How much does furniture removal cost?
Furniture removal companies specialize in safely and efficiently removing furniture and other home or business equipment that's too large for people to remove themselves. They can also properly dispose of appliances, like refrigerators or freezers, that contain chemicals that are dangerous to the environment, such as freon. Many companies that remove furniture often can haul away any type of large items that can't simply be thrown away at the local dump. Some companies, also offer furniture assembly and moving services. Other companies are general junk removal services that haul away a variety of types of junk.
Removing furniture requires the same type of expertise that general home movers possess, as well as the right equipment, including straps, pads, blankets, dollies, and a vehicle or vehicles large enough to hold furniture. Several factors determine the cost of furniture removal services including whether you also need debris removal as well as furniture disposal, location and dump fees in your area. In general, most removal services charge an average national cost of $80-$200 to haul away large pieces of furniture.
Size and quantity
The cost of furniture removal generally depends on how many items need to be removed and how bulky and heavy they are. Some non-furniture items, such as refrigerators, require extra care, so removing and disposing of them will likely cost more. If you have awkward items or an entire room, home or office full of things to be removed, it may be more cost-effective to hire a larger company or local franchise of a nationally known junk removal service, such as Junk King Chicago Downtown. These companies will be more likely to have all the equipment, insurance coverage and manpower you need.
Most furniture removal companies will haul away a range of items, both from residences and corporate locations, and in all manner of disrepair, including:
- Couches and sofas
- Sofa beds
- Mattresses
- Chairs
- Tables
- Bookcases
- Cubicles
- Desks
- File cabinets
- Boxes
- Armoires
- Tool units
- Washers and dryers
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Pianos
Many companies charge individual fees for each item, but can often quote a total cost if you have several items to haul away. For example, removing a freezer or refrigerator costs between $30 and $50, typically, while a piano may cost $50 to $75 to haul away.
Some companies will charge an additional labor fee if the job takes more than one hour to complete with two employees working together. Expect a fee of about $30 per employee, on average, on your site.
For an additional charge, furniture removal services may offer to also remove waste, trash, debris and junk. They generally also dispose of packing materials.
Location
The location of the furniture you need removed may affect the cost. For example, if you live in an apartment on the third floor of a building with no freight elevator, or if you live in a two-story home and everything to be removed is upstairs, costs will generally be higher. Removing a large piece, such as an armoire, from an upstairs room requires special equipment and more than one person, both of which will contribute to a higher price.
Heavy items
Armoires, large bed frames, solid wood pieces and pullout sofa beds are all heavy, bulky items that will take at least two people to haul away. They may even need to be disassembled. Ask if the removal company can handle such pieces before they arrive.
Pullout sofas, in particular, are usually much heavier than standard couches because of the built-in bed frame and mattress — as much as 100 pounds more. A quick search on "typical furniture weight" will bring up a variety of tools and reference sites to help you estimate the weight of the pieces you need removed.
Disposal
How the furniture removal service plans to dispose of the items can affect their rates. For example, Goodwill takes secondhand furniture but not mattresses, which may have to be disposed of at a nearby dump (typically for a fee). Other furniture removers dispose of furniture in the most environmentally responsible way possible by recycling or reclaiming materials to help keep as much furniture as possible from going to landfill. This practice can also affect the cost of services.
Junk removal services
If you have yard waste, broken furniture and outdoor appliances, a junk removal service might be the best option. You can have all types of junk, including old mattresses, broken barbecues, and large tree branches taken away at the same time. These types of companies usually charge by the truckload — the more cubic feet of junk, the higher the fee.
For example, the cost for the minimum load, which may be up to 60 cubic feet of junk, often starts at $100. Costs then typically range from $140 per 80 cubic-foot load to $350 for half a truckload, or 180 cubic feet, on average. A full truckload may cost between $600 and $700.
Licensing and insurance
If the furniture removers need to enter your home or business to remove furniture, be sure to ask if the company has liability insurance to cover any damage that may occur during removal. Atlanta Junk Pilot notes in its Thumbtack profile that the company is fully licensed and insured. For more, check out our tips for smart hiring.
Hazardous items
In general, furniture and junk removal companies don't handle household hazardous waste, such as fuel, oil, cleaners, aerosol cans, chemicals, oil-based paints, manure, gas, oil or oxygen tanks, or sealed drums.
Cost-saving strategies
Ask if the service offers discounts for seniors, military members or teachers, as Victor Mendiola of My Junk Removal & Moving Solutions does. Mendiola and others also offer discounts (with some restrictions) for large haul-aways. Ask if the company offers a first-time customer discount, as Atlanta Junk Pilot does.
Pro tips:
- Ask what type of vehicle the company uses to haul the furniture away, and make sure it has enough space for your items.
- If you're concerned about how and where your items will be disposed of, ask. More established professionals — especially those that handle junk removal — are more likely to donate, recycle and properly dispose of everything they haul away.
- Make sure to get an estimate in writing.
- Although many services don't require tipping, consider tipping your furniture removal company. For great service, consider tipping five to 10 percent. Also, most movers appreciate being offered a cold drink of water if they've been working in your home for several hours.
