How much does an estate cleanout cost per square foot?

Roughly $1 to $3 per square foot of living area for a normally furnished home, so $1,800 to $5,400 for 1,800 square feet. Truckload pricing ($300 to $800 per load) is more common and usually cheaper for sparse homes.

Do estate cleanout companies pay for items?

Some credit resalable furniture, tools or collectibles against the bill, or run an estate sale first. Ask up front; not every company has a resale channel.

What is the difference between an estate sale and an estate cleanout?

An estate sale sells the contents over a weekend and takes a commission (30 to 40 percent). A cleanout removes everything left, usually after the sale or when a sale is not worth running.

Home › Guides › Estate cleanout cost: by truckload, by square foot, and what changes it

Estate cleanout cost: by truckload, by square foot, and what changes it

Updated 2026-09-14

Nationally an estate cleanout runs $800 to $4,000 for a full house. Most companies price by the truckload; some quote per square foot; a few charge by the hour. Here is how to compare them.

By truckload

$300 to $800 per 15- to 20-yard load including labor and dump fees. A one-bedroom apartment is one to two loads; a three-bedroom house two to four; a full basement and garage add one each. This is the most common and the easiest to check.

By square foot

$1 to $3 per square foot of living area for a normally furnished home. A 1,800-square-foot house lands at $1,800 to $5,400. Useful for a quick budget; less accurate than a walk-through.

By the hour

$100 to $200 per hour for a two-person crew plus disposal. Fine for a half-day job; risky for a whole house because you carry the overrun.

What moves the number

Heavy items: pianos, safes, appliances, hot tubs.
Hazardous waste: paint, chemicals, propane, old electronics, which landfills refuse.
Access: stairs, no driveway, urban parking.
Sorting: if you want the crew to find documents and valuables, say so and expect hours added.
Resale credit: companies with a resale or donation channel may credit part of the value against the bill. Ask.
Final clean: often a separate line ($200 to $600).

Getting a fair estimate

Walk-through, written, line items. Two estimates for anything over $2,000. Ask where items go (donation receipts help the estate at tax time). Photograph valuable items before the crew arrives.