How much does house clearance cost?
A 3-bed house typically costs £600–£1,200 to clear, and a studio £150–£350. Here are house clearance costs by property size and by van load, what adds to the bill, and the cheaper alternatives.
Last updated: October 2026 · 6 min read
Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices
House clearance prices by property size
A 3-bed house costs £600–£1,200 to clear, including VAT, according to published cost guides from UK trade platforms (2026). A studio or bedsit costs £150–£350.
| Property | Typical clearance cost |
|---|---|
| Studio or bedsit | £150–£350 |
| 1-bed flat | £250–£450 |
| 2-bed home | £350–£700 |
| 3-bed house | £600–£1,200 |
| 4-bed or larger | £1,000–£2,000+ |
Source: Fantastic Services (house clearance cost guide) (2026) — 2026 cost guide; 3-bed figure includes VAT
These are ranges for a furnished home. A half-empty flat after a move costs less; a house nobody has cleared in thirty years costs more.
How much does a van load of clearance cost?
Firms often price by how much they take away rather than by bedrooms. One published guide puts a load of up to 1,000kg at £400–£600.
| Load | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 250kg (about a 1-bed) | £100–£150 |
| Up to 500kg (about a 2-bed) | £175–£275 |
| Up to 750kg (2–3 bed) | £275–£425 |
| Up to 1,000kg (3–4 bed) | £400–£600 |
Source: MyJobQuote (house clearance costs) (Oct 2026) — October 2026; a second guide with different methods
Labour is the other half. Expect £25–£40 per person per hour, with crews of two or three. The two tables come from different guides, so treat them as separate reference points, not one price list.
Clearing before a move? Compare removal companies and clearance quotes in one go, free and with no obligation.
What adds to the cost of a house clearance?
Some items can't go in an ordinary load. Fridges, freezers and mattresses need special disposal, and firms can charge extra for each one.
| Item | Typical surcharge |
|---|---|
| Mattress | £20 |
| Small fridge or freezer | £30–£50 |
| Large fridge-freezer | £95 |
| Piano | £100–£160 |
Source: MyJobQuote (house clearance costs) (Oct 2026)
- Access. Stairs, no lift and a long carry to the van all add labour time.
- Condition. A hoarded, neglected or damp property takes longer and may need cleaning afterwards.
- Where you live. London and the South East cost more. One guide puts the premium at 20–30% for London and the South East; another puts London at 20–40%.
- What's worth selling. Saleable furniture, antiques or appliances can reduce the bill, occasionally to nothing for valuable contents.
Sources: Fantastic Services (house clearance cost guide) (2026) · MyBuilder (house clearance price guide) (2026) — published cost guides from UK trade platforms (2026)
How long does a house clearance take?
A 3-bed takes about 8–12 hours, according to one published guide. Time matters because labour is charged by the hour.
- 1-bed: 3–6 hours
- 2-bed: 6–8 hours
- 3-bed: 8–12 hours
- 4-bed or larger: 1–2 days
Source: MyJobQuote (house clearance costs) (Oct 2026)
Skip, council collection or clearance firm?
A skip is the cheapest route if you can do the lifting: about £90–£130 for a 2–3 yard skip and £250–£440 for a 12 yard one. You load it, and skips often can't take fridges or mattresses.
For a few big items, your council's bulky waste collection can cost less again:
- City of London: £42.50 for up to 3 items or 10 bags
- Hammersmith & Fulham: £51 for up to 3 items (+£10 each extra)
- Salford: £52.50 for up to 4 items (from)
Sources: each council's bulky waste page (2025–27); skip prices MyJobQuote (Oct 2026).
A clearance firm makes sense when it's a whole house, the stairs are hard, or there's no one to do the carrying. A good firm takes everything in one visit and can tell you what it recycles or resells.
Clearing a house after a death
Don't book the clearance first. The contents count towards the value of the estate for inheritance tax, so get them valued — or sell what's worth selling — before anything is cleared, as Legal & General's probate guidance advises.
Once probate allows, a clearance firm can work around the family's timetable, and a removal company can move the pieces you're keeping.
Why check the waste carrier licence?
Because the law puts part of the risk on you. Householders must take reasonable steps to pass waste only to an authorised carrier. Hand it to someone unlicensed and you can get a fixed penalty — £200 by default, up to £600 — whether or not it's later dumped. Fixed penalties for fly-tipping itself go up to £1,000.
The check takes a minute on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers. Our house clearance page covers what else to ask before you book.
Sources: Defra (household waste duty of care guidance) (Apr 2024) · Environment Agency (public register of waste carriers) (2026)
House clearance costs: FAQs
What is a house clearance?
Clearing a property's contents — furniture, belongings and waste — often before a sale, after a death or at the end of a tenancy. A clearance firm carries everything out, resells or recycles what it can and disposes of the rest. What house clearances cost depends on how much there is, as the prices below show.
How much does the council charge for a house clearance?
Council bulky waste collections take a few items at a time — from about £42.50 for up to 3 items or 10 bags with City of London, for example. For a full property, you'll need a clearance firm or a skip.
How much does house clearance cost?
A 3-bed house costs £600–£1,200 to clear and a 1-bed flat £250–£450, according to published cost guides from UK trade platforms (2026). Volume, access and items that need special disposal move the price from there.
How much does a 1,000kg load of house clearance cost?
About £400–£600 for a load of up to 1,000kg — roughly a 3–4 bed home's worth — according to published cost guides from UK trade platforms (2026). Smaller loads are priced in steps below that.
Is it cheaper to hire a skip or a house clearance company?
A skip is cheaper if you do the lifting: £90–£130 for a 2–3 yard skip, £250–£440 for a 12 yard one. A clearance firm costs more but does the carrying, and can take items a skip often can't, like fridges.
How long does a house clearance take?
A 3-bed takes about 8–12 hours, according to published cost guides from UK trade platforms (2026); a 1-bed 3–6 hours and a 4-bed or larger 1–2 days. A hoarded or damp property takes longer.
Do house clearance companies pay for contents?
Some will knock saleable furniture, antiques or appliances off the price. That can reduce the bill, occasionally to nothing for valuable contents — but don't count on it, and get it in writing on the quote.
How do I check a house clearance company is licensed?
Search its name or registration number on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers. If the waste is later fly-tipped and you didn't check, you can be fined too.
Clearing out before a move? Get free quotes from removal companies for the things you're keeping, and price both jobs in one go.