Junk removal cost by load size
| Load size | Installed price | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| About 1/8 of a truck (a few bags or a couple of small items) | $70–$130 | A few bags, a chair or a small table |
| About 1/4 of a truck (a sofa, or a few boxes and furniture pieces) | $100–$200 | A sofa, or a mattress and a few boxes |
| About 1/2 of a truck (a small room or a garage corner) | $200–$400 | A small room, or a corner of the garage |
| About 3/4 of a truck (a bedroom or a small cleanout) | $300–$600 | A bedroom or a cluttered basement corner |
| A full truck (a large cleanout) | $400–$800 | A large cleanout or a garage |
Haulers measure the pile, not the weight. They load it onto a truck, then charge for the fraction of the truck it takes up. Most haulers also set a minimum charge, so a single small item is priced like an eighth of a truck. The calculator's quantity box multiplies the price for several loads of the same size.
What changes the price
- Volume. This is the biggest factor. Packing the pile tightly and having it all in one spot lowers the fraction of the truck a hauler counts.
- Heavy or awkward items. Pianos, hot tubs, safes and anything that has to be taken apart or carried down stairs take more labor.
- Special items. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners with refrigerant, tires, mattresses and electronics often carry their own fee.
- What is not accepted. Most haulers will not take paint, solvents, chemicals or batteries in a normal load. Those go to a hazardous waste service.
- Disposal fees where you live. Dump fees differ by county and are usually included in the quote.
- Timing. Spring and summer are the busy season, and same-day or expedited pickup costs more.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's wages for hand laborers.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerant surcharge | $35–$60 per unit | Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners |
| Four tires | $20–$60 | Charged per tire, usually with a recycling fee |
| Same-day or expedited pickup | 10% to 25% more | For a half truck that is about $240–$470 instead of $200–$400 |
Junk removal or a dumpster?
A dumpster rental runs about $300-$800 a week, and you do the loading yourself. It makes sense for a long project such as a renovation, where debris arrives over days. A hauler is faster and cheaper for a one-time cleanout of furniture and household items, because you pay only for the space you use and nobody has to lift anything.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the quote a flat price for the whole pile, or a minimum plus extra for the volume?
- Are dump fees, labor and stairs included?
- Is there a fee for refrigerators, mattresses, tires or electronics?
- Will you donate or recycle what can be reused, and does that change the price?
- Is there a charge if the pile turns out bigger than the estimate?
Methodology and sources
We price each load size from three published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, adjust the labor share for your state's wages, and price special items separately. HireAHelper and This Old House repeat the same load table as Angi, so they are not counted twice. Read how we estimate costs.
- Angi: junk removal cost — load sizes, labor, landfill fees, hazardous items
- LawnStarter: junk removal cost — load sizes, items, tires, cleanouts, landfill fees
- HomeGuide: junk removal prices — load sizes, items, add-on fees
- HireAHelper: junk removal cost — expedited pickup surcharge
- Fixr: junk removal service cost — used as an independent cross-check and for company price ranges
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 53-7062, Hand Laborers and Material Movers) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Angi |
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| LawnStarter |
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| HomeGuide |
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| HireAHelper | expedited pickup adds 10%-25% (updated Feb 2026) |
Common questions about junk removal costs
How much does junk removal cost?
A typical job (1/2 truck) comes to about $300 nationally, within a range of $200 to $400. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does junk removal cost by load size?
Haulers charge by how much of the truck your items fill. About 1/8 of a truck costs $70–$130, 1/4 of a truck $100–$200, 1/2 a truck $200–$400, 3/4 of a truck $300–$600 and a full truck $400–$800. Labor, hauling and normal dump fees are included.
How much does it cost to haul away a truckload of junk?
A full truck costs about $400–$800. Two full loads are priced as two trips: $800–$1,600.
What is the average cost of junk removal?
The calculator's typical job is half a truck, about $200–$400. A few items are a quarter or an eighth of a truck, about $100–$200 or $70–$130.
How much does it cost to remove a mattress or a couch?
Haulers have a minimum charge, so one item such as a mattress is often priced as an eighth of a truck, about $70–$130, and a sofa as a quarter of a truck, about $100–$200.
How much does it cost to remove an old refrigerator or appliance?
Removing an appliance is priced as part of the load. Units with refrigerant, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, can carry a surcharge of about $35–$60 each.
How much does a whole-house cleanout cost?
One guide puts a full home cleanout at $625-$2,000. In loads, a cleared bedroom is about 3/4 of a truck, $300–$600, and a cleared house is several full trucks, for example three loads: $1,200–$2,400.
How much does junk removal cost per cubic yard?
Haulers quote by the fraction of the truck, not by the cubic yard, so compare quotes by load size. The price per unit of space falls as the load gets bigger: a full truck costs less than two half trucks.
How much do 1-800-Got-Junk, Junk King and College Hunks charge?
These companies price by truck fraction like everyone else, so use the table above. Fixr lists 1-800-Got-Junk at $129-$600, Junk King at $125-$650 and College Hunks at $110-$590, depending on the load. Ask for an on-site quote, which is usually free.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 4 published cost pages from 4 publishers, last checked Oct 8, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 4 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.