Best Junk Removal Services

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Why We Chose It: College Hunks offers junk removal in addition to other services, such as moving or donation pickup, that consumers tend to need at the same time, making it an easy (and affordable) one-stop vendor.

Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman were just two college buddies looking to make some cash when they started College Hunks in Tampa, Florida, in 2005. Now, the junk removal and moving company has more than 150 franchise locations around the United States, offering a slate of moving, donation pickup, and labor services in addition to hauling junk.

To arrange junk removal with College Hunks, book online or by phone—in many cases, the company can cater to same- and next-day needs. Thirty minutes before your appointment, representatives will call to confirm the appointment and let you know they’re on the way. Once the team is on-site, they’ll assess your junk and give an estimate on the cost to haul it away. Pricing is based primarily on how much truck space your stuff will require, with rates that vary by region and location, so it can be hard to get an accurate estimate virtually. If the quote—which will include gas, labor, dropoff, and cleanup—doesn’t fit your budget, you’re under no obligation to use the service.

Thanks to partnerships with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill, about 70 percent of the material that College Hunks removes is donated or recycled, and any items that can’t be salvaged are always discarded responsibly. But College Hunks’ social responsibility goes beyond its responsible business practices: For each job, the company donates two meals to children in need.

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Why We Chose It: While LoadUp offers a full range of junk removal services, the company distinguishes itself by offering smart prices on smaller loads or single items with its upfront, no-haggle pricing structure.

LoadUp CEO Greg Workman was working in sales at a waste management company when he noticed a common problem: People had no idea who to call to take their old mattresses. Waste management companies like his then-employer wouldn’t take them, and most junk removal companies didn’t offer a price structure that made sense for a one-item job. So he started LoadUp, a no-hassle junk removal company that handles hauls big and small.

To use LoadUp, enter your zip code before selecting one of two options: “I have exact items I would like removed,” or “I have non-specific items or a large cleanout.” If you choose to have exact items removed, LoadUp guides you to a page where you can select from the most common items the company picks up—mattresses, box springs, treadmills, and dressers—or type your own unique answer before selecting a time slot. For these single items, LoadUp gives you a price immediately—and offers a discount if you opt to have its team pick up at the curb rather than inside your home.

Should you be looking for help with a larger cleanout, LoadUp will collect your contact information and preferred time slot and then follow up for photos and more information to offer an accurate, upfront quote before sending a truck out for the pickup. Regardless of load size, LoadUp schedules its appointments in four-hour windows. LoadUp serves 170 cities in 49 states, and the company’s reviewers praise its timeliness and affordability.

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Why We Chose It: Junk King offers affordable, hassle-free waste removal with an eye on sustainability and the option to receive estimates virtually—plus, the company will beat any written offer.

Founded in California in 2005, Junk King has incorporated eco-friendly practices into its business model since day one. Sixty percent of the debris and waste that the company hauls is donated or recycled, with particular expertise in properly handling electronic waste. Billing itself as “America’s Greenest Junk Removal Service,” the San Carlos-based company has expanded to more than 100 locations around the United States and has even ventured into Canada with sister business Junk Works. But Junk King’s pricing policies are what really sets it apart, and getting in touch with Junk King for an estimate is easy.

Start by reaching out online, calling the company’s toll-free number, arranging for an on-site estimate, or even texting a photo of the waste you need collected. Junk King will provide you with a written estimate before you commit to any services, with a guarantee to beat any other written estimate you receive from a competitor. The company’s trucks are 20 percent larger than most, so while the cost per job is still dependent on how much space the junk needs, Junk King is often able to offer a more affordable price than its competitors. When the job is finished, Junk King will sweep up any debris left behind.

If you're weighing waste disposal as a small part of a bigger project, Junk King may be able to help with more than haul-away, too. The company also offers light demolition, self-service dumpsters, and more.

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Why We Chose It: This recognizable name in junk removal offers around-the-clock customer service, with top reviews for on-time appointments and easy assistance.

The “world’s largest junk removal service” is also one of the easiest to use, with a customer service line that's staffed 24/7 and a commitment to hauling “almost anything that two people can lift!” To book an appointment, enter your ZIP code for availability in your area—the Canada-based company has more than 150 locations, with franchisees in the U.S. and Australia as well. Then give a brief description of the items you’d like to remove before selecting a time on the calendar. Got Junk books its pickups in two-hour time increments, and your representatives will always call 15–30 minutes before they arrive.

Got Junk charges based on how much truck space you use, so the company can’t guarantee a price until its team arrives and sees what it will be hauling away. Still, once you do receive an on-site estimate, that number won’t budge: It includes the labor to remove the unwanted items, the truck ride to the dump, any dump fees, and a sweep of your area for dirt and debris after the junk has been removed.

Once any waste leaves your home, Got Junk is committed to recycling and donating items whenever possible, but the company makes no specific claims about what percentage of any hauls will go to landfills vs. more sustainable options. If you’re curious about where different items may end up, consult the company’s recycling page for more information.

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Why We Chose It: The best choice for customers hoping to avoid sending items to landfills, Junkluggers incorporates an eco-friendly mission into all parts of its business model.

The Junkluggers was founded with a mission to send less waste to landfills—an unexpected mission for a junk removal company, but one that makes sense when you consider the part played by recycling or donating. Since The Junkluggers was founded in 2004, the company has helped save unwanted items by partnering with local nonprofits. What can’t be reused is either recycled or disposed of in a way that makes as little impact on the Earth as possible—the company has stated that it aims to eliminate landfills from its business model altogether by 2025.

To book a job with The Junkluggers, share your address, contact information, and junk needs in an online form or by phone. The company will schedule you into a two-hour window, and two “luggers” will call you about 15 minutes before they arrive. They’ll give a written price estimate upon arrival, and if it fits your budget, the team will get started on the job. Junkluggers charges by the amount of space your junk takes up in the truck—labor and all fees are included in the price—and you’ll never pay more than the original written estimate. (If The Junkluggers overestimates how much your junk removal will cost, however, it will always charge you the lower amount.) If any of your items are able to be donated, the company will follow up with your tax-deductible receipt.

The Junkluggers has franchises in 23 states, with each offering its own slate of services: junk removal, moving, estate cleanouts, and more, with availability largely dependent on location.