Stainless steel is a high-value scrap metal that commands significantly better pricing per pound than regular carbon steel. Its corrosion resistance, durability, and the valuable alloying elements it contains, particularly nickel, chromium, and in some grades molybdenum, make it one of the most sought-after materials in the recycling industry.
At MOME Metals Recycling, we accept all grades and forms of stainless steel scrap. Whether you have a single kitchen sink, a load of restaurant equipment, or industrial stainless components, we grade every piece accurately and pay based on the actual alloy composition. Our facility is equipped to test and identify stainless steel grades on-site, ensuring you receive the correct price for what you bring in.
We purchase every grade of stainless steel. Understanding your grade helps you know what to expect when you sell.
The most common grade of stainless steel, accounting for roughly half of all stainless produced worldwide. 304 contains approximately 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. It is the standard material for kitchen sinks, cookware, food processing equipment, countertops, appliance panels, handrails, and general architectural applications. 304 is slightly magnetic, meaning a magnet will weakly attract to it but will not hold firmly.
The premium marine-grade stainless steel. 316 contains the same chromium and nickel as 304 plus 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, which provides superior resistance to saltwater corrosion and chemical attack. Used extensively in marine hardware, boat fittings, medical instruments, surgical equipment, chemical processing tanks, and coastal architectural elements. 316 is typically non-magnetic and commands a higher price per pound due to its molybdenum content.
A martensitic stainless steel that contains approximately 12 percent chromium with little to no nickel. 410 is harder and more magnetic than 304 or 316, making it popular for cutlery, knives, valve components, pump shafts, and fasteners. Because it contains less nickel, 410 typically pays less than 304 and 316 grades but still well above regular carbon steel rates.
Stainless steel that has non-metal attachments, mixed grades, or contamination. This includes stainless steel with plastic handles, rubber seals, mounting hardware, or mixed in with regular carbon steel. Also covers situations where the grade is unknown or where multiple grades are combined. We accept dirty and mixed stainless in any condition and grade it based on its actual composition.
The difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel can mean a significant difference in your payout. While both grades look virtually identical to the naked eye, 316 contains molybdenum, a valuable alloying element that improves corrosion resistance and increases the metal's scrap value.
The magnet test provides a useful starting point for identification. 304 stainless is slightly magnetic because cold working during manufacturing can create small amounts of martensite in its structure. A magnet will weakly attract to 304 but will not hold firmly. 316 stainless is typically non-magnetic or only very faintly magnetic, even after cold working.
However, the magnet test is not always conclusive. Both grades can exhibit variable magnetic properties depending on their processing history. For definitive grade identification, our facility uses XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzers that determine the exact chemical composition of your stainless steel in seconds, ensuring you are paid the correct rate for every piece.
Call for Today's Stainless Prices
Prices change daily based on market conditions. Call 239-334-1191 for current pricing on all stainless steel grades.
Proper preparation and sorting can significantly increase the value of your stainless steel scrap.
This is the most important step. Regular carbon steel is strongly magnetic and worth a fraction of stainless steel per pound. Use a magnet to test every piece. If a magnet sticks firmly, it is regular steel. If it does not stick or sticks only weakly, it may be stainless and should be kept separate for higher pricing.
Remove plastic handles, rubber gaskets, mounting brackets, wood components, and any other non-stainless materials. A stainless steel sink with mounting clips and silicone caulk attached will grade as dirty stainless. Removing those items takes minutes and upgrades your material to clean stainless pricing.
If you know the grade of your stainless steel, keep different grades separate. Mixing 316 marine-grade stainless with 304 kitchen-grade means the entire load may be evaluated at the 304 rate. If you have items from marine or medical environments, they are likely 316 and should be sold separately for the premium price.
Many stainless steel items have grade markings stamped, etched, or printed on them. Look for numbers like 304, 316, 316L, 410, or 18-8 (which indicates 304). Commercial kitchen equipment, piping, and industrial components frequently have grade identification. Knowing the grade before you arrive helps ensure accurate pricing.
Stainless steel can be tricky to identify because it sometimes looks similar to regular steel, aluminum, or chrome-plated items. These tests and visual cues will help you separate stainless steel from other metals and avoid leaving money on the table.
Most stainless steel grades (304, 316) are non-magnetic or weakly magnetic. Regular carbon steel is strongly magnetic. A weak or absent magnetic response combined with a bright, shiny surface strongly suggests stainless steel. Note that 410 grade stainless is more magnetic, so the test is not always definitive.
Stainless steel does not rust under normal conditions. If a metal item has been exposed to the elements and shows no rust, it is likely stainless steel. Regular carbon steel will show reddish-brown rust relatively quickly when exposed to moisture.
Stainless steel is noticeably heavier than aluminum. If you pick up a shiny, silver-colored item and it feels heavy for its size, it is more likely stainless steel than aluminum. Stainless steel weighs about the same as regular carbon steel, so weight alone does not distinguish it from carbon steel.
Kitchen sinks, commercial kitchen equipment, cookware and flatware, appliance panels, medical instruments, marine hardware and boat fittings, handrails and railings, industrial tanks and piping, restaurant prep tables, and brewery equipment.
Regular steel is strongly magnetic, rusts easily, and has a duller surface. Stainless steel is weakly magnetic or non-magnetic, resists rust, and has a brighter, shinier appearance. Stainless is worth significantly more per pound.
Both can appear silver and both may be non-magnetic. The key difference is weight. Stainless steel is about three times heavier than aluminum. Pick up the item. If it feels surprisingly light for its size, it is probably aluminum. Heavy and shiny suggests stainless.
Chrome plating gives regular steel a shiny, stainless-like appearance. The magnet test reveals the truth. Chrome-plated steel is strongly magnetic because it is regular steel underneath. If a magnet sticks firmly and the item looks shiny, it is likely chrome-plated steel, not stainless.
Stainless steel recycling recovers valuable alloying elements like nickel, chromium, and molybdenum that are expensive and energy-intensive to mine. Recycling stainless is both economically rewarding and environmentally responsible.
Stainless steel contains nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, all of which are expensive to mine and refine. Recycling recovers these valuable elements and returns them to the manufacturing supply chain at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of primary production.
Producing stainless steel from recycled scrap requires substantially less energy than producing it from virgin raw materials. The energy savings from recycling nickel and chromium alone make stainless steel recycling one of the most impactful metal recycling processes.
Stainless steel consistently pays several times more per pound than regular carbon steel. A single kitchen sink, a set of old cookware, or a piece of marine hardware can represent a meaningful payout. The nickel and molybdenum content ensures strong demand from processors.
Stainless steel is 100 percent recyclable and can be reprocessed indefinitely without losing its properties. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of stainless steel at end of life is collected and recycled, making it one of the most efficiently recycled materials in the world.
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Learn MoreBring your stainless steel scrap to MOME Metals Recycling for accurate grade identification and top payouts. We test every piece on-site to ensure you receive the correct price for the actual alloy grade.