Bulk Junk Removal in Chicago, Illinois
Starting at $79. Additional items from $19.
When you have a pile of mixed junk — from a garage cleanout, move-out, renovation, or just years of accumulation — your options are: city bulk pickup (free but limited), renting a dumpster ($250–500 for 3–7 days), self-hauling multiple loads to the dump ($30–80 per trip), curbside pickup through Dropcurb ($79+ depending on items, same day), or hiring a traditional junk removal crew ($200–800+).
Same-day pickup available — book by 12pm for today's window
948+
Cities Covered
39
States Served
Same-Day
Pickup Available
$50
No-Show Guarantee
How junk removal works in Chicago
Curb it
Place your junk at the curb, driveway, or alley. No wrapping, no disassembly.
Book it
Select your item, see the exact price ($79), and pick your day. 60 seconds.
Gone
A local insured hauler picks it up same-day in Chicago. You get a text when it's done.
No strangers in your home. No scheduling a 4-hour window. No being home.
How much does junk removal cost in Chicago?
Bulk junk removal through Dropcurb starts at $79 for the first item, with additional items from +$19 (small) to +$59 (heavy). A typical garage cleanout with 5–8 items runs $150–250. Traditional junk removal companies charge $200–$800+ based on truck volume — meaning you pay for space even if your items are light. Dumpster rentals cost $250–500 but you do all the loading yourself. City bulk pickup is free but won't take everything.
Flat rate · No hidden fees · Price guaranteed
✓ Price guaranteed before you book. No surprises, no hidden fees.
Traditional junk removal (1-800-GOT-JUNK, LoadUp): $150–$600+
5 ways to get rid of junk in Chicago
Compared by cost, speed, and effort — pick the right option for your situation.
How to prepare your junk for pickup
- ✓ Stack or pile items neatly at the curb. Use bags or boxes for small loose items. Keep the pile accessible from the street.
- ✓ Place at curb, driveway, or alley
- ✓ No need to be home
When do you need junk removal in Chicago?
- • Garage cleanout with mixed junk
- • Post-move leftover boxes and packing materials
- • Yard debris mixed with household junk
- • Storage unit cleanout
Does Chicago pick up bulk junk?
Junk removal in Chicago, IL starts at $79 with Dropcurb. The city offers free Bulky Item Pick Up by calling 3-1-1, but as of February 2026, collections are now tied to your regular weekly garbage day — and you can only schedule by phone, not online or through the app. With 2.7 million residents competing for slots, busy neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Wicker Park face longer delays.
City program details: Chicago Bulky Item Pick Up. Call 3-1-1 to schedule free curbside pickup for furniture, appliances, and mattresses. As of February 16, 2026, bulk collections are scheduled on your regular weekly collection day (no longer on separate routes). Free for residents. Items placed in street or alley. No online or app scheduling — phone only. Wait times vary but can run 1-2 weeks during busy periods.
As of February 16, 2026, Chicago bulk collections are scheduled on your regular weekly collection day — call 311 to arrange (phone only, no online/app option). Items are placed in the street or alley. Chicago Grade Landfill charges a $35 fee for untarped loads. TAZ Disposal in McCook charges around $60 per ton for self-haul. Junk Robbers offers junk removal starting at $75-$150 per single item and $150-$250 for quarter truckloads. JUNK Relief specializes in emergency junk removal at $75-$150 per single item with upfront quotes. Smash Bros Junk & Demolition serves Chicago and suburbs with volume-based pricing. Two Men and a Junk Truck starts at $99. LoadUp charges $79 per item. The average junk removal cost in Chicago runs $257-$270 based on 30,690 completed projects (Homeyou, March 2026).
Dropcurb picks up bulk junk same-day in Chicago for $79 flat — no wait, no annual limits, no restrictions.
Free pickup exists — but only by phone, only on your garbage day.
As of February 2026, Chicago bulk collections happen on your regular weekly garbage day — but you must call 311 to schedule (no online or app option). With 2.7 million residents funneling through the same phone line, wait times pile up. Lincoln Park move-outs, Logan Square renovations, and Pilsen decluttering all compete for the same slots.
1-2 weeks
311 appointment wait time
2,695,598
Residents sharing the system
~$60/ton
Transfer station self-haul rate
What happens to your junk after pickup
Bulk junk is sorted at the facility into recyclable, donatable, and disposable categories. Metals, wood, cardboard, and plastics are separated for recycling. Usable items (furniture, working electronics, household goods) are donated to local charities when possible. Construction debris like drywall, lumber, and concrete is processed at specialized construction & demolition recycling facilities. Items that can't be recycled or donated are disposed of at licensed solid waste facilities. Our haulers make every effort to minimize landfill waste.
Why Chicago residents choose Dropcurb for junk removal
Dropcurb's $79 skips the 311 phone-only scheduling queue and 1-2 week wait entirely. Same-day curbside pickup — cheaper than Junk Robbers' $99+, cheaper than JUNK Relief's $75-$150 per item (with no volume markup), and infinitely faster than the city's appointment system.
Serving Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square, River North, Pilsen, Ukrainian Village, and 4 more neighborhoods in Chicago.
Bulk Junk removal questions in Chicago
Bulk Junk Removal nearby
Same-day junk pickup near Chicago.
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