Scrap Metal Removal Cost in Philadelphia, PA

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

Metal is the one category in Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia: what actually moves the price

With 57% of its homes attached rather than detached, Philadelphia prices scrap metal removal around the front stairs and the doorway rather than the driveway. If there is a back alley or a basement hatch, say so — it can change the bid.

48% of occupied homes in Philadelphia 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.

The median Philadelphia home dates to 1949. 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.

1,573,916

Residents (2024)

134

Square miles of land

11,715

People per square mile

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

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

The free route in Philadelphia has hard edges, and they are the reason people end up paying: Four bulk items per appointment. Up to two large, non-metal items per household on your regular trash day.

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 Philadelphia is run by Philadelphia Department of Sanitation. Below is what they will take, straight from their own rules — and where each route runs out.

Booked bulky pickup

Metal bulk items and appliances — refrigerators, air conditioners, anything containing refrigerant — plus tires. These are not taken on a regular trash day. Four bulk items per appointment. Book an appointment online, or call 311. Available to residential properties, including multi-family buildings with up to six units. Items go out at your normal trash pickup spot.

Checked against the operator’s own page on 2026-08-19. Source

Taking it yourself

The public drop-off is Sanitation Convenience Centers. Free for Philadelphia residents. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on City holidays. You must show proof that you live in Philadelphia. Your vehicle must weigh under 6,000 pounds in total. Household items once a day and oversized items once a week. Bulk items and appliances are capped at two per day, tires at four per day. Commercial contractors and commercial loads are turned away, and construction debris is not accepted.

Checked against the operator’s own page on 2026-08-19. 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 Philadelphia

Post your job

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

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Local pros in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia — common questions

How much does scrap metal removal cost in Philadelphia?

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 Philadelphia?

No — the crew does the lifting and loading, and that labour is most of what you are paying for. In Philadelphia about 57% of homes are attached rather than detached, so a straight internal staircase and a narrow front door tend to set the limits instead of a driveway. The median home here dates to around 1949, and stairwells and doorways from those years tend to be narrower than a modern build — worth mentioning if the item is bulky. 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 Philadelphia different from the national average?

Access and housing type, mostly. In Philadelphia, 8% of homes are detached and the city runs at about 11,715 residents per square mile — most homes here are attached rather than detached, so the front staircase and the doorway set the limits rather than a driveway. Renters occupy 48% 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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