Chattanooga's hills change junk pricing more than its landfill fees do: a couch carried down a Signal Mountain driveway or up from a Highland Park basement takes longer than one in an Ooltewah garage, and the quote reflects the carry, not the zip code.
Every crew in Chattanooga prices the same way, by how much of the truck you fill, so the ranges below are what to expect from any legitimate operator. The quote itself comes from a photo or a walk-through, and the number quoted is the number charged.
By the load
Labour, hauling and landfill fees are inside the price. Heavy material is the exception and goes by weight.
| Load | Typical price | What fits |
| Minimum / single item | $99–$175 | one mattress, one couch, one appliance |
| 1/4 truck | $225–$325 | a bedroom set, a garage corner |
| 1/2 truck | $375–$500 | a small apartment, a garage |
| 3/4 truck | $525–$650 | most estate cleanouts, one room at a time |
| Full truck | $625–$800 | a whole house floor, a big renovation pile |
Roll-off dumpsters in Chattanooga
For a remodel or a week-long cleanout, a dumpster beats repeated truck visits. The quote includes delivery, pickup, the rental days and a tonnage allowance.
| Size | Typical price per week | Best for |
| 10-yard | $325–$450 | garage, bathroom, small roof |
| 15-yard | $400–$525 | kitchen remodel, two-bedroom cleanout |
| 20-yard | $450–$600 | whole house, large roof, big landscaping job |
Single-item pickups
The smallest jobs, and the ones most often done the same day.
| Item | Typical price |
| Mattress and box spring | $100–$175 |
| Couch or sectional | $125–$250 |
| Refrigerator or freezer | $125–$200 |
| Washer, dryer or water heater | $100–$175 |
| Hot tub (cut up and hauled) | $350–$650 |
| Piano | $250–$500 |
| Shed (taken down and hauled) | $400–$900 |
Why two quotes for the same pile can differ
- Access: a basement or a third floor takes longer than a driveway.
- Weight: a pile of tile costs more than the same pile of cardboard.
- Timing: same-day and weekend pickups cost more.
- Disposal: donated or recycled loads can cost less than landfill loads.
- Franchise overhead: national brands price in a call centre and a royalty; local crews do not.
Questions we get about this
What is the cheapest way to get rid of junk in Chattanooga?
One item, left in the driveway or garage so the crew does not need you home, on a weekday. Bundling several items into one pickup is cheaper than several small pickups; a full truck costs less per item than a quarter truck.
Do you charge to give a quote?
No. A photo gets a firm number back, usually within the hour; an on-site look is free too.
Is it cheaper to rent a dumpster or call the truck?
For anything that fits in one visit, the truck, because you do no loading. For a job that runs a week or more, the dumpster.
Does the city of Chattanooga take bulky items for free?
The city runs garbage, recycling and brush collections and takes some bulky items on a schedule; its page, linked under Local resources on our home page, lists what qualifies. Anything outside that, or anything that cannot wait, is what we haul.