Guide
How to get rid of junk
Clearing out a garage, a basement or a whole house? There are five main ways to get rid of the junk, and the cheapest one depends on how much you have and how much of the lifting you want to do.
Updated October 12, 2026 · By the Trade Pricing Control team · Where our prices come from
Your options at a glance
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Donation pickup | Free | Furniture and appliances in good, working condition |
| City bulk pickup | Often free or a small fee | A few large items, on your city's schedule |
| Haul it yourself | About $50 to dump a load, plus a truck | A few items when you have a pickup |
| Junk removal service | $75 – $800 | Anything you want loaded and gone in one visit |
| Dumpster rental | $280 – $500 a week | Big cleanouts and remodels you load yourself |
1. Donate or sell what still works
Many charities and nonprofits will pick up furniture, appliances and household goods for free. Call or book online, and expect them to turn down anything stained, broken or worn. Selling online works too, but takes longer. Even if you're hiring a hauler for the rest, pulling out the good items first shrinks the load and the bill.
2. Check your city's bulk pickup
Many cities and counties collect large items like furniture on scheduled bulk days, and some run free junk or e-waste drop-off days a few times a year. Rules vary a lot: some limit how many items you can set out, and many won't take appliances, TVs or construction debris. Check your city's trash website before you drag anything to the curb.
3. Haul it yourself
If you have a pickup or can borrow one, dumping a load at the landfill or transfer station costs around $50. It's the cheapest paid option for a handful of items, but you do all the lifting and may need several trips. Hazardous items like paint, chemicals and batteries usually need a separate drop-off.
4. Hire a junk removal company
A crew comes to you, loads everything from wherever it sits, and hauls it away the same day. Most companies price by how much of their truck your junk fills:
| How much junk | Typical price |
|---|---|
| ⅛ truckload (a few items) | $75 – $125 |
| ¼ truckload | $125 – $200 |
| ½ truckload (garage cleanout) | $200 – $400 |
| ¾ truckload | $400 – $600 |
| Full truckload | $600 – $800 |
Single items are often priced on their own: about $75 to $150 for a mattress, $100 to $200 for a couch and $60 to $250 for a large appliance. Refrigerators and freezers can carry an extra $35 to $60 because of the weight and refrigerant. Many companies give a firm quote from photos, so send them before booking.
5. Rent a dumpster
A roll-off dumpster sits in your driveway for a week or more while you fill it, then the company hauls it off. It's usually the best value for remodels and large cleanouts, as long as you're doing the loading.
| Size | Holds about | Typical cost per week |
|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | 3 pickup loads | $350 |
| 15 yard | 4½ pickup loads | $400 |
| 20 yard | 6 pickup loads | $450 |
| 30 yard | 9 pickup loads | $500 |
Watch the weight limit: going over usually costs about $40 to $100 per extra ton. Many companies require a one-week minimum, charge $5 to $10 a day after that, and may ask for a deposit. If the dumpster has to sit on the street instead of your driveway, check with your city about a permit first.
Which one should you choose?
| Your job | Usually the best fit |
|---|---|
| A couch and a mattress | Junk removal (about $175 – $350), or donation if they're in good shape |
| Garage or basement cleanout | Junk removal by the half truck ($200 – $400) |
| Kitchen or bathroom remodel debris | A 10 to 15 yard dumpster (about $350 – $400 a week) |
| Whole-house or estate cleanout | A 20 to 30 yard dumpster, or full junk removal loads if you don't want to lift |
| One old appliance | Your city's bulk pickup, the store delivering the new one, or a single-item pickup |
Ways to pay less
- Sort first. Donate, sell or give away what still works so you pay to haul less.
- Get two or three quotes and confirm they include loading, dump fees and taxes.
- Keep heavy debris separate. Concrete, dirt and roofing are priced by weight and can cost far more to dump than furniture of the same size.
- Combine jobs. One bigger load costs less per item than several small pickups.
Run a junk removal business? Use the volume prices above as a starting point and check what each job pays per hour with the junk removal calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get rid of junk?
Donating usable items and using your city's bulk pickup are usually free. Hauling a load to the landfill yourself costs around $50 if you have a truck. For a big pile you don't want to lift, a junk removal company or a dumpster is the cheapest paid option, depending on the size of the job.
Is it cheaper to rent a dumpster or hire junk removal?
For a few items or a single garage cleanout, junk removal is usually cheaper and they do the loading: about $200 to $400 for half a truck. For remodels or whole-house cleanouts that take several days, a dumpster at about $280 to $500 a week is usually better value, as long as you load it yourself.
How much does junk removal cost?
Most companies charge by how much of the truck you fill: about $75 to $125 for an eighth of a truck, $200 to $400 for half a truck and $600 to $800 for a full load. Single items like a couch usually cost $100 to $200.
What size dumpster do I need for a house cleanout?
A 20-yard dumpster, which holds about 6 pickup truck loads, suits most small to medium house cleanouts. Large homes or cleanouts with remodel debris may need a 30-yard dumpster.
What can't go in a dumpster or junk removal truck?
Hazardous materials like paint, chemicals, batteries and some electronics usually aren't accepted or cost extra. Ask the company for their list, and check your county for free hazardous waste and e-waste drop-off days.