Copper pipe and plumbing offcuts: resell or scrap value?
Usable lengths often beat scrap. Fittings and solder lower the grade.
In short
Copper pipe is the simplest material to judge, because you can see and test it. Long, clean lengths in common sizes can sell to DIYers above scrap price. Short, soldered or painted pieces are scrap, and fittings are usually brass at a lower price. Work out both routes before you make an offer.
Suitable for beginners
- Sort into usable lengths, clean scrap and pieces with attachments.
- Brass fittings are a separate, lower grade.
- Ask for the net weight. A crate weighs something too.
- Small lots rarely cover the two trips.
Who this suits
- Skills
- Beginners. No electrical risk.
- Tools
- Scales, magnet, file, pipe cutter or hacksaw.
- Space
- A corner of a garage or cellar.
- Transport
- A car. Long lengths need a roof rack or a van.
- Time
- An hour or two for sorting, plus two trips.
Where to look
- Plumbers and heating firms clearing stock
- Renovation leftovers sold by the owner
- Workshop and estate clear-outs
Identify it exactly
| What to find | Why it changes value or repairability |
|---|---|
| Diameter and wall thickness | Common sizes such as 15, 18 and 22 mm resell. Odd sizes do not. |
| Length | Short pieces are rarely wanted for reuse. |
| Hard or soft (coil) | Coils of soft pipe resell well when they are unkinked. |
| Attachments | Solder, fittings, paint, insulation and plaster are deducted or lower the grade. |
| Plastic-coated pipe | Coated pipe (WICU) is its own, clearly lower grade. |
Evidence to ask for
- Net weight of the pipe alone
- A photo of the whole lot laid out, with a tape measure
- Close-up of the ends and any fittings
- Where it is from and that it belongs to the seller
What is uncertain
The metal itself is rarely in doubt. What is uncertain is the split: how much is clean, how much carries attachments, how much is brass. Estimate the split as a cautious, expected and good case.
Reuse or scrap?
Check reuse first. It can be worth clearly more per kg, but it takes listing, packing and waiting.
Better resold for reuse
- Straight, undented lengths in common sizes
- Unused coils
- New fittings in original bags
Scrap
- Short, bent, soldered or painted pieces
- Mixed old fittings (as brass)
- Anything with plaster or insulation stuck to it
Where DIY stops
Only pipe that is already removed.
Do not
- Do not take pipe out of a building yourself unless it is your building and the system is shut down and drained.
- Do not take material from building sites or skips without the owner’s consent.
- Do not burn off paint or insulation.
Costs to count
- Fuel for collection and for the trip to the buyer
- Saw blades
- Your hours for collection, sorting and selling
- Marketplace fees and packaging if you resell lengths
Questions for the metal buyer
- Which grade do you put used pipe in, and what do you deduct for solder and paint?
- What do you pay for mixed brass fittings?
- Is there a minimum quantity, and what ID do you need?
- From what weight does the next price tier apply?
How we calculate
We publish no typical yield. Weigh the lot, sort it into your grades, and enter each grade’s share. The dealer prices shown on the German site are dated examples of how grades and tiers differ, not market prices.
Walk away when
- The seller will not state a net weight or show the ends
- Ownership is unclear
- The price per kg is already at the dealer’s price
- The lot is too small to cover your trips
Run your numbers
The calculator opens with this item selected. Prices and copper shares stay empty until you enter your own.
Find material
Stored listings that mention these items, read for what the seller actually wrote.
Searches to try
Suggestions in the language sellers use. We have no data on how often they are searched. Open on FlipGap and save the search.
Clear-outs and lots
A lot may hold material. “Clearance”, “heavy”, “old” or “free” prove neither copper nor profit.
FlipGap search and saved searches work for these queries. Links to other sites open a normal search there.
Rules in United Kingdom
We have not compiled the waste and scrap-trading rules for United Kingdom. Check with your local authority before you buy scrap regularly. German rules are not shown here because they do not apply.