Compare your options

Dumpster Rental vs Junk Removal

Hire junk removal when you have a few items and want a crew to load them and leave. Rent a dumpster when the job is bigger than a few pickup loads or takes days.

How the two work

Junk removal is a crew with a truck. They load your items and haul them off. A dumpster is a box we deliver to your driveway. You fill it on your own schedule and we haul it away.

Our rental is one flat rate for a full week, with a three day grace period on top. Sizes run from the 6 yard to the 30 yard. Compare every size.

What junk removal costs

HomeGuide's national cost guide says most homeowners spend between $150 and $350 on junk removal. It says most services charge by the truckload, and one full truck equals around 4 pickup truck loads (HomeGuide, byline dated May 24, 2024, checked October 12, 2026).

Here is HomeGuide's price list for part of a truck. These are national averages, not Chicago area quotes.

Share of a truck	Average cost (HomeGuide)
Minimum, up to 60 cubic feet	$70 to $100
One quarter, 80 to 120 cubic feet	$100 to $150
Half, 180 to 240 cubic feet	$200 to $300
Full, 420 to 480 cubic feet	$400 to $450

What a dumpster costs

For a weekly dumpster rental, HomeGuide gives a national average of $280 to $500 (HomeGuide, byline dated April 5, 2023, checked October 12, 2026).

Our own price depends on the size and your town.Call us and we give you the number for your address.

Side by side

Both options are fair. They fit different jobs.

	Junk removal	Dumpster rental
Who loads	The crew	You, at your own pace
How it is priced	By the truckload, per HomeGuide	By box size. One flat rate for a full week, with a three day grace period on top
Best for	A few items and heavy pieces	Remodels and cleanouts that take days

When junk removal is the better choice

The smallest load on HomeGuide's price list runs $70 to $100. For a handful of items, that can beat a dumpster. We will tell you so on the phone.

You have a few items, like a couch and a table.
You cannot lift the heavy pieces yourself.
You have no driveway or yard space for a box.
You want it all gone in one visit.

When a dumpster is the better choice

A full junk removal truck is about 4 pickup loads (HomeGuide). Our 12 yard holds about 3 to 4 pickup loads. At that size, ask both for a quote and compare. Size guides: dumpster size calculator and dumpster rental cost.

The job runs more than a day, like a remodel or a roof.
You are clearing a basement, a garage or a whole house.
Part of it is concrete, brick or dirt. Those go in the 6 yard only.
You want to keep working and fill the box as you go.

Call 630-850-0770

Call 630-850-0770 and tell us the job. We will tell you honestly if a crew or a bag is the cheaper fit. We are open Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm, and closed weekends.

Prefer to write it down? Request a quote online and we will call you back.

Questions people ask

Is junk removal cheaper than a dumpster?

It can be for a few items, since the smallest load on HomeGuide's list is $70 to $100. For several pickup loads, get a quote from both. Call us for our price on the size you need.

Can I use a dumpster and a junk crew together?

Yes. Some people put the bulk in a box and hire a crew for one awkward piece. Tell us what you have and we will say whether the box is worth it.

Do you take mattresses?

Yes. Mattresses are $25 each.

How long can I keep the dumpster?

One flat rate covers a full week, with a three day grace period on top.

Who loads the dumpster?

You do, at your own pace. Pick the size that matches your pile and call if it fills early.

Book a dumpster

Call and describe the job. We size the container with you, give you the price on that call and book the date. Same-day delivery when the route allows.

Call 630-850-0770 Request a quote