One national guide puts the average garage clearance at around £194, but the real price depends on volume, weight, access and hazardous items. In our city rankings, published starting prices run from £50 plus VAT in London to £195 plus VAT in Birmingham, and rise with the size of the load. Always get a written quote.
Key points
- Garage clearances are priced mainly by volume and weight, so a half empty garage costs far less than a packed one.
- Example starting prices in our rankings range from £50 plus VAT in London to £195 plus VAT in Birmingham.
- Asbestos, gas bottles, fuel and chemicals are usually excluded or charged separately.
- Check the firm is a registered waste carrier, and ask for a written quote.
What a garage clearance costs on average
A garage clearance is usually cheaper than a full house clearance, because there is less to remove. But a packed garage with tools, old appliances and building materials can fill a large van, so the size of the load matters more than the size of the building.
One national cost guide, based on Checkatrade data, gives an average garage clearance price of around £194. The same data prices general clearances by van load, from £175 for a quarter van to £595 for a full van. Treat these as a guide only, as prices vary by area and by what is inside.
The price is made up of labour, vehicle time, fuel and disposal. Disposal costs are higher for items such as mattresses, fridges and televisions, and some companies charge extra for them. If you are comparing different services, our guide to rubbish removal costs sets out the usual pricing methods.
Example prices from our city rankings
These figures come from our own research, checked on 3 November 2026. They show the starting price that ranked firms publish, and the final cost depends on your load. See each city page for the full ranking.
| City | What one ranked firm publishes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London | From £50 plus VAT for a garage clearance; loads from £60 plus VAT (one cubic yard) to £380 plus VAT (18 yards) | Another ranked firm starts from £85 |
| Birmingham | Garage clearances from £195 plus VAT | Man and van loads from £99 including VAT, appliances from £66.75 |
| Leeds | Single items from £45; loads from £65 (about 10 bags) to £450 (about 80 bags), including VAT | Prices published online |
| Glasgow | An eighth of a van from £100 plus VAT up to a full load at £550 plus VAT | Other firms quote on volume |
| Bristol | Loads from £59 (minimum) to £399 for a full load | Another ranked firm starts from £50 |
| Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh | No published price lists in our top 5 | Free quotes, often from photos |
See the full rankings for London, Birmingham and Bristol, or browse the garage clearance hub for every city.
What changes the price of a garage clearance
- Volume and weight: a van load of boxes costs less than a van load of concrete or timber.
- Type of items: appliances, tyres, mattresses and electrical goods often have separate disposal charges.
- Access: a garage at the end of a long drive, or behind a block of flats, takes longer to clear.
- Hazardous items: paint, oil, fuel, chemicals, gas bottles and asbestos usually need special handling.
- Sorting: if you leave everything for the team to sort, the job takes longer and costs more.
- Location: prices differ between cities and regions.
- Extras: sweeping, removing shelving or clearing a loft or shed in the same visit.
If you also need a loft, shed or garden cleared, ask whether the quote covers it. A mixed job may be cheaper as one visit, and our guide to house clearance costs explains how larger jobs are priced.
What a garage clearance company will not take
Garages often contain items that are not ordinary household waste. A national charity that offers a clearance service lists what it cannot take: oil, chemicals and medical waste, explosives and ammunition, petrol and fuel, petrol machinery, asbestos, gas or compressed bottles, building materials, garden waste and items infested with insects or vermin. Policies differ between firms, so ask for the exclusions in writing.
Asbestos deserves particular care. The Health and Safety Executive notes that asbestos can still be found in homes built or refurbished before 2000, including asbestos cement roofs on garages. If the sheets are in good condition, the usual advice is to leave them in place and check them from time to time. Do not drill, cut or break them yourself.
- If you think a garage roof or wall contains asbestos cement, do not disturb it.
- Tell any contractor about it before work starts.
- Contact your local council's environmental health officer if you are unsure.
- Asbestos must be disposed of as hazardous waste, not with household rubbish, and the council can advise on collection or a suitable facility.
Ways to save money
- Sort the garage first: set aside items to keep, sell, donate and dispose of.
- Sell or donate usable tools, bikes and furniture. Our guide to getting rid of rubbish for free explains the options.
- Take small amounts to your household recycling centre yourself, if the rules allow.
- For a single bulky item, check the council collection: our guide to council bulky waste collections covers how to book.
- Compare a clearance with a skip. See what can and cannot go in a skip before you decide.
- Get at least three written quotes, with photos of the garage, and compare what each includes.
A skip suits a slow clear-out because it stays on site, while a clearance crew suits a quick, one visit job. Whichever you choose, the price should be in writing before the work starts.
Check the firm before you pay
As a householder, you have a legal duty to pass your waste only to an authorised person. In England and Wales, a private business such as a clearance firm should hold an upper tier waste carrier registration, usually beginning CBDU. In Scotland the register is kept by SEPA.
Natural Resources Wales advises paying by card where possible, asking for a receipt with the business details, asking where the waste will be taken, and being wary of cash only or very cheap offers with no carrier reference. Passing waste to an unauthorised person is an offence, so these checks protect you if the waste is later fly-tipped.
Quick answers
How much should a garage clearance cost?
It depends on how full the garage is. One national guide gives an average of around £194, while examples in our rankings start from £50 to £100 for small loads and rise to several hundred pounds for a full load. Get a written quote.
What is a garage clearance?
A garage clearance is a service in which a company removes the contents of your garage, such as boxes, tools, furniture and unwanted items, and takes them for reuse, recycling or disposal. Some firms also sweep out the space.
What can a garage clearance company not take?
Usually asbestos, gas bottles, fuel, oil, chemicals and some building materials. One national charity also excludes explosives, medical waste and garden waste. Ask the firm for its exclusions in writing before booking.
Is a skip cheaper than a garage clearance?
It can be, if you are happy to do the loading yourself and the items are accepted in a skip. A clearance saves time and effort. Compare both, and see our guide to whether a man and van is cheaper than a skip.
Find a trusted garage clearance firm
We rank the five best garage clearance companies in 11 UK cities on reviews, licensing and recycling. Nobody pays to be listed. See all garage clearance rankings.
Sources
- Compare My Move: House clearance costs (Checkatrade data)
- Checkatrade: House clearance cost guide
- HSE: Asbestos frequently asked questions
- British Heart Foundation: House clearance service
- GOV.UK: Waste duty of care code of practice
- Natural Resources Wales: Disposing of your household waste
Prices and council fees quoted from our city rankings were checked on 3 November 2026. Rules can change, so check with your council or the regulator before you act. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
