How Much Does Junk Removal Cost in the Chicago Suburbs?
By Hoverla Junk Removal teamUpdated 6 min read
At Hoverla, a single item or a few bags costs $150, which is our minimum. A quarter of a truckload starts at $275, and a full load of about 19 cubic yards starts at $780. Bigger jobs, like a packed basement or a whole house, are priced as more than one load.
That's the short answer. The rest of this guide explains how volume pricing works, what makes a quote go up or down, what's included, what common jobs usually come to, and how a job runs on the day. We use our own prices because they're the ones we can stand behind.
How volume pricing works
We price by volume. You pay for the share of the truck your things fill, not by the hour and not item by item. The crew does all the lifting and loading, and the price covers hauling and disposal.
| Load size | Approx. volume | Price | Typical job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum (smaller than a quarter) | under ~4.5 cu yd | $150 | One sofa, a fridge or a few bags |
| 1/4 load | ~4.5 cu yd | from $275 | A few items or a small room |
| 1/2 load | ~9 cu yd | from $425 | A room or a section of the garage |
| 3/4 load | ~13.5 cu yd | from $575 | Large cleanouts |
| Full load | ~19 cu yd | from $780 | The biggest single-load jobs; whole houses take several |
A cubic yard is a cube three feet on each side, or 27 cubic feet. A quarter load, about 4.5 cubic yards, is roughly a pile 6 feet long, 4.5 feet wide and 4.5 feet high. A full load is a little more than four of those piles.
The prices above are starting points for each size. If your job lands between two sizes, we quote it where it actually falls. And we bill for the space you used, not the space we guessed: if we quote three-quarters of a load and everything fits in half, you pay for half.
What actually changes the price
How much there is. This is the main driver by far. It's also why a photo of every corner matters: what's stacked behind the garage or under the basement stairs is part of the job, and it belongs in the quote.
How it packs. Space is what you pay for, so shape matters more than weight. A recliner or a sectional takes more room than you'd guess from how heavy it is. Boxes of books pack tight. Things that come apart, like bed frames and metal shelving, take far less room once they're down.
Crew size on whole-house jobs. Most jobs are priced on truck space alone. Clearing an entire house in one day is different, because it takes extra people. For those jobs we add crew time at $35 per hour, per person, on top of truck space, and the quote shows both parts. There's more on this in our estate cleanout cost guide.
A small second trip. If something is left over after a full truck, like a last few bags or one more chair, that trip is $150, not another full load.
What doesn't change the price
- Stairs, basements and second floors. There is no stair fee.
- Heavy or awkward items.
- Bagging loose things. We bring our own bags, so if it is in a closet, we bag it and it goes.
Our quote is the load price, plus crew time only on whole-house jobs. Stairs, taking furniture apart and bagging are never added on top, and nothing appears on the bill that wasn't on the written quote. If a line on the quote isn't clear, ask us before the day, not at the door.
What's included in the price
- Lifting and carrying from anywhere in the house, including basements, attics and upstairs bedrooms.
- Bagging loose items, so nothing has to be packed before we arrive.
- Loading, hauling and disposal.
- Recycling and donating usable items when possible.
- A broom sweep of the area we cleared.
The price is confirmed with you before anyone picks anything up, and nothing appears on the bill that wasn't in the quote. You pay when the job is done.
How to get a written quote from photos
The fastest way to a real number is to text photos to (224) 220-1777. We reply with a written quote. If you'd rather have someone look in person, a free on-site estimate is also available through our contact page. A few things make photo quotes accurate:
- Stand in the doorway and take one wide photo of each room or pile. Then take closer shots of the large pieces.
- Include something for scale in the frame, like a door, a car or a person.
- Open the closets and cabinets that are being emptied. What's behind a door is part of the job.
- Say where everything is: basement, second floor, detached garage, already outside.
- Mention anything you're not sure we take, and ask.
- Tell us your town and when you need it done. Same-day and next-day service is available in most areas.
On the day, the crew confirms the number at your door before loading. If you decide to add things while they're there, you'll hear the new price before those items go on the truck.
What common jobs usually come to
These are the reference points we use ourselves, built from the load sizes above. They are starting points, not quotes: the same garage can be packed loosely or floor to ceiling.
| Job | Usual size | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| One sofa, one fridge, one mattress set or a few bags | Under a quarter load | $150 |
| A living room set or a bedroom set | About a quarter load | from $275 |
| Three large appliances | About a quarter load | from $275 |
| One side of a two-car garage, waist-high | About half a load | from $425 |
| A crowded basement storage room, or most of a one-car garage | About three-quarters of a load | from $575 |
| A one-car garage packed floor to ceiling | About one full load | from $780 |
| A two-car garage with both spaces full | A load and a quarter to two loads | about $1,055 to $1,560 |
Basements vary the most. A finished basement with a few pieces of furniture can be half a truck; one that has been the family storage room for forty years can be two. That's why we ask for photos of every room before giving a number. For garages and basements in more detail, see garage cleanouts and house and basement cleanouts.
How a job runs on the day
Knowing the routine makes it easier to plan around. Whether it's one couch or a whole house, the day goes the same way:
- The crew arrives within the window we gave you.
- We walk through with you, or follow the photos you marked, to confirm what goes and what stays.
- We confirm the price at the door. Nothing is lifted until you say yes.
- The crew carries everything out from wherever it sits: basement, attic, upstairs bedroom, backyard shed. Loose things get bagged, and furniture that won't fit through a doorway comes apart.
- Anything that looks personal or valuable, like papers, photos or jewelry, is set aside and shown to you before it could leave.
- We sweep the cleared space. If you weren't home, you get photos of the finished space and pay remotely.
The truck parks only while we load, so nothing is left sitting on the driveway afterward. A garage usually takes two to four hours, a basement two to six, and a whole house one to three days.
Common questions about junk removal pricing
Do I need to be home?
Not always. It helps to be there to point things out, but we can work from clear instructions, a garage code or a lockbox. Tell us what you'd prefer when you book.
Is there a charge for stairs or a basement?
No. Stairs, basements and second floors are included.
Is there anything you won't take?
We don't remove hot tubs, and we don't handle hazardous materials, medical waste or prescription medications. If you're not sure about an item, send a photo and ask before the day of the job.
When do I pay?
After the work is done. We accept cards and electronic payments.
Where do you work?
Across Chicago's north and northwest suburbs, including Park Ridge, Niles, Des Plaines, Skokie, Arlington Heights and Evanston. The full list is on our service areas page. For what we haul and how a job runs, see our main junk removal page.