If you’re cleaning out your home and come across any items that may contain silver — even if they’re broken or no longer usable — you can get money for their scrap silver content rather than simply throwing them away.
With scrap silver prices hovering at record highs this year, now is a great time to sell.
Any sterling silver jewelry, medals, awards, or coins, silverware or serving pieces have scrap silver value to a scrap silver buyer like CashforSilverUSA >>
Here's what you else you should know about selling scrap silver:
What is considered scrap silver?
Where to sell scrap silver online
Who buys scrap silver ‘near me’?
Where can I find scrap silver?
- Jewelry
- Old coins
- Silver flatware
- Silver plaques
- Old medals and awards that contain silver
- Old electronics
What is considered scrap silver?
Scrap silver is any silver item that's only worth the value of the silver it contains. In other words, the item itself is no longer usable or useful, whether it’s old, broken, or part of something that no longer works like electronics. More below on where you can find scrap silver.
Can you sell silver scrap?
Yes, you can sell silver scrap for the value of its silver content. More here on selling silver, or keep reading for details on where to sell your silver scrap for the highest price: CashforSilverUSA.com.
What is scrap silver worth?
The scrap silver price is based on the spot price of silver. Your silver scrap is worth as much as the pure silver it contains.
Scrap silver price per ounce and gram
Silver is worth the price of silver today x the quality of silver, minus the buyer's commission.
As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.
Most silver jewelry and flatware is sterling, marked as 925 silver when it contains 92.5% silver, combined with another metal — typically copper. Since 925 silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.
Junk silver prices
Junk silver refers to United States coins made of 90% silver, which were in circulation prior to 1965. These coins have no collector value and are therefore worth 90% of the spot silver price.
Scrap sterling silver prices
Sterling silver, or 925 silver, is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy — typically copper. Scrap sterling silver is worth 92.5% of the spot silver price.
Where to sell scrap silver online
There are a number of online silver buyers who will purchase your scrap silver. In general, these are some things you should look for when choosing a scrap silver buyer:
- Positive customer reviews across sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot
- Trusted reputation of high payouts and good customer experience
- Insured shipping to/from your home
- Highest price guarantee
- Quick payouts
Our No. 1 recommended silver buyer is A+ rated CashforSilverUSA, sister site of CashforGoldUSA, which checks all of the boxes above and has paid out millions of dollars since it was founded in 2005. Get a free and instant quote now from CashforSilverUSA >>
You can check out our overview of silver buyers here.
Who buys scrap silver ‘near me’?
Consult Google reviews and ask in local Facebook groups for recommendations on reputable silver buyers in your area. These are some types of local businesses that may purchase your scrap silver:
Pawn shops
You can sell your silver scrap to a pawn shop, though you likely won’t get as much for your silver scrap as you would selling to an online silver buyer like CashforSilverUSA. The benefits of selling to a pawnbroker is that the sale is quick and in cash.
But, if you need cash today, look for a reputable pawn shop by asking friends for recommendations, checking local BBB and Yelp reviews, and shopping around before making a sale.
Jewelry shops
Some jewelry shops might buy scrap metal in the form of old or broken silver jewelry, then turn around and sell it to a refiner (which means you miss out on some of the profit).
Before you sell, check your silver for markings and weigh your item to determine how much silver it contains. Learn more about common symbols stamped on jewelry.
Coin shops
Some coin shops will pay you the scrap value of common silver coins. Note that if you have rare silver coins, they’ll likely be worth more than their silver content.
9 places to sell silver for cash, online and “near me” in 2024
Where can I find scrap silver?
If you’re looking for scrap silver, start in your home, then check out local flea markets, yard sales, consignment shops, pawn shops, and estate sales. You can also keep an eye on Buy Nothing Facebook groups in your area (where people in your community post items they no longer want for free) or post on apps like Nextdoor.
These are some common sources of scrap silver you may have in your home:
Jewelry
If you have old jewelry that’s out of style, broken, or missing pieces — like a silver earring missing its pair — you can sell it for its scrap silver value.
If you aren't sure whether your jewelry is real silver, check out our post on silver plated vs. sterling silver items.
Old coins
Silver coins that have no collector value and are no longer in circulation can be sold for scrap.
Silver flatware
A 32-piece sterling silver flatware set may be worth $800 to $1,200 just based on its scrap silver content.
Silver plaques
If you have a plaque with a silver plate or frame, you can sell it for scrap, as long as it's sterling silver. You may have to send it in for evaluation to make sure it's not a silver-plated item.
Old medals and awards that contain silver
While most of today’s medals are made of bronze or brass then coated in gold or silver, some older medals made before about 1970 might be made of solid sterling silver. Note that most silver buyers do not take silver-plated items.
Like medals, most modern trophies are made of bronze or brass, but older trophies and other awards made before about 1970 might contain solid sterling silver, which is worth 92.5% of the spot silver.
Old electronics
Silver scrap in electronics can be recycled and sold for cash. Here is how to find and remove silver scrap from electronics:
Bottom line: What is the best way to sell old silver scrap for cash?
Online silver buyers like CashforSilverUSA can typically pay you more for your scrap silver items because:
- Lower overhead
- Higher volume
- More competitive market (literally, the entire world)
CashforSilverUSA is a sister site of CashforGoldUSA, which accepts gold in all its forms, diamonds, and more.
Get an instant estimate on your silver scrap from CashforSilverUSA >>
Scrap silver is any silver item that's only worth the value of the silver it contains. In other words, the item itself is no longer usable or useful, whether it’s old, broken, or part of something that no longer works.
Yes, you can sell silver scrap for the value of its silver content.
The scrap silver price is based on the spot price of silver. Your silver scrap is worth as much as the pure silver it contains.
If you’re looking for scrap silver, start in your home, then check out local flea markets, yard sales, consignment shops, pawn shops, and estate sales. You can also keep an eye on Buy Nothing Facebook groups for your area or post on apps like Nextdoor.
