Coils, reels and cut lengths
You can sell leftover Romex without having an unopened package. We buy new, unused, leftover and used cable in boxed coils, wrapped coils, full reels, partial reels and cut lengths. List the continuous length of each piece, not just a combined total.
Keep the original packaging with the cable when possible. An opened box with a readable label and a neat, continuous coil is easier to identify than loose cable mixed with several sizes. If you have other surplus electrical wire and cable from the same job, identify those products separately using our wire categories.
We buy all types of electrical wire and cable, including mixed lots and used cable. Send photos that show the cable's condition, along with the size and footage, and we will make an offer.
NM-B and UF-B are different products
Romex is Southwire's brand name for its nonmetallic-sheathed cable. Sellers also use the name loosely for residential cable from other makers. The type letters on the jacket are more useful than the nickname.
| Cable type | Common construction | Listing reference | Rating and application |
|---|---|---|---|
| NM-B | Insulated copper conductors with PVC insulation and nylon covering, a bare copper ground and an overall PVC jacket; paper binder in the referenced Southwire construction | UL 719, nonmetallic-sheathed cables | 600 V; dry-location residential branch circuits; 90°C conductor insulation with ampacity limited to the 60°C basis |
| UF-B | Insulated copper conductors and, where supplied, a bare copper ground within an overall PVC jacket; the referenced Southwire jacket is gray and sunlight, moisture and fungus resistant | UL 493, underground feeder and branch-circuit cables | 600 V; underground use including direct burial, and permitted interior applications; ampacity limited to the 60°C basis |
A 90°C insulation rating is not permission to treat either cable as a 90°C-ampacity product. These details identify inventory, not approve a future installation.
Do not substitute NM-B for UF-B because both have a plastic jacket. For a mixed residential lot, keep MC cable separate too. Metal-clad cable has a different construction and listing.
Sizes and conductor details to list
We buy copper NM-B and UF-B in common configurations from 14/2 through 6/3. State whether each cable includes a grounding conductor. Do not assume its size equals the insulated conductor size, especially on larger cable.
| Insulated conductor size | Common configurations to identify | Construction in the referenced Southwire products |
|---|---|---|
| 14 AWG | 14/2 and 14/3 | Solid copper |
| 12 AWG | 12/2 and 12/3 | Solid copper |
| 10 AWG | 10/2 and 10/3 | Solid copper |
| 8 AWG | 8/2 and 8/3 | Stranded copper |
| 6 AWG | 6/2 and 6/3 | Stranded copper |
For example, 14/2 with ground describes two insulated 14 AWG conductors plus a grounding conductor. It does not describe a two-wire cable with the ground included in that count. A three-conductor version adds another insulated conductor.
Our 14, 12 and 10 AWG page covers the smaller sizes; the 8 AWG through 1 AWG page covers larger inventory. We also buy aluminum surplus wire, but do not label aluminum feeder cable as copper Romex. Check whether it belongs with SER or SEU service entrance cable.
Read the jacket and package together
Photograph a complete, readable section of jacket printing, not just the cable color. Look for the manufacturer's name, NM-B or UF-B, AWG size, insulated conductor count, ground designation and conductor metal. Voltage, temperature markings and a UL listing mark or identifying information may appear on the jacket, package or product documentation.
A label may show a catalog number, original footage, manufacture date or lot code. Jacket footage marks and date codes vary by product. Capture them if present; do not assume every residential coil has sequential footage marks or a plainly written date. Record unfamiliar codes exactly rather than guessing their meaning.
Match the print to the box label or reel tag. A label for 12/2 does not identify loose 12/3 lying beside it. Outer jacket colors can help sort a lot, but the letters and size marking control identification. Use the reel tag and jacket reading guide if a field is unclear.
Original package footage is not remaining footage. For an opened coil, mark the length as measured, estimated or unknown. Several separate pieces are not equivalent to one continuous run, even if their lengths add up to the same total.
Photos that make the lot clear
Send actual photos of your material, not a product image from a catalog. Include these views:
- The whole lot, with boxes, coils and reels visible so quantities can be checked.
- Each distinct package label or reel tag, showing type, size, product number and original footage.
- A close-up of the jacket print for each type and size.
- An existing cut end, if accessible, showing insulated conductor count and ground without stripping more jacket.
- Any flattened section, torn jacket, tight kink, exposed conductor or damaged packaging.
Group matching coils for the overview and list how many are unopened or partial. For loose lengths, attach a temporary size and length note without covering the manufacturer's print. Send that inventory and the material's Arizona location through Get an Offer.
What helps or hurts a Romex or UF-B offer
Long continuous lengths, matching packages, readable markings and intact jackets affect the offer. Full reels generally compare more favorably than short cut lengths. The specific size, conductor count, manufacture date and current demand also affect the written offer.
Staple impressions, crushed flat cable, exposed conductor sections and tangled coils affect the offer. Show damage rather than winding it out of sight. An intact outer wrap does not prove the cable underneath is undamaged. Missing labels or uncertain footage can make an otherwise useful coil harder to evaluate.
Tell us how the lot was stored, including sun or water exposure. NM-B's dry-location use matters when reviewing exposed stock. For UF-B, show any cuts, cracks or crushed sections so we can account for condition in the offer. Keep cable protected while the lot is under review, and avoid sharp folds when securing loose coils.
Arizona homebuilding and job closeouts
Residential electrical contractors and homebuilders are the natural sellers for this category. Census Bureau data published through FRED show 31,651 new private housing units authorized by building permits in Maricopa County in 2025. That includes multiple structure types, not just detached homes, and measures authorizations rather than completed construction.
For a contractor working across West Valley communities such as Goodyear and Buckeye, or East Valley communities such as Mesa and Gilbert, sort leftovers by job phase and product. Unused branch-circuit coils can remain after a homebuilding phase closes or a circuit schedule changes. UF-B can remain after exterior lighting or pump runs are shortened. These are possible sources of surplus, not documented quantities from specific developments.
For multifamily closeouts, identify the actual cable listing rather than calling every branch-circuit product Romex. Our homebuilder and multifamily page and electrical contractor inventory page cover those seller situations.
Mistakes to avoid before selling
Do not remove the jacket to present individual NM-B conductors as THHN. Southwire states that the conductors within its NM-B cable are not individually listed or marked as THHN and cannot be installed separately from the complete cable.
Do not cut a useful continuous coil into smaller pieces to make it easier to count. Separate NM-B from UF-B, keep labels with their matching material, and disclose any prior installation. We confirm who is selling and keep simple paperwork, such as an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or company letter, plus the name of the person releasing the cable. For company-owned cable, that person has authority to sell it.