Stainless steel scrap: how to value it and hand it in
Valuing stainless steel scrap rests on three things: grade, cleanliness and net weight. The grade is confirmed by a document or an instrument, cleanliness is checked on site, and weight is calculated after cleaning off moisture, oil and impurities.
The price of stainless steel scrap per 1 kg is not a single figure but a range that depends on the nickel and molybdenum content and on the condition of the batch.
Below: how scrap categories are structured, what determines the grade, what reduces the credited share, how to prepare a batch and which documents are prepared before shipment.
What counts as stainless steel scrap
Stainless steel scrap is any metal that has left service and can be returned to remelting. In practice it is divided into three large groups.
Circulating, or process, scrap: offcuts, punchings, turnings, production rejects, off-grade material. It is the most valuable, because the grade is known and homogeneous and the metal is not contaminated by service.
Obsolete scrap: equipment that has served its life, pipes, vessels, sheets, heat exchangers, fasteners, parts of machines and apparatus. Here the grade is established from a document, the marking or an instrument, and the surface is often contaminated with product residues, oil and deposits.
Household scrap: sinks, cookware, appliances, decorative elements, furniture fittings. It is more often mixed: 304, 201, 430 and ordinary steel lie side by side, so without sorting the batch is valued lower.
Turnings are a case apart. They take up volume, contain oil and coolant emulsion and require briquetting, so the credited share for them is lower than for lump scrap of the same grade.
| Type of scrap | Origin | Homogeneity | How it is valued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circulating | offcuts, punchings, rejects | high | by document and composition |
| Obsolete | equipment, pipes, vessels | medium | by marking or by instrument |
| Household | sinks, cookware, trim | low | after sorting |
| Turnings | machining | depends on the batch | allowing for briquetting |
| Mixed | collected without dismantling | low | by the worst grade or refused |
Scrap categories
There is no single "category 5А" for stainless steel: the receiving yard divides scrap by grade and by type. The grade is looked at first, because the value is built into it — nickel and molybdenum determine how much metal returns to remelting.
By grade, scrap is divided into groups: 304 and 304L, 316 and 316L, 321, 201, 430. Within a group, homogeneity is valued: a batch of one grade is valued higher than a mixture, even if the average composition is the same.
By type, a distinction is made between lump scrap, sheet scrap, pipe scrap, turnings and oversize. Lump and sheet are easier to process, while oversize requires cutting, which is work for the receiving yard and is reflected in the credited share.
By size: sized scrap is loaded and weighed without preparation, oversize is cut first. By cleanliness: clean scrap without coatings and impurities costs more, contaminated scrap costs less or requires cleaning.
| Grade | What is valuable in the scrap | How it is checked | Where it goes after remelting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | manganese, chromium, part of the nickel | instrument, document | economy goods, décor |
| 304 | nickel 8–10%, chromium 18% | instrument, document, magnet | cookware, equipment, pipes |
| 316L | nickel, molybdenum | instrument, document | chemicals, marine structures |
| 430 | chromium, no nickel | magnet | household appliances, trim |
| Turnings | depends on the grade | analysis, document | remelting after briquetting |
How the grade is determined
The first tool is a document. A certificate or batch passport, the marking on the item, the waybill from the previous delivery. If the papers exist, the grade is accepted from them and checked selectively.
The second is an instrument. A handheld spectrometer determines the composition at the surface in seconds, so at large receiving yards it is the standard. For turnings and mixed batches a sample is taken and a laboratory analysis is performed.
A magnet is only a coarse filter. Ferritic 430 is always magnetic, austenitic 304 and 316L are almost non-magnetic after annealing but become noticeably more magnetic after cold deformation. So a magnet can neither confirm 304 nor distinguish 304 from 316L — that requires the composition.
Visually, scrap is sorted by indirect signs: thin polished cookware, food vessels and pipes are more often 304, chemical apparatus and marine parts 316L, decorative panels and household appliance parts 430 and 201. These signs help to lay out the batch but do not replace testing.
The disputed case is a mixed batch without documents. The receiving yard may value it by the lowest grade present or refuse to accept it. So before handing in, the batch is broken down by groups and homogeneous lots are formed: even simple sorting noticeably changes the final valuation.
What reduces the credited share
The credited share is the proportion of the weight that the receiving yard accepts as useful metal. Anything that is not stainless steel of the required grade reduces that share.
Moisture and snow are deducted from the weight directly. Oil, emulsion, paint, bitumen and product residues require cleaning or are counted as contamination. Rubber, plastic, insulation, concrete and wood are removed: in a batch they are not metal, but they weigh.
Foreign metals are a separate line. Carbon steel fasteners, brass fittings, aluminium parts and copper tubes must not be mixed with stainless steel: a mixed batch goes at the lowest price or requires sorting out. A magnet helps to find some carbon steel parts, but non-ferrous metals are looked for visually.
Size affects labour costs. Long stock, large frames and thick-walled housings require cutting, so the credited share for them is lower than for lump scrap. Where possible, scrap is cut before being handed in.
Packaging is counted separately. If the scrap is brought in sacks, boxes or on a pallet, the packaging is weighed and deducted from the gross weight; sometimes it is easier to bring the metal in bulk so that there are fewer disputed kilogrammes. Before a large batch, ask the receiving yard about its rules on contamination and packaging: they determine how it is more profitable to form the lots.
| What is in the batch | How it affects the credited share | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture, snow, ice | deducted from the weight | drain, dry, hand in in dry weather |
| Oil, emulsion | cleaning or a lower credited share | drain, degrease, briquette the turnings |
| Paint, coatings | reduce the credited share | remove mechanically or hand in as is |
| Rubber, plastic, concrete | removed, otherwise they reduce the net weight | cut up and separate |
| Ordinary steel, non-ferrous metals | a mixed batch is cheaper | sort by grade |
| Oversize | lower because of cutting | cut down to size |
| Mixed grades | valuation by the worst or refusal | form homogeneous lots |
Price and moisture
Stainless steel scrap price per 1 kg
The price per kilogramme is made up of several parts. The first is the grade and the content of alloying elements: nickel and molybdenum cost more than chromium and manganese, so 316L costs more than 304, and 304 more than 201 and 430. The second is the exchange quotations for nickel and molybdenum: scrap competes with primary metal, and when quotations rise the receiving yard raises its buying price.
The same question is phrased in different ways: stainless steel price per 1 kg scrap, stainless steel price scrap, stainless steel price per 1 kg scrap, stainless steel price per kg scrap, stainless steel price metal scrap, stainless steel scrap price and scrap stainless steel price per 1 kg. In every case it is the buying price at the receiving yard, and it is calculated by one logic: grade, cleanliness, net weight and market quotations.
The third part is cleanliness and preparation. Moisture, oil, paint, concrete, rubber, non-ferrous metals and ordinary steel reduce the credited share: they are either removed or deducted from the weight. The fourth is volume and logistics: a large homogeneous batch with documents is valued higher than several small sacks.
Weight is calculated on a net basis, after cleaning. That is why, before handing in, the batch is sorted, residues are drained, fasteners of other metals are separated and non-metallic inclusions are removed. Look for current benchmarks on the prices page.
When deciding where to hand in stainless steel as scrap, the price per kg is not the only criterion: the acceptance terms, the contamination deduction and logistics matter too. In different cities the price of stainless steel scrap differs precisely because of logistics and local demand, so offers must be compared on an identically prepared batch.
How to prepare the batch
Preparation starts with breaking down. Lay the scrap out by grade, collect carbon steel fasteners separately, and non-ferrous metals and non-metallic parts separately too. Even approximate sorting into groups gives the receiving yard a clear picture and raises the credited share.
Then remove everything that is not metal: insulation, rubber seals, plastic, wood, concrete. Drain the oil and process fluids and let the residues run off. If there is a lot of turnings, they should be briquetted or at least centrifuged: that way they take up less space and lose less mass.
Cut oversize scrap down to transport and acceptance size. Empty large vessels and, if required, cut them open: a closed vessel is dangerous in processing and the receiving yard may refuse it.
Collect the documents in advance: certificates for the original metal, equipment datasheets, waybills. The fuller the set, the faster the acceptance and the fewer the disputed items. Regular homogeneous batches are valued more consistently than one-off mixed sacks.
Documents
For an individual, an identity document and an acceptance report drawn up on site are usually enough. For a company the set is wider: a waybill or transfer and acceptance report, an invoice and a universal transfer document, transport documents and, if required, a power of attorney to hand in the scrap.
If the scrap arises in production, its movement is recorded in internal accounting, and a document on origin and composition is prepared for the batch. The requirements depend on the seller's status, the region and the type of waste, so the set of documents is clarified before shipment, not at the moment of unloading.
Documents on the grade are prepared separately: a certificate or passport for the original metal, a report from the instrument or the laboratory. The fuller the papers, the fewer the disputes at acceptance and the more stable the valuation. If there are no documents, the grade is determined on site and may not match your expectations.
| Who hands it in | Basic set | Additionally |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | identity document, acceptance report | — |
| Company | waybill, invoice, UPD | power of attorney, transport documents |
| Production | document on origin and composition | internal records of waste movement |
| Batch without documents | acceptance report as inspected | report from the instrument or laboratory |
Common mistakes when handing in scrap
- Handing everything in as one pile. A mixed batch goes by the worst grade, and sometimes it is not accepted at all.
- Not separating carbon steel and non-ferrous metals. Fasteners, brass and copper spoil homogeneity and reduce the credited share.
- Bringing wet scrap. Water and snow are deducted from the weight, so in winter and in rain the batch is better dried.
- Not draining the oil and emulsion. Contamination requires cleaning, and turnings without briquetting lose out in the credited share.
- Valuing scrap at the price of new metal. Scrap costs less than rolled steel, and the benchmark is the receiving yard's buying price.
- Relying on a magnet. It does not distinguish 304 from 316L and does not confirm the grade.
- Having no documents. Without papers the grade is determined on site, and the valuation may turn out lower.
- Leaving oversize material. Cutting is work for the receiving yard, and it is reflected in the credited share.
Frequently asked questions
Stainless steel scrap price per 1 kg — what does it depend on?
On the grade and the nickel and molybdenum content, on the cleanliness and preparation of the batch, its size and volume, and on current exchange quotations. There is no single figure; look for benchmarks on the prices page.
How to determine the grade of stainless steel scrap
The most reliable way is by the certificate or batch passport, and in their absence by an instrument: a handheld spectrometer or laboratory analysis. A magnet gives only a rough hint and does not distinguish 304 from 316L.
How circulating scrap differs from obsolete scrap
Circulating scrap is offcuts, punchings and production rejects with a known grade. Obsolete scrap is equipment, pipes and vessels that have served their life, where the grade is confirmed by a document or an instrument and the surface is often contaminated.
Is scrap with moisture and oil accepted?
It is accepted, but the credited share will be lower: moisture is deducted from the weight, oil and emulsion are removed or counted as contamination. Before handing in, the batch is better drained and cleaned — this directly increases the net weight.
Which is more expensive — 304 or 316 scrap?
316L is more expensive: it contains molybdenum, which is valued above chromium and manganese. The difference depends on the content of alloying elements and the condition of the batch, so what must be compared is homogeneous, prepared scrap.
Is stainless steel scrap magnetic?
Partly. 430 is always magnetic, 201 is less magnetic, while 304 and 316L are almost non-magnetic after annealing but become noticeably more magnetic after cold deformation. A magnet does not replace composition analysis.
Can scrap with paint or insulation be handed in?
Yes, but the credited share will fall: coatings and insulation are not metal, so they are removed or counted as contamination. If the coating can be removed mechanically, it is cheaper to clean the batch before handing it in.
Which documents are needed to hand in scrap?
For an individual, an identity document and an acceptance report. For a company, a waybill or transfer and acceptance report, an invoice and a universal transfer document, transport documents and, if required, a power of attorney and papers on the origin and composition of the batch.
Hand in or buy stainless steel
Look for price benchmarks on a separate page, the lot description in the scrap section, and buy rolled steel of 201, 304, 316L and 430 on the exchange by order.