How to Tell Bronze from Brass

Co-authored by Himesh Patel and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: May 20, 2024 References

Whether you're antiquing or scrapping, telling the difference between bronze and brass can help you determine the value of a piece. Unfortunately, since both metals are copper alloys, there aren't many things you can do to distinguish between them. The best way to tell is to recognize the color difference since brass is yellower than reddish-brown bronze. Keep in mind that brass is more common in everyday items because bronze is more valuable.

Quick Guide: Bronze vs. Brass

Clean your metal to remove any tarnish and check the color. Bronze is typically reddish-brown and may have faint rings on its surface while brass is more yellow. Compare prices, too, since bronze is typically more expensive than brass. Or, ask a metal shop or scrap yard to analyze the metal’s composition.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning the Piece and Observing the Color

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1
Clean the metal with a salt and vinegar paste if it's tarnished. Older pieces of brass or bronze can develop a dark or green coating called a patina, which can make it hard to see the actual metal color. To thoroughly clean the piece, mix 1 tablespoon (17 g) of salt with 1 tablespoon (8 g) of flour and stir in enough white vinegar to make a thick paste. Scrub the paste onto the metal with a sponge and rinse it off with hot water.^{[1]
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- If the metal isn't tarnished, just dust it with a soft cloth to remove surface dirt.
Tip: If the metal is still tarnished, put it into a container with equal parts water and white vinegar so the metal is submerged. Leave it overnight to soak and then rinse it with hot water the next day.
2
See if the metal is reddish-brown, which could mean it's bronze. Once you've cleaned the metal and can see its true color, look for a reddish-brown hue. Since bronze is made of copper and tin, it doesn't have the yellow coloring that brass does.^{[2]
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- If you're struggling to tell the difference, it can help to hold up a few different pieces of metal so the coloring is easier to see.
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Look for yellow-colored metal to determine if it's brass. At first glance, brass looks yellow like gold because it's made of copper and zinc. If you were to compare brass and gold, the brass looks duller and less vibrant. It also looks much more yellow than bronze.^{[3]
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- If the metal piece wasn't very tarnished, this might mean it's brass. Brass is sometimes coated with a clear lacquer that protects the metal.
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Check the object to look for rings, which are common with bronze. Since bronze is usually cast using centrifugal or spinning force, the process leaves the metal with faint rings on the surface. Feel the metal or look for rings if you think the piece is made of bronze.^{[4]
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- The rings are easier to spot if the piece is a metal pipe or cylinder.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Considering Other Clues

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Identify sculptures or sturdy pieces that are frequently made with bronze. Because bronze resists corrosion, especially from saltwater, a lot of boat or ship fittings are made with it. Bronze is also used for sculptures and outdoor artwork because the valuable metal wears well over time. Other items that are usually made from bronze include:^{[5]
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- Bells
- Cymballs
- Propellers
- Electrical connectors and springs
- Bearings
- Cast sculptures
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Look at decorative or plumbing items that could be made from brass. Since brass is less expensive than bronze, many household items are made with it. Musical instruments are also usually made from brass, not bronze. These objects are usually made from brass:^{[6]
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- Tubes or pipes
- Musical instruments, such as trumpets or tubas
- Locks, doorknobs, gears
- Ammunition casing
- Home decoration, such as candlesticks or wall sconces
- Zippers
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Compare prices in a shop to determine which metal is more expensive. If you're looking at several metal pieces, look at the price tags. Bronze contains tin, which is an expensive metal, so bronze is usually more expensive than brass pieces.^{[7]
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- This also means that you may be able to find good deals if bronze pieces are mistakenly labeled "brass."
4
Take a metal piece to a professional if you're still unsure whether it's brass or bronze. If you'd like to know without a doubt whether your piece is bronze, find a local metal worker and ask them to analyze the material. Most professionals have an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, which X-rays the metal to determine its exact metal properties.^{[8]
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- You can also ask at local scrap yards since many of these have X-ray fluorescent analyzers.

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Tips

Neither bronze or brass are metallic, so you can't do magnetic tests to distinguish between them.

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Because bronze and brass contain copper, they both tarnish so a dark patina won't distinguish one from the other.

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