SURPLUS WIRE BUYING QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
The questions we are asked most often, answered without the hedging. If something is missing, call or send the form and ask directly.
Three things come up in almost every conversation: what we actually buy, what condition we require, and how pickup works. The rest is detail, and the detail is below.
What we buy
We buy electrical wire and cable only — building wire, armored and industrial cable, service and underground cable, bare copper and grounding conductor, aluminum, specialty and flexible cable, communication and low-voltage cable, and medium and high-voltage cable from 5kV to 69kV and above.
We do not buy transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, MCCs, bus plugs, generators, chillers, machinery, vehicles, lighting, conduit, strut or general electrical equipment. If a load is mixed, we will review the wire portion and tell you plainly what we are leaving behind.
Condition and quantity
New surplus, unused stock, overstock, cancelled-project inventory and discontinued material are the core of what we buy. Partial reels are reviewed on remaining length and jacket condition. Used cable is considered only when it was removed without damage, is dry and still carries legible markings.
We do not promise to buy every item regardless of condition. Wet, contaminated, sun-damaged or unidentified cable is usually declined, and short tails under roughly 50 ft rarely justify a trip on their own — though they are welcome as part of a larger lot.
Pricing
Offers reflect construction, metal, size, voltage rating, condition, footage and what we can realistically place. Copper content matters, but so does whether the reel is a standard construction a contractor can use next week. A sealed 500 ft reel of 4/0 THHN and a 180 ft partial of the same wire are not the same offer.
Coverage and logistics
We buy throughout Washington, DC and the state of Maryland. Larger lots are collected; smaller quantities usually ship. Loading access, reel weight and distance decide which is practical, and we will say so rather than build travel into a price where it does not belong.
No invented local presence
We do not claim a staffed office, warehouse, yard or local phone number in the cities and counties listed on this site. Buying surplus wire from businesses in a city is not the same as operating a branch there, and we will not pretend otherwise to look bigger than we are.
Still unsure?
Send the photos. A submission costs nothing and the answer is usually quick. If your material is not a fit, you will get a clear reason rather than silence.
Frequently asked questions
What types of electrical wire do you buy?
THHN, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW and XHHW-2 building wire; MC and AC armored cable; tray cable, TC and PLTC; VFD cable; control and instrumentation cable; SER and SEU; URD and USE-2; bare copper and grounding wire; aluminum wire and cable; welding cable and SOOW; communication, low-voltage and fire-alarm cable; and 5kV through 69kV medium and high-voltage cable.
Do you buy used wire?
Sometimes. It must have been removed without damage, be dry and still carry legible markings, and it must be described as used when submitted. Heavily weathered, wet or cut-up cable is generally not something we can place.
How much wire do I need to have to sell?
There is no fixed minimum, but economics decide. One large reel can be worth a collection; a few short tails usually are not. A shop clearance with twenty mixed reels is often the best kind of lot because the volume covers the trip.
What photos should I send?
An overall shot of the reel, a close-up of the jacket legend so the print is readable, the manufacturer tag or label, and the cut end showing conductor count and stranding. Keep the total under 10 MB and send more by email if needed.
How is surplus wire priced?
On construction, metal, size, voltage rating, condition, footage and current demand for that material. Copper content is a floor, not the whole answer: a standard construction with verified footage is worth more than a heavier but unidentified reel.
Do you buy partial reels?
Yes, where the remaining length is known or measurable and the jacket is intact. Very short remains are only considered as part of a larger mixed lot.
Do you collect, or do I deliver?
For larger lots in Washington, DC and Maryland we arrange collection. For smaller quantities shipping is usually more practical. Loading access and reel weight determine which route makes sense.
Do you buy transformers, switchgear or breakers?
No. We buy electrical wire and cable only. We do not purchase transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, MCCs, generators, bus plugs, chillers, machinery or vehicles.
Are you affiliated with ElectricalWireBuyers.org?
This is a separate website for the Washington, DC and Maryland market. It does not replace, redirect or alter any other website, and no content here is copied from another site.
How do I get started?
Call +1 (614) 715-3047, email saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com, or use the quote form on this page. Include the city and ZIP where the wire is located, plus photos of the reel, print and tag.
Send the details.
We’ll review the reel.
Tell us what you have and where it sits. Photos of the reel, the jacket legend and the tag do more than a paragraph of description.
+1 (614) 715-3047 saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com- Serving
- Washington, DC and Maryland
- Response
- Most quote requests are reviewed within one business day.
- What to include
- Reel photos, markings, size, footage, condition and loading access.
- This page
- /faq/