Quick answer: Across Los Angeles, apartment junk removal typically runs $250 to $700 for a 1 bedroom, higher for larger units or stairs. TurnOver LA is flat rate by unit size, Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420, with $200 per additional load, and a standard 48 hour turnaround. No rush fee.
If your goal is the cheapest workable option, know the baseline. Single item curbside hauls can be as low as $60, but full apartment cleanouts in LA usually total $250 to $700 on the open market. TurnOver LA’s unit cleanout pricing is Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420, plus $200 per additional load. Bookings clear within 48 hours. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
How much does junk removal cost in Los Angeles right now?
Across LA, pricing breaks into two buckets. Per item hauls for a chair or microwave often run $60 to $150. Full apartment or multi item cleanouts are quoted by truck volume or time, which commonly lands between $250 and $700 for a 1 bedroom, $400 to $900 for a 2 bedroom, and more if there are long carries, no parking, or walk ups. Downtown LA and Westside quotes skew higher because of elevator reservations and loading dock access rules. Vacancy loss in LA runs about $80 to $200 per day, so a delayed cleanout can erase any savings from a slower or cheaper option.
TurnOver LA is a flat rate for unit cleanouts, Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420, with $200 per additional load. That is the labor, truck, and disposal. We plan to the building, so tight alleys in Koreatown or elevator windows in DTLA do not stall the next step in your turnover.
What are TurnOver LA junk haul prices and what is included?
Here is our cleanout menu for apartments in Los Angeles, built for turnovers and lease ends, not construction debris. Pricing is per unit:
- Unit cleanout or junk haul: Studio $200, 1 Bedroom $310, 2 Bedroom $420, 3BR or larger $420
- Additional junk load: $200 per load
The price covers labor, truck, and disposal for typical household goods and trash bag outs, plus basic sweep ready so your cleaner or painter can follow. We separate obvious e waste and metals from trash on site and keep trip counts efficient for buildings with elevator windows. Standard scheduling is 48 hours from booking. There is no same day upcharge, since we do not sell rush. If you want to combine with repairs, our half day handyman punch list is $230 and our full day is $425, which often saves a second trip fee.
For full turn keys, consider pairing cleanout with Make Ready so your cleaner is not moving leftover junk. Our Make Ready starts at Studio $225 and includes a 12 point photo report. See scope and pricing on the Make Ready service page.
What is the cheapest way to remove junk from an apartment?
Cheapest is about matching scope to method and not burning time. Here is a ranked list from lowest possible spend to most reliable for large volumes:
- City bulky item pickup if allowed at your property. Free or near free, but apartments often have limits or manager approval rules. Works for 1 to 2 large items, not a bag out.
- Self haul with a friend and a pickup. Dump fees plus gas usually land under $100 for small loads. Hidden cost is your time and building access rules.
- Donate or resell usable items before move out. OfferUp and Buy Nothing groups can clear volume, but pickups can flake and extend your timeline.
- Hire a single item hauler for mattresses or sofas. Expect $60 to $150 per item. Good for tenants still in possession, less useful for a full unit turnover.
- Use TurnOver LA’s Studio cleanout for light volumes. At $200, it beats most hourly quotes when you have mixed bags, small furniture, and kitchen clutter.
- Book a 1BR or 2BR cleanout when you have multiple rooms of mixed junk. Our 1BR is $310 and 2BR is $420. This avoids extra trip fees and usually beats volume based quotes.
- Combine services on one visit. Pair cleanout with a $230 half day handyman to patch holes or remove wall anchors so you are not paying two mobilizations.
If the unit is vacant and you are on a deposit timeline, speed usually beats shaving $50 off the haul. You have 21 days to account under California law, so do not let a free pickup that is five days out kill your schedule. Get instant quote in 30 seconds
Is 1 800 GOT JUNK cheaper than local haulers in LA?
Volume priced national haulers quote by truck fraction, so pricing changes after they see your load. In Los Angeles apartments we routinely see quotes for a 1 bedroom worth of mixed items land around the mid hundreds to low thousands depending on stairs, elevator access, and the number of bagged items. That can be a good fit for unusual loads, but it is unpredictable for landlords on a clock.
With TurnOver LA, the number is fixed by bedroom count, Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR or larger $420, with $200 per additional load when a unit is excessively packed. If you are comparing against any volume based quote, inventory your items into three groups before you book, large furniture, bagged trash, and electronics. If furniture is minimal and most of the load is bags, flat per unit pricing often wins by a wide margin.
Can you throw away an air fryer, mattress, or TV in LA?
Small kitchen appliances with electronics, like air fryers and microwaves, count as e waste in California and should not go in your black bin. Same for TVs, monitors, and many corded devices. Mattresses are handled separately under state rules, many haulers will recycle them or add a disposal fee. If you are a tenant, ask your manager about building rules for bulky items. If you are a landlord on a turnover, we include these items as part of the unit cleanout and sort e waste from trash so it is handled properly. When in doubt, keep electronics out of building bins to avoid contamination tags and delays.
How should landlords document junk removal for security deposit deductions?
California requires specific accounting if you deduct from a tenant’s deposit for cleaning or removal. Save before photos, invoices, and a simple inventory of removed items by room. You must send an itemized statement within 21 calendar days of move out under California Civil Code §1950.5. The state’s California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide explains what counts as cleaning versus damage. For a quick refresher on timing, see our guide to the 21 day deposit return. Note that AB 12 (2023) security deposit cap narrows deposit headroom for many rentals, so tight documentation matters more in 2024.
For context on what is chargeable, see our guides on normal wear and tear in California and overall turnover cost ranges in LA. The short version, document everything, use photos from the door and from corners, and keep receipts.
Does LA rent control change how I handle junk left behind?
LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance does not change basic deposit rules, but it does define housing services that include things like trash collection and common area maintenance. Chronic accumulation in hallways or around dumpsters can become a habitability or housing services issue. See the city’s page for the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. For turnovers, the practical move is to clear the unit within 48 hours, notify the tenant of deductions with photos, and keep common areas clear to avoid complaints. If the tenant has truly abandoned property, follow Civil Code notice and storage rules before disposal.
Where in LA do you work and how fast can you book?
We cover core LA neighborhoods every week, DTLA, Koreatown, Hollywood, Westside, and Valley corridors. High rise buildings in downtown LA often require elevator windows, which we schedule around so your painter and cleaner can start on time. Every service at TurnOver LA is a standard 48 hour turnaround. There is no rush surcharge, and bookings include a firm arrival window. If you need handyman or make ready work after the haul, you can stack that on the same visit with our $230 half day or $425 full day handyman.
Bottom line, for full apartment cleanouts our flat rates are often the cheapest predictable option once you factor time, access, and vacancy loss. Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR or 3BR $420, with $200 per extra load, booked in under a minute. Get instant quote in 30 seconds