Calculator
Catalytic Converter Value Estimator
Pick your converter type and the PGM market to get a ballpark scrap range — then take the serial number to a buyer for a real quote.
Sell only your own. Sell only converters from a vehicle you own. Catalytic-converter theft is a felony in most states, and buyers increasingly require photo ID, proof of ownership, and a record of the transaction. If you can’t show where it came from, a legitimate buyer won’t touch it.
Your converter
Typical import passenger-car converter.
A typical, middle-of-the-road PGM market. Platinum, palladium, and rhodium prices swing hard — this scales the estimate for where the market is.
Estimated scrap value
~$140.00 typical
- Low end
- $70.00
- Typical
- $140.00
- High end
- $280.00
Ballpark only. A converter’s real value comes from its exact serial/part number and the day’s platinum, palladium, and rhodium prices — which swing wildly. Use this to set expectations, then get a serial-number quote from a reputable buyer for anything real.
How much is a catalytic converter worth?
Most used converters land somewhere around $50–$250, but that hides a huge spread: a small aftermarket unit can be under $30, while a hybrid converter can top $1,000. Two things move the number — the converter type (how much precious metal its design carries) and the current PGM market (platinum, palladium, and especially rhodium prices, which swing violently). The estimator above combines both into a range.
Why converters are worth anything
Inside every converter is a ceramic honeycomb coated with platinum, palladium, and rhodium — the platinum-group metals that scrub exhaust gases. Those metals are genuinely valuable and recoverable by a refiner, which is the whole reason a spent converter has scrap value (and, unfortunately, why they get stolen). No two converter designs carry the same loading, which is why value is keyed to the exact part.
Get a serial-number quote for real money
This tool sets expectations; it does not replace a quote. Reputable converter buyers read the serial/part number stamped or tagged on the converter, look up its measured PGM content in a database, and quote against the day’s metal prices. That is how you get an accurate number — so find the serial, get two or three quotes on anything valuable, and sell it whole rather than cutting it open. Whole units get the fairest, most transparent pricing.
The legal reality
Sell only converters from a vehicle you own. Catalytic-converter theft is a felony in most states, and buyers increasingly require photo ID, proof of ownership, and a record of the transaction. If you can’t show where it came from, a legitimate buyer won’t touch it. None of this is a hurdle for an honest seller — keep your paperwork, expect to show ID, and a legitimate buyer is happy to deal.
Catalytic converter questions
How much is a catalytic converter worth in scrap?
Most used catalytic converters are worth roughly $50 to $250 in scrap, but the range is enormous — small aftermarket units can be under $30, while high-loading hybrid (e.g. Prius) converters can top $1,000. Value depends on the exact serial/part number and the current prices of platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Why are catalytic converters worth money?
A converter’s ceramic honeycomb is coated with platinum, palladium, and rhodium — the platinum-group metals (PGMs) that catalyze exhaust gases. Those metals are valuable and recoverable, which is the entire reason converters have scrap value (and why they get stolen).
What is the most valuable catalytic converter?
The highest-value converters carry the most PGM loading: hybrid converters (Toyota Prius is famous for it) and older high-grade foreign converters (certain Toyota, Honda, and European models). Exact value is set by the serial number, not just the brand.
Is it legal to sell a catalytic converter?
Yes — a converter from a vehicle you own. Catalytic-converter theft is a felony in most US states, so legitimate buyers increasingly require photo ID, proof of ownership, and a recorded transaction. If you can’t show where a converter came from, a reputable buyer won’t buy it.
Should I sell my converter whole or cut it open?
Sell it whole. Reputable buyers price by the serial number on the intact converter, and cutting it open ("decanning") to sell loose ceramic invites lowballing and disputes over weight. Whole units get the fairest, most transparent quotes.
How do I get an accurate price for my converter?
Get a serial-number quote. Reputable converter buyers look up the exact part in a PGM-content database and quote against the day’s metal prices. Get two or three quotes on anything valuable, since offers vary widely.
Scrapping the whole vehicle?
Price the rest of it — the motor, the wiring, the steel — with the calculators.