Aluminum Scrap Prices 2026: Current Rates & Value Guide

Aluminum is everywhere — window frames, siding, lawn furniture, car wheels, old ladders, storm doors. It's not worth as much per pound as copper, but it's light, easy to handle, and shows up in large quantities during renovations. This guide covers current aluminum scrap prices in Toronto for 2026, the main grades buyers look for, and how to maximize what you get.

Note: scrap prices fluctuate with commodity markets. The ranges below reflect typical Toronto-area prices as of early 2026 — confirm current rates with your recycler.

Aluminum Scrap Prices by Grade — Toronto 2026

Extruded Aluminum (Clean) — $0.65–$0.90/lb

Window frames, door frames, curtain wall extrusions, and similar architectural aluminum. Clean material with no steel inserts or paint pays at the top end. Remove plastic thermal break inserts before selling.

Cast Aluminum — $0.50–$0.75/lb

Engine blocks, transmission housings, lawnmower decks, BBQ bodies. Heavier and chunkier than extruded. Clean cast with no iron or steel attached pays well.

Sheet Aluminum — $0.55–$0.80/lb

Flat aluminum sheets, car hoods and doors, roofing panels. Painted sheet is usually fine — yards expect some coating.

Aluminum Rims — $0.50–$0.80/lb

Alloy wheels. Better if you remove the rubber tire — steel-belted tires contaminate the load. Some yards take them with tires and discount accordingly.

Mixed / Irony Aluminum — $0.25–$0.45/lb

Aluminum with steel components attached (window frames with steel hardware, AC units, ladders with steel rivets). Worth separating the steel if you can — it pays to clean your load.

Where Aluminum Shows Up in Home Renovations

• Window replacement — old aluminum-framed windows are common in 1960s–90s Toronto homes
• Siding removal — aluminum siding was popular before vinyl took over
• Garage door replacement — older sectional doors are often aluminum
• Fascia and soffit — usually aluminum on homes from the 70s onward
• Storm doors and screen frames
• Lawn furniture, ladders, scaffolding
• Car engine components — blocks, heads, transmission cases on newer vehicles

How to Identify Aluminum

Magnet test: Aluminum is not magnetic. If a magnet doesn't stick at all, you've likely got aluminum or another non-ferrous metal.

Weight: Aluminum is significantly lighter than steel or cast iron for its size.

Color: Raw aluminum is silver-grey with a slightly dull finish. Anodized aluminum can be black, gold, or bronze.

Sound: Knock it — aluminum makes a dull thud. Steel rings more clearly.

Tips to Maximize Aluminum Scrap Value

Remove steel hardware. Hinges, screws, and fasteners are steel. A few minutes with a screwdriver can upgrade your material from "mixed/irony" to clean extruded — nearly double the price per pound.

Keep grades separate. Don't mix window frames, rims, and sheet into one pile. Ask what grades the yard pays for and sort accordingly.

Remove plastic and rubber. Thermal break material in window frames, rubber gaskets, and plastic end caps downgrade your load.

Is It Worth Taking Aluminum to the Yard Yourself?

Aluminum is lighter than steel or copper, so you need more of it to make a trip worthwhile. A full house window replacement might yield 80–120 lbs — at $0.70/lb that's $56–$84. Whether that's worth the trip depends on your distance to a yard and whether you have a vehicle that can handle it.

If aluminum is part of a bigger mixed-metal cleanout, free pickup handles everything in one trip with no sorting required on your end.

Summary

Aluminum scrap prices in Toronto for 2026 range from $0.25/lb for mixed irony material up to $0.90/lb for clean extruded. Sort by grade, remove steel hardware, and decide whether the load warrants a yard trip or a free pickup booking.