Copper Wire
Insulated copper, bare copper and grounding conductors in all common sizes.
We buy surplus building wire in Illinois
THHN, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW and XHHW-2 in branch-circuit and feeder sizes, from job closeouts, distributor overstock and plant stock across Illinois.
The wire that fills every gang box and every back room
Building wire is the most common surplus conductor in Illinois: #12 THHN left from a tenant build-out, a partial reel of 4/0 XHHW-2 from a service upgrade, a pallet of #10 THWN-2 that a distributor discontinued. It is manufactured in enormous volume, which means there is always a secondary market for clean, identified material.
We buy THHN, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW and XHHW-2 in copper and aluminum, from #14 through 1000 MCM, solid and stranded, in the standard phase colours and in green for grounding.
Reading the legend
Most confusion about building wire comes from the suffix. THHN is a dry-location conductor; THWN adds a wet-location rating; THWN-2 carries a 90°C wet rating; XHHW uses cross-linked polyethylene insulation instead of PVC/nylon. The printed legend on the wire tells you which one you have, and multi-rated wire is often printed with several designations at once.
That print matters for pricing, because the applications differ. If the legend is readable, photograph it rather than typing it out — a clear close-up is faster and less error-prone than a description.
Specs
Building wire types and ratings
The designations below are what we most often see printed on Illinois reels. Multi-rated constructions are common and welcome.
| Type | Insulation | Typical use | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| THHN | PVC/nylon, 90°C dry | Branch circuits in raceway | #14 – 1000 MCM |
| THWN | PVC/nylon, 75°C wet | Wet and damp locations | #14 – 500 MCM |
| THWN-2 | PVC/nylon, 90°C wet | Wet locations, feeders | #14 – 1000 MCM |
| XHHW | XLPE, 90°C dry | Feeders, service, gutters | #14 – 1000 MCM |
| XHHW-2 | XLPE, 90°C wet | Wet and buried feeders | #14 – 1000 MCM |
| TFFN / MTW | Thermoplastic, fixture wire | Fixtures, panel wiring | #18 – #14 |
Condition & paperwork
What makes a building wire load easy
One legible tag, one legible legend, one honest footage estimate.
Building wire is sold by the foot, so footage drives the number. If the reel still has its factory tag, the footage is printed on it and the job is simple. If not, we estimate from the reel and the remaining wrap; a tape measure across the barrel and a photo of the side of the reel help.
Mixed colour loads are fine. Mixed sizes on one pallet are fine too, as long as the sizes are listed or labelled — a pallet of unlabelled partials takes much longer to review and often prices lower because every reel has to be identified.
We do not need the wire rewound or repackaged. Leave it on the reel it came on.
Helpful numbers
Call +1 (614) 715-3047 with the reel tag in front of you. If the tag is gone, a tape measure and a photo of the cut end gets us close.
Questions
Building wire questions
Do you buy #12 and #14 leftover from a job?
Yes, including partial reels and coils. Small branch-circuit quantities are reviewed together with the rest of the load; on their own they may not justify a truck, and we will tell you that instead of wasting your time.
What does the -2 mean on THWN-2 or XHHW-2?
It indicates a 90°C rating in wet locations, which is why -2 constructions are used for wet and buried feeders. Wire printed THWN-2 is normally also rated THHN, so one reel can carry several designations.
Can I sell wire still in its factory carton?
Yes. Cartons, coils and banded bundles are all accepted. Keep the carton label intact and photograph it — the label carries the type, size and usually the footage.
Related
Other wire we buy
Loads are often mixed. If your reels span more than one category, send the whole list in one request.
Aluminum Wire & Cable
XHHW-2 aluminum, aluminum SER/SEU and aluminum feeder and service cable.
Industrial Cable
MC, AC, tray cable, VFD, PLTC, control, instrumentation and shielded cable.
Quote
Quote your building wire
We review every request and reply with a quote or the questions that would let us price it.
Ready to move that surplus wire?
Send the wire type, footage or reel count, and a few photos. We review every request and reply with a quote or a request for more detail.