Bulky Item Removal: How to Get Rid of Large Items [2026]

Three ways to remove bulky items at no cost:

City bulk pickup is the most common free option. Call 311 or visit your city's public works website to schedule. Most cities collect 2–5 bulky items per pickup. Kansas City residents schedule through 311 or (816) 513-1313. In San Mateo County, Recology offers 2 free bulky pickups per calendar year. Some cities like Washington County remove qualifying bulky items at no charge year-round.

The downside: wait times run 2–9 weeks depending on demand and your city's schedule. Some cities limit pickups to specific days or zones.

Give it away online for free on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Nextdoor. Mark items "free, you pick up" and place them outside. Furniture in decent condition usually gets claimed within 24–72 hours.

Donate to charity if items are in good condition. Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Goodwill offer free pickup for qualifying furniture and appliances. Scheduling typically takes 1–2 weeks.

A bulky item is anything too large or heavy to fit in your standard trash container. According to municipal waste guidelines, common bulky items include:

• •Furniture: Couches, sofas, recliners, tables, desks, bed frames, dressers, bookshelves
• •Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, futons
• •Appliances: Washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, water heaters
• •Exercise equipment: Treadmills, ellipticals, weight benches
• •Outdoor items: Grills, patio furniture, above-ground pool parts, swing sets
• •Electronics: Large TVs, computer monitors, printers

Most cities do NOT accept these as bulky waste: hazardous materials, tires (some cities accept 4 without rims), construction debris, car parts, or paint. These require separate disposal through specialized programs.

The minimum charge for professional bulky item removal depends on the company:

• •Dropcurb: $79 flat for curbside pickup of a single item. No truck fees, no service area surcharges. Pricing is visible online before you book.

• •LoadUp: Starts at $80 per item for full-service pickup from inside your home. Items priced individually with upfront online quotes. Service area fee of $50–$80 may apply.

• •1-800-GOT-JUNK: Minimum charge is typically $129–$150 for a 1/8 truckload. They require an on-site estimate and charge by truck volume. Average job costs $240.

• •College Hunks: Minimum around $99–$150 based on volume. Hidden $99 dispatch fee reported by some customers on BBB.

• •Local haulers: Independent operators charge $50–$150 minimum depending on your area. Check Yelp or Nextdoor for local options.

According to Angi, the average single-item junk removal costs $60–$150 nationally. HomeGuide reports the typical junk removal job (multiple items) costs $150–$350.

Every city handles bulky waste pickup differently. Here's how the process works in most cities:

Online: Most cities let you submit a bulk pickup request through their website or through the 311 app. You select the items, choose a date range, and get a confirmation with your pickup window.

By phone: Call 311 (or your city's public works number) Monday through Friday during business hours. Describe the items and number of pieces.

Limits to know: Most cities cap pickups at 2–5 items per request. St. Louis County allows 2 bulky items per month. Recology San Mateo offers 2 free pickups per calendar year. Some cities like Virginia Beach let you schedule online with no monthly limit but require 48-hour advance notice.

Preparation: Place items at the curb by 6 AM on your scheduled pickup day. Remove doors from appliances for safety. Some cities require you to separate recyclable metals from furniture.

What you'll pay for bulky item removal varies by city based on local programs and dump fees.

At the $99 price point, most companies include removal of 1–2 small to medium items like an end table, office chair, or small dresser. This is typically the minimum charge that covers a single trip to your location.

Here's what $99 buys you from different providers:

• •Dropcurb ($79): Curbside pickup of one large item — couch, mattress, dresser, appliance. You move it to the curb. Flat rate, no surprises. Actually $20 less than the $99 price point.

• •1-800-GOT-JUNK (~$129–$150 minimum): About 1/8 of their truck. They come inside, carry it out, and haul it away. The $99 price point is below their typical minimum.

• •LoadUp ($80–$120): One large item carried from inside your home. Online pricing before you book.

For the best value on a single bulky item, Dropcurb at $79 is the lowest professional option available — but you handle the curb placement yourself.