Mobile Home Removal Cost: What Demolition Actually Costs [2026]
Mobile home removal costs $3,000 to $8,000 for a single-wide and $5,000 to $15,000 for a double-wide, including demolition and debris disposal. Free removal is possible through donation to nonprofits or listing on Craigslist. Dropcurb handles post-demo debris pickup starting at $79.
How Much Does Mobile Home Removal Cost?
Mobile home removal costs depend on whether you demolish in place, move the home whole, or find someone to take it for free.
Demolition and disposal is the most common approach. Hometown Demolition reports average costs of $3,000 to $5,000 for single-wide and $5,000 to $8,000 for double-wide mobile homes. DemoPatrol quotes higher at $4,500 to $8,500 for single-wide and $8,500 to $15,000 for double-wide units.
Moving a mobile home to a new location costs $3,000 to $8,000 for a single-wide or $10,000 to $13,000 for a double-wide, according to Banyan Mobile Home Removal. Moving costs depend heavily on distance — local moves under 50 miles are cheapest while cross-state transport can exceed $15,000.
Free removal through donation is possible if the home is in habitable condition. Nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and regional organizations will remove the home at no cost and provide a tax-deductible receipt. Reddit users also recommend listing free mobile homes on Facebook Marketplace — people will come disassemble and haul them for the scrap metal and salvageable materials.
| Method | Single-Wide Cost | Double-Wide Cost | Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional demolition | $3,000–$8,500 | $5,000–$15,000 | 1–3 days | Home beyond repair, want site cleared |
| Move to new location | $3,000–$8,000 | $10,000–$13,000 | 1–5 days | Home in decent shape, new site available |
| Donate to nonprofit | Free | Free | 2–6 weeks | Habitable home, want tax deduction |
| List free on Marketplace | Free | Free | 1–4 weeks | Any condition, willing to wait |
| Self-demolish + Dropcurb | $500–$2,000 + $79/load | $1,500–$4,000 + $79/load | 1–2 weekends | Handy DIYer, maximum savings |
What's Included in Mobile Home Demolition Cost?
A professional mobile home demolition typically includes five phases, each adding to the total cost.
Permits and inspections run $100 to $350. Most municipalities require a demolition permit before work begins. You may need to provide proof of ownership, a site plan, and environmental documentation. Some areas require neighbor notification 7 to 14 days before demolition.
Asbestos testing adds $500 to $700. Homes built before 2004 may contain asbestos in floor tiles, siding, insulation, or ceiling texture. Most landfills require an asbestos survey before accepting mobile home debris. Homes built before 1976 have the highest risk and almost always require testing. If asbestos is found, abatement adds $2,000 to $5,000 to your total.
Utility disconnection is usually free but takes time. Electric, gas, water, and sewer must be disconnected 48 to 72 hours before demolition. Contact each utility provider separately — most disconnect for free but some charge $50 to $150.
Demolition labor is the largest cost. A crew of 2 to 4 workers with an excavator can demolish a single-wide in one day. Double-wides take 2 to 3 days. Labor accounts for 40% to 60% of the total cost.
Hauling and disposal complete the project. A single-wide mobile home produces 10 to 15 tons of debris. Landfill disposal runs $40 to $80 per ton, or $400 to $1,200 total. Recycling reduces costs since steel frames, aluminum siding, and copper wiring have scrap value.
Mobile Home Removal Cost by Size
These estimates include demolition, hauling, and basic site cleanup. Permits and asbestos testing are additional.
| Home Type | Typical Size | Demolition Cost | Disposal Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-wide (small) | 12×40 (480 sq ft) | $2,000–$3,500 | $400–$800 | $2,400–$4,300 |
| Single-wide (standard) | 14×70 (980 sq ft) | $3,000–$5,000 | $600–$1,000 | $3,600–$6,000 |
| Single-wide (large) | 16×80 (1,280 sq ft) | $4,000–$6,500 | $800–$1,200 | $4,800–$7,700 |
| Double-wide | 24×60 (1,440 sq ft) | $5,000–$8,000 | $1,000–$1,800 | $6,000–$9,800 |
| Double-wide (large) | 28×70 (1,960 sq ft) | $7,000–$12,000 | $1,200–$2,500 | $8,200–$14,500 |
Handling the demolition yourself? Dropcurb picks up mobile home debris curbside — metal, lumber, fixtures. Starting at $79 per load.
Get Instant Pricing →How to Get a Mobile Home Removed for Free
Free mobile home removal is realistic if the home is in decent condition or has good scrap value.
Donate to a nonprofit. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Banyan Mobile Home Removal, and regional housing nonprofits will remove habitable mobile homes for free. You receive a tax deduction based on fair market value. The home must be structurally sound, free of mold and pest damage, and movable on its original frame.
List free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Post "free mobile home — must move" and specify a deadline. People looking for affordable housing, hunting cabins, or scrap metal will come disassemble and haul it. Set clear terms: they must remove the entire structure including skirting and piers by a specific date.
Sell the scrap metal. A single-wide mobile home frame contains 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of steel plus aluminum siding, copper wiring, and other metals. At current scrap prices, the metal value runs $200 to $800. Some scrap yards will send a crew to cut and haul the frame for free if they keep the metal.
Contact your county or city. Some municipalities offer free or subsidized mobile home removal for properties with code violations or blight. Check with your local code enforcement or community development office.
How Mobile Home Demolition Works
- 1
Get asbestos testing
Hire a certified inspector to test for asbestos if the home was built before 2004. Testing costs $500 to $700. If asbestos is found, a licensed abatement team must remove it before demolition.
- 2
Pull permits
Apply for a demolition permit from your local building department. Provide proof of ownership, site plan, and asbestos test results. Permits cost $100 to $350 and take 1 to 2 weeks to process.
- 3
Disconnect utilities
Contact electric, gas, water, and sewer providers to schedule disconnection. Allow 48 to 72 hours before demolition begins. Get written confirmation of disconnection.
- 4
Salvage valuable items
Before demolition, remove appliances, fixtures, cabinets, doors, and windows for reuse or sale. HVAC units, water heaters, and copper plumbing have resale value.
- 5
Demolish and separate debris
The crew uses an excavator to tear down the structure. Materials are separated on-site: metal framing goes to scrap, wood and drywall to landfill, and recyclables are sorted.
- 6
Haul debris and grade site
Debris is loaded into roll-off containers and hauled to the landfill or recycling facility. The site is graded to prevent water pooling. Final cleanup of small debris can be handled by Dropcurb for $79.
Is It Worth Scrapping a Mobile Home?
Scrapping a mobile home yourself can offset 10% to 25% of demolition costs through scrap metal value. A single-wide frame yields $200 to $800 in scrap steel. Copper wiring adds $50 to $150, and aluminum siding adds $100 to $300.
However, self-scrapping requires equipment (reciprocating saw, torch, trailer) and several weekends of labor. For most homeowners, the labor investment outweighs the scrap value. The better approach is to negotiate scrap credit with your demolition contractor — many will reduce their quote by $500 to $1,000 if they keep the metal.
If the home has value beyond scrap — working appliances, good siding, usable windows — selling individual components before demolition can recover $1,000 to $3,000. List components on Facebook Marketplace a month before your scheduled demolition date.
Post-demolition debris cluttering your property? Dropcurb hauls away what the demo crew missed — starting at $79.
Book Debris Pickup →Frequently asked questions
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