Garages, basements, and attics have a way of quietly filling up over the years until they stop being usable space at all. Clearing one out isn't priced by square footage or by the room — it comes down to how much stuff actually needs to leave. Here's what moves that number, and what the process actually looks like.
What actually drives the cost
We price cleanouts the same way we price everything else: by how much room the debris takes up in our trailer. A few things determine where a job lands in that range:
- Volume, not size. A small basement stuffed floor-to-ceiling can end up costing more than a big garage that's mostly empty.
- Item types. Furniture and appliances take up more trailer space than boxed items or loose junk.
- Access. Basement stairs, narrow doorways, or an attic accessible only by pull-down ladder all add time compared to a garage that opens straight to the driveway.
- Sorting needs. If everything's going, we move fast. If you want certain items set aside or donated, that adds a bit more time to be careful about it.
How the pricing actually works
Once everything's sorted and loaded, it's priced by how much space it takes up in the trailer — a full load is $800 and includes up to 3,000 lbs, every eighth of that is $100, and our minimum charge is $199. Most single-room cleanouts don't come close to filling a full trailer. A free walkthrough gets you an exact number before anything gets loaded.
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Clearing out a packed garage or basement yourself is doable, but a few things tend to catch people off guard:
- The physical toll. Hauling heavy boxes and furniture up basement stairs or through a tight attic hatch adds up fast, especially solo.
- Disposal logistics. Many transfer stations charge by weight and won't take certain items — old paint, propane tanks, or tires — without extra steps.
- Multiple trips. A packed garage rarely fits in one vehicle load, which usually means several trips back and forth.
- Decision fatigue. Sorting years of accumulated stuff is mentally exhausting on top of the physical work.
Hiring it out means one crew handles the sorting, loading, and haul-away in a single visit — donating what's usable along the way.
What the process looks like with us
- Free walkthrough. We take a look at the space, talk through what's staying and what's going, and give you a firm price upfront.
- Sorting as we go. You don't need to pre-sort anything — just point out what you want kept, and we'll work around it.
- Loading and hauling. Everything gets carried out, loaded, and hauled away in the same visit.
- Donation-first disposal. Usable furniture, tools, and household goods are donated whenever possible; everything else is disposed of responsibly.
Most cleanouts are booked within the week. For the full rundown of what's included, see our garage, basement & attic cleanout service page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a garage or basement cleanout cost?
It comes down to how much room everything takes up in the trailer — see the pricing breakdown above. A free walkthrough gets you an exact number.
Do I need to sort everything before you arrive?
No — set aside anything you want to keep beforehand if you'd like, but you don't have to pre-sort. We can sort as we go.
What happens to the stuff you haul away?
Usable items are donated whenever possible, and scrap metal is recycled. Everything else is disposed of responsibly.