How Big Is a Truckload of Junk? Load Sizes and Prices Explained
Updated
Short answer
The load table
| Load | Volume (Angi) | Price range across guides |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum or 1/8 load | About 2 to 3 cubic yards | $70 to $125 |
| 1/4 load | About 3 to 4.5 cubic yards | $100 to $200 |
| 1/2 load | About 4.5 to 11 cubic yards | $175 to $400 |
| 3/4 load | About 11 to 13 cubic yards | $375 to $600 |
| Full truckload | About 13 to 17 cubic yards | $400 to $800 |
Why the guides disagree
They measure different trucks. Fixr defines a full load as 350 to 475 cubic feet, HomeGuide as 420 to 480, Angi as 13 to 17 cubic yards (351 to 459 cubic feet), and LawnStarter's full truck holds up to 20 cubic yards. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. So "half a truck" is a real range, not a fixed size, which is why a quote from photos beats a number from a table.
Scale against the landfill
The Janesville landfill lets city residents bring 96 gallons or less free. 96 gallons is about 12.8 cubic feet, or just under half a cubic yard: roughly a quarter of a 1/8 load (City of Janesville, Sanitary Landfill).
Sources: Angi; HomeAdvisor; Fixr; HomeGuide; LawnStarter; City of Janesville, Sanitary Landfill
Quick answers
How many cubic yards is a full junk removal truck?
Angi and HomeAdvisor put a full load at about 13 to 17 cubic yards; LawnStarter's full truck holds up to 20.
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