Pricing guide
What junk removal costs in San Diego in 2026 (real numbers)
Every junk removal site says "free estimate" and then makes you wait for a truck to show up before anyone says a number. Here is what the market actually charges in San Diego County right now, what the dump charges us, and how to get a real price from a photo.
How junk removal is priced (everywhere)
Almost every hauler prices by how much of the truck your stuff fills, not by the hour and not by the item. The tiers are usually eighths or quarters of a truck: a single item, a quarter load, half, three-quarters, full. Labor, loading and the dump fee are supposed to be inside that number. When a quote changes on the driveway, it is almost always because the volume was guessed on the phone.
What the big names charge in San Diego
Published and widely reported rates for the national brands operating in San Diego, as of summer 2026:
| Company | Small load | Half truck | Full truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-800-GOT-JUNK (San Diego) | $150 to $800+, volume based, price given on site | ||
| College HUNKS Hauling Junk (San Diego) | 1/8 truck from $99 | $350 to $500 | $600 to $800+ |
| Junk King (San Diego) | varies | $389 to $488 | $589 to $658 |
| Local independents | $59 to $150 per item | $199 to $300 | $350 to $550 |
Sources: 1-800-GOT-JUNK San Diego location page, College HUNKS San Diego page, HomeGuide's Junk King cost survey, and our own July 2026 pricing study of San Diego independents. Franchise trucks are larger than a pickup, so their "full truck" holds more; compare by what you have, not by the label.
The floor under every price: the landfill
The Miramar Landfill charges a flat minimum of roughly $70 to $100 for a small load and about $97 to $103 per ton for general waste. Add fuel and an hour of two people's time and a legitimate hauler's cost on a full pickup is somewhere around $125 to $180 before they make a dollar. Anyone quoting $150 for a full truck is either skipping the dump (your stuff ends up in a canyon, and it is your address on the paperwork if it is traced) or planning to renegotiate when they arrive.
What a fair single-item price looks like
- Mattress: $59 to $150 across San Diego, depending on size and whether it is at the curb or upstairs.
- Couch: $59 to $130. Sectionals and sleeper sofas run higher because they weigh more and take more truck.
- Fridge, washer, dryer: $59 to $125. Refrigerant handling is part of why appliances cost more than a chair.
- TV or monitor: $59 to $79, and it should be going to an e-waste recycler, not the landfill.
- Hot tub: $250 to $400. It has to be cut up and hauled in pieces.
"Curbside" prices assume you dragged it to the driveway. Full service, where the crew carries it out of the room, is typically $25 to $40 more. Ask which one you are being quoted.
When you should not pay anyone
Many San Diego County cities include a few free bulky-item pickups a year through the trash hauler that already serves your address. It is slow (often a week or two out), it is curbside only, and there are item limits, but it is free. Check your hauler's website for "bulky item pickup" before you book anyone, including us. If you have one mattress and no rush, that is the move.
What The Haul Boys charge
Our prices are on the pricing section and they do not change on the driveway:
| Load | Price | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum (single item) | $99 | One couch, one mattress, one appliance, a few bags |
| Quarter truck | $169 | A couple of chairs, boxes, light furniture |
| Half truck | $269 | Couch plus mattress plus the closet |
| Three-quarter truck | $379 | A two or three room cleanout |
| Full truck | $479 | Garage, estate, or move-out load |
Flat rates: mattress $99, couch $129, appliance $119, TV $79, hot tub from $349, small item $79. Every number includes the labor, the stairs, the hauling, the dump fee and a sweep of the space. Usable items go to donation centers; the rest gets recycled where San Diego lets us.
How to get a quote that is actually the price
- Take one photo of the pile, or of each big item, from a few steps back.
- Text it to (714) 414-3321 with the city and whether it is upstairs.
- You get a flat number back. That is what you pay when the truck leaves.
Photos beat phone descriptions every time. "A couch and some stuff" has cost more than one San Diego homeowner a surprise upcharge. A photo cannot be misheard.