Yellow Brass Scrap Explained: Composition, Uses, and Why It Prices Below Red Brass
Yellow brass is one of the most widely traded copper-zinc alloys in the scrap industry, but its lower copper content means it consistently sells for less than red brass. Here's what separates the two grades, how yellow brass is priced, and where to sell it.
What Readers Should Know
- Yellow brass contains roughly 60–70% copper and 30–40% zinc, with traces of tin and lead.
- Scrap must be free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, and glass to qualify for top payout.
- Lower copper content means yellow brass consistently trades below red brass.
- As of mid-August 2020, US export prices ranged from $1.57 to $1.59 per lb across regions.
- Typical applications include plumbing, automotive parts, keys, connectors, and musical instruments.
- A yellow brass plumbing system has a service life of roughly 20 to 40 years.
What Is Yellow Brass?
Yellow brass is a copper alloy made up of about 60–70% copper and 30–40% zinc, with traces of tin and lead. Scrap must be free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, and glass to be accepted at full value. Higher zinc content gives the metal its distinct yellow tone, and it appears brighter and more reflective than red brass.
It is one of the most commonly used brass grades, found mainly in household plumbing products. It also shows up in the automotive industry and in items such as keys, antennas, and connectors. Manufacturers use yellow brass to make musical instruments, including saxophones, as well as costume jewelry.
A yellow brass plumbing system typically lasts 20 to 40 years.
Why Yellow Brass Costs Less Than Red Brass
Copper content is what separates yellow brass from red brass. Because yellow brass carries relatively less copper, it commands a lower price. To get paid properly at a scrap yard, sellers should keep yellow brass carefully separated from other brass scrap.
Prices shift frequently, so it pays to check with several local scrap yards before selling to confirm which one is offering the best rate.
Yellow Brass Export Prices
The table below shows Yellow Brass export prices as of mid-August 2020.
| Region | Price |
|---|---|
| North America, US East Coast | $1.58 per lb |
| US Midwest | $1.57 per lb |
| US West Coast | $1.59 per lb |
| China | CNY 32,400 per MT |
Source: ScrapMonster
Visit ScrapMonster's Brass/Bronze Scrap Prices section for detailed Brass export pricing. For the latest yellow brass prices reported by individual scrap yards, see the Scrap Yard Prices section.
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Where to Sell Yellow Brass Scrap
Yellow brass is typically found in plumbing fixtures and ornaments. Scrap yards generally accept it in either dirty or clean condition, but they usually charge a breakage fee if the metal has any attachments. Cleaning the material before drop-off avoids that deduction.
Some US scrap yards that accept yellow brass include:
- Industrial Metal Recycling, Bangor, Maine
- Classic Metals, Rowesville, South Carolina
- Austin Brown Inc., Brentwood, Tennessee
- Trace Materials, St. John, Indiana
Use ScrapMonster's Scrap Yard Finder to locate more yards near you. The US Scrap Yard Directory lists yards across the United States, and the Scrap Yards in Canada directory covers Canadian locations.
Selling Bulk Quantities of Yellow Brass
Leading scrap yards can arrange on-site pickup for large quantities of yellow brass. However, yards pay less for it than for higher-copper grades, and mixed or contaminated loads are paid even less.
Sorting and cleaning scrap before sale increases payout and is generally worth the effort. Unsorted material is typically accepted only as general brass scrap, at a lower rate.
ScrapMonster's Scrap Marketplace is a trading platform where members buy and sell materials daily. Registered members can post or search the latest Sell Offers and Buy Offers for brass/bronze scrap. New users can log in or register to post listings.
People Also Ask
What is yellow brass made of?
Yellow brass is roughly 60–70% copper and 30–40% zinc, with trace amounts of tin and lead.
Why does yellow brass sell for less than red brass?
It has a lower copper content than red brass, which directly reduces its scrap value.
What products commonly use yellow brass?
Household plumbing fixtures, automotive parts, keys, antennas, connectors, musical instruments such as saxophones, and costume jewelry.
How long does a yellow brass plumbing system last?
Approximately 20 to 40 years.
What condition should yellow brass be in before selling it?
It should be clean and free of iron, paint, plastic, washers, and glass, and separated from other brass scrap to avoid breakage deductions.