How Much Does House Clearance Cost in the UK?
Typical 2026 price ranges from national cost guides, what makes a clearance cost more or less, and how to get a quote you can rely on.
Carried out by Kwikshift Removals & Storage · licensed waste carrier · £10m insured
Updated 6 October 2026
The Short Answer
Most UK house clearances cost somewhere between a few hundred pounds and just over a thousand. Where your job falls depends mainly on how much there is to take away, how easy it is to get it out, and whether any of it needs special disposal.
The figures below come from two national price guides, both updated in 2026. They are averages from across the country. They are not our prices, and your own quote could be higher or lower.
House Clearance Staffordshire works in partnership with Kwikshift Removals & Storage, whose crews carry out all our work. Kwikshift gives a free quote for each job, so you know the cost before anything is moved.
Typical UK House Clearance Costs by Property Size
MyJobQuote's 2026 house clearance guide (last updated July 2026) gives these ranges. It says its figures come from real quotes given by tradespeople to homeowners on its platform.
| Property | Typical cost | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom flat | £150 – £300 | 3 – 6 hours |
| 2-bedroom house | £250 – £450 | 6 – 8 hours |
| 3-bedroom house | £400 – £700 | 8 – 12 hours |
| 4+ bedroom house | £700 – £1,200 | 1 – 2 days |
The same guide puts the average house clearance at around £450. It also notes that London prices run higher, at around £750 plus VAT for a typical three-bedroom house.
Prices by van load
Many companies price by how much of a van your things fill. Checkatrade's 2026 house clearance cost guide (last updated June 2026) gives these starting prices:
| Size of clearance | Roughly | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Extra small | Up to 250kg, about a quarter of a large van | From £175 |
| Small | Up to 500kg, about half a van | From £325 |
| Medium | Up to 750kg, about three-quarters of a van | From £400 |
| Large | Up to 1,000kg, a full van | From £595 |
A full three- or four-bedroom house, with a loft and garage, can easily fill more than one van. That is why the property-size figures above can be higher than a single van load.
Items that often cost extra
Checkatrade lists typical extra charges for items that need their own disposal route:
- TVs and monitors: around £20 each
- Small fridge or freezer: around £75 each
- Large fridge freezer: around £120 each
- Mattresses: around £25 each
- Small electricals such as kettles, irons and toasters: around £10 each
- Pianos: around £140
Not every company charges these separately. Some build them into one price. Either way, tell the company about these items when you ask for a quote.
How Clearance Companies Charge
Both guides make the same point: there is no single way of pricing a clearance. When you compare quotes, check you are comparing like with like.
By van load or weight
You pay for the space or weight your things take up. Simple, but the price can rise on the day if there is more than expected.
By the hour
MyJobQuote puts typical labour at £25 to £40 per person per hour, with most teams of two or three people. Disposal is usually on top.
One fixed price
The company looks at photos or visits, then quotes one price for the whole job. MyJobQuote says fixed quotes are more common than hourly rates.
Whichever way a company prices, ask what is included. A low headline price can grow once fridges, mattresses, the loft and the garage are added. A fixed price agreed in writing is the easiest to plan around.
What Affects the Price
Two houses of the same size can cost very different amounts to clear. These are the things that make the difference.
How much there is
Volume and weight matter most. A tidy flat is quick. A family home with a packed loft, garage and shed takes longer and fills more vans. MyJobQuote notes that disposal costs of around £180 to £200 per tonne are usually passed on to the customer.
Access and stairs
Upstairs flats with no lift, narrow stairs, long paths and furniture that has to be taken apart all add time. So does a loft with no proper ladder or boards.
Parking
If the van can park right outside, loading is quicker. Narrow terraced streets, permit zones and long carries from the kerb all add labour.
Distance
Travel to the property and on to licensed waste sites is part of the cost. Rural properties can take longer to reach.
Items needing special disposal
Fridges, freezers, TVs and other electricals have their own recycling routes. Sofas and armchairs may contain chemicals called POPs and must be kept apart from other waste and destroyed, not landfilled. See what happens to waste after a clearance.
Things worth selling
Checkatrade advises asking the company to tally up the resale value of goods they take. Some firms reduce the price for saleable items. Ask about this, and get anything valuable looked at before the clearance.
Council Bulky Waste vs a Private Clearance
If you only have a few large items, try your council first. In North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council all run paid collections for large items. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council points residents to charity collections and reuse apps instead.
Council collections have limits. Items usually have to be left outside by 7am on the day, and Stafford's crews won't collect from inside a house, garage or back garden. Each booking covers a set number of items. Check the council's website for what they take and the current charge.
You can also take things to the tip yourself, but there are rules. Staffordshire County Council asks for a permit for vans and trailers, even hire vans. Stoke-on-Trent's tips are for city residents only, and staff may ask for ID or turn away loads that look like a house clearance.
A private clearance makes sense when there is a whole house to empty, heavy lifting, stairs, or no time. Checkatrade says a skip may work out cheaper for some large clearances, and puts average skip hire at £125 to £320 per day. But you do all the carrying, and you may need a council permit if the skip goes on public land, such as the road.
Want to know what your clearance would actually cost?
Send the postcode, preferred date, access details and a few photos and Kwikshift will come back with a free quote.
Get a Free QuoteHow to Get an Accurate Quote
A quote is only as good as the information behind it. To avoid surprises on the day:
- Photograph every space. Every room, plus the loft, garage, shed, cellar and garden. Open the wardrobes and cupboards. Hidden contents are the most common reason a price changes.
- Say what is staying. Mark or list anything the family is keeping, so it isn't priced in.
- Describe the access. Floor level, lift or no lift, steps, and where a van can park.
- List the awkward items. Fridges, freezers, TVs, sofas, pianos, safes and anything very heavy.
- Get it in writing. Ask what the price includes: labour, vans, disposal, special items and sweeping up. Checkatrade suggests asking for a detailed breakdown of all costs.
- Check the waste licence. Make sure the company is on the Environment Agency's register as an upper tier waste carrier. Our guide on choosing a licensed clearance company explains how.
Checkatrade also warns that very low prices are often too good to be true. If the cheapest firm dumps your waste, you could be the one who is fined.
Ways to Keep the Cost Down
- Sort first. Take out what the family wants before anyone quotes. Less to move means a lower price.
- Sell or give away good items. The British Heart Foundation offers free collection of furniture and electricals it can sell. Emmaus North Staffs collects free within 10 miles of its Hanley store. Both need upholstered items to have fire labels.
- Use retailer take-back. If you are buying a new appliance, the shop must offer to take the old one of the same type.
- Use the council for one or two items if that is all you have.
- Bag up small things like clothes, books and papers if you are able to. It can save time on the day.
- Clear the way. Make sure there is somewhere to park and nothing blocking doors and stairs.
Want to know how long the work will take? See how long a house clearance takes.
How Kwikshift Can Help
Kwikshift's crews carry out full and part house clearances across North Staffordshire. They are a registered upper tier waste carrier with £10 million public liability insurance. Send a few photos and you'll get a free quote, so you know the cost before you book.
Trusted by Hundreds of Customers
Every job is carried out by Kwikshift Removals & Storage, an established removals, clearance and storage company with over 15 years in the trade.
What customers say about Kwikshift
- Friendly, efficient crews, often praised by name
- Belongings handled with care, from furniture to fragile items
- Clear communication from first enquiry to the finished job
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Fixed Price for Your Clearance
Tell us what needs clearing, moving or storing. Kwikshift aims to reply promptly during business hours, normally within 60 minutes.