What Kind of Metal Do I Have?

Why It Matters

Knowing what type of metal you have determines how much you get paid. Different metals have very different values — copper is worth many times more per pound than steel. Bringing in a mixed load and letting the yard sort it means you'll be paid for the lowest-grade material in the pile. A few minutes of identification upfront puts more money in your pocket.

The good news: most common scrap metals can be identified with basic tools and no chemistry knowledge.

The Magnet Test — Your First Move

Grab a refrigerator magnet or any small magnet. Touch it to your metal.

If the magnet sticks: the metal contains iron. That means it's ferrous — likely steel or cast iron. Ferrous metals are the least valuable per pound but still worth recycling, especially in bulk.

If the magnet does not stick: you likely have a non-ferrous metal. These are generally worth more — copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, and lead all fail the magnet test.

Note: Stainless steel is tricky. Some grades of stainless (particularly 300-series) are weakly magnetic or non-magnetic. If your metal looks like stainless but the magnet sticks slightly, call it stainless and let the yard verify.

Identify by Color

Once you know it's non-ferrous, color is the easiest next step:

Reddish/orange — Copper. Could be pipe, wire, sheet, or fittings. Copper is the most valuable common metal.

Silver/light gray, very light weight — Aluminum. Common in cans, siding, extrusions, window frames, engine blocks.

Yellow/gold tone — Brass or bronze. Found in plumbing fittings, valves, shell casings, and decorative fixtures.

Shiny silver, heavier than aluminum, resists corrosion — Stainless steel.

Very heavy, silver-gray, soft enough to scratch with a knife — Lead. Found in batteries, pipe, roofing, wheel weights.

Weight Test

Weight relative to size helps confirm your identification. Copper is dense — a piece the size of your fist is noticeably heavier than the same size aluminum. Lead is denser still.

If something looks like aluminum but feels surprisingly heavy, test again — it might be zinc casting or white metal.

Quick Decision Tree

Magnet sticks → Ferrous metal (steel, iron). Bring it in — ferrous is priced by hundredweight (CWT).

Magnet doesn't stick → Check color:

• Reddish/orange → Copper

• Silver and lightweight → Aluminum

• Yellow/golden → Brass or bronze

• Silver and heavy → Stainless or lead (use weight to distinguish)

Not sure? Call us before you drive in — we can help you confirm over the phone.

Common Mistakes

Chrome-plated steel: looks shiny like chrome or stainless, but the magnet will stick. It's still steel — the chrome plating is thin and doesn't change the value category.

Aluminum cans vs steel cans: food cans are often steel, not aluminum. The magnet test tells you immediately.

Galvanized steel: that silver-gray finish is zinc coating over steel. The magnet will stick.