The steps
- 1. Pick your hauling setup
A box truck or a dump trailer behind a pickup. Measure the cubic yards - you will price by the fraction of that box a job fills.
- 2. Know your dump costs
Call local landfills and transfer stations for per-ton rates and minimums. US average MSW landfill fee: $56.80/ton (EREF, 2023).
- 3. Price by volume
Build prices per 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full load from labor, truck time and dump fees with the junk removal pricing calculator.
- 4. Hire and insure
BLS May 2025 median for hand laborers/material movers: $19.35/hr before payroll taxes and workers’ comp. Get general liability and commercial auto coverage.
- 5. Set up booking and invoicing
General field-service tools publish prices: Jobber from $49/mo (1 user, monthly billing), Housecall Pro from $79/mo. See junk removal software.
- 6. Market locally
Google Business Profile, realtors and property managers (cleanouts), and before/after photos.
- 7. Add roll-offs when cleanouts outgrow the truck
Whole-house and estate jobs often fit a 20-yard dumpster better. See how to start a dumpster rental business.
- Founding price: $99/mo flat, up to 3 trucks
- Your $49 deposit counts toward your first month
- Confirmation emailed to you after purchase
Your founding-member confirmation is emailed to you after purchase. Your $49 counts toward your first month and is fully refundable any time before you start. Refund policy
What customers pay (2026 benchmarks)
| Job | Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Small load | $84 - $222 | $138 |
| Medium load | $214 - $587 | $390 |
| Large load | $919 - $3,919 | $1,889 |
| Typical job | $114 - $843 | $249 |
Where the margin goes
- Labor hours: a 2-person crew for 2 hours is 4 paid hours before drive time.
- Dump fees: loose household junk weighs ~250-300 lbs per cubic yard (EPA), so a 15-yard full load is about 2 tons - roughly $117 at $56.80/ton. Construction debris (417 lbs/cu yd) is heavier.
- Drive time: zone your service area and charge a trip minimum.
Running junk and roll-offs?
RollOffDesk is being built to put crew jobs and dumpster rentals on one board. Founding price $99/mo.
- Founding price: $99/mo flat, up to 3 trucks
- Your $49 deposit counts toward your first month
- Confirmation emailed to you after purchase
Your founding-member confirmation is emailed to you after purchase. Your $49 counts toward your first month and is fully refundable any time before you start. Refund policy
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a junk removal business?
Mostly the truck or dump trailer. If you own a capable pickup, a trailer, insurance, basic tools and marketing keep the start small; a box truck raises it. Labor and dump fees are ongoing costs.
How much do junk removal businesses charge?
A typical 2026 job averages about $249; small loads $84-$222, medium $214-$587, large $919-$3,919 (homeyou).
Is junk removal profitable?
It can be when prices are built from labor, drive time and dump fees with a minimum charge. Heavy debris priced by volume is the classic margin leak.
Sources
- homeyou - Junk removal cost (updated Jul 23, 2026) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- EREF - Analysis of MSW Landfill Tipping Fees (2023 data) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- BLS OEWS May 2025 - Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (53-7062) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Jobber - Pricing (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Housecall Pro - Pricing (accessed 2026-09-23)
- US EPA - Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors for Solid Waste (April 2016) (accessed 2026-09-23)