Price a Junk Removal Job
The load
Your costs & rates
Quote from photos, book the pickup
Junk removal companies use field service apps to send quotes, book pickup windows, dispatch the truck and take payment on site.
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How this price is built
- Volume = truck capacity × the share of the truck the job fills.
- Dump fee = volume × weight per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 × the fee per ton, never less than the dump's minimum.
- Crew time = volume × loading minutes per cubic yard + drive and dump-run minutes.
- Price = crew hours × your rate per crew hour + dump fee + special item fees, never less than your minimum.
Weight is the number most likely to be off. A truckload of furniture and a truckload of roofing shingles can differ by several tons at the scale. Ask what's in the load and adjust the weight before you quote.
How Much to Charge for Junk Removal
Most junk removal companies price by volume: a share of the truck, such as a quarter or half load. It's easy for customers to understand and quick to quote from photos. Behind that price you need three numbers: the time your crew and truck spend on the job, what the dump will charge, and what special items cost to dispose of.
Volume Pricing Starts With Your Truck
Know your truck's capacity in cubic yards and set prices for common fractions of it. The calculator shows the price per cubic yard so you can build a simple price sheet for 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full loads.
Dump Fees Depend on Weight
Transfer stations and landfills usually charge by the ton, often with a minimum. Light household junk barely moves the scale; concrete, dirt, shingles and wet debris are heavy. Charge more, or price by weight, for heavy loads so dump fees don't eat your margin.
Special Items
Mattresses, tires, refrigerators with refrigerant and electronics often carry extra disposal or recycling fees. Price them per item and list them separately on the quote.
Labor and Access
Stairs, long carries from a back room, tear-out work and tight access all slow loading down. Raise the loading minutes for those jobs, or add a labor charge, rather than absorbing the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Price by the share of the truck the job fills. Add your crew and truck time, the dump fee for the load's weight and any special item fees, then check the total against your minimum. This calculator does the math from your own numbers.
Work out your price for a full load from crew time, truck costs and an average dump fee, then set prices for common fractions such as 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4. Adjust for heavy materials, which cost more at the dump.
Most dumps charge by weight with a minimum. Heavy loads like concrete, dirt and shingles can cost far more to dispose of than furniture of the same volume, so price heavy debris separately.
Many junk removal businesses charge per item for mattresses, tires and appliances because they carry extra disposal or recycling fees. List them separately on the quote.
