won't accept R100. The calculator also saves you time and fuel by giving you a realistic figure before you drive. Proper sorting increases profit too — stripping the PVC off cable can raise its value by roughly30%. Never burn cable to strip it: it's illegal and it devalues the metal.
Logistics & compliance
We provide 8-ton crane trucks and industrial skip bins, with priority dispatch to,. Every transaction follows the SAPS Second-Hand Goods Act (SHGA): you'll need a copy of your ID and proof of residence before payout. We also issue safe destruction certificates for industrial machinery and secure data equipment. We're experts — calibrated scales and the right equipment mean you get every cent you're owed.
Stop guessing what your scrap is worth. Use the calculator for a real, market-linked estimate, then book a bin drop-off or get today's scrap prices — we provide the equipment and the fair payouts your business needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a scrap metal calculator?
It is a tool that converts the weight of your scrap into an indicative rand payout, using current per-kilogram rates for each metal and grade. It gives you an instant valuation based on weight and grade so you know roughly what your load is worth before you sell.
How does it work for precious or high-value metals?
Precious-metal-bearing scrap — silver contacts, gold-plated pins and boards — and catalytic converters are quoted individually on their recovered precious-metal (platinum, palladium and rhodium) content, not a fixed per-kg rate, so they sit outside this per-kg tool. Send a photo and we will quote them separately at the live spot price and rand rate.
Are the prices accurate?
The rates are indicative and we update them as the market moves — they track the London Metal Exchange and the rand exchange rate. Because scrap trades in US dollars, a weaker rand usually means a higher local payout for you. The final price is confirmed once your load is weighed on our legal-for-trade scales.
Why use a calculator before selling?
It gives you a baseline so you do not accept a lowball offer. If you know your clean copper is worth about R150–R177/kg, you will not settle for R100. It also saves you time and fuel by giving you a realistic figure before you load up and drive out.
Is the payout guaranteed at the estimated price?
No — the estimate is a guide, not a binding offer. Your payout is finalised after our weighbridge verifies the grade and weight. Contamination, moisture, attachments or mixed metals adjust the final per-kg rate, which is why clean, sorted loads pay the most.
Buy and sell scrap metal with Reclaim Metal Traders
Enquire about scrap metal for sale with your required material, grade and quantity to confirm stock and sales prices. We also buy suitable recyclable scrap: send photos, material details and approximate weight for a buying quote. Transport arrangements and charges are confirmed separately.
Metals we buy · Scrap buying guide prices · Buy or sell — request a quote