Starting at $100/hr
Junk Removal That Pays You Back

The junk removal industry has a pricing problem. Most companies charge by the volume of space your stuff takes up on their truck. A quarter-truck load might be $250, a half truck $400, a full truck $600 or more. The problem is not just the price — it is the incentive structure. Volume pricing incentivizes the company to cram as much as possible onto one truck, estimate high, and move fast. It also means they profit twice: once from the fee you pay, and again from reselling your valuable items.

Our model eliminates both problems. Hourly pricing means we only charge for the time we actually work. If the job takes 90 minutes, you pay for 90 minutes starting at $100/hr — that is $150. A volume-based company would charge you $350-$500 for the same load. And because our business model depends on resale revenue, we have a direct financial incentive to identify and properly handle valuable items. We split that value with you 50/50 instead of keeping it all.

Consider a real scenario. You have a garage full of stuff — old workbench, some power tools, a lawn mower, three bikes, a dozen boxes of random items, and general clutter. A volume-based company quotes you $450 for a full truck. Our crew clears it in 2 hours ($200), identifies $360 in resale value from the tools, workbench, and bikes, credits you $180, and your final bill is $20. That is not a hypothetical — it is a real customer story from Austin, Texas.

The gap gets wider on larger jobs. Estate cleanouts with other companies run $2,000-$5,000+ depending on the size of the home. With us, the same estate might take 8-12 hours ($800-$1,200) with $1,500-$3,000 in resale credits from furniture, appliances, electronics, and collectibles. Customers frequently walk away with a check instead of a bill. No other junk company in the country offers this.

Why don't other companies do this? Because sharing resale value with customers cuts into margins that they have kept for decades. 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Junk King, College Hunks Hauling Junk, LoadUp — they all use the same volume-based model with zero resale sharing. They charge you $400 to take a working refrigerator worth $500, then sell it and pocket every dollar. Their model depends on keeping you in the dark about what your stuff is actually worth. Our model depends on showing you — right there in your driveway, with comparable sales data, transparent appraisals, and your approval on every credit. The truth is that sharing resale value with customers builds trust, generates referrals, and creates a better business. They just haven't figured that out yet — or they have, and they would rather keep the money. Either way, you have a choice now. See our full pricing comparison.

The DIY trap: Some people think doing it themselves is cheaper. Rent a truck ($50-$150), drive to the dump ($10-$30 in gas), pay dump fees ($30-$100+ per load), and spend an entire Saturday loading, driving, unloading, and repeating. Total real cost: $200-$500 including your time — plus zero resale credit because everything goes in the landfill. Your working appliances, quality furniture, and valuable exercise equipment get buried instead of resold. With us, those same items generate credits that often pay for the entire removal. Read our DIY vs professional comparison for the full breakdown.

1-800-GOT-JUNK is the biggest name in junk removal. They charge by volume — a full truck runs $600-$800+ depending on your market. They send a crew, load everything, and haul it away. Any items with resale value? They sell them and keep the money. You do not see a dime of it. Their model is simple: charge the customer as much as possible to haul items that the company then profits from reselling.

College Hunks Hauling Junk uses a similar volume model with pricing that starts lower but climbs fast for larger loads. They also resell items and keep 100% of the profit. Their branding is fun, but the economics are the same — you pay to give them inventory.

LoadUp, Junk King, and other regional competitors all follow the same pattern: volume pricing, no transparency on what happens to your items, and zero credit for anything with value. Some offer donation receipts for tax purposes, which is a nice touch, but it is not cash back on your bill.

We Pay You Junk Removal is the only national junk removal company that charges by the hour, includes dump fees in the rate, and credits you 50% of resale value (when applicable) on items worth something. Our crew is not incentivized to upsell you or estimate high — they are paid by the hour regardless of what is on the truck. The only financial incentive in our model beyond labor is resale, and we split that with you. There is no other company doing this at scale in the United States. Not one.

Resale: Items in good condition with active secondary markets go directly to our resale network — local resale shops, consignment stores, auction houses, and online platforms. This is the stuff that earns you 50% credit. Furniture, working appliances, electronics, tools, fitness equipment, musical instruments, designer goods.

Donation: Items that are functional but below resale value go to local donation centers — Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and community organizations. Clothing, kitchenware, books, toys, and household items that still have useful life get a second home instead of a landfill.

Recycling: Metals, electronics, cardboard, glass, and other recyclable materials go to certified recycling facilities. Scrap metal has real value and earns you credit. E-waste is processed through certified recyclers to ensure hazardous components are handled properly. We work with recycling partners in every market.

Responsible Disposal: Only items with no resale value, no donation potential, and no recyclable components go to the landfill. This represents roughly 40% of what we haul — the rest gets a second life through resale, donation, or recycling. We are committed to diverting as much as possible from landfills because it is good for the environment and good for business.

Why this matters for you: When you choose a junk removal company that dumps 80% of what they take, your working refrigerator ends up in a landfill where it leaks refrigerant into the ground. Your solid wood dining table gets buried under construction debris. Your flat screen TV containing lead and mercury contaminates groundwater. When you choose us, that refrigerator goes to a family who needs an affordable appliance. That dining table goes to a resale shop where someone furnishes their first apartment. That TV gets properly dismantled by a certified e-waste recycler. You get credit for the valuable items, the items get second lives, and the environment benefits. That is the difference between a junk removal company that cares and one that just owns a truck.

The numbers: In the past year alone, we have diverted an estimated 3.2 million pounds of items from landfills across our national network. That includes approximately 180,000 pieces of furniture resold, 45,000 appliances refurbished and rehomed, 28,000 electronics properly recycled, and 500,000+ pounds of scrap metal reprocessed. Every job you book with us contributes to these numbers — and earns you money back in the process. Read more about our environmental commitment on our about page or see our eco-friendly disposal guide.

The average American generates 4.4 pounds of waste per day, and household junk removal adds significant volume to landfills — bulky items like furniture, mattresses, and appliances take up enormous space and can take decades to decompose. Traditional junk removal companies contribute to this problem by dumping everything, including perfectly functional items, because sorting and reselling takes time they would rather not spend.

Our model flips this dynamic. Because we generate revenue from reselling items, we have a direct financial incentive to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. Every item we resell is an item that does not get buried. Every item we donate extends its useful life. Every scrap of metal or electronics we recycle recovers raw materials instead of mining new ones. The result: we divert over 60% of hauled items from landfills through resale, donation, and recycling.

We are pushing that number higher every year by expanding our resale network, partnering with more donation centers, and working with specialized recyclers who can process materials that general recycling facilities cannot. Our goal is 75% landfill diversion by the end of next year. When you book junk removal with us, you are not just getting the best price and the fairest credit — you are choosing the most environmentally responsible option available.

Electronics recycling deserves special attention. E-waste contains lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants that leach into groundwater when landfilled. We route all non-resellable electronics through EPA-certified e-waste processors who dismantle them safely, recovering precious metals and containing toxic materials. Appliances containing refrigerants (refrigerators, freezers, AC units) are handled by certified technicians per Clean Air Act requirements. These are not optional steps — they are fundamental to responsible junk removal, and most companies skip them because they cost money and take time.

Is our pricing really all-inclusive? Yes. Our starting rate covers labor, truck, loading, hauling, and dump fees. There are no additional charges for heavy items, stairs, long carries, or disposal. The only cost is hours worked starting at $100/hr with a 1-hour minimum.

What if my job takes less than an hour? The minimum charge is 1 hour ($100). If our crew finishes in 40 minutes, you pay $100. Most single-item pickups and small loads take less than an hour, so the minimum applies. For larger jobs, we round to the nearest 15-minute increment.

Do resale credits really come off my bill? Absolutely. Every item our crew identifies with resale value gets appraised at fair market value in front of you. You see the item, the estimated value, and the credit amount. Credits are applied to your bill in real time. If credits exceed your bill, we pay you the difference on the spot.

How do I pay? We accept credit cards, debit cards, checks, Venmo, Zelle, and CashApp. Payment or payout is processed at the end of the job, on site. No invoices, no delayed billing.

Are there extra charges for weekends or holidays? No. The rate is starting at $100/hr every single day — weekdays, weekends, and holidays. No overtime charges, no surcharges, no premium pricing. The same rate, 365 days a year.

What if I disagree with an appraisal? Every appraisal is a conversation, not a take-it-or-leave-it number. Our crew shows you comparable sales data and explains their reasoning. If you have evidence of a higher value — a recent listing, an original receipt, a dealer quote — we adjust. We'd rather give a slightly generous credit than have you feel shortchanged. Nothing is credited without your explicit approval. See our full FAQ for more on how appraisals work.

What's the difference between your three pricing tiers? 1 Person Crew ($100/hr) handles small jobs and single items up to 150 lbs. 2 Person Crew ($250/hr) is our most popular — handles full cleanouts, heavy items up to 500 lbs, and includes up to 2 truck loads. Emergency Same-Day ($200/person/hr) guarantees arrival within 2 hours for last-minute deadlines. All three tiers include dump fees (an industry first) and 50% Resale Credit (when applicable). See our full pricing breakdown with estimated costs for all 34 services.

Do you offer discounts for large jobs? Our credit model IS the discount. The more items with resale value in your job, the more credits you earn — and on large jobs like estate cleanouts and office clearing, credits frequently cover the entire bill. That's a better deal than any volume discount because the savings scale with the actual value of YOUR specific items, not an arbitrary percentage off a quoted price. Recurring commercial clients get priority scheduling and dedicated crews — contact us to set up an account.

Furniture: Solid wood dining table $150-$400. Leather sofa $200-$600. Dresser (real wood) $80-$250. Office desk $50-$200. Bookshelf (solid wood) $40-$150. Metal bed frame $30-$100. Upholstered accent chair $50-$150. Particle board furniture typically has minimal resale value. Your credit is 50% of these figures.

Appliances: Refrigerator (working, under 10 years) $150-$400. Washer $100-$250. Dryer $80-$200. Dishwasher $50-$150. Oven/Range $100-$300. Window AC unit $30-$80. Stainless steel models and premium brands command the top of these ranges.

Electronics: Flat screen TV (under 5 years) $50-$300. Gaming console $50-$200. Desktop computer $30-$150. Laptop $40-$200. Speakers/audio equipment $20-$300+ for premium brands. Monitors $20-$100. Vintage and audiophile equipment can go much higher.

Tools: DeWalt miter saw $100-$250. Table saw $80-$200. Drill press $50-$150. Air compressor $40-$120. Hand tool sets $20-$80. Riding lawn mower $200-$800. Push mower $30-$100. Power tools in working condition consistently outperform other categories for resale-to-original-price ratio.

Online: Visit our booking page and fill out the quick form — your name, address, what you need hauled, and your preferred date and time. We confirm within 30 minutes during business hours. The form takes about 2 minutes.

Phone: Call us at (888) 831-3001. Our scheduling team answers 7AM–8PM Daily, seven days a week. We ask about your job (what types of items, approximate volume, access details), confirm pricing, estimate the time, and schedule your crew. The call takes about 5 minutes.

Text: Text us at the same number. Send a quick description or photos of what you need hauled. We reply with a time estimate and available appointment slots. Great for people who prefer not to call.

Same-Day Service: Call or book before noon and we can typically have a crew at your door within 2-4 hours. Same-day availability depends on crew scheduling in your market, but we accommodate it in 80%+ of requests. No rush charges, no premium pricing — same starting rate. Need it even faster? Our emergency same-day tier ($200/person/hr) guarantees arrival within 2 hours — see all pricing tiers.

What to expect on the day: Your crew arrives in a branded truck within a 2-hour window. They introduce themselves, do a walkthrough of the space with you, and confirm what is going and what is staying. Then they get to work — loading items, sorting valuables for appraisal, and hauling everything to the truck. As they load, they present appraisals on items with resale value. You approve or reject each credit individually. When loading is complete, they do a final sweep of the work area and a walkthrough with you to confirm the space is clean. Payment or payout is processed on site — credit card, check, Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp. The entire process — from their arrival to a clean space — typically takes 1-4 hours for residential jobs. Estate cleanouts and commercial jobs may take longer.

Scheduling tips: Tuesday through Thursday are typically the least busy days — if your schedule is flexible, midweek means faster arrival times. Spring (March-June) is our busiest season due to spring cleaning, moving season, and home listing activity — book 3-5 days ahead during these months. Fall and winter have the most open availability. Weekend and holiday appointments are available at the same rate — no surcharges. For commercial clients needing after-hours or recurring service, contact us to set up a dedicated account with priority scheduling.

Structure removal is a common need that most junk companies either do not offer or charge a premium for. Old sheds rotting in the backyard, fences that have seen better decades, decks with soft boards and wobbly railings — they need to come down, and you need someone who will tear them apart, load the debris, and haul it away. That is what we do, at the same starting rate with dump fees included.

Sheds & Playhouses: Our crew demolishes the walls, roof, floor, and foundation — everything. Average shed removal takes 2-3 hours depending on size and construction. We leave the ground clear and clean. Metal sheds have scrap value that earns you credit.

Fences: Wood, chain link, vinyl, wrought iron — we handle all types. Posts are pulled or cut at ground level per your preference. Wrought iron and metal fencing has scrap value. A standard 100-foot wood fence takes about 2-3 hours.

Decks: Full demolition — decking boards, railings, stairs, and support posts. All lumber and hardware is loaded and hauled. Deck removal varies widely by size but typically runs 3-6 hours for a standard residential deck. Pressure-treated lumber is disposed of properly at licensed facilities.

Every We Pay You Junk Removal crew member is background-checked, professionally trained, and covered by comprehensive liability insurance. We do not hire day laborers or subcontract to random trucks — our crews are our employees, trained in our methods, our safety protocols, and our customer service standards.

Training: Crew members complete hands-on training in proper lifting techniques, stair carry protocols, furniture disassembly, appliance handling, and the use of professional moving equipment including dollies, hand trucks, furniture straps, moving blankets, and floor runners. Heavy items like pianos, safes, refrigerators, and cast iron tubs require specific techniques that our crews practice regularly.

Property Protection: We use corner guards on doorframes, floor runners on hardwood and tile, and moving blankets to protect items being carried through tight spaces. Your home or office is treated with the same care we would give our own property. If property damage does occur — a scratched floor, a nicked wall, a broken fixture — our insurance covers the repair at no cost to you.

Licensing: We are fully licensed and bonded in every market we operate. All disposal is handled through licensed transfer stations and recycling facilities. E-waste goes to certified recyclers. Refrigerant is handled in compliance with EPA regulations. We maintain all required permits and certifications to operate legally and responsibly in every state.

Insurance: We carry general liability insurance with coverage limits that protect your property throughout the entire removal process. Commercial auto insurance covers all vehicles. Workers' compensation covers all crew members. Professional liability insurance covers our appraisal services. For commercial clients and property managers, we provide certificates of insurance on request — emailed within 24 hours of your request via our contact page.

Our People: We hire people who care about doing good work — and we invest in keeping them. Starting pay is $50/hr for crew members (see our open positions or apply today). Full-time crew members receive health insurance, PTO, and 401k. We promote from within — crew member to team lead ($60/hr) to operations manager. Low turnover means consistent, experienced crews showing up at your door. When you see the same faces on repeat jobs, you know they know what they're doing.

Customer Satisfaction: We maintain a 5.0-star rating across 200+ reviews. Over 40% of our jobs come from repeat customers and referrals. We back every job with a satisfaction guarantee — if anything isn't right, we make it right on the spot. No arguing, no follow-up calls, no runaround. Our crew will address the issue before they leave your property. That's the standard at We Pay You Junk Removal, and it's why people keep calling us back. Read what our customers say or check our blog for junk removal tips and guides.