Old window weights, also called sash weights, are heavy bars of cast iron or sometimes lead that used to balance old windows. You can sell them for scrap, repurpose them as door stops or anchors, or keep them if you are restoring the windows. One safety note first: some are lead, so handle them with care.
These show up when people replace old windows or clean out a basement. They are too useful and too heavy to just toss, so here is what to do with them.
First: Iron or Lead?
Knowing which metal you have matters for both value and safety.
- Cast iron is the most common. It is hard, often rough or rusty, and rings if you tap it.
- Lead is heavier for its size, soft enough to scratch with a key, and a dull gray. Lead is toxic, so wash your hands after handling it, keep it away from kids, and never grind or burn it.
Sell or Scrap Them
Window weights are solid metal, so a scrap yard will often pay for them by the pound. Cast iron and lead are usually priced separately, so sort them first and tell the yard which is which. Antique or stamped weights can also sell to old-home restorers on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Repurpose Them
That dense weight is handy around the house and yard.
- Door stops or doorstoppers that actually hold a heavy door
- Anchors for a small boat, a canopy, or a tarp on a windy day
- Bookends or a counterweight for a shop project
- Exercise weights for simple lifts, if the shape allows a good grip
- A base to weigh down a lawn decoration or post
If they are lead, skip any use where they will be handled often or end up near food or children.
Keep Them for the Window
If you love your old double-hung windows, the weights are part of how they open and stay put. Restorers actually look for matching weights, so hold on to them if you plan to fix the windows rather than replace them.
How to Dispose of Them
If you cannot scrap or reuse them, do not just put heavy metal in a curbside bin. Take cast iron to a scrap yard or metal recycler. Lead is hazardous waste in most areas, so take it to a household hazardous waste site, not the trash. While you are clearing the basement or garage, our garage decluttering guide can help with the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are old window weights worth money?
Yes, as scrap metal by the pound, and sometimes more to people restoring old windows. Cast iron and lead are priced separately at a scrap yard.
Are old window weights made of lead?
Some are. Lead is heavier, soft enough to scratch, and dull gray. Most older weights are cast iron, but check, and handle any lead ones carefully.
What can I do with old sash weights?
Use them as door stops, anchors, bookends, or exercise weights, sell them for scrap, or keep them if you are restoring the windows.
Can you scrap window weights?
Yes. A scrap yard or metal recycler will take cast iron, and lead should go to a hazardous waste site. Sort the two before you go.
How do I get rid of lead window weights safely?
Treat them as hazardous waste. Take them to a household hazardous waste drop-off, wash your hands after handling, and keep them away from children.