Brass and copper are both common in scrap loads from plumbing, electrical, and general trade work — and they’re easy to mix up if you’re not sure what to look for. Since they’re priced very differently, it’s worth knowing the difference before you sell.
The colour test
Copper has a distinct reddish-orange colour. Brass is a yellowish-gold colour, closer to the shade of an old brass door handle or tap fitting. Side by side, the difference is usually obvious — the confusion tends to happen when you’re looking at one material in isolation.
Where each typically comes from
- Copper — electrical cable, plumbing pipe, wiring, motor windings
- Brass — taps, valves, door fittings, certain plumbing components, old light fittings
The weight and feel test
Brass is generally slightly less dense than copper and can feel marginally lighter for a similar-sized piece, though this is a much less reliable test than the colour difference.
Why the distinction matters to your price
Copper consistently sells for significantly more per kilo than brass. Mixing the two into one load doesn’t just create confusion — if a buyer grades the mixed load conservatively, you can end up being paid brass rates for material that was actually more valuable copper.
The simple fix
Keep a separate container or bag for brass fittings as you strip them out during a job, rather than throwing everything into one pile. It takes seconds at the point of removal and can make a real difference to what the full load is worth once sorted properly.
List copper and brass separately and get accurate offers on each. Start selling on ScrapBays →