LoadUp Prices: What They Actually Charge in 2026 [Complete Breakdown]

LoadUp uses per-item pricing that varies by zip code. You enter your zip code on their website, select items from a menu, and get an instant quote. According to LoadUp's own cost guide, junk removal starts at $75 for a single item, with each additional item adding $10-$15. But those base prices don't tell the full story - a service area fee of $50-$80 gets added to every order, covering transportation, loading, and taxes. Move.org confirmed this fee range after requesting quotes in five different zip codes across the U.S.

Every LoadUp order includes a service area fee of $50-$80, according to Move.org's 2026 review. This fee covers transportation to your location, labor for loading items, and local taxes. It's baked into the final quote you see online, but it means a "$80 couch removal" actually costs $130-$160 when the service fee is included. LoadUp says their prices are "all-inclusive" and "guaranteed," which is technically true - the quote you see at checkout is the price you pay. But the service fee makes single-item pickups significantly more expensive than the advertised starting prices suggest.

LoadUp offers bundle discounts when you add items to the same order. Each additional item costs $10-$15 on top of your base item. According to Move.org, hauling a sofa, table, and fridge together costs less than the sum of removing each individually - because you only pay the service area fee once. A two-item pickup (say a couch and a mattress) typically runs $130-$200 total. A 5-item job might cost $250-$400 depending on item types and your zip code. For in-home removal jobs with many items, LoadUp's own website lists average costs of $241-$600.

LoadUp advertises "no hidden fees," and the online quote is guaranteed at checkout. But there are costs that catch customers off guard. The service area fee ($50-$80) is built into the quote but not obvious until you enter your zip code and see the total. The cancellation fee hits 20% if you cancel before your pickup day and 50% if you cancel on the day of service, per LoadUp's terms and conditions. Difficult access surcharges for narrow hallways, tight corners, and flights of stairs can increase the price, per LoadUp's cost guide. And the price varies by zip code, so the same couch removal can cost $80 in Atlanta and $100+ in San Francisco or Los Angeles. On Reddit's r/RealEstate, one customer reported that LoadUp changed their pickup window after booking, then charged a 20% cancellation fee when they could not accommodate the new time, a fee that was not disclosed during the original booking process.

Customer feedback on LoadUp pricing is mixed. Many appreciate the upfront online quotes - you know the price before you book, unlike 1-800-GOT-JUNK's on-site estimates. But complaints cluster around three issues. First, no-shows: the BBB profile for LoadUp (Alpharetta, GA headquarters) shows complaints from customers who prepaid and then had no one show up on the scheduled day. One 2026 complaint describes paying $164 upfront for a guaranteed August 8th pickup, then receiving no follow-up communication or service. Second, contractor quality: LoadUp uses independent contractor "Loaders," not employees. On Trustpilot, one customer warned against using the service after personal belongings went missing. On Glassdoor, a LoadUp Loader described earning $68 to move one electric couch - a job requiring 2 people for 1.5 hours, plus a $22 disposal fee, drive time, and insurance costs, netting below minimum wage. Third, the cancellation policy: the 20% pre-service and 50% same-day cancellation fees generate consistent complaints across Reddit, BBB, and review sites.

Dropcurb charges a flat $79 for your first item - any item. A couch, a mattress, a refrigerator, a treadmill: $79. Additional items cost $19 (small), $29 (standard), or $39 (large). There's no service area fee, no zip code variability, and no cancellation fee. The price you see is the price you pay, everywhere Dropcurb operates. For a single couch removal, LoadUp charges $80-$174 depending on your location (including the service area fee). Dropcurb charges $79. For a couch plus a mattress, LoadUp runs $130-$200. Dropcurb charges $108 ($79 + $29). The gap widens on specialty items - LoadUp charges $150+ for a treadmill and $350+ for a hot tub. Dropcurb handles treadmills at the same $79 starting price.

LoadUp's booking process has four steps:

LoadUp offers same-day removal if you book before 12pm, according to their website. Next-day pickup is also available in most markets. They operate in all 50 states across 18,000+ cities using a network of independent contractor "Loaders." Pickup windows are typically 4 hours - you'll get a narrower 1-hour ETA via text on the day of service. Dropcurb also offers same-week pickup with a guaranteed time slot and no requirement to book by a specific cutoff.

LoadUp is cheaper than 1-800-GOT-JUNK for most jobs. LoadUp's average order is roughly $143, compared to 1-800-GOT-JUNK's $240 average. LoadUp also gives you the price before you book - 1-800-GOT-JUNK requires an on-site estimate where the crew shows up, looks at your stuff, then names a price on the spot. But both are more expensive than Dropcurb for curbside items. If your junk is already outside or you can bring it to the curb, Dropcurb's $79 flat rate beats both.

LoadUp will match any written quote from a licensed, insured junk removal company for the same service. You need to provide the competitor's written quote, and LoadUp issues a promo code for the difference. This only applies to companies with proper licensing and insurance - so a random Craigslist hauler won't qualify. Dropcurb doesn't need a price match because the $79 flat rate is already lower than LoadUp's starting prices for most items.