Cardboard and waste paper prices UK
Cardboard (corrugated and kraft) averaged £119 per tonne in July 2026, down 1% on the month before and down 20% on a year earlier. These are average UK export values from HMRC. They show the market trend, and a dealer's offer for your material will be lower.
Cardboard and waste paper prices UK in July 2026
| Material | Jul 2026, per tonne | Month before | Change | A year earlier | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard (corrugated and kraft) | £119 | £120 | down 0.8% | £148 | down 19.6% |
| White paper | £181 | £193 | down 6.2% | £230 | down 21.3% |
| Newspapers and magazines | £168 | £167 | up 0.6% | £152 | up 10.5% |
| Other sorted paper and board | £128 | £131 | down 2.3% | £143 | down 10.5% |
| Unsorted paper and board | £126 | £117 | up 7.7% | £121 | up 4.1% |
Cardboard (corrugated and kraft), month by month
| Month | Average per tonne | Change | Tonnes exported |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | £119 | down 0.8% | 237,590 |
| June 2026 | £120 | up 4.3% | 197,655 |
| May 2026 | £115 | down 4.2% | 241,064 |
| April 2026 | £120 | up 7.1% | 282,791 |
| March 2026 | £112 | up 5.7% | 227,062 |
| February 2026 | £106 | down 6.2% | 231,600 |
| January 2026 | £113 | down 13.7% | 256,747 |
| December 2025 | £131 | up 4.0% | 229,634 |
| November 2025 | £126 | down 1.6% | 242,642 |
| October 2025 | £128 | down 3.8% | 241,307 |
| September 2025 | £133 | down 35.4% | 212,179 |
| August 2025 | £206 | up 39.2% | 216,931 |
| July 2025 | £148 | n/a | 237,101 |
How to read these figures
These are average values, not offers. HMRC records the value and weight of the scrap and recovered material that leaves the UK, and dividing one by the other gives a price per tonne.
- They reflect large, sorted loads that are ready for export.
- A dealer buying from your business will pay less, to cover collection, sorting and their margin.
- Use them to follow the direction of the market and to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
What affects the price you are offered
- Grade and cleanliness. Sorted, clean material earns the most.
- Quantity. Regular, larger loads earn better terms.
- Distance. Haulage comes out of the price.
Our guide explains the grades and how to prepare your material: How to sell waste cardboard.
Register and list your cardboard and paper
Frequently asked questions
How much is a tonne of cardboard and paper worth?
Cardboard (corrugated and kraft) averaged £119 per tonne in July 2026, based on HMRC export figures. That is the value of large, sorted loads ready for export, so the price offered to a business will be lower.
Is the price of cardboard and paper going up or down?
In July 2026 cardboard (corrugated and kraft) was down 1% on the month before and down 20% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months it has ranged from £106 to £206 per tonne.
Is this the price a dealer will pay me?
No. These figures are the average value of UK exports recorded by HMRC, which reflects large, sorted loads that are ready for export. A dealer buying from your business will offer less, depending on grade, quantity and distance. Use the figures to follow the market and to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
Why is baled cardboard worth more?
Bales are dense, so more tonnes fit on each lorry, and mills can handle them directly. Loose cardboard costs more to move and usually has to be baled by someone else first.
Do recyclers pay for cardboard?
Yes, for clean, baled cardboard in regular quantities. Small or loose amounts are usually collected for a fee, or free of charge where a recycler wants the material.
How often are these prices updated?
Monthly. HMRC publishes trade figures about six weeks after the end of each month, and this page updates automatically when new figures arrive.
More prices: Plastic prices, Glass prices, Scrap metal prices, all prices.