The pricing, by unit size
| The clear | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Studio's worth — quarter truck | $241 |
| Bigger studio / small 1-bed — three-eighths | $338 |
| Typical 1-bed — half truck | $431 |
| Furnished 2-bed — full 16-cu-yd truck | $732 |
| Bigger units | Additional trucks at the same flat rates |
$100 minimum. Loading from every room, the stairs-or-elevator logistics, donation sorting and disposal included. Partial clears price by piece instead (sofa $126, queen mattress $103, dresser $126) — the photo decides which math is cheaper.
The Chicago specifics that shape the job
- May 1 and October 1. The city's two lease-flip waves — book a few days ahead in those weeks; the rest of the year, same-day by 4 PM usually works.
- The back staircase. Two-flats and courtyard buildings move everything down the back — tight turns, winter salt, the occasional 180° landing. It's included, never a surcharge.
- High-rise protocol. Freight elevator reservations and building COIs handled with your management office, same-day and free.
- The deposit file. Itemized receipts on every clear; landlords get per-unit photos and single invoices for turnover blocks.
Why not the free route for a whole unit?
Even for black-cart buildings, a whole-apartment clear defeats the 311 bulky system: everything carried to the alley by you, ward timing that ignores your lease date, and the excluded streams (electronics, anything from a bigger building) still unhandled. The free route is for items; lease deadlines are for trucks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apartment cleanout cost in Chicago?
Flat by truck fill: a quarter truck at $241 clears a studio's worth, three-eighths $338, half truck $431 for a typical 1-bed, and a full 16-cubic-yard truck at $732 handles a furnished 2-bed — bigger units run additional trucks at the same flat rates. The carry (back stairs or freight elevator), disposal, and donation routing are included, and the photo-based quote locks the number before you book. $100 minimum.
When should I book a cleanout around Chicago's lease dates?
Chicago's rental market moves heavily on May 1 and October 1 — the two turnover waves where windows book fastest. A few days' lead locks your slot in those weeks; the rest of the year, same-day is often available booked by 4 PM. Book against the walkthrough, not moving day — the clear should land after the boxes leave and before the keys go back.
Do you handle high-rise and doorman buildings in Chicago?
Yes — freight-elevator reservations and building COIs (Certificates of Insurance) are part of the job, issued same-day at no charge to your management office. In walk-ups it's the back-staircase carry instead. Either building type, same flat truck-fill prices.
What about stuff a previous tenant or roommate left?
Left-behinds clear at the same flat rates — a single abandoned room is typically a quarter truck at $241 — with itemized receipts that document the removal for deposit files. Landlords turning over units get per-unit photos and one invoice for multi-unit blocks.