Is It Worth Stripping Copper Wire for Scrap?
Stripping copper wire is usually worth it for heavier, thicker cable and larger loads, and often not worth it for thin, light wire. In Melbourne, bare bright (stripped) copper fetches roughly $10.50–$12.50 per kg, while insulated cable sits around $2.50–$4.50 per kg depending on how much copper is inside. Because stripping can lift the same copper into the top grade, the payout on heavy cable can roughly double — but for thin flex and small quantities, the time spent stripping often isn’t repaid.
Bare Bright vs Insulated: Why the Gap Is So Big
When you sell insulated cable, you’re paid on the whole weight — but a large share of that weight is plastic, not metal. The rate is discounted to account for the copper the yard will actually recover after processing. Strip the insulation off and you’re selling pure copper by weight at the bare-bright rate, with no discount applied. That’s the entire reason the per-kg numbers look so different.
| Grade | What it is | Indicative Melbourne rate (per kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Bare bright copper | Clean, stripped, uncoated wire | $10.50 – $12.50 |
| #1 heavy copper | Clean pipe/tube, thick solids | $9.50 – $11.20 |
| Insulated cable (heavy) | Thick cable, high copper content | $4.00 – $6.00 |
| Insulated wire (light) | Thin flex, low copper content | $2.50 – $4.00 |
Rates shown are indicative only and can move with the global market, local demand and the grade of the material.
The Break-Even Maths (Worked Example)
A standard TPS building cable is roughly half to two-thirds insulation by weight. So a 10 kg bundle of unstripped TPS yields around 4–5 kg of bare copper once stripped. Run the numbers at midpoint rates:
- Sell 10 kg unstripped at ~$3.50/kg (light insulated) ≈ $35.
- Strip it → ~4.5 kg bare bright at ~$11.50/kg ≈ $52.
- Extra value from stripping ≈ $17 on a 10 kg bundle — and on a 50 kg load, the gap can exceed $150–$200.
The lesson: on volume and heavy cable, stripping clearly pays. On a couple of kilos of thin wire, you might spend an hour to earn a few extra dollars — rarely worth it.
When Stripping Is Worth Your Time
- The cable is thick-gauge. Household mains, power cable, industrial wiring or heavy TPS.
- You have a decent quantity. Around 10 kg or more of similar cable.
- You have access to a wire-stripping tool or machine. Hand-stripping thin flex is slow.
- You’re generating cable regularly. A stripper can pay for itself over time.
When It’s Not Worth Stripping
- Thin flex, cords, data and comms cable with low copper content.
- Small one-off quantities where an hour of stripping earns only a few dollars.
- Cable that’s fiddly, brittle or hazardous to strip by hand.
For these, selling as insulated cable — and letting the yard’s shredding and separation equipment do the work — is the smarter option.
A Word on Safety and the Law
For Electricians: Turning Offcuts Into Steady Income
If you’re a sparky, almost every job — rewires, switchboard upgrades, strip-outs, new builds, solar and commercial fit-outs — produces cable with real cash value. The difference between selling unstripped and stripped cable across a year of offcuts adds up fast.
The practical approach is to keep a dedicated bin on the truck or in the workshop, batch your stripping, and book a pickup when it’s full. Manhari can supply a free scrap metal bin and collect copper and cable from your site across Melbourne and Victoria.
Get the Top Rate on Your Copper
Whether it’s stripped bare bright or bundled cable, Manhari grades fairly on copper content and pays competitively.
Common Questions
FAQ: Stripping Copper Wire for Scrap
Quick answers to common questions about stripping copper wire and selling insulated cable for scrap.
In Melbourne, bare bright copper (around $10.50–$12.50/kg) is typically two to four times the per-kg rate of insulated cable (around $2.50–$4.50/kg). Because stripping also removes the plastic weight, the effective uplift on heavy cable is often close to double the total payout.
It varies by cable type, but common building cable like TPS is roughly one-third to one-half copper by weight — the rest is insulation. Thicker cable holds proportionally more copper, which is why heavier cable is the most worthwhile to strip.
No. Burning cable is illegal in Victoria, produces toxic fumes, and burnt copper is downgraded because of the residue. Always strip mechanically or sell the cable insulated and let a licensed yard recover the copper.
If you generate cable regularly — like a working electrician — a stripper generally pays for itself quickly. For a one-off household clean-out, it usually isn’t worth buying; selling as insulated cable is simpler.
Yes. Manhari and most licensed Melbourne yards buy insulated cable and grade it on copper content, so you can sell without stripping. You’ll get a higher per-kg rate for stripped bare bright, but insulated cable still has solid value.
Ready to Get the Best Value From Your Copper?
Whether you have stripped copper, insulated cable or a larger load of scrap, Manhari Recycling can help you understand the value of your material and arrange collection across Melbourne and Victoria.