You can sell Romex wire in California as unused surplus cable or as pulled copper scrap, depending on its condition. We buy Romex-brand NM-B, Southwire's branded nonmetallic-sheathed cable, and evaluate other manufacturers' NM-B and UF-B by their actual labels and construction.
Separate NM-B indoor cable from UF-B
NM means nonmetallic-sheathed cable. NM-B is a complete assembly of insulated copper conductors and a grounding conductor inside an outer nonmetallic sheath. The familiar residential cable is mainly associated with normally dry interiors and permitted light-commercial work.
Typical NM-B construction uses PVC-insulated conductors with nylon coverings, paper components and a PVC jacket. The assembly carries a 600 V rating. The -B version has 90°C conductor insulation, but the cable's usual ampacity limitation remains based on 60°C conductors.
UF identifies underground feeder and branch-circuit cable. UF-B has a moisture-resistant construction, commonly with a tough PVC covering molded around the conductors and ground. Representative products are rated 600 V, with applicable cable ampacity limited to the 60°C basis even where the insulation rating is higher.
UF-B and NM-B are not interchangeable buying descriptions. Dry-location NM-B does not become wet-location or direct-burial cable because it has been placed outdoors. Southwire's UF-B product specification documents the gray PVC construction of its example product.
Decode the size/count before you sell Romex wire
A description such as 14/2 with ground normally means two insulated 14 AWG circuit conductors plus a grounding conductor. In 12/3 with ground, there are three insulated 12 AWG conductors plus ground. The slash count does not include the additional ground in these familiar descriptions.
| Cable description | What it normally identifies | Detail to preserve |
|---|---|---|
| 14/2 with ground | Two insulated 14 AWG conductors plus ground | Actual NM-B or UF-B type |
| 12/2 with ground | Two insulated 12 AWG conductors plus ground | Original coil length and remaining run |
| 12/3 with ground | Three insulated 12 AWG conductors plus ground | Full count, not simply '12 gauge' |
| 10/2 with ground | Two insulated 10 AWG conductors plus ground | Jacket and storage condition |
| 6/3 with ground | Three insulated 6 AWG conductors plus ground | Ground size from the actual product |
Representative NM-B ranges extend from 14 through 2 AWG, while UF-B commonly spans 14 through 6 AWG. Small NM-B circuit conductors are often solid; larger 8 and 6 AWG products commonly use stranded conductors. Exact construction should follow the product label or sheet.
Our 14, 12 and 10 AWG wire page groups common smaller stock across several cable families. Keep residential cable separate from SER or SEU assemblies, which have different service-entrance constructions and size descriptions.
Jacket colors help sort, but print confirms the product
Traditional NM-B jacket colors often include white for 14 AWG, yellow for 12 AWG and orange for 10 AWG. Black commonly appears on 8 and 6 AWG cable. Gray is common for UF-B and does not indicate one particular gauge.
These are sorting clues, not a universal size standard. Newer color systems and manufacturer differences mean every coil still needs a printed size/count check. Two white coils should not be combined merely because they look alike.
The actual legend should show TYPE NM-B or UF-B, 600V, conductor gauge/count, manufacturer and length or date information. Look for WITH GROUND and keep the original package listing label. Southwire's NM-B specification shows the conductor construction behind its assemblies.
Factory conductor colors inside the cable are distinct from the outer jacket color. On an existing accessible end, show the conductor arrangement without dismantling otherwise intact surplus. We are identifying inventory, not advising how to wire a circuit.
Boxes, contractor coils and residential closeouts
A 250 ft contractor coil, sometimes supplied in a box or wrapped package, is a familiar surplus unit. Smaller 25, 50 and 100 ft retail coils also occur. Both NM-B and UF-B can be found on 500 or 1000 ft reels, depending on size and manufacturer.
A sealed package provides different condition evidence from an opened coil with uncertain remaining footage. Give the original package length and the current continuous length as separate entries. Several short pieces placed into an empty box do not become an original full coil.
California tract-home construction, apartment work and residential remodels can leave mixed gauges and counts. Cancelled orders and distributor stock changes can also leave untouched packages. Our Orange County wire buying page covers a region where residential and light-commercial inventory are relevant surplus categories.
Describe why the stock is left over without claiming it remains suitable for a future project. The leftover electrical wire guide discusses the choices for material no longer needed on the original job.
Pulled cable belongs in a separate condition category
Unused NM-B with traceable labels may retain value as manufactured cable. Stapled, pulled-out, crushed or cut material has a different history. Show flattened areas, punctures, damaged sheath and corrosion rather than describing the whole lot as new because some sections look clean.
We also buy scrap copper wire, including residential cable that is not evaluated as reusable stock. Insulation, paper and packaging are not copper, and equal gross weights of different cable constructions do not establish equal recoverable metal.
Keep clean unused coils away from demolition bundles. For scrap, separate copper cable from aluminum and unrelated metal; our copper wire grades guide explains condition and sorting distinctions. There is no need to strip intact unused NM-B just to request an evaluation.
Applicable California identification, ownership, record and nonferrous payment requirements still matter for scrap purchases. We follow those rules and confirm payment terms in writing before pickup. This is a brief summary, not legal advice or a statement that every transaction has identical requirements.
What to photograph for an NM-B or UF-B offer
- The package label showing NM-B or UF-B, manufacturer, catalog number and listed footage.
- A clear sheath legend with gauge, insulated-conductor count, voltage and WITH GROUND wording.
- A separate quantity for each description, such as 14/2, 12/2, 12/3, 10/2 or 6/3.
- Whole-package photos distinguishing unopened boxes, wrapped coils, opened coils and reels.
- Remaining continuous footage per opened package, identifying estimates and separate cut pieces.
- Jacket color and any mismatch between the printed cable and the package holding it.
- Damage details and whether the cable was previously stapled, installed, buried or removed.
- The California location, pickup access and purchase or project-ownership documentation for the lot.
Include related cable under its own entry using our wire types directory. Leaving original labels with each coil helps prevent a 12/3 package from being mistaken for 12/2 during sorting, especially when both share a jacket color.
Common questions
Is an opened 250 ft coil automatically scrap?
An opened package may still hold unused cable. We need to know how much continuous length remains, whether the label matches it and how it was stored. Show the entire coil and any cuts, kinks or jacket damage. Original wrapping helps document condition, but the absence of wrapping alone does not establish that the cable was installed or should be valued only as copper.
Does 12/2 with ground mean two copper wires in all?
Normally it means two insulated 12 AWG circuit conductors plus a separate grounding conductor. The ground is additional to the two-count description. Record the full label instead of counting only visible insulation colors. Larger assemblies may have a grounding conductor smaller than the circuit conductors, so we also need the actual ground size when the package or specification identifies it.
Can gray UF-B be listed together with gray indoor cable?
Keep it separate until the print confirms the type. UF-B has its own underground-feeder construction and marking; a gray surface alone does not prove that rating. Other cable families can also be gray. Photograph TYPE UF-B, the size/count and voltage, then match the label to that cable. Do not use color to convert an unidentified coil into a particular listed product.