Copper Price in Canada Today
The copper spot price is about $17.75/kg ($8.05/lb) as of November 12, 2026. Two numbers matter, and they aren't the same: the spot price for pure copper, and the scrap benchmark, our estimate of what used copper is worth. Here are both, in Canadian dollars, per kg and per pound.
Spot price vs. scrap price — the gap explained
When you search "copper price", most results show the spot price, the global exchange rate for pure, tonne-lot copper. It's the right number for traders and manufacturers. But if you're selling copper to a yard, it's not what you'll be paid.
A scrap yard buys used copper it has to grade, strip, clean and resell at a margin. So it pays a percentage of spot that depends on the grade: bare bright No.1 wire is closest to spot, while insulated wire, No.2 and tubing pay progressively less. Our index sets the scrap copper benchmark at a fixed 46% of the spot price.
Where this price comes from
These are index estimates, not quotes from any scrap yard. Yards set their own buying prices, so call ahead.
| Figure | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| National copper benchmark | $8.20/kg | Calculated: copper spot price × a fixed 46.2% ratio | November 12, 2026 |
| Copper spot price | $17.75/kg | Daily feed from MetalpriceAPI (metalpriceapi.com) | November 12, 2026 |
| Ratio | 46.2% | Set on August 23, 2026 so the index started at $8.40/kg, then held constant. Daily moves are capped at 12%. | August 23, 2026 |
| Grade ranges | per grade | Ranges set by this site, moved each day by the same percentage as the benchmark | November 12, 2026 |
Full method: how we calculate prices. Spot a mistake? Report it.
Scrap copper prices by grade
National indicative buying rates. Cleaner, better-sorted copper pays more.
| Material | Per KG | Per Lb |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Bright Copper | $8.77/kg | $3.98/lb |
| No.1 Copper | $8.01/kg | $3.63/lb |
| No.2 Copper | $7.02/kg | $3.18/lb |
| Insulated Copper Wire | $3.42/kg | $1.55/lb |
Scrap copper prices by Canadian city
City pages show the national benchmark with local selling notes.
Copper price in Canada — common questions
What is the copper price in Canada today?
The copper spot price is about $17.75/kg ($8.05/lb) in Canadian dollars as of November 12, 2026, from MetalpriceAPI (metalpriceapi.com). That is the market price for pure copper. Our scrap copper benchmark is $8.20/kg: an estimate, not a yard quote, because yards pay less than spot for used copper they must grade, process and resell.
Why do scrap yards pay less than the copper price?
The 'copper price' you see quoted is usually an exchange spot price (such as the London Metal Exchange's) for pure, exchange-grade copper delivered in tonne lots. A scrap yard buys mixed, used copper it has to sort, clean, weigh and resell at a margin, so it pays a percentage of spot that varies by grade — bare bright No.1 pays the most, insulated wire the least.
What is the copper price per pound and per kg in Canada?
Spot copper is about $17.75/kg and $8.05/lb. Our scrap copper benchmark is $8.20/kg / $3.72/lb; grade ranges are in the table on this page.
Is the copper price the same across Canada?
The spot price is a global market price, converted to Canadian dollars. Scrap prices differ from yard to yard; we have no city-level price source, so our city pages show the national benchmark. Call local yards for their rate.
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