Walk into any yard in Pune or Kurla today, and you’ll hear the same question on repeat: “Bhai, aaj ka SS rate kya hai?” Stainless steel scrap prices don’t sit still – they move with London Metal Exchange nickel numbers, with the rupee-dollar equation, and honestly, with how badly the local melting units need feed stock this week. Right now, the Maharashtra market – Mumbai, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar included – is seeing decent movement across grades, and if you’ve got scrap sitting in a godown, this is the moment to actually know what it’s worth.
What is the price of 1 kg of stainless steel today?
Here’s the number that matters. No fluff, just the range you should expect at a genuine yard today.
| SS Grade | Price Range (₹/kg) | Typical Source | Nickel Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 304 | ₹110 – ₹155 | Utensils, pipes, sheets, kitchen equipment | ~8% |
| SS 316 | ₹180 – ₹265 | Marine hardware, chemical tanks, surgical parts | ~10-14% |
| SS 310 | ₹260 – ₹300 | Furnace parts, boiler linings, high-heat components | ~19-22% |
| SS 202 / 410 | ₹60 – ₹90 | Cheap utensils, magnetic fittings, low-grade railings | Minimal / none |
Keep in mind – these are dealer buying rates for genuine, sorted scrap. Retail counters in Mumbai’s Kurla or Pune’s Bhosari belt sometimes quote 5-10% below this depending on volume and payment terms.
Why Do 316 and 310 Cost More Than 304?
It all comes down to what’s mixed into the metal. Nickel is the real price driver – it’s an expensive, LME-traded metal, and higher nickel percentage means higher scrap value, full stop.
- SS 304 has around 8% nickel – decent, but nothing special.
- SS 316 adds molybdenum plus more nickel, giving it that marine-grade corrosion resistance – hence the jump to ₹180-265/kg.
- SS 310 is built for furnace and boiler work, packing 19-22% nickel to survive extreme heat – that’s why it tops the chart at ₹260-300/kg.
- SS 202/410 barely has nickel at all, uses manganese as a substitute, and is magnetic – that magnet test alone tells a buyer it’s the cheap stuff.
If you’re ever unsure what grade you’re holding, the magnet test is the old-school trick every yard owner uses. Stick a magnet on it – if it grips hard, you’re likely looking at 202 or 410, not 304 or 316.
Solid Plate vs Turnings vs Loose Mixed Junk
This is where new sellers lose money without even realizing it. The grade decides the base rate, but the form decides your final payout.
- Solid plate offcuts and pipes: these fetch the top of the range because there’s zero processing loss and easy resale.
- Turning shavings: oxidized surface, lower density, and moisture contamination knock 10-20% off the base rate.
- Mixed loose junk (kitchen scrap, broken utensils, unsorted bins): dealers have to sort and separate grades manually, so expect the lower end of the bracket, sometimes below it.
A seasoned buyer will always ask “sorted or mixed?” before quoting: that single question can shift the price by ₹20-30 per kg.
FAQs
What is the rate of SS 304 in kg?
SS 304 scrap is currently trading between ₹110 and ₹155 per kg in Maharashtra, depending on whether it’s solid offcuts or mixed utensil scrap.
What is the rate of SS scrap?
There’s no single “SS scrap rate” – it depends entirely on grade, ranging from ₹60/kg for 202 up to ₹300/kg for 310.
Which is cheaper, 304 or 316 SS?
304 is cheaper. Lower nickel content means lower value – 316’s marine-grade corrosion resistance pushes it well above 304 in every market.
What is the price of SS 316 per kg?
SS 316 scrap sells for ₹180 to ₹265 per kg right now, with clean solid plate scrap commanding the top end.
What is the price of 321 stainless steel scrap per kg?
SS 321 typically trades close to 316 pricing, often ₹170-250 per kg, since it shares similar nickel content but is used more in aerospace and high-temp piping.
What’s the highest paying scrap metal right now?
Among common ferrous and stainless categories, SS 310 pays the most per kg because of its heavy nickel loading for furnace-grade heat resistance.
Get Your Exact Quote – Here’s What To Send
Rates on paper are one thing. Your actual payout depends on three details a yard needs before quoting a firm number.
- Approximate weight or volume – even a rough estimate in kg or number of bags/sacks works.
- The exact form – solid plates, pipes, turnings/shavings, or loose mixed junk.
- Your city location – Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, or wherever you’re based in Maharashtra, since local logistics affect the final rate.
Send these three points to your nearest scrap dealer, and you’ll get a real, binding quote – not just a range pulled off a website.