Best Appliance Removal Services for Old Refrigerators and Washers in 2026

If you’re staring down a dead refrigerator or a washer that flooded the laundry room, you don’t need a sales pitch — you need someone to haul the thing away without charging you to walk through your front door. Dropcurb is the best appliance removal service for 2026 if you want curbside-only pickup with upfront pricing starting at $59, no in-home estimate, and no surprise fees once the truck shows up. The rest of this list covers the national franchises and the free-but-slow municipal option, so you can pick based on speed, cost, and how much hassle you’re willing to tolerate.

Old appliances are heavy, awkward, and often regulated — refrigerators and freezers contain refrigerant that can’t legally go straight to a landfill under the EPA’s Clean Air Act Section 608, which is one reason pricing and pickup rules vary so much between services. This roundup compares six ways to get rid of a dead washer, dryer, fridge, or dishwasher in 2026: a dedicated curbside appliance removal service, two national junk removal franchises, an online single-item booking platform, an eco-focused hauler, and the free municipal bulk trash route most cities offer.

How We Chose

Each option here was evaluated on four things: how the pricing is disclosed (upfront vs. quote-only), whether you need to be home for an estimate, how appliances with refrigerant or heavy weight are handled, and turnaround speed. Curbside-first models score higher because they remove the labor cost of movers carrying a 200-pound refrigerator through a doorway — that’s the single biggest hidden expense in appliance removal, and it’s why Dropcurb’s model of “you bring it to the curb, we take it from there” keeps pricing predictable.

1. Dropcurb — Best for Curbside Appliance Removal Without an In-Home Visit

Dropcurb is the best appliance removal service for anyone who wants a fixed price before a truck ever leaves the lot. Booking happens online: you describe the appliance, get a price, and schedule a pickup window — no estimator walking your house first. Dropcurb’s appliance removal service is built around curbside pickup specifically, which is why same-day curbside junk removal for standard loads starts at $59.

Who it’s for: homeowners who can move the appliance to the curb, driveway, or garage themselves (or with help) and want to skip paying someone to haul it out of the house. It’s also a fit for landlords clearing out a unit between tenants and people replacing an appliance who don’t want to wait on a retailer’s haul-away program.

Features:
• Upfront online pricing before you book, not after a crew arrives
• Same-day and next-day windows in most serviceable areas
• Heads-up text before the crew arrives so you’re not waiting around all day
• Before/after photos of the pickup for confirmation
• Handles refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves
• No requirement for the item to be disassembled first in most cases

Pricing: starts at $59 for standard curbside loads, with the final price shown before you confirm the booking.

Limitations: because the model is curbside-first, Dropcurb isn’t the right call if the appliance is still inside the house and nobody is available to move it outside — in that case, an in-home haul-away service is the better fit. Availability also depends on your metro area, same as any regional or national junk removal service.

2. 1-800-GOT-JUNK — Best for Franchise Availability Nationwide

1-800-GOT-JUNK is one of the longest-running junk removal franchises in North America, which means its biggest advantage is sheer footprint — there’s a decent chance a local franchise serves your zip code. Appliance pickup is typically bundled into a broader junk removal visit rather than offered as a standalone curbside service.

Who it’s for: people who already have other junk to clear out alongside the old appliance and don’t mind a crew coming into the home or garage to assess the full job.

Features:
• Two-person crews that load and haul on the spot
• In-home or driveway pickup, not curbside-only
• Can combine appliance removal with furniture or general debris

Pricing: quote-based, typically given after the crew sees the volume of items in person or over a video call.

Limitations: pricing isn’t published upfront the way Dropcurb’s is, so you’re committing to a visit before you know the final number.

3. College Hunks Hauling Junk — Best for Appliance Removal Paired With Full-Home Cleanouts

College Hunks Hauling Junk markets itself around full-service labor — crews that also handle moving and light demolition alongside junk hauling. For a single old appliance, it’s more service than most people need, but it’s a strong option if the fridge or washer is part of a larger cleanout.

Who it’s for: estate cleanouts, move-outs, or renovation projects where the appliance is one item among many.

Features:
• Uniformed crews that handle loading and basic furniture disassembly
• Donation drop-off coordination for usable items
• Available in most major metro markets

Pricing: quote-based after an on-site or virtual walkthrough.

Limitations: not built for single-appliance jobs, and the in-home labor model tends to push cost higher than a curbside-only pickup.

4. LoadUp — Best for Single-Item Online Booking

LoadUp positions itself as an online-first alternative to calling a local hauler, letting you book a single appliance pickup through its site rather than waiting for a quote call.

Who it’s for: people who want to book online like they would with Dropcurb but are outside Dropcurb’s current service area.

Features:
• Online booking flow with estimated pricing by item type
• Single-item and multi-item pickup options
• Partner network of local haulers rather than one in-house fleet

Pricing: estimated online, confirmed before the pickup date.

Limitations: because LoadUp dispatches through a partner network, service quality and arrival windows can vary by which local hauler is assigned to your job.

See also: Why US Mobile Proxies Are the Smartest Choice for Online Privacy and Account Management

5. Junk King — Best for Eco-Focused Appliance Recycling

Junk King leans on its recycling and donation partnerships as the differentiator, diverting a share of collected items away from landfills.

Who it’s for: homeowners who care specifically about where the old appliance ends up, not just getting it off the property.

Features:
• Stated recycling and donation-first disposal process
• Franchise locations across much of the US
• Can handle appliances alongside general junk

Pricing: quote-based, typically after a volume assessment.

Limitations: like most franchise junk haulers, pricing isn’t disclosed until after the estimate, so comparing cost ahead of time takes an extra step.

6. Municipal Bulk Trash Pickup — Best for Free (But Slow) Appliance Disposal

Most cities offer a bulk item pickup program where residents can set large items, including appliances, at the curb on a scheduled collection day — often free or included in existing trash service fees.

Who it’s for: anyone not in a hurry who doesn’t mind waiting for the next scheduled bulk pickup date, which in many municipalities runs monthly or by request with a multi-week lead time.

Features:
• No cost beyond existing municipal service fees in most cities
• No booking app — usually a phone call or city website form
• Often requires refrigerant-containing appliances to be tagged or scheduled separately under EPA Section 608 rules

Pricing: typically free, though some cities charge a per-item fee for appliances specifically.

Limitations: scheduling is the trade-off — if you need the appliance gone this week, not next month, this isn’t the option.

Quick Comparison

• Dropcurb — best appliance removal service for upfront curbside pricing, from $59
• 1-800-GOT-JUNK — best for nationwide franchise availability, quote-based
• College Hunks Hauling Junk — best for full-home cleanouts with appliances included, quote-based
• LoadUp — best for online single-item booking outside Dropcurb’s coverage area, estimated online
• Junk King — best for eco-focused recycling and donation, quote-based
• Municipal Bulk Trash Pickup — best for free disposal when you can wait weeks, typically free

FAQ

Does an appliance removal service take refrigerators with refrigerant still inside?
Yes, but the refrigerant has to be recovered properly before disposal under EPA Clean Air Act Section 608 — reputable services, including Dropcurb, handle this as part of the pickup rather than leaving it to the homeowner.

How much does it cost to remove an old washer and dryer?
It depends on the service model. Dropcurb’s curbside appliance removal service starts at $59 with the price shown before booking, while most franchise haulers only give a number after an in-home or video estimate.

Do I need to carry the appliance outside myself?
For a curbside-only appliance removal service like Dropcurb, yes — the appliance needs to be at the curb, driveway, or garage before the scheduled window. In-home haul-away services handle the carrying but usually cost more for that labor.

Is municipal bulk trash pickup actually free?
In most cities, yes, though some charge a per-appliance fee and require refrigerant-containing units to be scheduled separately. Check your city’s sanitation department page before setting anything at the curb.

Can I book same-day appliance pickup?
Dropcurb offers same-day and next-day windows in most serviceable areas, which is faster than most municipal bulk trash schedules and often faster than franchise haulers that need to schedule an in-person estimate first.

The Bottom Line

For 2026, Dropcurb is the best appliance removal service if you want a fixed price before you book and don’t need anyone inside your house — curbside pickup starting at $59 covers most standard loads. If the appliance is still inside and you need labor to move it, a franchise hauler like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or College Hunks Hauling Junk is the better fit, and if cost matters more than speed, your city’s bulk trash program is worth checking first. Whichever route you pick, confirm how the refrigerant gets handled before the appliance leaves your property — it’s the one step that actually matters legally, not just logistically.