COST GUIDES
House clearance cost guide 2026
Updated 02/26
By: Content Team
In this guide, we look at the average house clearance cost, which for many people will be a garage clearance cost. Whether you’re doing your own life laundry, or dealing with a bereavement-related property clearance, you’ll be wanting to get rid of a large volume of belongings all at once.
Fast Facts
Costs start at around £175 for an extra small house or garage clearance
Some items, like household appliances and building supplies, will incur extra costs
Watch out for very low clearance costs, which are often too good to be true
House clearance costs typically start at around £175 for an extra small clearance.
However, calculating the total cost varies depending on the rough quantity of items that you need to get rid of. Read on for more.
If you're looking for house cleaning costs on top of the clearance, check out our house cleaning cost guide.
How much does house clearance cost in 2026?
House clearance companies all have their own ways of charging and different prices for the services they offer. Some will charge you per volume, others by weight, and others may agree a one-off flat fee.
| Item | From | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Volume prices | ||
| Extra small clearance (250kg max, ¼ van load) | £175 | - |
| Small clearance (500kg max, ½ van load) | £325 | - |
| Medium clearance (750kg max, ¾ van load) | £400 | - |
| Large clearance (1,000kg max, full van load) | £595 | - |
| Additional items | ||
| TVs and monitors | - | £20 |
| Pianos | - | £140 |
| Large fridge freezer | - | £120 |
| Small fridge or freezer | - | £75 |
| Mattress | - | £25 |
| Small electrical items (kettle, toaster, iron, etc) | - | £10 |
| Last updated: June 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||
There will almost always be additional charges for disposing of, or recycling, certain items such as household appliances, building supplies and large items.
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House clearance prices per project
As a guide, the cost of house clearance will depend on the rough quantity of items that you need to get rid of.
Extra small clearance
For an extra small clearance, that’s the equivalent of up to 250kg or a quarter of a large van, the average house clearance cost starts from £175.
Small clearance
For a small clearance, which equates to up to 500kg or about half a large van load, the cost of house clearance will start from around £325.
Medium clearance
If you have a medium clearance that is up to 750kg or three-quarters of a large van load the house clearance will cost you upwards of £400.
Large
If you’re planning a large house clearance of up to 1,000kg or a full van load then you’ll be looking at a starting cost from £595.
Garage clearance
The cost of garage clearance is typically charged at the same rate as house clearance, as mentioned above.
Factors affecting house clearance costs
When you’re researching the costs of house and garage clearance, it’s important to consider a number of key factors that will affect the total price you pay. These include:
Quantity of items for clearance
Types of items
Access to site
Volume of belongings (additional vans will cost more)
Where you live (clearance prices vary across the UK)
Responsible waste disposal (typically added onto the service fee)
Make sure you pay a suitable market price for your house or garage clearance and check to see proof of responsible disposal and recycling of all clearance items before hiring a tradesperson for house clearance services.
View checked house clearer services with reviews from real people, and contact them directly.
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Hidden costs to consider
You’ll almost always face additional charges for disposing of, or recycling, certain items such as household appliances, building supplies and large items.
Here are some examples of items you’ll need to budget extra for.
TVs and monitors
For TVs and monitors, you’re likely to be charged an additional clearance cost of around £20 per item.
Fridge freezers
Fridge freezers will incur a cost dependent on their size. A small fridge or freezer will cost about £75 each and for a large fridge freezer the clearance cost would be around £120 each.
Mattresses
If you’re disposing of mattresses, you’ll almost certainly need to pay extra. You can expect to be charged around £25 per mattress on top of the standard house and garage clearance cost.
Small electrical items
Other smaller electrical items, such as kettles, irons and toasters, are often subject to a small additional cost of around £10 per item.
Cost of house clearance vs hiring a skip
If you don’t mind taking a few days to go through your house or garage, you could consider hiring a skip instead.
This may work out cheaper for larger house clearances.
The average cost of skip hire is between £125 and £320 per day. To find out more, check out our guide to skip hire prices.
How does house clearance work?
Here’s a quick rundown of how house and garage clearance works, so you know what to expect.
1. Finding the right house clearance company
Compare checked house clearance companies and do your homework for a better understanding of typical prices.
It’s a good idea to read customer reviews in order to find tradespeople committed to quality. Reading reviews from real people can help make sure you make the right choice for your project.
2. Preparing for the clearance
In order to keep precious keepsakes safe and avoid any important items being thrown away by accident, it’s a good idea to categorise important items and store them in labelled boxes.
3. During the house clearance
Make sure the house clearers remove all the waste, furniture and rubbish that you’ve designated for removal.
It’s also important that the removal company tallies up the resale value of goods they are taking, so confirm this with them whilst they’re on site.
4. After the house clearance
It’s a good idea to also write a review of the tradesperson or company that you have hired. This can help other potential customers understand the kind of services provided.
House clearance cost checklist
Speak to a number of checked tradespeople to get appropriate guidance and accurate quotes for the job
Ask for a detailed breakdown of all costs, including additional fees for special items
Do your homework when hiring a checked tradesperson - check their website and social media to see examples of their work and what their customers are saying.
Always hire a checked tradesperson with customer reviews from real people
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