Junk Removal Cheap

When it comes to any sort of bulk waste or debris removal, your two best options are hiring a junk removal company or renting a dumpster. But how do you know which is the more cost-effective solution? Good question—let’s find out.

Read more about dumpster rental and junk removal:

Cost is highly variable when renting a dumpster or hiring a junk hauler and is based on multiple factors, like:

Location: Do you live far off the beaten path? If so, expect to pay more. Cost of living also plays a role here. For example, you’ll pay more in New York City than you would in Memphis, TN.

Type of waste/debris: Some service providers—dumpster and junk removal—charge differently for household wastes vs. construction and demolition (C&D) debris. C&D debris is often heavier, so it may end up costing more to haul away than general household trash.

Amount of waste/debris: The heavier the load, the more you’ll pay. For junk removal, costs rise as the volume of junk increases. A full truckload of junk, for example, costs more than a load taking up just half of the truck’s total capacity.

Learn more about pricing:

Cost Comparison: Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Removal

Expect to pay at least $250 to rent a 10 yard dumpster, but it can be significantly more depending upon the factors above. Add $50 to $100 for bigger roll-off containers (in 10-yard increments); e.g. $300-$350 for a 20 yard dumpster, $350-$400 for a 30 yard dumpster, etc.

Roll-off container sizes and pricing (national average)

Junk removal companies charge a minimum amount just to come out to your location, which can be anywhere from $50 to $150. If you have one or two items you’re getting rid of—like a TV, sofa, or small pile of yard debris—you’ll probably be charged the minimum amount.

Example of pricing structure for junk removal service (Hawthorne, NJ)

For smaller cleanups, a 10 yard dumpster would get the job done but isn’t necessarily the more cost-effective option. A junk removal company may remove a small garage-worth of items for 0 when it may cost you 0 to rent a 10 yard bin to do the loading yourself. In this case, junk removal is the cheaper (and less back-breaking) option.

A kitchen or bathroom renovation, house addition, demolition project, or large deck removal job are projects where a dumpster may be the more economical solution. Having a dumpster on-site for bigger projects allows you to fill it up at your convenience and eliminates the need to have a junk removal company come out multiple times to remove debris.

Remember: Every project is different, so calling at least two dumpster rental and two junk removal companies to compare pricing is the best way to determine the most economical debris removal solution.

Real world examples of costs in various cities

Below are a few real world examples of costs around the country. It will help give you a general idea of what to expect when renting a dumpster or hiring a junk hauler. These are actual prices charged to customers by Hometown-approved service providers. Prices may vary in your case.

Junk removal

Dumpster rental (base price)

When dumpsters are cheaper than junk removal, and vice versa

Apples to apples, renting a dumpster is cheaper than hiring a junk removal service. This makes sense when you think about the added labor involved with junk removal. However, there are situations where a junk removal company may be the better choice.

1. Got large quantities of junk or debris: Dumpster
2. Got a few bulky items: Junk removal
3. When it needs to be cleaned up ASAP: Junk removal
4. When you want to load at your own pace or over a period of days: Dumpster
5. Physically unable to load the debris yourself: Junk removal