Price data · 23 October 2026·Household & appliances
Electric motor scrap price UK
Electric motors are bought for the copper wound inside them. A yard pays a per-kilo rate for the whole motor that sits well above steel and well below clean copper, which is why they are worth pulling out of washing machines, pumps and power tools rather than weighing in as light iron. Values below use today's UK electric-motor rate.
Worth today
LatestWashing machine motor
£1.28–£2.56
per motor, at 3–6 kg × £0.43/kg (Electric Motors)
UK yard average. Your yard will differ by region, load size and how clean the metal is.
What each type is worth
Weight × today's grade price
Typical weights from manufacturer data and yard experience. The value column is that weight multiplied by today's UK average for the grade a yard would pay it as.
Washing machine motor
Universal or induction type
Weight3–6 kg
Electric Motors
£1.28–£2.56
Small appliance motor (fan, pump, tool)
Weight0.5–3 kg
Electric Motors
£0.21–£1.28
Car alternator or starter
Weight3–7 kg
Electric Motors
£1.28–£2.99
1 hp industrial motor
Weight8–12 kg
Electric Motors
£3.42–£5.13
3 hp industrial motor
Weight20–30 kg
Electric Motors
£9–£13
3-phase 5.5 kW motor
Weight40–60 kg
Electric Motors
£17–£26
Fridge or AC sealed compressor
Separate grade at most yards; oil inside
Weight8–15 kg
£0.56–£1.05
How yards grade electric motors
Motors are a single grade paid on gross weight, whether the windings are 10% of the mass (small consumer motors) or nearly 30% (large industrial units). That is the deal: the yard takes the steel laminations and the aluminium housing with the copper and pays a blended rate. Motors wound with aluminium wire, common in cheap appliances since the 2010s, are worth less and some yards will check. Sealed compressors from fridges and air conditioners are not motors for pricing purposes; they contain oil and go in as a separate, lower grade.
Getting the best price
- Do not dismantle motors for the copper unless you have dozens. The windings are hard to extract and the housing weight you throw away was being paid for.
- Take off steel brackets, pulleys, gearboxes and fans. Extra steel dilutes the grade.
- Cut the cable tail off and sell it with your cable. Long leads left on are paid at the motor rate, which is lower.
- Keep sealed compressors apart from motors. Mixing them can drop the whole lot to the compressor rate.
- Alternators and starters from a garage are the easiest steady source.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are scrap electric motors worth per kg in the UK?
Electric motors are paid at their own per-kilo rate, above steel and below copper. The live figure at the top of this page is today's UK yard average; a washing machine motor weighs 3-6 kg.
Is it worth stripping the copper out of an electric motor?
Not for a handful. The copper is only 10-30% of the weight and is slow to extract. Sell motors whole at the motor rate unless you are processing them in bulk.
Do scrap yards take washing machine motors?
Yes, and they pay far more for the motor on its own than for the same weight inside the machine. Ten minutes with a socket set is usually worth it.
Related prices
Other items: car battery, copper hot water cylinder, alloy wheels, car parts, radiators, boiler, washing machine