Hauling It Yourself vs Hiring Junk Removal in South Florida
Renting a pickup and driving to a transfer station is a legitimate option, and for a small load it can be the cheapest one. It stops being cheap the moment you need two trips, a second person, or a furniture dolly. Here is the honest math.
| Factor | Hiring a crew | DIY dump run |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Included — 7' x 16' dump trailer with 4' walls. | Truck rental or borrowed pickup; a pickup bed holds far less than people expect. |
| Disposal fees | Included in the flat rate. | Paid per load at the scale, on top of everything else. |
| Labor | Two-person crew, included. | You, plus whoever you can talk into it. |
| Number of trips | One — the trailer holds roughly 16 cubic yards. | A typical garage cleanout is three to six pickup loads. |
| Injury risk | Ours, and we are insured for it. | Yours. Appliances, sleeper sofas, and stairs are how people hurt their backs. |
| Time cost | You point; we load. Usually one to two hours. | Loading, driving, waiting at the scale, unloading, repeat. |
| Sorting and donation | We separate what can be donated or recycled on the way out. | Separate trips to separate facilities. |
Choose hiring a crew when
- Anything heavy, awkward, or above the first floor
- More than one pickup-truck load of material
- You do not have a truck, a helper, or a free Saturday
- Appliances, mattresses, or e-waste with special disposal rules
Choose diy dump run when
- A genuinely small load that fits in one pickup bed
- You already own the truck and have help
- Material you can lift comfortably by yourself
The verdict
One small pickup load with a truck you already own is cheaper to do yourself. Past that, truck rental plus fuel plus per-load disposal fees plus multiple trips usually meets or beats a flat-rate quote — and you still did all the lifting.
Common questions
How much fits in a pickup truck?
A standard full-size pickup bed holds roughly 2 to 2.5 cubic yards heaped. Our dump trailer holds around 16 cubic yards, so one trailer load replaces roughly six to eight pickup loads.
Can I take anything to a county facility?
No. Household hazardous waste, tires, some electronics, and refrigerant-containing appliances have separate handling requirements, and facilities have specific hours and residency rules. Check the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County or Broward County Waste & Recycling Services before you load up.
What does a junk removal job cost?
We price flat rate by how much space your material takes in the trailer, starting at a $75 minimum for a single small item and running up to a full trailer load. Text a photo to (561) 345-9808 for an exact number.