Typical prices for junk removal
These are consumer-facing figures from 2026 cost guides, not rules. They show where the market sits so you can tell whether your price is far above or below it.
| What is priced (20-yard truck) | Published 2026 range (Angi) |
|---|---|
| ⅛ truckload (2–3 cu yd) | $75 – $125 |
| ¼ truckload (3–4.5 cu yd) | $125 – $200 |
| ½ truckload (4.5–11 cu yd) | $200 – $400 |
| ¾ truckload (11–13 cu yd) | $400 – $600 |
| Full truckload (13–17 cu yd) | $600 – $800 |
| Single bulky item, minimum charge | $60 – $150 |
| Furniture-only job, minimum flat fee | $75 – $150 |
| Major appliance / mattress / window AC | $60 – $250 / $75 – $150 / $50 – $90 |
| National average job | $241 (most pay $133 – $372) |
Other published guides give per-yard rates: LoadUp and Dropcurb quote about $30 to $65 per cubic yard for household junk, citing HomeGuide's $1.50 per cubic foot (about $40.50 per cubic yard), and Dropcurb cites $70 to $83 per cubic yard for heavier construction debris. Treat those as secondary figures. Rates vary by region: check what competitors near you charge.
How much junk is on the job
Estimate the load in cubic yards, then convert it to a truck fraction. Dropcurb notes that 1 cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a pile 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft is about one cubic yard. Walk the whole property, including garage, attic and basement, and confirm what is staying. Most companies price by volume rather than weight, so a bulky light couch costs more than a small heavy safe, but concrete, dirt and roofing are usually charged by weight.
What moves the price
- Volume. The space the load takes in the truck is the main driver, and Angi says a minimum of about 2 cubic yards often applies even to small hauls.
- Type of junk. Appliances, mattresses, electronics and tires carry disposal or recycling fees. Construction debris is heavy and costs more per yard.
- Access. Stairs, basements, long carries and tight driveways add crew time. Another guide, Jiffy Junk, adds 20 to 30% for stairs and basements; use your own labor time instead of copying that figure.
- Dump fees. Angi notes that disposal fees are set by each municipality and are passed on to the customer.
- Timing. Same-day or rush service can carry a premium.
- Crew size. A whole-house cleanout needs more people than a curbside pickup.
Check the price against your costs
Add crew hours, truck cost, fuel, the dump fee and overhead, then see what margin is left. Dump fees depend on weight, so a half load of furniture and a half load of debris are not the same cost to you. See how to calculate labor cost and your overhead rate for the inputs.
Set a minimum charge
A single item still costs the drive, a two-person crew and a dump stop. Angi shows minimums of $60 to $150 for a single bulky item. Set yours from your hourly cost times the real time a small job takes, and show it as its own line.
A worked quote
One garage cleanout: about half a truckload of mixed household items, one refrigerator and a second-floor carry, using example rates (yours will differ):
| Half truckload of household junk, about 7 cu yd | $300.00 |
| Refrigerator (separate item) | $120.00 |
| Second-floor carry | $50.00 |
| Total | $470.00 |
|---|
Check it against the market: the $300 half load sits inside Angi's $200 to $400, which works out to $300 ÷ 7 = $42.86 per cubic yard, inside the $30 to $65 household range. The $120 refrigerator is inside Angi's $60 to $250 appliance range. The $50 carry fee is an example, not a published rate. These figures are examples, not recommended prices.
Common mistakes
- Quoting a flat price before seeing the load, then absorbing the extra volume.
- Ignoring dump fees on heavy loads such as concrete, dirt or roofing.
- Hiding appliance, mattress and stairs fees inside the load price.
- Skipping a written estimate. Read how to write a contractor estimate for what to include.
Turn the numbers into a quote
Build the quote with the free junk removal estimate maker: add the load, special items and surcharges as separate lines and save a PDF. No sign-up.
Sources
- Angi, How Much Does Junk Removal Cost? [2026 Data] (angi.com).
- LoadUp, How Much Does Junk Removal Cost? 2026 Pricing Guide (goloadup.com), for the $30 to $65 per cubic yard household rate.
- Dropcurb, Junk Removal Cost Calculator (dropcurb.com), for per-yard rates citing HomeGuide and Homewyse.
- Tofu Field Service, Free Junk Removal Cost Calculator (tofu.com), for the stairs surcharge example.
Prices are published averages read in October 2026 and vary by region. For planning only. This is not accounting, tax or legal advice.