How Much to Charge for Junk Removal by Truckload
Junk removal is typically priced by the fraction of a standard 15-yard truck a job fills: an eighth-load runs $75–$125, a quarter-load $150–$225, a half-load $250–$350, and a full load $400–$600. Heavy or hazardous items — mattresses, appliances with refrigerant, tires — and difficult access like stairs or long carry distances are quoted as separate add-ons on top of the load price.
Price by truck fraction, not by item
Pricing item-by-item falls apart fast — a couch and a couch plus a mattress and three boxes are wildly different jobs to quote one at a time. The standard is pricing by how much of a 15-yard truck the job fills:
- Eighth load: $75–$125
- Quarter load: $150–$225
- Half load: $250–$350
- Full load: $400–$600
What gets added on top
The load-fraction price covers volume, not everything that makes a pile take longer to clear. Quote these separately:
- Heavy or hazardous items. Mattresses, appliances with refrigerant, and tires cost more to dispose of legally — pass that cost through as a line item, don’t absorb it.
- Stairs or long carry distances. A pile at the curb and the same pile in a third-floor walkup are not the same labor, even at the same volume.
- Disassembly. Furniture that has to be broken down to move adds real time before the truck part of the job even starts.
Quote from a photo, not a description
“A few things in the garage” and “a few things in the garage” can be a quarter-load or a full load — verbal descriptions are the single biggest source of underquoting in this trade. Ask for a photo before naming a price, or build a walk-through into the quote process itself.
Requote before you load, not after
If the pile is bigger than what was described, stop and requote before touching anything. Once it’s in the truck, you’ve lost your leverage to adjust the price and the conversation happens on the customer’s terms instead of yours.
Keep the load fraction on the invoice
List the load size and any surcharges as their own lines, the same way you quoted them. It’s the paper trail that backs you up if a customer questions the total later — and it’s the same number you’ll want on hand the next time they call.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate what fraction of a truck a job will fill?
Walk the pile before quoting when you can — most operators eyeball it against a mental picture of their own truck bed. For phone quotes, ask for a photo; guessing from a verbal description is how eighth-loads turn into quarter-loads on arrival.
Do I charge extra for appliances?
Yes, for anything with refrigerant (fridges, AC units, freezers) — those require certified disposal, which costs more than a standard dump fee. Charge the surcharge as its own line, not folded into the load price.
What if the load is bigger than quoted on arrival?
Requote before you load it, not after. Show the customer the difference between what was described and what's actually there, and get their OK on the new price before you start hauling.