How Much Does Junk RemovalCost in Chicago?
How Much Does Junk RemovalCost in Chicago?
A straight answer, with real numbers. Junk removal in Chicago is priced two ways — a flat fee per item or a flat fee for how much of the truck you fill — with a $75 minimum. Both are quoted from a photo before you book, so there's no hourly meter, no stair surcharge, and no surprise transfer-station fee. Below is the full 2026 price list, what moves the number, and how it compares to 311 bulk pickup or hauling it yourself.
The short answer
Most single-item jobs in Chicago land between $75 and about $250. A typical few-items pickup (a couch, a mattress and a dresser) is usually $300–$500. A full apartment or basement cleanout is priced by the truckload, from $241 for a quarter-truck to $732 for a full 16-cubic-yard truck, with bigger homes running multiple trucks at the same flat per-truck rate. The exact number always comes from a photo or video up front.
The two ways junk removal is priced in Chicago
Best for a known list — a couch, a fridge, a Peloton. Each item has a set price (tables below). Send a photo, get the total, done.
Best for cleanouts and mixed loads. You pay for the fraction of our 16-cubic-yard truck the load fills — from 1/4 to full.
Whichever way it's priced, you're quoted before booking. No hourly clock, no stair fee, no "we'll see at the dump."
Truck-load pricing (for cleanouts & mixed loads)
Our truck holds 16 cubic yards (about 107 standard bags). You pick the fill fraction; the price scales with it.
| How full | Approx. volume | Roughly | Flat price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 truck | 4 cu yd (~27 bags) | One room / small basement | $241 |
| 3/8 truck | 6 cu yd (~40 bags) | Studio | $338 |
| 1/2 truck | 8 cu yd (~53 bags) | 1-bed apartment | $431 |
| 5/8 truck | 10 cu yd (~67 bags) | Large 1-bed | $513 |
| 3/4 truck | 12 cu yd (~80 bags) | 2-bed apartment | $587 |
| 7/8 truck | 14 cu yd (~93 bags) | Large 2-bed | $661 |
| Full truck | 16 cu yd (~107 bags) | 2–3 bed furnished | $732 |
What drives the price in Chicago
- Size & weight of the item — a loveseat ($95) is less than a full sofa ($126) is less than a 4-piece sectional ($228). A mini-fridge ($115) is less than a full refrigerator ($164).
- Refrigerant appliances — fridges, freezers and ACs carry a small premium because the coolant must be handled to EPA standards before the metal is recycled.
- TVs & electronics — Illinois bans electronics from the landfill, so TVs, monitors and computers are priced to cover certified recycling.
- Mattresses — priced to cover recycling where possible rather than dumping.
- Quantity — the more you put in one pickup, the lower the effective cost per piece, because the truck trip is shared.
- What it is NOT priced on: the floor you're on, the number of stairs, or whether the building wants a Certificate of Insurance. Those are all included.
Chicago price list — sofas & seating
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Sofa / couch | $126 |
| Loveseat | $95 |
| Recliner | $98 |
| Sleeper sofa | $149 |
| Sectional — 2 piece | $141 |
| Sectional — 3 piece | $185 |
| Sectional — 4 piece | $228 |
| Armchair | $77 |
| Futon | $103 |
| Office chair | $61 |
Tables & bedroom
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Coffee table | $62 |
| Dining table — small | $129 |
| Dining table — large | $129 |
| Twin mattress | $82 |
| Queen mattress | $103 |
| King mattress | $114 |
| Box spring | $92 |
| Dresser | $126 |
| Bed frame | $68 |
| Bunk bed | $123 |
Appliances
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | $164 |
| Refrigerator — large | $183 |
| Mini fridge | $115 |
| Washer | $133 |
| Dryer | $128 |
| Dishwasher | $109 |
| Chest freezer | $146 |
| Water heater | $131 |
| Window AC | $79 |
Electronics & fitness
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| TV — small (under 32") | $62 |
| TV — medium (32–55") | $68 |
| TV — large / CRT / projection | $73 |
| Monitor | $58 |
| Desktop computer | $62 |
| Treadmill | $115 |
| Peloton | $80 |
| Elliptical | $97 |
| Home gym | $143 |
Specialty & heavy items
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Upright piano | $290 |
| Grand piano | $438 |
| Pool table | $603 |
| Hot tub | $322 |
| Safe — small | $100 |
| Bathtub — cast iron | $185 |
| Toilet | $64 |
| Set of tires | $87 |
Bags, boxes, debris & storage units
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Single trash bag | $35 |
| 10 bags | $132 |
| 20 bags | $259 |
| Loose pile — small | $82 |
| Loose pile — large | $208 |
| Construction debris (per cubic yard) | $120 |
| Storage unit 5×10 | $360 |
| Storage unit 10×10 | $531 |
| Storage unit 10×20 | $1066 |
Cost by type of job
| Job | Typical Chicago cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single item (chair, TV, small table) | $75–$110 | At or near the $75 minimum |
| Couch or mattress | $95–$149 | Loveseat to sleeper sofa / twin to king |
| Large appliance | $109–$183 | Dishwasher to large fridge |
| A few items together | $300–$500 | e.g. couch + mattress + dresser |
| One-room / basement cleanout | $241–$431 | 1/4–1/2 truck |
| Apartment cleanout | $431–$732 | 1/2 to full truck |
| Estate / whole-home cleanout | $732+ (multi-truck) | Same flat rate per truck |
How flat-rate removal compares in Chicago
| Option | Cost | Speed | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| City bulk pickup (311) | Free (limited) | Days–weeks | A few items per request; you haul each piece out to the alley yourself; won't enter a building, and it sits out there for days |
| Haul it yourself | Truck rental + transfer-station fee + your day | Slow | You carry it down the back stairs and pay disposal; nothing donated |
| JunkRabbit flat rate | Photo-quoted, $75 min | Same day if there's room | None — we carry it out, handle the COI, and donate or recycle |
Chicago-specific cost factors (that we don't charge extra for)
- No-elevator three-flats — the three-floor carry and the wooden back-porch stairs are included; there's no per-flight fee.
- Basements — the spare fridge or the home gym carried up from the basement is part of the job, no surcharge.
- River North & South Loop towers — we provide the Certificate of Insurance the same day and book the freight elevator at no charge.
- Greystone & bungalow access — a top-floor walk-up costs the same as the ground floor.
How to get your exact price
A photo or short video of the item or the room. That's all we need.
An exact flat price back in seconds — per item or by truck fraction. No estimate visit.
Same-day is often available across the city and suburbs.
Get your Chicago junk removal price
Free, no signup — exact flat quote from a photo
Upload a Photo & Get Your Price →Frequently asked: Chicago junk removal cost
How much does junk removal cost in Chicago?
Most single items are $75–$250 (with a $75 minimum); cleanouts run $241 for a quarter-truck to $732 for a full truck. You get the exact flat price from a photo before booking.
How much to remove a couch in Chicago?
A standard couch is $126, a loveseat $95, a 3-piece sectional $185 — including the carry down the stairs and disposal or donation.
Do you charge by the hour?
No. It's a flat price per item or per truck fraction, quoted up front.
Any surcharge for a high floor or stairs?
No. The carry, stairs, COI, and freight elevator are all included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does junk removal cost in Chicago?
Most single-item pickups in Chicago run between $75 and about $250, with a $75 minimum. Pricing is either flat per item (a couch is $126, a mattress $103, a refrigerator $164) or by how much of the truck you fill (1/4 truck $241, half $431, full truck $732). You get an exact flat price from a photo before booking — no hourly meter, no stair surcharge, and no surprise transfer-station fees.
How much does it cost to remove a couch in Chicago?
A standard couch is a flat $126 in Chicago, a loveseat $95, and a 3-piece sectional $185. That price includes the carry down a no-elevator three-flat plus disposal or donation — there is no surcharge for a top floor or stairs.
Do you charge by the hour or by volume?
Neither hourly nor by guesswork. You pay a flat price per item, or a flat price for the fraction of the truck your load fills. Both are quoted up front from a photo, so the number you are told is the number you pay.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes — the minimum order in Chicago is $75. A single small item is billed at the minimum; larger items and loads are priced from the tables below.
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