Do you have a large pile of junk to get rid of? Depending on how much work you want to do yourself and the type of waste you need to dispose of, your best options are either to hire a junk removal service or to rent a dumpster that you can load up yourself. But which option is best for your needs?
Junk Removal vs. Dumpster Rental
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Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Removal
The two most popular solutions for getting rid of junk and debris from projects like remodeling, clean-out, decluttering, and construction are hiring a junk removal service or renting a dumpster.
When you’re faced with the dilemma between choosing junk removal services or junk dumpster rentals, we’ll help you understand the differences between the two so that you can decide which option makes the most sense for your needs.
Bulk Waste Disposal Option 1: Rent a Dumpster
When you rent a dumpster, you are taking the DIY approach and filling it on your own, instead of having someone else haul the items out and throw the items in the dumpster for you. Since dumpsters can be rented from 3 days to however long your project takes, dumpster rental is best for longer jobs, such as construction and remodeling projects.
If you have at least a few tons worth of debris to get rid of and have the strength and the time to do the work yourself, you should consider renting a dumpster. But, keep in mind that renting a dumpster for longer periods of time can cost you serious money.
When you get a dumpster, the company will drop it off at your property and place it where you want it, as long as the location is accessible to the truck. You then have until your scheduled pickup day to fill the dumpster with whatever you’re getting rid of, making sure to stay below the “Max Fill” line. Once you’re finished using the dumpster, the dumpster rental company should haul it away for you.
Depending on where you live or work, you may have to get a permit for your dumpster, especially if you’re having the dumpster dropped off on the side of a city street.
Standard dumpster sizes come in 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40-yard bins. When renting a dumpster, “yards” means how many cubic yards of junk and debris will fit in the dumpster.
15-Yard Dumpsters Fit Most Needs
A 15-yard dumpster is probably your best bet for the projects you’ll come across.
For a typical roofing project you would have about 1,500 square feet of old roofing shingles, which is less than the 15 holds, but if they get wet, you’ll love the additional space.
Even when replacing the windows and siding on a large house, you might initially think a 40-yard dumpster would be perfect. However, this will overcrowd your front yard and you will not be able to throw the items into the container or have a convenient walk-in door. Using this large of a dumpster is more appropriate for large-scale construction sites, and isn’t a viable option for home projects.
Granted you may need multiple pulls for larger projects. This could cost a considerable amount of money that you weren’t prepared for, so it’s important to be aware of this and fit it into your budget.
LoadUp’s dumpster rental alternative is much more convenient, and it’s also cheaper than renting a dumpster and there’s no permit required with our services.
Once filled with debris and junk, a dumpster can easily weigh several tons. A single layer of shingles torn off of a 1,500-square-foot roof can weigh around 1.5 tons. That’s 4,000 pounds! Because this amount of weight can destroy your patio, lawn, or driveway, some dumpster rental companies can put plywood or 2 x 4s under the dumpster when they drop it off.
When you rent a dumpster, the dumpster rental company will have weight restrictions for filling it. Based on local regulations and landfill fees, if your dumpster load goes over the weight restriction the dumpster rental company set, you will have to pay additional fees for the added weight.
Want to get rid of debris? BOOK ONLINE ❯
Bulk Waste Disposal Option 2: Junk Removal
Like dumpster rental, a junk removal company can help with clean-outs, debris removal, or general junk disposal. The main difference is that instead of having to do everything around yourself, the junk removal company does all of the heavy lifting.
All you have to do is point to the junk you no longer want and let somebody else do the dirty work. Why move an old refrigerator or other large appliance out of your basement by yourself when you can have someone else do it for you?
Hiring a junk removal company is pretty straightforward: you just schedule your pickup, pay for the service, and get rid of all your clutter. The cost for junk removal is generally based on the weight and volume of junk or debris to be disposed of, and most junk removal companies advertise free onsite estimates.
LoadUp offers a more customer-focused, streamlined approach to our junk removal services. Without the need for multiple visits and on-site estimates, we offer free upfront quotes online or by phone. If you have a lot of junk, we can price out your services based on the photos you send us. No other junk removal company offers upfront pricing and free real-time quotes without an on-site estimate.
Junk removal companies are experienced in hauling away heavy, bulky items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances. While they work quickly, they also make sure not to cause any damage to your property in the process.
For example, at LoadUp, our junk removal service offers nationwide pick-up and haul-away of hundreds of junk items each day and is backed by a multi-million dollar insurance policy to protect against any damage.
Even just an old mattress can seriously be dangerous to dispose of yourself if you don’t have the physical strength or proper equipment. Hiring a junk removal service is safer for you and your property, and you won’t have to impose on friends and neighbors for help.
Why you would choose junk removal service:
- You can’t (or don’t want to) lift and carry heavy items like appliances and furniture.
- You need to quickly get rid of junk items or debris all at once.
- You only have one or a few items to get rid of and wouldn’t fill up a rented dumpster. For example, you just need to get rid of a sofa or old mattress set.
- You wouldn’t have anywhere to put a dumpster if you were to rent one.
- You don’t want to risk scratching up your floors, dinging up your walls, or causing any other accidental damage to your property.
- You would have to get a permit if you were to rent a dumpster but don’t have the extra time, money, or paperwork required.
Want easy & affordable junk removal? BOOK ONLINE ❯
Junk Removal & Dumpster Rental Prices
Cost is another important factor to consider when deciding between using a junk removal company or renting a dumpster.
The size, weight, and amount of junk or debris you are getting rid of are the most important factors at play when it comes to comparing price differences between junk removal and dumpster rental.
Whether you rent a dumpster or use a junk removal service, costs are going to be higher in major cities with a higher cost of living like NYC or Los Angeles. Likewise, they’ll probably be less expensive in areas with a lower cost of living.
The distance that the dumpster hauler or junk removal company has to travel, additional weight, difficulty, and any other extenuating circumstances can also influence your final cost.
How much does it cost to rent a dumpster?
Because disposal costs vary depending on the local government and disposal facilities, your location will affect pricing for junk removal or dumpster rental. If your municipality requires a permit for a dumpster because of your location and dumpster placement, this will add on to the cost of renting a dumpster for you.
The company you decide to rent from, size of the dumpster, and local disposal fees can have the most impact on your cost for dumpster rental. Feel free to shop around, and really consider different options before you decide so that you don’t waste money.
🚛 The best way to not waste money is to simply hire a reliable junk removal service like LoadUp to haul away anything you need without extra hidden fees.
How much does junk removal cost?
The cost for junk removal varies on a case-by-case basis, and most junk removal companies charge a minimum of $80 to $165 for hauling a smaller load. For larger pickups, such as yard waste or construction debris and commercial clean-outs, prices range from $125 to $2000.
LoadUp bases their pricing on local disposal fees and makes a minimal profit margin in order to make junk removal more affordable for customers, so their prices tend to be 20-30% lower than those of most other junk removal companies.
Some junk removal services charge differently for household junk than they do for yard and construction debris. Debris is usually heavier and requires the additional work of gathering and bagging it up, so it generally costs more to remove and dispose of than to have items like a sofa or mattress set hauled away.
We can help you get rid of your junk! BOOK ONLINE ❯
Hazardous Materials and Unacceptable Items
You can put just about anything in a dumpster except items and materials considered hazardous waste, like liquid oils and paints, asbestos or other toxic materials.
Depending on their size, location, and local regulations, junk removal companies do sometimes have a list of items they won’t take such as tires, commercial AC units, and more.
If you need disposal of a large amount of waste with a variety of items and materials, like broken concrete or roof shingles, storm or landscaping debris, old rubber tires, moldy ripped up carpeting, and bedbug-infested mattresses or furniture, a dumpster rental could be a good choice.
However, if you only have a few bulky items to get rid of such as a mattress, adjustable bed frame, recliner, piano, refrigerator, tube TV, or treadmill, using a junk removal service like LoadUp is going to be your best option.
LoadUp’s Top-Rated Nationwide Junk Removal
LoadUp is a nationwide, on-demand junk removal and dumpster rental company offering upfront, affordable pricing and pickup or drop-off service as soon as the very next day!
🚛 Wondering if LoadUp will be able to pick up all the junk you need? Check our What We Take page for what types of junk items LoadUp will dispose of for you in an eco-friendly manner.
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge you need to choose between renting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal service, all that’s left to do is book!
Which service will you choose to complete your project?
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Junk Removal Made Easy
- Guaranteed upfront pricing online.
- No on-site haggling or surprise fees.
- Payments handled securely online.
- Million dollar premium insurance.
- Eco-friendly removal & disposal.
