Scrap Calculator

Stripping copper wire can be profitable—but only if you know what your scrap is worth and how long it will take to strip.

Estimate your stripped copper value:

USD
/lb
USD Your Results
Time with a knife
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Time with a StripMeister™
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Hours Saved
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Stripped Value
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  • Quickly estimate the value of your stripped copper wire.
  • See how much money you’ll make per hour by stripping.
  • Machine recommendation based on your specific needs.

The StripMeister Scrap Copper Wire Calculator helps you estimate potential earnings based on wire type, weight, and copper prices—before you start processing.

This tool is designed for electricians, contractors, recyclers, and scrappers who want clear, upfront insights. Whether you’re stripping Romex, THHN, or heavy industrial cable, this calculator provides an instant estimate of your stripped copper value.

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Enter the total weight or length of wire that you have, select your average wire size and max cable diameter you plan to strip and hit ‘Calculate’. The default price per pound is a live market rate for copper but you can enter whatever rate the local scrapyard will give you based on the grade of copper you have to get more accurate results. The calculator factors in the weight of the jacket as it relates to the cable size selected.
StripMeister machines are engineered to maximize copper recovery while minimizing time and labor. This calculator reflects those benefits—offering a clear view into how quickly a machine can pay for itself. As a general rule, you get 3x your money for stripped vs unstripped cables. To calculate your approximate profits of stripping as opposed to unstripped, divide the stripped value from the calculator by 1.5
The time values are based on the max run speed of the machines divided by 5. This is an average time to strip based on user data on THHN cables. Some people are faster than this, others are slower. Factors include: Quality of the cable, how mixed or sorted the cables are, multi-lead conductors, high voltage cables, and general working speed.
Looking to evaluate a specific job? Input your wire data and use the calculator to test different recovery scenarios. Play with the rate based on the scrapyard and grade of cable.
Estimate copper value. Calculate machine ROI. Make smarter scrap decisions. The StripMeister Wire Stripping Calculator gives you the numbers—so you can get more from every foot of wire.