Quick answer
Should I rent a dump trailer or hire junk removal?
Rent a dump trailer if you want to load it yourself on your own schedule, for example during a remodel or a landscaping project. Hire full-service junk removal if you’d rather have a crew do all the lifting, loading and hauling. San Diego Junk Removal offers both, plus labor-only help if you want a crew to load your rental.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Question | Dump trailer rental | Full-service junk removal |
|---|---|---|
| Who loads it? | You do, on your own schedule. Want help? Our labor-only crew can fill a rental for you. | Our crew, from wherever the items are: garage, backyard, attic, basement or any room. |
| How does it work? | We drop the trailer off at your home or job site. You load it, call us when you’re done, and we pick it up and handle disposal. | Our crew loads everything into our truck, hauls it away and sweeps the work area. |
| How is it priced? | 3 tons included; additional tons are $95 per ton and additional days are $10 per day. Tax is not included, and mileage surcharges may apply for jobs more than 30 miles from our base of operations. | By how much space your items take up in our 16-foot box truck, with dumping fees included. You get an upfront price on site before any work starts. |
| How long do I have? | Rentals run by the day, week or month; additional days are $10 per day. | Everything is loaded and hauled away during the appointment. |
| Heavy materials (dirt, concrete, tile, sand)? | A dump trailer rental is an option for these materials. | Not included in our standard volume pricing; ask us for a quote. |
| What can go in? | No hazardous materials such as chemicals, paint, tires, batteries or asbestos. See what can and can’t go in a dumpster. | Almost anything that isn’t hazardous and that two people can lift and load. See what we take. |
| What happens after pickup? | We pick up the trailer and handle disposal. | Loads are hand-sorted at our warehouse so reusable items can be donated and recyclables recycled whenever possible. See where your junk goes. |
When a Dump Trailer Rental Makes Sense
- You want to load at your own pace over several days, for example during a demolition, drywall, flooring or landscaping project.
- You’re getting rid of heavy materials such as dirt, concrete, tile or sand.
- You’d rather sort through items yourself before they go.
See dump trailer rental and our rental terms. Clearing out a house at your own pace? See dumpsters for home clean outs.
When Full-Service Junk Removal Makes Sense
- You don’t have the time, energy or capacity to haul everything yourself.
- Items are inside the house or hard to reach: the crew removes them from any room, the garage, the attic or the backyard.
- You want an upfront price before any work starts and everything hauled away during the appointment.
See junk removal and hauling, residential home clean outs and construction site cleanup.
Want Both? Rent a Trailer and Add Labor
If a rental suits your project but you don’t want to do the lifting, our labor-only service sends a two-person crew to fill your rental dumpster or dump trailer. Labor is booked by phone in two-hour blocks.
Still Not Sure?
Call (619) 777-5533, Monday–Saturday 7am–9pm, and tell us about your project. We’ll help you choose between a rental and a crew, or you can request a free estimate online.
