1-800-GOT-JUNK Prices

1-800-GOT-JUNK charges by how much of their truck you fill, not by item or by hour. Expect a minimum of roughly $130–$180, a half-truck around $400–$550, and a full truck $650–$900+. They don't publish a national price list, which is why quotes feel opaque — here's how the pricing actually works and when it's worth it.

How their pricing works

Their truck holds roughly 18 cubic yards. You're charged for the fraction of it your junk occupies once loaded. The crew arrives, looks at your pile, and quotes a price before starting — you approve it or you don't.

Two consequences worth understanding:

It's volume, not weight. A truck of pillows costs the same as a truck of books. Bulky-but-light items are the worst value; dense-but-small items are the best.
The minimum dominates small jobs. One mattress and a truckload both trigger a charge, but only one of them uses the truck.

Approximate price bands

Truck fill	Rough volume	Typical price	What that looks like
Minimum / single item	~1/16	$130–$180	A mattress, a sofa, a fridge
1/8 truck	~2 yd³	$180–$250	A few boxes and a chair
1/4 truck	~4.5 yd³	$250–$400	A bedroom's worth
1/2 truck	~9 yd³	$400–$550	A small garage clear-out
3/4 truck	~13 yd³	$550–$700	A large garage or basement
Full truck	~18 yd³	$650–$900+	A full estate or move-out

These are indicative, not quotes. 1-800-GOT-JUNK is a franchise — each location sets its own rates, so the same job can differ 30–40% between metros. Their model is to quote on site, and they'll confirm the price before loading anything.

What costs extra

Appliances with refrigerant — fridges, freezers, air conditioners often carry a $20–$50 surcharge for certified refrigerant recovery
Mattresses — a separate disposal fee in many markets, because landfills price them separately
Tyres, paint and e-waste — all have their own disposal costs
Heavy materials — concrete, soil, brick and tile are usually charged differently or declined, because weight limits bite before volume does
Stairs and long carries — sometimes reflected in the on-site quote

What they won't take at all

Hazardous waste, chemicals, solvents, asbestos, medical waste and fuel. For those, see our guide to who takes what — most go to a household hazardous waste day.

When it's genuinely worth it

We don't sell removal, so here's the plain version.

Good value

Large volumes. The per-item cost collapses as the truck fills. A full truck at $800 is often the cheapest way to clear a house.
You have no vehicle, or nothing that fits a sofa.
Heavy lifting you shouldn't be doing — upstairs, awkward, or you're not in a position to shift 200 lbs safely.
Time-critical — closing dates, move-outs, tenant turnover.
Mixed junk with awkward items, where sorting it yourself across four facilities would take a weekend.

Poor value

A single item you could drop off yourself. A mattress is $10–$30 at a transfer station versus their $130+ minimum.
Anything your city collects free. Most municipalities run bulk pickup — it just needs booking ahead.
Clean, dense material like scrap metal, which yards will often take free or even pay you for.
Donatable furniture in good condition — Salvation Army and Habitat ReStore will often collect free.

Cheaper alternatives, ranked

Alternative	Typical cost	Best for
City bulk pickup	Free	Furniture, mattresses, bulky household items
Charity collection	Free	Resaleable furniture and appliances
Transfer station yourself	$15–$50/load	Anyone with a truck or trailer
Scrap yard	Free or paid to you	Metal, appliances, wire
Dumpster bag	$130–$220	Renovation debris over days
Local independent hauler	20–40% less	Same job, smaller operation
Skip / dumpster rental	$300–$600/week	Multi-day projects

Local independents are the most underused option. They typically quote 20–40% below national franchises for identical work. The trade-offs are real — less consistent insurance, variable reliability, no national booking system — so ask about insurance and read reviews. But for a straightforward load-and-go, the saving is significant.

Getting a better price

Consolidate everything into one accessible spot — kerbside or garage. Crews price partly on labour, and a neat pile at the front is quicker than a scattered house.
Break down what you can. Volume is the billing unit — a dismantled bed frame or flat-packed boxes take a fraction of the space.
Pull out anything free to dispose of — metal to a scrap yard, donatable furniture to charity, e-waste to a retailer takeback.
Get two or three quotes, including at least one local independent.
Ask about off-peak and same-day gaps. A crew with an unfilled afternoon is often flexible.
Confirm the price before loading starts. Standard practice, but get it said.

Common questions

Do they charge by weight or volume?

Volume — how much of the truck you fill. Heavy materials like concrete are the exception and are usually priced separately or declined.

What's their minimum charge?

Typically $130–$180 depending on the franchise and market. That's the floor regardless of how small the item is.

Do they give quotes over the phone?

Only rough ranges. Their model is an on-site look followed by a firm price before work starts. Photos over text sometimes get you closer.

How does it compare to College HUNKS or Junk King?

All three use volume-based pricing and land in similar bands. Differences come down to local franchise pricing and availability more than the brand. Get quotes from two of them plus a local independent.

Is same-day available?

Often, and usually at no extra charge if they have capacity — one of the genuine advantages of a national operation.

1-800-GOT-JUNK is a franchise network and pricing is set locally; figures here are typical US ranges for 2026 gathered from published customer reports and franchise marketing, not an official rate card. We are not affiliated with 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Always confirm your own quote on site. Last verified August 2026.