4 Junk Removal Companies for When You Have Too Much Stuff

There is no time like a move to realize that you have way too much stuff in your house. It builds up almost imperceptibly over the years that you spend living in a home—the busted electronics you meant to get rid of but never did, the extra building materials you swore you’d find another use for, the old scratchy couch that you held on to because you weren’t sure what else to do with it. And then one day you’re packing up moving boxes and the time has come for you to really and truly deal with your unwanted items. So what’s your best solution? Junk removal companies.

All junk removal companies do things a little bit differently, but their general service model is the same: get your junk out of sight and out of mind. And when you’re in the process of moving, having someone else come and take care of such a major to do on your list can be a real lifesaver.

So what junk removal company should you go with? We’ve outlined what you need to know about each of the big national junk removal companies so that you can find one that works with your needs, your timeline, and your budget.

Junk Removal Companies: The Basics

Before we get in to our picks for the best junk removal companies, let’s talk about what makes for a good junk removal service.

When you’re researching companies, there are several considerations that you want to keep in mind:

  • Range of services. Some junk removal companies just pick up your junk; others offer additional services like moving assistance and donation pick-ups. Think about what your needs are and if it makes sense for you to get more than one of them met with just one company.
  • Reviews and referrals. Even national junk removal companies may differ in customer experience and satisfaction from location to location. Be sure to look up reviews for the specific location that you would be working with, and if possible, to get a direct referral from someone who has used a junk removal company in your area.
  • Environmental policies. Our junk and our planet are closely intertwined. Make sure that any junk removal company you hire has a strong and transparent commitment to following best environmental practices, including (but not limited to) practices that don’t just include indiscriminately dropping off all of your stuff at the dump.

All of these factors should work together when you’re looking for the best company to rid you of your unwanted belongings.

In terms of what exactly junk removal companies will take, the list is pretty extensive. It includes (but is not limited to):

  • Furniture
  • Appliances
  • Building materials
  • Electronics
  • Yard waste
  • Hot tubs
  • Mattresses

The general rule of thumb is that if they can carry it, they’ll take it, but if you need to move hazardous materials or anything else that might not qualify, be sure to call and ask first.

Junk Removal Pricing

Junk removal companies will pretty much always give you a good bang for your buck, at least in comparison to the cost of renting and hauling off a dumpster. Junk removal pricing is generally based on the amount of stuff that you have and the difficulty of the job. Expect heavy and/or bulky items to bump up the cost of service, as well as needing your junk removers to carry those items up or down stairs.

One other thing to note about cost of junk removal is that you likely won’t be able to get a set price prior to the day of service. That’s because, like other companies in the moving industry, junk removal companies can’t put a price tag on a job until they know exactly what it entails. You will, however, receive a general estimate when you book your appointment.

Our Picks for Junk Removal Companies

We’ve gotten through all of the basics, so now on to the good stuff. Here are four junk removal companies with proven experience getting the job done and getting it done right.

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

When you think junk removal, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? might be the first company that comes to mind. That’s because it’s the biggest (it operates throughout North America, as well as in Australia), and one of the original leaders in the junk removal field.

You won’t find any unique services offered by 1-800-GOT-JUNK?—just straightforward junk removal, plus a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. According to their environmental FAQ, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? strives to limit the amount of stuff that they drop off at the landfill. When possible, they’ll recycle or reuse items instead of tossing them, and many local franchises collaborate with charities like Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army to donate what they can.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? pricing: Expect to spend between $139 on the low end and $700 on the high end.

How to get a 1-800-GOT-JUNK? estimate: Go to the online booking page and check for availability in your area. Then enter in some specifics about your haul to get an estimate. Call 800-GOT-JUNK? (800-468-5865) if you have questions about pricing.

More information: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Junk King

You don’t get to call yourself the king of junk removal unless you’re going out of your way to offer something the other guys don’t. For Junk King, that dividing line is in their commitment to price transparency and doing their best to helping you budget your haul. The company offers free in-person estimates, and will also provide estimates based on pictures of your junk that you send over. And if you get a lower estimate from another company, they’ll beat it.

Junk King offers some other big benefits too, including eco-friendly practices (according to their website, they recycle up to 60% of every haul) with local sorting facilities that take on the task for you of figuring out what can be recycled or donated. It’s a big company too, with locations throughout the United States, so you should have no trouble finding a Junk King service provider near your home.

Junk King pricing: Junk King follows a pay-per-use model, meaning you’ll only have to pay for the volume of space your stuff takes up in the dumpster they bring along. So if you only use 50% of the dumpster, you’re not going to be paying for 100% of it. Expect to spend between $99 and $650, depending on the size of your haul.

How to get a Junk King estimate: Visit Junk King’s pricing estimator and fill in your information for an estimate. You can also give them a call at 888-888-JUNK (5865) and/or text a photo of the stuff you need removed to 737-888-5865.

More information: Junk-King.com.

LoadUp

With services areas in more than 172 U.S. towns and cities, chances are good that you can find a LoadUp location near you. Like other top junk removal companies, LoadUp is environmentally focused, but they also claim their prices are 20% to 30% lower than what you’ll find with their competitors. As an added bonus, you’ll get a GPS tracking link for your drivers on the day of service so that you can know exactly when they’re going to show up.

LoadUp pricing: Aside from saying they charge significantly less than everyone else, LoadUp doesn’t give many details on their price range online. For that, you’ll need to go to the next step….

How to get a LoadUp estimate: Visit LoadUp’s online booking page and enter in your zip code to ensure service capabilities. They have an easy interface from there that allows you to enter in each item you need picked up, with the price to do so and a running total so you can always see where you’re at.

More information: GoLoadUp.com.

College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving

There’s no actual guarantee that your hauler will be a “hunk,” but College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving does offer some other things you won’t find elsewhere; namely: full service moving in the event you want to combine that with your haul. They can also help you arrange short or long term storage for the items you intend to keep, which is particularly useful if you have some time in-between moves or if you’re getting junk removal during a home renovation.

According to College H.U.N.K.S., over 70% of the items they take go on to be recycled or donated. This includes electronics recycling, which can be hard to arrange on your own. They also do donation pick-ups, meaning you can hire them to pick up donation hauls much the same way you would Salvation Army or Goodwill.

College H.U.N.K.S. pricing: College H.U.N.K.S. uses two key criteria to determine your pricing: the amount of space your items take up in the truck and the location of your service. But you’ll need to get an estimate to know your exact fee range.

How to get a College H.U.N.K.S. estimate: Head here and enter your location to make sure they operate near you. Then give them some info on your job. If you have any questions or want to discuss your estimate more in-depth, call 833-626-1326.

Think of your move like an opportunity to get rid of all the things you’ve been holding on to that you no longer need, with a focus on the stuff that you should always toss before a relocation. You’ll have to sort things out your closets and cabinets, but once you’re done, junk removal companies make it easy to get everything off of your hands.

Resources

  • Best Junk Removal Companies
  • 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Review 2022
  • College HUNKS Hauling Junk Review
  • Junk King Review
  • LoadUp Junk Removal Review
  • Waste Management Dumpster Review