Scrap Metal Removal Cost in Memphis, TN

Most people pay $80–$250. Updated for 2026.

Metal is the one category in Memphis, TN that can pay for part of its own removal. Old railings, radiators, bed frames, water tanks, gutters and machinery all have a resale value at a scrap yard.

That is why scrap sits at the bottom of the price table: the crew is not only paying to dispose of your load, they are selling part of it.

A pile of scrap metal — pipes, sheet offcuts and a cast-iron radiator — on a concrete floor.

Scrap Metal Removal in Memphis: what actually moves the price

Detached houses make up 60% of the stock in Memphis. For scrap metal removal that generally means kerbside or garage access, which is the version of the job local pros price lowest.

The median Memphis home dates to 1970. Housing of that vintage sets the practical limits on scrap metal removal — doorway widths, stair turns and whether there is a basement in the picture at all.

54% of occupied homes in Memphis are rented, and month-end is when that shows: scrap metal removal bookings cluster around move-out weekends, so a midweek slot is usually the cheaper one.

610,919

Residents (2024)

296

Square miles of land

2,063

People per square mile

Local figures: U.S. Census Bureau — Memphis city. Checked 2026-08-21.

Scrap Metal Removal in Memphis: where the city stops and a hauler starts

The free route in Memphis has hard edges, and they are the reason people end up paying: A bulky pile may not go over ten cubic yards, and it sits within three feet of the street.

Past those limits the city is not an option at all — not slower, not pricier, simply unavailable. That is the line a hauler exists for, and it is worth knowing exactly where it sits before you start carrying anything.

Collection in Memphis is run by City of Memphis Solid Waste Management. Below is what they will take, straight from their own rules — and where each route runs out.

What the regular cart will not take

The pile stays clear of mailboxes, parked cars, fences, trees and low-hanging limbs, and nothing goes out once the crew has passed. Tree debris has to be under five feet long and under thirteen inches thick. The city asks you to call 311 so the crew knows a pile is waiting. Construction and demolition debris — dirt, brick, rock, concrete, scrap, lumber, roofing, fencing material, carpet — is prohibited by ordinance, and a contractor who creates waste has to remove it. Up to four tires, sizes to 11 x 22.5, can go at the curb, sometimes by special arrangement. Carts go out no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection and come back in by 8 a.m. the day after.

Checked against the operator’s own page on 2026-09-15. Source

Ferrous, non-ferrous and why it matters

Steel and iron — anything a magnet sticks to — are worth relatively little by weight. Copper, brass and aluminium are worth several times more. A load of copper pipe and a load of old steel shelving are not the same proposition, and separating them yourself can turn a small bill into no bill at all.

When it becomes free, and when it does not

A clean, heavy, easily accessible load of metal is often collected at no charge because the scrap covers the trip. A light load mixed with plastic, timber and upholstery is not scrap, it is junk with metal in it, and it is priced accordingly. The difference is sorting.

Typical scrap metal removal cost

$80 – $250

A national range, not a quote. Your actual prices come from local pros bidding on your job.

How JunkerClub works in Memphis

Post your job

Describe what needs to go and add a photo. It takes a minute and costs nothing.

Compare quotes

Local pros in Memphis bid on your job from your photos — no site visit.

Pay your pro directly

Pick the offer you like. You pay your pro directly when the job is done — cash or card, no platform markup.

Scrap Metal Removal pricing breakdown

Service Typical market price JunkerClub estimate
Small mixed metal load $100 – $170 $80 – $140
Half truck of clean scrap $180 – $300 $145 – $245
Full load, mixed with other junk $350 – $550 $280 – $450

Estimates only. The final price depends on how much there is, how easy it is to reach, and what the pro quotes.

How we build these ranges — and why a real quote can land outside them →

FAQ

Scrap Metal Removal in Memphis — common questions

How much does scrap metal removal cost in Memphis?

Most people pay $80–$250. That is a national range for scrap metal removal, not a quote — your real price comes from local pros bidding on your photos, and it moves with volume, stairs and how far the item has to travel to the truck.

Will anyone take my scrap metal for free?

If it is clean, heavy and easy to load, quite possibly. Say plainly in the job description what the metal is and roughly how much — a crew that can see a worthwhile load will quote accordingly, and some will collect for nothing.

Are appliances counted as scrap?

Partly. A washing machine is largely steel and prices like scrap; anything with refrigerant needs certified recovery first and prices like an appliance. Fridges, freezers and air conditioners fall in the second group even though they look like the first.

Should I strip the copper out myself?

Only if it is genuinely easy and safe — separated copper and brass do improve what you are offered. Do not cut into anything still connected, and never strip wiring by burning it; that is illegal nearly everywhere and dangerous besides.

How quickly can it be picked up?

It depends on how many pros cover your area. On our first jobs the first quote arrived within one to three days, and we email you the moment one comes in. Once you pick a pro you choose the date and time window; same-day or next-day pickup is possible when a crew has room on the truck.

What does JunkerClub charge me?

Nothing. Posting a job and collecting quotes is free, and you pay your pro directly when the work is done. The pro pays the platform a small fee only when they win the job — it never gets added to your price.

Do I have to carry it outside myself in Memphis?

No — the crew does the lifting and loading, and that labour is most of what you are paying for. In Memphis 60% of homes are detached, so most jobs are a driveway carry and the truck can usually get close to the door. The median home here was built around 1970; single-width staircases are common in that stock and lifts are rare. Say which floor it is on and whether there is a lift when you post the job; that is the part that moves the quote. Housing figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

What makes a junk removal quote in Memphis different from the national average?

Access and housing type, mostly. In Memphis, 60% of homes are detached and the city runs at about 2,063 residents per square mile — most homes here have a driveway a truck can reach, which usually keeps a job at the simpler end. Renters occupy 54% of occupied homes here, which also shapes when the work happens. The prices on this site are national ranges; the number you actually pay comes from local pros bidding on your photos. Housing figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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