Garage & Storage Unit Cleanout Cost
Cleanout pricing by space size, what sorting and donation runs add, and how to keep a full-garage clearout under budget.
Updated 2026-08-01
A cleanout is a junk removal job with a sorting layer on top. Pricing is still driven by truck volume, but labor time rises sharply when someone has to decide what stays.
The cheapest cleanouts happen when the owner has already marked keep-items. The most expensive ones happen when the crew has to ask about every box.
Storage unit cleanouts are usually faster than garages because there's less to keep and access is easier.
Typical price
A one-car garage cleanout with disposal commonly comes in at $400–$650.
Price breakdown
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storage unit (5x10) | $200 – $400 | Half load typical. |
| Storage unit (10x20) | $450 – $850 | Often more than one truck. |
| One-car garage | $300 – $700 | Includes disposal fees. |
| Two-car garage | $500 – $1,100 | Full day for a crew. |
| Basement cleanout | $400 – $1,000 | Stairs add labor time. |
| Estate / whole-home cleanout | $1,200 – $4,000 | Multiple loads. |
| Sorting and staging labor | +$50 – $90/hr | Only if you want help deciding. |
| Donation drop-off run | +$40 – $100 | Receipt provided. |
| Hazardous item handling | +$25 – $100 each | Paint, chemicals, tires. |
What drives the price
- Volume, measured in truckloads.
- How much sorting is required before hauling.
- Heavy material like concrete, tile or old exercise equipment.
- Stairs, tight driveways and distance to the truck.
- Disposal surcharges for regulated items.
How to pay less
- Pre-sort into keep, donate and toss piles before the crew arrives.
- Sell or list high-value items separately rather than paying to haul them.
- Do the cleanout in one visit instead of staged partial loads.
- Take small hazardous items to a county drop-off yourself.
- Ask whether metal or scrap offsets part of the bill.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is your price by volume, and what does a load include?
- Do you sort, or do I need to mark keep-items?
- Will you donate usable items and provide a receipt?
- What surcharges apply to paint, tires or appliances?
- Are you insured for damage to the structure?
Red flags
- No walkthrough or photo review before quoting.
- Vague answers about where material is taken.
- Pressure to sign for a multi-load job before the first load is seen.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a garage cleanout take?
- Three to six hours for a one-car garage with a two-person crew; a packed two-car garage is usually a full day.
- Can they haul hazardous materials?
- Some can with a surcharge; solvents, asbestos and propane usually require a county hazardous-waste facility.
- Should I sort first?
- You don't have to, but marking what stays is the single biggest cost saver on a cleanout.