Offcut and scrap value calculator
Compare what a metal offcut is worth as reusable stock against its scrap value. Free browser calculator, enter your own prices.
Every offcut on the rack is worth two very different numbers: what it saves you if you nest a job into it, and what the scrap merchant pays for it. Enter your own prices to see the gap, and how much of your annual spend is walking out on the scrap lorry.
Why remnants get scrapped anyway
Not because shops do not know they are valuable, but because nobody can find them. If the rack is not measured, labelled and searchable, the safe choice is always a full sheet. The offcut then sits until someone clears the bay and it goes for scrap at a fraction of what it cost.
Turning a rack into stock
- Record length, width and thickness the moment the offcut comes off the machine.
- Give it a location so it can actually be retrieved.
- Check the remnant list before releasing a new sheet.
- Nest into the remnant shape, not just its bounding box.
Quick Nesting tracks remnants for you: after a nest the leftover geometry is saved with its real outline, and the next job can be nested straight into it.
Set your own prices
Scrap prices move constantly and vary by grade, contamination and collection arrangement. This calculator never guesses a market price for you, use the figures from your own merchant docket and your own supplier invoice.
Pair it with the sheet price estimator and the nesting efficiency calculator to see the whole picture: what the sheet cost, how much of it became parts, and what the rest is worth.
Related tools
- Material cost estimator: Per-part material cost from sheet price, utilisation and scrap recovery.
- Power & speed starting points: Cutting speed, passes and engraving settings per material, scaled to your laser.
- Engraving time calculator: Raster engraving time from size, line interval, speed and overscan.
FAQ
What scrap price should I enter?
Use the price on your most recent merchant docket for that grade. We deliberately do not publish market prices, they change weekly and vary by yard.
Why is reuse value not the full new price?
An odd-shaped offcut is rarely 100% usable. The usable share field lets you discount it honestly, 60-80% is typical.
Does Quick Nesting track remnants?
Yes. Leftover sheet areas are saved as remnants with their real outline and can be selected as stock for the next job.
Are stainless and aluminium worth more as scrap?
Usually yes, both the new price and the scrap price are higher, so run the numbers per grade rather than assuming one figure.