Best Junk Removal Companies 2026: 7 Ranked by Price

We scored each company on five factors, weighted by what matters most to someone searching "best junk removal near me":

• •Price transparency (30%): Can you see the exact cost before booking? Or do you need an on-site estimate?
• •Actual cost (25%): What does the average job really cost, based on HomeGuide and Angi data?
• •Customer complaints (20%): BBB complaint volume and recurring issues on Reddit and Yelp
• •Availability (15%): How many cities? Same-day options?
• •Eco practices (10%): Recycling rates, donation partnerships, landfill diversion

Every price cited below comes from HomeGuide, Angi, Trustpilot, or BBB — not from the companies themselves.

For curbside items (furniture, mattresses, appliances already outside), Dropcurb is the cheapest national option at $79 flat for your first item. Add-ons cost $19–$39 each depending on size. A typical 3-item pickup runs about $137. No on-site estimate, no truck-fraction math — you see the total before you book. For full-service interior removal where a crew enters your home, local independent haulers are usually cheapest at $70–$350 per load according to HomeGuide. LoadUp offers instant online per-item pricing with a service fee plus per-item add-ons plus tax — visit goloadup.com for exact pricing in your area.

Dropcurb charges $79 flat for the first item with add-ons at $19 (small), $29 (standard), or $39 (large). The model is simple: you put your items at the curb, a local hauler picks them up. No crew enters your home. No on-site estimates. The price you see online is the price you pay. Dropcurb works because most junk removal jobs are curbside-ready items — old couches, mattresses, broken appliances. Sending a two-person crew in a branded truck for something already sitting outside is overkill. A solo hauler with a pickup truck handles it for a fraction of the cost.

• •Starting price: $79
• •Pricing model: per-item, upfront online
• •Coverage: expanding — check availability by zip code
• •Hidden fees: none
• •Best for: single items, furniture, mattresses, appliances already outside

LoadUp is the largest junk removal marketplace, connecting customers with 1,800+ independent hauler teams in all 50 states. You select items from a categorized list and see a guaranteed price instantly — no waiting for an on-site estimate. LoadUp uses a service fee plus per-item add-on pricing plus applicable tax. They offer both in-home and curbside pickup. LoadUp has received BBB complaints, with the most common issue being contractor no-shows — a challenge inherent to gig-economy platforms.

• •Pricing model: service fee + per-item add-on + tax, instant online
• •Coverage: all 50 states, 18,000+ cities
• •Same-day: yes, if booked before 12 PM
• •Best for: people who want instant online pricing and full-service interior removal

Junk King is a franchise operation with 100+ locations that claims a 60% recycling and donation rate — the highest of any national chain. They sort items after pickup and route reusable goods to local charities. Pricing is volume-based like the other franchise players. HomeGuide puts a half truckload at $389–$488 and a full truck at $589–$658. That makes Junk King slightly cheaper than 1-800-GOT-JUNK on average but still 2–5x the cost of curbside options. No prices are available online — you book a free on-site estimate.

• •Average job: $389–$658
• •Pricing model: truck volume, on-site estimate
• •Coverage: 100+ franchise locations
• •Hidden fees: none reported
• •Best for: large cleanouts where you care about recycling and landfill diversion

College Hunks is the only national franchise offering both junk removal and full-service moving under one brand. With 200+ locations, they are the second-largest franchise behind 1-800-GOT-JUNK. HomeGuide reports half-truckload pricing at $350–$500 and full truckloads at $600–$800+. The brand is recognizable (orange trucks, Shark Tank appearance), but franchise quality varies wildly. BBB complaints cite a hidden $99 dispatch fee that is not disclosed upfront. Their damage valuation policy pays just $0.60 per pound — meaning a broken 50-pound TV worth $900 gets you $30 in compensation.

• •Average job: $350–$800+
• •Pricing model: truck volume, on-site estimate
• •Coverage: 200+ franchise locations, 38+ states
• •Hidden fees: $99 dispatch fee reported in BBB complaints
• •Best for: people who also need moving services from the same company

1-800-GOT-JUNK is the most recognizable name in junk removal with 160+ franchise locations. Their crews show up in branded trucks, wear uniforms, and call 15–30 minutes before arrival. The service experience is polished. The price reflects it. HomeGuide puts a half truckload at $400–$600 and a full truck at $700–$1,000 — the most expensive of any national chain. There are no prices published online or by phone. You must schedule a free on-site estimate and wait for the crew to arrive before learning the cost. Franchise fees run 16–21% of revenue, creating a structural price floor that smaller operators can undercut by 30–70%.

• •Average job: ~$240 (Angi national avg), up to $1,000 for full truck
• •Pricing model: truck volume, on-site estimate only
• •Coverage: 160+ locations (US, Canada, Australia)
• •Hidden fees: none, but on-site quote often exceeds expectations
• •Best for: people who prioritize brand trust and same-day service over price

Junkluggers positions itself as the eco-friendly alternative, partnering with local charities to donate reusable items instead of landfilling them. They operate 30+ franchise locations primarily on the East Coast and in major metros. Pricing is volume-based with on-site estimates — expect $200–$600+ depending on the load. Junkluggers scores well on Yelp in major metros but coverage is limited compared to 1-800-GOT-JUNK or College Hunks.

• •Average job: $200–$600+
• •Pricing model: truck volume, on-site estimate
• •Coverage: 30+ franchise locations, primarily East Coast
• •Hidden fees: none reported
• •Best for: people who want items donated rather than trashed

Local operators found on Craigslist, Nextdoor, Facebook, Thumbtack, or Yelp typically charge $70–$350 per load according to HomeGuide. That is 30–70% cheaper than franchise operations. The tradeoff: no standardized pricing, inconsistent insurance coverage, and no recourse if something goes wrong. Reddit threads about junk removal consistently recommend local independents for large jobs where negotiation saves hundreds. For a single couch or mattress, the hassle of finding, vetting, and scheduling a local hauler often is not worth the savings over a flat-rate service like Dropcurb.

• •Average job: $70–$350
• •Pricing model: varies — some per item, some per load, most negotiate
• •Coverage: hyper-local
• •Hidden fees: varies widely
• •Best for: large jobs where you want to negotiate, repeat customers with a trusted hauler

It depends on where your stuff is and how much you have.

• •Your items are already at the curb (couch, mattress, appliance): Dropcurb at $79. No reason to pay $240+ for a two-person crew to pick up something already outside.
• •You need someone to enter your home and carry items out: LoadUp for transparent per-item pricing, or 1-800-GOT-JUNK if you want same-day service and trust the brand.
• •You have a large cleanout (full room, garage, estate): Get on-site estimates from Junk King and a local independent. Compare the two — franchise pricing for large jobs is often 2–3x what a local charges.
• •You care about recycling and donation: Junk King (60% recycling rate) or Junkluggers (donation partnerships). Both are more expensive but divert more from landfills.
• •You also need moving services: College Hunks is the only national option that bundles junk removal and moving.

Top SERP competitors frequently monetize rankings through affiliate payouts, so use a quick credibility check. If a list does not show real price ranges, complaint patterns, and clear tradeoffs, it is likely optimized for commissions, not decision quality. Prioritize sources that disclose method, cite public pricing evidence, and explain who should not buy each option.

Current top-ranking pages from Move.org, This Old House, and U.S. News are useful for broad brand discovery, but they rarely provide side-by-side all-in price certainty for small jobs. Most emphasize service breadth and editorial methodology, not quote risk for one to three items. That creates a gap for buyers who care about exact pre-book pricing and same-day curbside speed. If that is your use case, compare fixed-price curbside first, then use full-service rankings as a secondary filter.

Most SERP pages rank brands generally, but buyers choose by job type. Use this quick picker: single curbside item or two, fixed-price curbside is usually best. Multi-room interior cleanout, compare two full-service volume quotes. Donation-first goal, prioritize providers with documented diversion workflows. For related deep dives, see [1-800-GOT-JUNK prices](/blog/1800-got-junk-prices), [LoadUp pricing](/blog/loadup-prices-2026), and [Junk King reviews](/blog/junk-king-reviews-2026).

Pages currently ranking in the top results (Move.org, U.S. News, and moveBuddha) usually organize decisions around service model first, not brand first. Use the same framework: choose curbside vs in-home labor, then choose fixed-price vs on-site estimate, then compare speed. This avoids overpaying for capabilities you do not need. For example, if items are already outside and you care about quote certainty, fixed-price curbside usually wins. If items are upstairs and you need carry-out, in-home full-service is often worth the premium. Mapping your job to the service model before brand shopping is the fastest way to narrow seven options to two practical finalists.