SELL SURPLUS THHN, THWN AND THWN-2 WIRE
Leftover building wire is the most common surplus conductor in the region — and the easiest to move when the reel is clean and the length is known. We buy THHN, THWN and THWN-2 in copper and aluminum from #14 through 1000 MCM.
THHN and its dual-rated cousins are the backbone of commercial and industrial conduit work: branch circuits, feeders, panel drops and equipment connections. Because it is bought by the reel and pulled to length, nearly every completed job leaves something behind — a 500 ft reel with 180 ft left, a sealed 1,000 ft reel that was over-ordered, or a dozen partial reels in the gang box at closeout.
We review that material for purchase throughout Washington, DC and Maryland. Single reels, mixed pallets and full warehouse overstock all get the same treatment: identify the construction, confirm the length and condition, then quote.
What we buy
- THHN — thermoplastic, high heat-resistant, nylon-jacketed, 90°C dry, 600V. The standard conduit conductor.
- THWN — wet-location rated at 75°C, often dual-marked with THHN on the same jacket.
- THWN-2 — 90°C in both dry and wet locations, the specification most often written for outdoor and underground conduit runs today.
- Dual and triple-rated jackets — THHN/THWN, THHN/THWN-2 and T90/TWN75 variants, including imports with equivalent listings.
- Copper and aluminum — copper is more common; aluminum building wire in #6 and larger is still worth reviewing.
- Solid and stranded — #14 to #10 solid, #8 and larger stranded, including compact and compressed stranding.
- Colours — black, red, blue, white, green, brown, orange, yellow, grey, purple and striped or tracer jackets.
How to read a building wire reel
Most of what we need is printed on the jacket and the tag, so a good photo can replace a long description. When you look at a reel, these are the details that set the price:
| Detail | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | THHN, THWN, THWN-2 or dual-rated print | Wet-location rating widens the number of buyers who can use it |
| Size | AWG or kcmil, e.g. 4 AWG or 250 kcmil | Large feeder sizes carry more copper value per foot |
| Stranding | Solid, 7-strand, 19-strand, compact | Matches the job specification; unusual stranding narrows demand |
| Voltage | 600V (sometimes 2kV on specialty jackets) | Standard building wire is almost always 600V |
| Length | Factory tag, counter, or your own measure | A verified length is worth more than a guess |
| Condition | Clean jacket, dry reel, no crushed or sun-bleached wraps | Weathering and abrasion reduce usable length |
Condition and length
Unused, dry, indoor-stored reels are straightforward. Material that sat outside for two summers is still reviewable, but the jacket condition and the amount of sun-damaged outer wrap change the conversation. Tell us honestly whether the reel was stored indoors, in a connex, under a tarp or open to the weather.
- Full factory reels with intact labels and legible print
- Partial reels with a measured or tag-stated remaining length
- Sealed cartons of coiled wire and spools from shop stock
- Over-ordered feeder in 250 MCM through 1000 MCM
- Mixed-colour pallets from a single job closeout
We do not promise to buy every reel. Short tails, badly abraded jacket, wet or mud-covered reels and unidentified conductor are usually declined — but a mixed lot with some good reels in it is worth sending, because we will review the lot item by item.
What to photograph
- The whole reel, so we can see the flange size and how much wire is left.
- The jacket legend, shot flat and close, with the print readable.
- The manufacturer tag or label, including any footage marking.
- The cut end, showing conductor count, stranding and colour.
- The storage location, so we understand access and whether the reel has been exposed.
One photo of the jacket beats three paragraphs
Every specification we need — construction, size, voltage, temperature rating, manufacturer and often the length — is printed on the jacket of a building wire. If you photograph one 12-inch section clearly, we can usually quote without a second round of questions.
THHN surplus in Washington, DC and Maryland
In the District, building wire surplus usually comes from commercial fit-outs, rowhouse service work and institutional renovations where conduit runs were re-pulled. In Maryland it is broader: contractor shops in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties sit on over-ordered feeder, Baltimore warehouses clear discontinued colours, and Frederick and Hagerstown plants release maintenance stock when a line is reconfigured.
Because building wire is heavy and cheap per foot, quantity drives the decision. A single 150 ft partial reel is rarely worth a pickup on its own, but twenty reels from a closed shop absolutely is. If you are unsure whether your quantity is worth submitting, send it anyway — the review is free and the answer is quick.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy THHN with less than a full reel?
Yes, when the remaining length is known and meaningful. Partial reels are quoted on measured or tag-stated length, jacket condition and how standard the construction is. Reels under roughly 50 ft are usually only considered as part of a larger lot.
Is THHN worth more than THWN or THWN-2?
Not inherently. What matters is the rating a buyer can use. THWN-2 is dual-rated for wet and dry locations at 90°C and is often the most useful, while plain THHN is limited to dry locations. We price what the jacket actually says, not the label on the purchase order.
Do you take aluminum THHN?
Yes, usually in #6 and larger. Aluminum building wire is less common than copper in this region but it is reviewed on the same basis: size, length, condition and whether the alloy and stranding are still standard.
What if the reel tag is missing?
We can work from the jacket print. Construction, size, voltage and temperature rating are printed every few feet on most building wire, so a clear close-up usually recovers the details the tag would have given us.
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
- /wire-types/thhn-thwn-wire/