Junk Removal Services in Los Angeles: Comparison Guide

Last month I coordinated a move for a family downsizing from a 4-bedroom house in Sherman Oaks to a 2-bedroom condo in Burbank. When I did the walkthrough, the garage alone had eight years of accumulated stuff — three broken exercise machines, a non-working fridge, paint cans, an old patio set rusted to the point of collapse. The house was the same story. Their moving estimate dropped by almost $400 once we removed everything they didn't actually want to bring.

That's the part most people miss about junk removal: it's not just about getting rid of things. It directly affects your moving cost. Every item on the truck adds time, and time is what you're paying for. Here's how I help clients handle the cleanout side of their move — what it costs, what your options are, and where people consistently get it wrong.

When Junk Removal Becomes Part of the Move

Not everything in your home qualifies for donation. Charities reject items that are broken, heavily stained, outdated, or non-functional. Regular LA trash pickup won't take a king mattress or a dead refrigerator. That leaves a gap — and junk removal fills it.

In my experience, clients discover that 10–20% of their belongings fall into the "can't donate, can't trash, don't want to move" category. The usual suspects: old mattresses and box springs, broken furniture, non-working appliances, exercise equipment nobody's touched in years, outdated electronics, garage accumulation, yard debris, and leftover construction materials from pre-move repairs.

Addressing this before moving day matters. Every item you remove before our crew arrives is time saved on the clock. A client moving a 3-bedroom house who clears out a garage full of junk ahead of time typically saves 1–2 hours of moving time — that's $169–$338 at our weekday rate.

What Junk Removal Costs in LA

Most professional junk removal companies in Los Angeles price by volume — how much truck space your items occupy.

A typical breakdown: 1/8 truck load runs $150–$200. A quarter load is $250–$350. Half truck is $400–$550. Three-quarters is $500–$650. A full truck load — roughly equivalent to 6–8 pickup truck loads — runs $600–$800. Most companies also have a $150–$200 minimum regardless of actual volume.

Some companies price per item instead. A mattress removal runs $75–$150, a sofa $100–$175, a refrigerator $125–$200, a washer or dryer $100–$150. For one or two large pieces, per-item pricing can be cheaper. For a full garage cleanout, volume-based pricing almost always wins.

The most common pre-move cleanout I see falls in the $300–$550 range — enough to clear a garage and a few rooms of accumulated items. Not cheap, but compare it to the cost of moving that same stuff to a home you don't want it in.

What They Will and Won't Take

This trips people up more than pricing does. Every junk removal company has a list of items they won't touch, and finding out on removal day wastes everyone's time.

Generally accepted: furniture of all kinds, mattresses, appliances, electronics, exercise equipment, yard waste, general household items, clothing, books, toys, and sports equipment.

Generally rejected: hazardous materials — paint, chemicals, solvents, motor oil, pesticides. Medical waste including needles and medications. Asbestos-containing materials. Car batteries. Propane tanks. Tires (some companies accept them for an additional fee). Large quantities of concrete or dirt.

Call ahead for anything in a gray area: construction debris like drywall and lumber, hot tubs, pianos, safes, and large volumes of yard waste. I always tell clients to provide a detailed item list when requesting a quote. Surprises on removal day — especially hazardous items — can delay or cancel the entire appointment.

Eco-Friendly Disposal: Where Your Stuff Actually Goes

Not all junk goes to landfill, and as someone whose company donates 1% of revenue to California environmental causes, I care about where our clients' items end up.

Responsible junk removal companies sort items at their facility. Usable furniture and goods go to charity partners. Metals, electronics, and plastics get recycled through certified processors. Mattresses get broken down — foam, springs, and fabric separated for recycling. Only what truly can't be diverted hits the landfill.

When you're comparing companies, ask these questions: What percentage of items do you recycle or donate? Do you have charity partnerships? How do you handle electronics? Can you provide documentation? Companies that take these questions seriously are the ones worth hiring. Companies that get evasive are probably dumping everything.

Need professional moving or cleanout help? Our crew handles it safely — call (949) 266-9445 or get your free quote.

DIY Alternatives: Free and Low-Cost Options in LA

Professional removal isn't always necessary. Los Angeles offers several solid alternatives if you have time.

LA City Bulk Item Pickup is free for LA city residents. Call 311 or use the MyLA311 app to schedule. They'll pick up 5 items per collection, available every 90 days. Items must be at the curb by 6 AM on collection day. They handle furniture, mattresses, appliances, and large household items — but not hazardous waste, electronics, or construction debris. The catch: scheduling typically takes 1–2 weeks, sometimes longer. If your move is a month out, this works. If you're leaving next Tuesday, it doesn't.

LA County E-Waste Events handle electronics disposal for free — TVs, computers, monitors, phones, cables, batteries. Check lacsd.org for scheduled collection events near you. Best for cleaning out that drawer of old phones and the closet full of dead laptops.

Self-haul to a transfer station works for large volumes if you have access to a truck. LA County operates multiple transfer stations with typical fees of $30–$40 per carload or $60–$80 per pickup truck load. Time-intensive but cost-effective for big cleanouts.

Hazardous waste — paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, propane tanks — goes to LA County permanent collection centers or mobile events. Visit cleanla.com for locations and schedules. Free for household quantities. Never put these in regular trash, and never hire unlicensed haulers who might dump illegally.

A Real Cleanout: What It Actually Looks Like

Here's a recent project I helped coordinate. Client moving from a 3-bedroom house in Van Nuys to a 2-bedroom condo in Burbank — a significant downsize.

Items needing removal: a stained king mattress and box spring, a pet-damaged sectional sofa, a broken treadmill, a non-working garage fridge, 15+ boxes of garage accumulation, rusted patio furniture, and miscellaneous yard debris.

We compared three approaches. Professional junk removal — one company visit, 3/4 truck load, everything gone same day: $585. Full DIY — LA bulk pickup for 5 items (free, but 3-week wait), self-haul the rest to a transfer station ($45), e-waste event for electronics (free): $45 total, but roughly 8 hours of her time. Hybrid — professional removal for the big stuff at 1/2 truck load ($425), e-waste event for electronics (free): $425 total, about 1 hour of her time.

She chose the hybrid. The timeline was tight — bulk pickup couldn't accommodate her move date, and she couldn't afford 8 hours of hauling on top of everything else. Her words: "Junk removal came the next day. Worth every penny."

How to Compare Junk Removal Companies

Not all services are equal, and the cheapest quote isn't always the best deal.

Get written quotes specifying exactly what's included. Avoid companies that refuse to quote without an in-person visit for standard items — a phone description or photos should be enough for a ballpark. Check same-day or next-day availability, because pre-move cleanouts often happen on tight timelines. Verify insurance and licensing — items can damage your property during removal, and you want coverage.

Read reviews on Google and Yelp, paying attention to how companies handle complaints. Look at arrival windows — "between 8 and 5" is very different from a 2-hour window. And watch for red flags: quotes significantly below market rate that lead to surprise fees, cash-only requirements, no written contracts, poor communication.

One thing I've learned coordinating with removal companies for our full-service moving clients: the best companies communicate clearly, show up when they say they will, and handle your items with care even though they're being thrown away. If they can't manage that, imagine how they'll handle the actual disposal.

Five Mistakes That Cost Clients Time and Money

Waiting until moving week. Junk removal companies book up, especially on weekends and at month-end. Schedule 1–2 weeks before your move, not 2 days before. I've seen clients stuck with a garage full of junk on moving day because they called too late.

Not separating hazardous materials first. If the crew shows up and finds paint cans mixed in with furniture, it can delay or cancel the appointment. Sort hazardous items out beforehand and take them to an LA County collection center.

Underestimating volume. That garage "doesn't have much" until you start pulling everything out. Most people have more junk than they realize. Quote generously — a second appointment costs more than slightly overestimating the first one.

Forgetting hidden spots. Attics, crawl spaces, storage sheds, backyard corners — all hide forgotten items. Walk the entire property before scheduling removal.

Skipping the free alternatives. If your timeline allows, use LA bulk pickup for the big stuff and save professional removal for what the city won't take. A 5-item free pickup can cut your professional removal bill by 30–40%.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I schedule junk removal before my move?

One to two weeks minimum. This builds in buffer time if you need to reschedule. During summer and month-end, book earlier — popular companies fill up fast. If you're working with Green Moving on a full-service move, we can coordinate junk removal timing with your moving date.

Is professional junk removal worth it compared to doing it myself?

Depends on your time and timeline. Professional removal for a half-truck load costs $400–$550 and takes 1–2 hours. DIY alternatives might cost $50–$100 but require 6–10 hours of effort. For most pre-move situations where time is limited, professional removal pays for itself in stress reduction alone.

Can I combine junk removal with my moving day?

I'd recommend against it. Having junk removal and movers at the same property simultaneously creates confusion, blocked access, and scheduling conflicts. Clear the junk first, then bring in the moving crew to a cleaner, more efficient workspace. Your moving costs will be lower too.

What about donating instead of junking?

Always try donation first — it's free, tax-deductible, and better for the environment. Check our guide on what to donate before moving in LA for specific charities and pickup services. Junk removal should be the last resort for items charities won't accept.

Does Green Moving offer junk removal?

We offer item disposal at $90 per item for things we remove during your move — old furniture, broken appliances, items you don't want at the new place. For large-scale cleanouts, we coordinate with trusted junk removal partners so everything happens on a timeline that works with your move. Call (949) 266-9445 and I'll set it up.

Get Started

If you're planning a move and facing a cleanout, let's talk through the logistics together. I can tell you which items to donate, which need professional removal, and how to time everything so your moving day runs clean and fast.

Schedule Your Free Consultation:

• Call: (949) 266-9445
• Email: sales@greenmovingla.com
• Online: greenmovingla.com/contacts

Green Moving — Licensed (CAL-T 201327) & Insured. 1% of every move supports California environmental causes.

‍