Estate Cleanout in Madison, WI
Updated
Short answer
An estate cleanout typically costs $625 to $2,000, up to $4,000 for larger estates (LawnStarter). The job is sorting as much as hauling: items for family, donation to groups like Habitat ReStore or St. Vinny's, recycling streams Wisconsin requires, and landfill. Madison's free large item pickup is limited to what a household can set at the curb, one work order at a time.
How it usually goes
- The family takes what it wants and marks anything that stays (paperwork, photos, valuables).
- Usable furniture and household goods are set aside for donation pickup or drop-off.
- Appliances, electronics, tires and metal are separated because Wisconsin law keeps them out of the landfill.
- Paint, chemicals and other hazardous products are listed for Dane County Clean Sweep, which a junk crew does not load.
- The rest is loaded, swept and hauled.
Madison specifics
- Extra trash outside the cart: six or more 30-gallon bags (40 pounds max) are collected on two consecutive weeks if the cart is full.
- Extra recycling outside the cart is collected only twice a calendar year, in see-through bags.
- A dumpster or storage pod on the street needs a Street Occupancy Permit from Traffic Engineering or the Parking Division.
- The Streets Division does not collect private dumpsters such as WM Bagsters.
Estates in older homes often mean basements and attics; see garage and basement cleanouts and extra trash and dumpster permits.
Common questions
Estate Cleanout: questions
How much does an estate cleanout cost?
LawnStarter's 2026 guide puts typical estate cleanouts at $625 to $2,000, up to $4,000 for larger estates. The final number depends on volume, weight and how much sorting is needed.
Can a crew take paint and chemicals from an estate?
No. Those go to Dane County Clean Sweep, which charges Dane County households $15 per trip for hazardous waste.
Other services
Furniture RemovalCouches, sectionals, recliners, dressers, bed frames and desks carried out and hauled off.Appliance RemovalRefrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters and window AC units.Electronics and TV RemovalTVs, monitors, computers, printers and cords, routed to an E-Cycle Wisconsin recycler.Mattress RemovalMattresses and box springs, including from walk-ups and buildings the city won't serve.Hot Tub RemovalSpas and hot tubs cut down, carried out and hauled, including the cover.Piano RemovalUpright and spinet pianos moved out on a piano dolly, donated or disposed of.
Estate Cleanout in Madison and Dane County
Tell us what is going and where it is. A local crew replies with a price, and nothing is hauled until you agree to it.