How Much Do Estate Cleanout Services Cost? [2026 Data]

On average, estate cleanout services cost $1,250 but can range from $50 to $6,000, depending on the size of the estate and how much work you leave to the pros. Services like sorting paperwork, identifying and valuing assets, hauling large items, and item sales all factor into the total cost of an estate cleanout service.

Estate Cleanout Service Cost Factors

The total cost of an estate clean-out depends on the specific services you need, the size and scope of the project, where you live, and the types of items involved.

Service Types

An estate cleanout can consist of various services, such as sorting estate paperwork, identifying which items are valuable assets, removing and disposing of junk, and selling or donating unwanted items. 

When donating items, you'll often pay a pickup fee to have the items transported. When you hire an estate cleanout service to sell items, you'll pay them a percentage of the proceeds earned (typically 35% to 40%, according to the American Society of Estate Liquidators) as commission and pocket the rest. This means it’s technically not always an extra cost, but is still a consideration.

Labor

If you hire professional movers to clean out an estate, you'll spend $25 to $50 per hour on labor. Expect labor costs to rise along with property size or number of items. A larger home will have more rooms and hold more items, requiring more labor hours to sort and haul. Likewise, a smaller home with an exceptionally large volume of personal belongings will raise costs.

You may also wish to hire someone to deep clean your house. Many hire a local house cleaning service once the home is cleared of all belongings. This can cost anywhere from $25 to $200 per hour per cleaner.

Location

As with many projects, the cost of living in your area can affect labor and fuel costs. Expect to pay more for estate clean-out if you live in a large metropolitan area as opposed to a rural town.

Bulky Items

Oversized or cumbersome items will require special handling and additional labor to clean out. Hauling large items up or down staircases will increase costs by roughly $40 to $100 per staircase. If a crane is required to remove an item, expect it to cost up to an additional $2,000.

Timing of House Cleaning Requests

Based on the responses of 209,300 Angi customers, 39.9% of homeowners request urgent house cleaning within 1 to 2 days, while 32.9% schedule cleaning within two weeks. For estate cleaning, these insights highlight the importance of timely and thorough service, as some properties may require more planning and effort.

Why You Should Hire an Estate Cleaner

An epic cleanout like this involves more than boxing up old belongings. It can be an emotionally charged project on top of being a logistical puzzle. DIY might save money in theory, until you start sorting important documents, lifting heavy furniture, deciding what stays, sells, or goes, and paying a la carte for reinforcements. A local house cleaning team keeps the process organized and efficient. 

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire an estate cleanout pro

Estate cleanouts require coordination and careful handling that professionals make significantly less stressful, including:

• Sorting paperwork and identifying items that may have financial or sentimental value

• Managing donations, hauling, and disposal so nothing gets left behind

• Providing fair estimates for items that could be sold rather than discarded

• Handling bulky items safely to avoid injury to yourself or property

• Restoring the property quickly and efficiently so it is ready for its next stage

If you want to DIY an estate cleanout

Homeowners can certainly tackle smaller tasks to help streamline the work before the pros arrive by:

• Taking initial photos of rooms and large items to help pros estimate the scope

• Gathering essential documents such as wills, medical records, and financial statements

• Setting aside anything fragile or high-value for specialized handling

• Removing small personal items or keepsakes you want to save

• Clearing pathways so movers can navigate the home easily

Cost of Common Estate Cleanout Service Add-Ons

The services offered by your local estate clean-out providers will vary, and some companies may charge extra for certain add-on services or even contract them out to third parties. One example is junk removal, which includes labor and disposal fees. Another is dumpster rental, which may be required if you have lots of waste to dispose of.

• Junk removal cost: $130–$370

• Dumpster rental cost: $290–$480

• House cleaning cost: $70–$370

How You Can Save Money While Cleaning Out an Estate

To reduce the cost of an estate cleanout, look for discounts or special offers. Some estate cleanout companies offer discounts for military veterans or emergency first responders. Others will purchase valuable items such as jewelry, memorabilia, and collectibles. When gathering quotes from local providers, ask about these types of offers and other ways to reduce costs.

One way to reduce labor costs is to cut down on project time by organizing items in advance. Decide which items you’ll keep, donate, or throw away, then clearly label and sort them. This will reduce the work your estate cleaning company has to perform.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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