Scrap metal identification chart
This scrap metal identification chart compares 15 metals by scratched colour, magnet result and weight. Use a magnet, a scratch and a weight check together. Home tests narrow the choice, and a yard can confirm it.
On this page
Match your metal to a row by its magnet result, its scratched colour and its weight. Start with a magnet, then scratch a hidden spot, then compare weight. Two or three tests together give a good guess.
- 15scrap metals and grades in the chart
- 2.70g per cm3 for aluminium, the lightest metal in the chartRoyal Society of Chemistry
- 11.3g per cm3 for lead, the heaviestRoyal Society of Chemistry
- About 7.85g per cm3 for steel. Stainless steel is close.Australian Steel Institute, Euro Inox
How do you read the chart?
Work through the tests in this order.
- Magnet. Hold a strong magnet on a clean, flat spot. Does it stick?
- Looks like. Scratch a hidden spot and match the bare metal, not paint, rust or plating.
- Weight. Lift the item and compare it with a steel one of the same size.
Then read across the row. The last two columns show what the metal is often found in and what it is easily mixed up with. The weight column is density, the grams in one cubic centimetre.
| Metal | Looks like (clean, scratched or cut) | Magnet | Weight (g per cm3) | Common items | Easily mixed up with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Reddish-gold to pink | No | 8.96 | Pipe, wire, cylinders, coils | Brass, bronze, plated steel (a magnet sticks to that) |
| Brass | Yellow to gold, sometimes reddish | No (brass-plated iron sticks) | About 8.5 (70/30 brass) | Taps, valves, fittings, keys, door hardware | Bronze, copper, gold-look zinc castings |
| Bronze | Warmer gold than brass, to golden brown | No | About 8.9 (phosphor bronze) | Bearings, bushes, boat fittings, statues | Brass, copper |
| Nickel silver | Silvery, no yellow tint. No silver in it. | No | About 8.7 (one common grade) | Plated ware stamped EPNS | Stainless steel, aluminium, zinc |
| Aluminium | Silvery-white and soft | No | 2.70 | Window frames, ladders, drink cans, wheels, engine parts | Zinc castings, stainless steel, lead (much heavier) |
| Zinc die-cast | Bluish-white under the finish. Often chrome-plated or painted. | No | 6.6 to 6.8 (common alloys) | Hardware, car parts, electrical fittings, toys | Aluminium, brass, stainless steel |
| Lead | Dull silvery-grey and soft | No | 11.3 | Car batteries, cable sheathing, weights | Aluminium (much lighter), tin, pewter |
| Tin and pewter | Silvery-grey and soft. Takes a high polish. | No | 7.29 (tin) | Solder, pewter dishes and trophies. Old pewter can hold lead. | Lead, zinc, aluminium |
| Tinplate (steel cans) | Silver-grey coat over steel. Can still rust. | Yes | About 7.85 (the steel) | Food tins, paint tins | Aluminium drink cans (a magnet tells them apart) |
| Mild steel | Shiny to dull grey. Rusts in damp air. | Yes, strong | About 7.85 | Fencing, bars, beams, roofing, drums, tools | Cast iron, galvanised steel, magnetic stainless |
| Cast iron | Dark grey, rough, often with casting seams. Rusts. | Yes | 7.05 to 7.25 | Baths, engine blocks, brake drums, pipes, valves | Mild steel, cast aluminium (a magnet tells them apart) |
| Galvanised steel | Silver-grey zinc coat, shiny when new and duller with age | Yes (the steel under the coat) | About 7.85 (the steel) | Roof sheets, fence wire, gutters, buckets | Aluminium sheet (it does not stick), stainless steel |
| 304 stainless steel | Bright silver-grey. Resists rust but can stain. | Usually no. Weak pull possible after bending or pressing. | 7.9 | Sinks, benches, pots, cutlery, tanks | 316 and 430 stainless, nickel silver, aluminium |
| 316 stainless steel | Bright silver-grey, the same as 304 | Usually no. Weak pull possible after bending or pressing. | About 8.0 | Fittings used near salt or chlorides, food and chemical equipment | 304 stainless (you cannot tell by eye) |
| 430 stainless steel | Bright silver-grey, like 304 | Yes | 7.7 | Washing machine drums, cooking utensils, indoor trim | Mild steel (it also sticks), chrome-plated steel, 304 stainless |
Sources (22). Checked 2 October 2026.
- Copper, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Aluminium, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Zinc, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Lead, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Tin, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Iron, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table
- Copper attributes and alloys, International Copper Association
- Basic care: recognizing metals and their corrosion products, Canadian Conservation Institute
- Identifying archaeological metal (CCI Notes 4/1), Canadian Conservation Institute
- Object materials, Preservation Self-Assessment Program, University of Illinois
- Aluminium properties, Australian Aluminium Council
- Die casting brochure, International Zinc Association
- Designing for galvanizing (density of steel), Australian Steel Institute
- Materials Data Book, 2003 edition, Cambridge University Engineering Department
- Recycling and waste, Galvanizers Association of Australia
- Frequently asked questions, Galvanizers Association of Australia
- Stainless steel: tables of technical properties, Euro Inox (2007), hosted by World Stainless
- Categories, grades and product forms, World Stainless
- Is stainless steel non-magnetic? British Stainless Steel Association
- C26000 cartridge brass data, Wieland Concast
- Bronze alloy C51000 data, BTI Metals
- German silver (CuNi18Zn20) technical datasheet, Schlenk Metal Foils
These are typical values. Alloys come in many mixes, so a real piece can differ. Weight is density in grams per cubic centimetre. Element values come from the Royal Society of Chemistry. Alloy values are for one common grade each, from industry and maker data sheets. Colour alone can mislead.
What does a magnet tell you?
A magnet splits the chart in two. Steel and iron stick. Most other scrap metals don't.
| Result | Metals in the chart | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sticks firmly | Mild steel, cast iron, tinplate, galvanised steel and 430 stainless steel | Plating. Brass or tin plating over iron sticks too. |
| Weak pull, or none | 304 and 316 stainless steel | They can pull weakly after bending or pressing. |
| Does not stick | Copper, brass, bronze, nickel silver, aluminium, zinc die-cast, lead, tin and pewter | A pull on a copper or brass colour means steel or iron is in it or under it. |
Source: Canadian Conservation Institute, British Stainless Steel Association, Carpenter Technology, Australian Aluminium Council, International Zinc Association, checked 2 October 2026
How heavy is each metal?
Weight separates aluminium, zinc and lead from the rest. It does not separate copper from brass.
Density is the weight of one cubic centimetre. Compare pieces of the same size. Steel is mostly iron and weighs about 7.85 (Australian Steel Institute), so iron is a fair guide for steel. Alloys differ a little from these pure-metal values.
View as a table
| Item | g per cm3 |
|---|---|
| Lead | 11.3 |
| Copper | 8.96 |
| Iron | 7.87 |
| Tin | 7.29 |
| Zinc | 7.13 |
| Aluminium | 2.7 |
Sources: Lead, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Copper, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Iron, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Tin, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Zinc, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Aluminium, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table; Designing for galvanizing (density of steel), Australian Steel Institute. Checked 2 October 2026.
The chart shows pure metals. Alloys differ a little, so use the weight column in the table above for brass, bronze, nickel silver, zinc die-cast and stainless steel. Four points matter most.
- Aluminium weighs about a third as much as steel (2.70 against about 7.85).
- Lead is over 4 times as heavy as aluminium (11.3 against 2.70).
- Iron, tin and zinc sit close together, at 7.1 to 7.9, so weight alone won't separate them.
- Copper, brass and bronze all weigh roughly 8.5 to 9 g per cm3, so weight can't separate them either.
What can the tests not tell you?
Some metals pass every home test the same way. These pairs need a stamp, a look at the item, or a yard test.
| Pair | Why the tests fail | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Copper, brass and bronze | None sticks to a magnet and they weigh about the same. Alloys cannot be told apart by colour alone. | What the item is. Pipe and wire are usually copper. Taps are usually brass. Then a yard test. |
| 304 and 316 stainless steel | Both are austenitic. They weigh 7.9 and 8.0 g per cm3, and both can pull weakly after bending. | A stamp, where the item was used, or a yard test. |
| 430 stainless steel and mild steel | A magnet sticks to both. | Heavy rust points to plain steel. Stainless resists rust but can still stain. |
| Nickel silver, stainless steel and aluminium | All three look silvery. | Weight separates aluminium. A stamp such as EPNS names nickel silver. |
| Plated steel and solid copper or brass | Plating hides the metal underneath. | A magnet sticks to the steel. Scratch an edge to see grey metal. |
Source: Canadian Conservation Institute, Euro Inox, British Stainless Steel Association and its note on corrosion, University of Illinois, checked 2 October 2026
Where do the numbers come from?
The Royal Society of Chemistry gives the weights of the pure metals. Alloy weights come from maker data sheets for one common grade each. Euro Inox gives the stainless steel grades, and the Australian Steel Institute gives steel. The Cambridge University Engineering Department gives cast iron.
Colours and magnet results come from the Canadian Conservation Institute, the University of Illinois and stainless steel industry sources. Each source shows under the chart with the date we checked it.
What if you are still not sure?
Read the guide to identifying scrap metal. Or read the page for the metal you think it is: copper, brass, aluminium, stainless steel or steel and iron.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to tell scrap metals apart?
Start with a strong magnet. Then scratch a hidden spot to see the bare colour, and compare the weight with a steel item of the same size. Two or three tests together give a good guess, and the chart shows what each result points to.
How do I tell copper, brass and bronze apart?
Scratch a hidden spot. The Canadian Conservation Institute says pure copper has a reddish tinge and brass is quite yellow. It says bronze runs from a warmer gold than brass to golden brown. None of them sticks to a magnet, and all three weigh roughly 8.5 to 9 g per cm3. The Institute also says alloys cannot be told apart by colour alone, so send us a photo of any piece you can't place.
Does a magnet stick to stainless steel?
It depends on the grade. In the chart, 430 sticks. 304 and 316 usually don't, but they can pull weakly after bending or pressing. A magnet can't tell 304 from 316, so look for a stamp or ask the buyer to test it.
What does the weight column mean?
It is density: the weight of one cubic centimetre of the metal, in grams. Compare pieces of the same size. Aluminium is about 2.70 and steel about 7.85, so aluminium weighs about a third as much.
Why do other charts show different weights?
Alloys come in many mixes. This chart gives one common grade for each alloy, from maker data sheets. The pure metals come from the Royal Society of Chemistry. A real piece can differ a little.
Is this chart a price list?
No. It identifies metals and shows nothing about what a yard pays. For world benchmark prices, see the price chart. For how buyers value scrap, see scrap metal prices in Brisbane.
Sources
- Copper, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table (checked 2 October 2026)
- Aluminium, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table (checked 2 October 2026)
- Lead, Royal Society of Chemistry periodic table (checked 2 October 2026)
- Basic care: recognizing metals and their corrosion products, Canadian Conservation Institute (checked 2 October 2026)
- Identifying archaeological metal (CCI Notes 4/1), Canadian Conservation Institute (checked 2 October 2026)
- Object materials, Preservation Self-Assessment Program, University of Illinois (checked 2 October 2026)
- Aluminium properties, Australian Aluminium Council (checked 2 October 2026)
- Is stainless steel non-magnetic? British Stainless Steel Association (checked 2 October 2026)
- Does stainless steel corrode? British Stainless Steel Association (checked 2 October 2026)
- Magnetic properties of stainless steels, Carpenter Technology (checked 2 October 2026)
- Stainless steel: tables of technical properties, Euro Inox (2007), hosted by World Stainless (checked 2 October 2026)
- Die casting brochure, International Zinc Association (checked 2 October 2026)
- Why recycle batteries, Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (checked 2 October 2026)
- Designing for galvanizing (density of steel), Australian Steel Institute (checked 2 October 2026)
- Materials Data Book, 2003 edition, Cambridge University Engineering Department (checked 2 October 2026)
Related pages
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