Junk removal prices in fractions of a truck, not hours: customers understand "a quarter truck" better than cubic yards, and your costs (dump fee + drive + crew time) scale with load fraction. Typical US ranges: ⅛ load $100–180 · ¼ load $150–250 · ½ load $250–420 · full load $500–800, with a $100–150 job minimum.
Two adjustments that protect margin: heavy debris (concrete, dirt, shingle) weighs out long before it fills the truck — dump fees are by weight, so quote it 30–50% above mixed loads or decline it; stairs and distance (long carries from back yards, elevators that need padding) quietly double labor time, so price access, not just volume.
The profit lever customers never see: donation and recycling diversion. Metals, working appliances and re-sellable furniture offset dump fees — a hauler who sorts well keeps 10–20% more per load at the same customer price.
| Load | Volume | Typical US range |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ truck | ~1.5 yd³ | $100–180 |
| ¼ truck | ~3 yd³ | $150–250 |
| ½ truck | ~6 yd³ | $250–420 |
| Full truck | ~12 yd³ | $500–800 |
Keep going with these tools — they build on this calculation: Pressure Washing Price Calculator, Cleaning Invoice Generator and Contractor Hourly Rate Calculator.
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A quarter truck runs $150–250, half a truck $250–420, and a full 12-yard load $500–800 in most US markets. Single items land at the $100–150 minimum.
Train your eye to load fractions, quote from the fraction × your per-truck rate, then adjust for weight (heavy debris +30–50%) and access (stairs/long carry +15%). Always confirm the fraction on site before loading — quotes move if the volume does.
Volume, for customers — they understand truck space. But know your weights: dump fees hit you by the ton, so heavy loads need the surcharge even when they look half empty.