How much is catalytic converter material worth?
On the legitimate scrap market, a catalytic converter is typically worth about $50 to $300, depending on the metals inside and current market prices. In some high-grade or specialized catalysts, value can be higher.
The value hinges on the precious metals contained in the catalyst—platinum, palladium, and rhodium—and on the daily price moves for those metals. Because prices fluctuate, the exact payout from a recycler changes often. Recyclers assess the converter’s metal content and apply current market prices to determine a payout, subtracting processing costs where applicable.
What determines the value of catalytic converter material
The key factors are the quantities of platinum, palladium, and rhodium housed in the converter, the converter’s design, and the current market price of these metals. Different vehicle makes and models have different metal loadings, and newer, high-efficiency catalysts can contain more precious metals than older units.
Metal content in common catalysts
- Platinum (Pt): roughly 1–4 grams per converter
- Palladium (Pd): roughly 1–7 grams per converter
- Rhodium (Rh): roughly 0.1–2 grams per converter
These ranges reflect typical gasoline catalytic converters and can vary significantly by model, age, and whether the unit is a primary converter or a secondary (pre-cat) unit. The exact amounts inside any given converter require testing or documentation from the manufacturer or a recycler.
How market prices influence the payout
Prices for platinum, palladium, and rhodium are set by global exchanges and can swing daily due to supply, demand, and macroeconomic factors. Because rhodium prices are especially volatile, a converter’s value can jump or drop in ways that aren’t linear with the other two metals. For a rough estimate, recyclers convert metal content to a market value using current prices per gram or per ounce and then subtract processing costs and anything related to refining.
Estimating the value of your catalytic converter
To estimate your converter’s value in a legitimate, safe way, follow these steps with information from reputable recyclers or licensed scrap yards.
- Identify the converter type and model. Diesel converters and some high-efficiency models can have different metal loads than typical gasoline units.
- Ask for a metal-content estimate or have the converter tested by a licensed recycler who can assay the metals.
- Check current market prices for Pt, Pd, and Rh on trusted financial sites or exchange quotes (e.g., LME, Kitco).
- Convert prices to per-gram values and apply them to the estimated metal weights to get a rough value, then account for any processing fees or recycling costs.
- Compare quotes from multiple licensed recyclers to ensure you receive a fair payout.
In practice, legitimate scrap payouts vary widely, typically ranging from tens to a few hundred dollars per converter, depending heavily on the metal content and the day’s metal prices. Very high-load or premium catalysts may exceed this range; older or worn converters often fetch less.
Safety and legality notes
Theft of catalytic converters has risen in some areas due to their monetary value. If you suspect theft or feel unsafe, contact local authorities. Always work with licensed recyclers and keep records of purchases or drop-offs for accountability and compliance with environmental regulations.
Summary
The monetary value of catalytic converter material depends on three precious metals—platinum, palladium, and rhodium—and their current market prices, plus the converter’s metal loading. Typical legitimate scrap payouts range from about $50 to $300 per unit, with higher sums possible for converters with unusually high metal content or favorable market conditions. Use a licensed recycler, verify metal content when possible, and check current metal prices to estimate value accurately.
