Moving and junk removal cost in 2026
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
What other publishers report moving and junk removal costs, what moves the price, and how to tell whether two quotes are really for the same work.
Typical prices
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Junk removal, typical job | $150–$600 per jobFixr: average $300Fixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $75–$800 per jobThis Old House: average about $250This Old House, updated Mar 2026 | This Old Houseupdated Mar 2026 | |
| Junk removal, full truckload | $450–$650 per loadFixr's truckload table; labor includedFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| Local movers, labor-only | $50–$100 per hour per moverFixr: labor-only moves total $600–$2,500 for mostFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| Local move (100 miles or less) | $911–$2,514 per moveBob Vila: average $1,710Bob Vila, updated May 2023 | Bob Vilaupdated May 2023 |
| Long-distance move | $1,500–$3,500 per moveFixr: average $2,500 for a packed 2-bedroom move of 1,000 milesFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
| $1,400–$8,000 per moveThis Old House, updated Apr 2026 | This Old Houseupdated Apr 2026 | |
| Dumpster rental | $200–$550 per weekFixr: average $380 a week for 10 cubic yardsFixr, updated Jan 2025 | Fixrupdated Jan 2025 |
How we got these. Fixerlane does not set prices and these are not our figures. They are the ranges published by Fixr, This Old House and Bob Vila, read from each page on October 4, 2026 and linked so you can check them. Each publisher measures differently, so the ranges do not always agree. Your quote depends on your home, your area and the exact job — the things below are what move it.
Where the sources disagree
- Long-distance moves: Fixr says $1,500–$3,500 for a packed two-bedroom move of 1,000 miles; This Old House says $1,400–$8,000 for an out-of-state move. (Fixr, This Old House)
What changes the price
- How much stuff: junk removal is priced by how much of the truck you fill
- Distance, and for long moves the weight of the shipment
- Crew size and hours for a local move
- Stairs, long carries and elevators at either end
- Items that cost extra: pianos, hot tubs, appliances, mattresses, tyres
- Disposal and recycling fees, which vary by area
This Old House's 2025 survey of 1,000 moving customers found local moves averaged $1,489 and long-distance moves $3,129. (This Old House)
What pros ask before quoting
These are the questions moving and junk removal pros listed on Fixerlane ask before they will quote. Each one is a variable that moves the price — which is why having answers ready gets you a firmer number faster.
- Large items (longer than 5 ft)
- Commonly offered: Large items (over 5 feet) · Smaller items (under 5 feet)
- Extra services
- Commonly offered: Automobile moving · Equipment moving · Furniture assembly and disassembly · Packing · Piano moving · Pool table moving
- Move type
- Commonly offered: Full service: labor + truck · Labor only
- Type of furniture
- Commonly offered: Armchair / recliner · Bed frame · Boxes · Dining table · Loveseat · Mattress
- Property type
- Commonly offered: Commercial · Residential
- Size of dumpster
- Commonly offered: Forty yard · Thirty yard · Twenty yard
- Furniture for delivery
- Commonly offered: Armchair / recliner · Bed frame · Dining table · Loveseat · Mattress · Mirror / painting
- Additional services needed
- Commonly offered: Furniture assembly · Packing services and supplies
How pros quote
Fixed price
The scope is clear enough to put a number on the whole job. The risk of it running long sits with the pro, which is why they will want the scope pinned down first.
Hourly or day rate
Used where nobody yet knows what is wrong, or the work is open-ended. Fair for diagnosis; a warning sign on a job that could have been specified.
Per unit
Priced by square foot, per fixture, per window. Easy to compare between pros — as long as you check what a "unit" includes.
Call-out plus work
A fixed fee to attend, then the job on top. Common for emergency and repair work. Ask whether the call-out comes off the final bill.
Comparing quotes fairly
Two quotes are only comparable if they cover the same job. Before you judge on price, check each one states:
- The scope, in plain words rather than a trade shorthand
- Which materials are included, and who supplies them
- Whether disposal and clean-up are in the price
- Making good afterwards — patching, painting, reinstating
- The payment schedule, tied to visible milestones
- A start date and a realistic finish window
- What happens if something unexpected is found
A quote well below the others is usually a smaller job, not a better deal. Ask what it excludes before assuming it is the bargain.
What the moving and junk removal market looks like
Fixerlane lists moving and junk removal pros across 51 states and 4,206 cities. About 19% are one-person businesses and 70% are small teams of two to nine. The typical business has been trading 4 years.
That mix matters for price. A sole trader carries lower overheads and is often cheaper for a small job; a larger firm can field a crew, carry more insurance and start sooner on a big one. Neither is better — they suit different work.
Common questions
- How do I check an interstate mover is legitimate?
- Interstate movers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Ask for the USDOT number and look it up before you book.
- Binding or non-binding moving estimate?
- A binding estimate fixes the price for the items listed; a non-binding one can go up on moving day. Get the estimate in writing after the mover has seen your things, not from a quick phone call.
- Does junk removal take everything?
- Most will take furniture, appliances and general junk. Paint, chemicals, tyres and some electronics may cost extra or be refused. Ask before the truck arrives.
- Junk removal or a dumpster?
- Junk removal includes the loading — you point, they lift. A dumpster is cheaper per load if you do the work yourself, but you need space to park it and may need a permit to put it on the street.
Get a real number
Published ranges tell you what is normal; only a pro who has seen your job can tell you what yours costs. Find moving and junk removal pros near you and ask two or three.
Find moving and junk removal pros