Sell scrap steel: grades, prices and how to sell
Steel and iron are the lowest priced scrap metals per tonne, but they make up most scrap by weight. Sorting heavy steel from light iron and keeping loads clean gets you the best price.
This guide is for businesses. If you are a householder, use your council's recycling service or your local recycling centre instead.
What is scrap steel worth?
Scrap steel and iron are sold per tonne. The price follows demand from steel mills in the UK and overseas, so it changes through the year.
What you are paid depends on:
- Grade. Thick, heavy steel and clean new offcuts earn more than thin, mixed light iron.
- Size. Oversized pieces may be priced lower because the yard has to cut them.
- Cleanliness. Wood, plastic, concrete and other waste lower the price or lead to a rejected load.
- Volume and distance. Full loads close to a yard earn the best terms.
For current market figures, see our scrap steel prices page, which is updated every month.
Scrap steel grades
| Grade | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OA plate and girder | Thick plate, beams and heavy sections | Usually the best old steel grade |
| No.1 and No.2 old steel | Heavy and medium steel from machinery and demolition | The standard heavy grades |
| 4A new steel bales | Clean new offcuts pressed into bales | A premium for new, clean steel |
| 8A and 8B new cuttings | Loose offcuts from new production | Above old light iron |
| 5C light iron | Thin, mixed old steel such as cabinets and shelving | The lowest grade |
| 7B turnings | Swarf from machining | Low, and should be free of oil |
| 9A and 10 cast iron | Heavy and light iron castings | Priced as its own grades |
Yards sometimes use their own names, so describe the material and its thickness when you ask for a price.
How to prepare scrap steel for sale
- Separate heavy steel from light iron. Mixed loads are paid at the light iron price.
- Keep new production offcuts apart from old steel, as they earn a premium.
- Remove wood, plastic, concrete and general waste.
- Never include sealed containers or gas cylinders. Yards will reject them.
- Keep turnings in their own container and drain cutting oil.
- For regular volumes, ask the buyer to supply a skip or bin.
Your legal duties when you sell scrap steel
- Licensed dealer. In England and Wales the buyer must hold a scrap metal dealer's licence from the local council.
- Identity check. The dealer must verify the seller's name and address, so whoever delivers the metal should bring identification.
- No cash. Dealers can only pay by bank transfer or by cheque. Paying cash for scrap metal is illegal.
- Duty of care. Your business must store its waste safely and hand it only to someone authorised to take it. See the official guidance.
- Registered carrier. Whoever collects your material must be a registered waste carrier. Check the public register before the first collection.
- Waste transfer note. Complete one for every load, or a season ticket for regular collections, and keep it for two years.
- Carrying it yourself. If you regularly transport your own business waste you must register as a waste carrier. In England this is free when you only carry waste your own business produced, unless it is construction or demolition waste.
- Separation at work. In England, workplaces must keep dry recyclables, food waste and non recyclable waste apart. The rules began on 31 March 2025, and firms with fewer than 10 full time equivalent employees have until 31 March 2027. Read the rules.
- Digital waste tracking. Since 1 October 2026, permitted sites that receive waste in England and Wales must record each load in the government's digital service. Carriers and dealers are due to follow in a later phase, so keep your transfer notes.
Rules differ slightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a plain English summary, not legal advice.
How to sell scrap steel on The Green Alchemist
- Register your business on The Green Alchemist.
- Create a selling listing with the grade, quantity, location and a clear photo of your scrap steel.
- Browse the directory of waste processors to find buyers and carriers who handle scrap steel, and contact them directly.
- Compare offers on price, collection and payment terms, and check each buyer's registration.
- Agree the collection, complete the waste transfer note and get paid by bank transfer.
Register and list your scrap steel
Frequently asked questions
How is scrap steel priced?
Per tonne, by grade. Heavy steel and clean new offcuts earn the most, and thin mixed light iron earns the least.
Is stainless steel sold as steel?
No. Stainless steel is bought as its own grades at a much higher price. Most stainless steel is not magnetic, which helps you separate it.
Will a buyer provide a skip?
For regular volumes, many buyers supply a skip or bin and exchange it when it is full.
Can a dealer pay me in cash?
No. In England and Wales scrap metal dealers can only pay by bank transfer or by cheque, and they must verify the seller's name and address.
Related guides: Sell scrap metal, Sell scrap cans, Sell scrap aluminium.