Aluminum scrap grades explained
Aluminum is light, so grade matters even more. A truck of clean extrusion can pay far more than the same truck of mixed aluminum.
The common grades
- Cans (UBC): soda and beer cans, clean and empty.
- Sheet: siding, gutters, sheet scraps. Smooth and bends without snapping.
- Cast: engine parts, grills, lawnmower decks, transmission housings. Thick, grainy and brittle; it snaps instead of bending.
- Extrusion (6061/6063): window and door frames, screen frames, rails. Pays well when clean.
- Wheels/rims: aluminum car and truck rims, with weights and valve stems off.
- Breakage: aluminum with steel, plastic or other junk attached. The lowest grade.
How to tell cast from sheet
Try to bend a corner. Sheet and extrusion bend. Cast cracks and shows a grainy, sandy break. Cast is also thicker and usually has a rough surface.
Get the top price
- Separate every grade. Mixed aluminum sells as the lowest grade in the pile.
- Pull steel screws, rubber seals and glass out of window frames.
- Keep breakage separate so it doesn't drag down clean material.
Let MetalMint do the sortingSnap a photo, tap your magnet and scratch results, and MetalMint gives you the grade, the weight and today's price. Free to start, in English and Spanish.Try MetalMint free