Volume
Most jobs are priced by how much space the junk takes up, in truck or dumpster loads. One room of boxes and a whole house are very different jobs.
Guide · Costs
What junk removal and cleanouts cost in Massachusetts, and how to pay less
Junk removal cost comes down to how much you’re getting rid of, how heavy it is, and what it costs to dispose of it here, where disposal fees run above national averages and many items can’t go in the trash. National cost guides give rough ranges, but the number that matters is a written estimate for your job.
The ballpark
What national cost guides report
Clearday doesn’t publish prices, but published survey data can give you a rough budget before you call anyone.
Angi’s cost guide, updated in July 2026, puts the average junk removal job at about $241, with bills from around $60 to $700 or more. HomeGuide’s cost guide (2024) says most homeowners spend $150 to $350 per load. These are national figures drawn from customer surveys and pros around the country. They are not Massachusetts quotes, and they are not our prices.
| What’s being priced | National range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small load (1/8 of a 20-yard truck) | $75–$125 | Angi, 2026 |
| Half a 20-yard truckload | $200–$400 | Angi, 2026 |
| Full 20-yard truckload | $600–$800 | Angi, 2026 |
| Mattress removal | $75–$150 | Angi, 2026 |
| Major appliance removal | $60–$250 | Angi, 2026 |
| Dumpster rental, one week | $294–$480 for most homeowners | Angi, 2026 |
| Dumpster overweight charge | $40–$200 per extra ton | Angi, 2026 |
| Dumpster permit | $10–$100 | Angi, 2026 |
Two cautions. National averages blend expensive and inexpensive parts of the country, and disposal is one of the costs that runs higher in Massachusetts. And a truckload price only means something if you know the size of the truck or dumpster behind it.
Cost drivers
What actually drives the price
Every junk removal estimate comes down to some mix of these.
Weight & heavy materials
Brick, concrete, stone, and dirt take up little space but weigh a lot. Dumpsters come with weight limits, and going over them costs extra.
Disposal fees
Transfer stations and disposal facilities charge by the ton. Every hauler builds that into the price, and Massachusetts rates are high.
Banned-item & recycling fees
Mattresses, tube TVs, and appliances with refrigerant can’t ride along in a trash load here. They go to recyclers or town programs that usually charge per item.
Dumpster size & rental terms
A dumpster price usually covers a set size, a rental period, and a weight allowance. Extra days, overweight loads, and items the company won’t accept add to the bill.
Access & labor time
Stairs, tight basements, long carries from the backyard, and things that need taking apart all add time. Angi’s guide notes labor makes up most of a typical junk removal bill.
Street permits
A dumpster on a public street or sidewalk may need a town permit. In Framingham, the obstruction permit that covers temporary dumpsters costs $50 and takes three to five business days.
Hazardous products
Paint, chemicals, fuel, and propane don’t belong in a dumpster or junk load. They go to your town’s household hazardous waste collection instead.
Why it costs more here
Massachusetts disposal fees and waste bans
Disposal is the part of the junk removal cost that depends most on where you live, and Massachusetts is an expensive place to throw things away. In MassDEP’s 2025 municipal survey, the middle half of cities and towns that reported a trash tip fee (the per-ton price to dispose of it) paid about $95 to $116 a ton, with a median near $103. For comparison, the Environmental Research & Education Foundation put the 2025 national average landfill tip fee at about $63 a ton.
Much of the waste Massachusetts generates also leaves the state. MassDEP reports that in 2023, Massachusetts exported about 3 million tons of waste for disposal, while landfills inside the state took about 460,000 tons.
The waste bans add another layer. Items that can’t go in the trash need separate handling, and towns usually charge per item. Framingham’s bulky item fees show how that works:
- Mattress or box spring: $20
- Refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, or dehumidifier: $15
- TV or computer monitor: $15
- Tire: $2
- Curbside pickup: a $5 service fee on top of the disposal fee
Statewide, 184 of the 225 municipalities that reported a mattress program in MassDEP’s 2025 survey said they charge residents for it. A hauler has to route those same items to recyclers, so expect them to show up in an estimate too.
Renovation debris has its own angle. MassDEP notes that recyclers offer even more cost-competitive options for construction materials that are separated at the job site. Keeping concrete, brick, metal, or clean drywall apart from mixed debris can help.
Your options
Paying a crew vs. renting a dumpster vs. doing dump runs
Each option trades money for time and effort. None is right for every job.
| Option | Who does the work | What you pay for | Watch out for | Usually makes sense for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire a crew | The crew loads, sorts, and hauls | Labor, truck or dumpster, disposal, and recycling fees, usually in one price | Minimum charges on small jobs; get what’s included in writing | Big or heavy cleanouts, mixed loads, or no time, help, or truck |
| Rent a dumpster and load it yourself | You, plus whoever you can recruit | Delivery and pickup, a rental period, and a weight allowance | Overweight and extra-day fees, items it can’t take, street permits, driveway space | Renovations or slow projects when you have help and time |
| Dump runs in your own vehicle | You | Town sticker or permit, per-item bulky fees, fuel, and your time | Several trips, resident-only rules, items the transfer station won’t take | Small loads when you have a truck or trailer |
| Town bulky item pickup | Town crew, from your curb | A per-item fee | You get it to the curb; schedules and item limits vary by town | One or two large items |
The honest math: if you have a pickup truck, a free weekend, and a small pile, dump runs and town programs usually cost less than any hired option. Angi’s guide makes the same point, saying a small carload is far cheaper to take to the dump yourself.
A rented dumpster saves on labor, but you do all the lifting, and heavy debris can use up the weight allowance fast. A crew costs more per load, and in exchange it saves your time and your back and handles the sorting that Massachusetts rules require.
Save money
How to pay less for junk removal
Most savings come from shrinking the job before anyone shows up.
Donate or sell first
Furniture banks, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and Buy Nothing groups can take usable items off the pile. RecycleSmart MA’s Beyond the Bin directory lists donation outlets across the state.
Use town programs for single items
One couch or one mattress is often least expensive through your town’s bulky item pickup or drop-off. Check your town’s trash page for fees and pickup days.
Ask for haul-away when you buy new
MassDEP says most mattress sellers take the old mattress when they deliver a new one. It also says most appliance dealers remove old appliances for free or a small cost at delivery.
Check Mass Save for an old fridge
If your electric company is a Mass Save sponsor, a working fridge or freezer can qualify for free pickup and a $75 rebate in 2026. Size and eligibility rules apply.
Separate scrap metal
Metal is banned from the trash but easy to recycle. Framingham, for one, charges no disposal fee for metal items dropped at its recycling center (a facility permit is required), so check your own town.
Bag small loose items
Loose clutter is slow to carry. Bagging or boxing small stuff ahead of time cuts loading time, which is a big part of what you pay for.
Clear a path
Move cars, clear walkways, and open up a route from the basement or garage to the driveway. Less carrying means less labor.
Pull out hazardous products
Paint, chemicals, and propane need a household hazardous waste collection anyway. Setting them aside keeps them out of a load where they aren’t allowed.
Get an estimate from photos
Wide shots of each area, plus close-ups of heavy or unusual items, let a hauler price the job without a visit. Mention stairs and how far the pile is from the driveway.
Compare quotes line by line
Get more than one quote, and check that each covers the same things: labor, disposal, mattress or appliance fees, dumpster rental, and any permit.
Our approach
How Clearday prices a job
We don’t use a price list, because no two basements are the same. The price depends on the size of the job, what’s being removed, and the dumpster and dump fees involved. Send photos or have us take an in-person look, and we’ll give you a free estimate. You get the price before any work starts.
Big jobs get a 13–15 yard roll-off dumpster dropped in your driveway or yard, which our crew loads to the top before it’s hauled away. Smaller loads go in a pickup truck. Usable items go to donation, metal to a scrap yard, electronics and mattresses to recyclers, and the rest to a licensed transfer station.
We’re a good fit when…
- It’s a whole-house, estate, basement, garage, or yard cleanout
- You don’t want to rent a dumpster, load it, or make the trips
- The load mixes trash, metal, mattresses, and electronics that need sorting
You may not need us when…
- One or two items fit your town’s bulky item pickup
- A charity will pick up what you’re getting rid of
- You have a truck, some help, and a small pile for the transfer station
Sources
Last checked September 16, 2026. National cost figures are averages, and town fees change, so confirm current prices with your town and get written quotes for your job.
- How Much Does Junk Removal Cost? [2026 Data], Angi, updated July 8, 2026
- How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Dumpster? [2026 Data], Angi, updated July 9, 2026
- How Much Does Junk & Trash Removal Cost?, HomeGuide, May 24, 2024
- 2025 Municipal Solid Waste & Recycling Survey Responses (spreadsheet), MassDEP
- 2023 Solid Waste Data Update (PDF), MassDEP, November 2024
- EREF tipping fee report available, Waste Today, July 27, 2026
- Bulky Item Disposal, City of Framingham
- Obstruction Permit, City of Framingham
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Massachusetts Construction and Demolition Materials Waste Bans (PDF), MassDEP
- Mattress Recycling, MassDEP
- Guide to Safely Managing Hazardous Household Products (PDF), MassDEP
- MassDEP Waste Disposal Bans, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Massachusetts Fridge and Freezer Recycle Rebates & Eligibility, Mass Save
- Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory, RecycleSmart MA
Questions
Questions people ask
Something else? Text us. You’ll get an answer from the person doing the job.
Is junk removal cheaper at certain times of year?
Possibly. Angi’s 2026 cost guide notes that most homeowners take on renovation projects in spring and early summer, so prices can run a little higher then. If your project can wait, it’s worth asking whether timing changes the quote.
Why does getting rid of a mattress or TV cost extra?
Massachusetts bans mattresses and tube TVs from the trash, so they can’t be mixed into a regular load. They have to go to a town program or a recycler, and those usually charge per item to take them.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster in my driveway?
Permits are mainly about dumpsters in the public right-of-way, like the street or sidewalk. If the dumpster will sit entirely on your own property, call your town’s public works or building department to confirm nothing else applies.
Can I get a junk removal estimate without anyone coming out?
Often, yes. Clearday gives free estimates from photos. Take wide shots of every room or pile, show the path out to the driveway, and point out anything heavy, like a piano, a safe, or a stack of brick.
What if I need a rented dumpster longer than planned?
Rental prices cover a set period, usually a week or more, and extra days cost extra. Angi’s 2026 guide lists extra-day fees of about $5 to $10 a day nationally, so ask for the daily rate before you book.
Keep reading
Related services and guides
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