What a garage cleanout costs in Cincinnati

The short answer

Garage cleanouts are priced by how much of the truck the load fills. A quarter truck, about 4 cubic yards, is $241; a half truck is $431; a three-quarter truck $587; a full truck $732. Items the City of Cincinnati's bulk program refuses, like lawnmowers, gas-powered tools and lumber, are all included.

Typical garages, priced

These are typical loads, not fixed rules; the quote tool sets the tier from your photos and shows the price before you book.

What the City bulk program will not take from a garage

Garages are where the City of Cincinnati's bulk exclusions hit hardest. The program does not take lawnmowers or gas-powered tools. It does not take paint, chemicals, propane or batteries. It does not take lumber, construction debris, windows or siding, or anything over 6 feet tall. Tires need a separate request. That list describes the contents of most garages: an old mower, a gas trimmer, half-used paint cans, leftover lumber, a stack of old windows and a set of tires. The City does take some garage items, such as exercise equipment, doors and cabinets, by appointment, up to five items, from the curb. For a real garage cleanout, though, most of the volume falls outside it.

Garage items with their own prices

Some common garage items have line prices, which matter when the job is a few things rather than a whole garage. A push lawn mower is $65, a riding mower or lawn tractor $152 and a snow blower $71. A yard or hand tool like a leaf blower or trimmer is $33. A rolling tool chest or workbench is $100 and metal shelving $71. A set of four tires is $87. A propane grill is $123 and a charcoal grill $59. Paint is accepted: $30 for a one-gallon can and $52 for a five-gallon bucket. A mower, a snow blower and two gallon cans of paint come to $65 + $71 + $30 + $30 = $196. For a full garage, the truck tier usually works out better.

Suburban garages: West Chester, Mason and Boone County

The growth ring around the city has a lot of two-car and three-car garages. West Chester is Ohio's most populous township. Mason, Independence and Florence have grown fast, with newer HOA subdivisions. Corporate relocations through the West Chester and Blue Ash employers, and the logistics jobs around CVG in Boone County, mean regular move-ins and move-outs. That turnover fills garages with leftover moving boxes, furniture that did not fit the new house and equipment from the last place. HOAs in these subdivisions often restrict how long anything can sit at the curb or in the driveway, so a cleanout that clears everything in one visit avoids violation letters. Your township or city trash service may also have its own bulk rules; check with them.

Older garages in the city

Inside the city and in the older inner suburbs, garages are different. Many Westwood, Northside and Norwood houses have a detached garage off an alley or a narrow drive. Hillside lots in Price Hill and Mount Washington may have a garage at street level and the house above it, or the reverse. Older detached garages often double as storage for decades of household overflow, and sometimes the structure itself is in rough shape. Clearing one may involve old paint, rusted tools, broken furniture and leftover building material from past projects. Hazardous materials like old pesticides or solvents are not standard and are handled case by case, so ask before the day.

Seasonal timing

Spring is the obvious time for a garage cleanout, when the weather turns and you can work with the door open. Fall works well too, before the car needs to fit inside for winter. Winter freeze and snow make outdoor work and hillside driveways harder, so book morning slots if you are doing it in January or February. If you are selling the house, schedule the garage before listing photos. Same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM, and crews work seven days a week, 8am to midnight. You pick a two-hour arrival window.

Getting the price right

Open the garage door and take a wide photo from the driveway, then a few closer shots of corners, shelves and anything heavy. Mention items that are not obvious in the photo, like a chest freezer behind boxes or a pile of tires in the back. Drain fuel from mowers and gas equipment if you can. Separate anything you are keeping, so the crew does not have to guess. The quote tool sets a tier or per-item price from the photos, and the price only changes if you approve. If you are not sure whether to go per item or by tier, it shows you whichever is the better fit.

Frequently asked questions