London Rubbish Removal Prices — Real Bid Data from 48 Jobs (Updated August 2026)
Across 104 bids on 48 London rubbish removal jobs collected between April and August 2026, the overall median bid was £200 (interquartile range £130–£273). Each job received up to 3 bids from EA-licensed carriers; the average was 2.2 bids per job. The median spread between the highest and lowest bid on the same job was 55% — meaning the most expensive carrier typically quoted more than half again as much as the cheapest for identical work. By waste type: garden waste £150, bulky waste £170, mixed construction £225, house clearance £300.
Table 1: Rubbish Removal Prices by Waste Type — London, April–August 2026
Rows require ≥10 bids across ≥4 jobs to publish. Office clearance (9 bids) and hardcore/soil (1 bid) are below the threshold and are excluded.
| Waste type | Median bid | 25th–75th percentile | Bids | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Garden waste Green waste, soil bags, branches, lawn clippings | £150 | £110–£225 | 11 | 6 |
Bulky waste Furniture, appliances, mattresses, single large items | £170 | £100–£250 | 35 | 15 |
Mixed construction Rubble, plasterboard, timber, renovation debris | £225 | £165–£255 | 28 | 14 |
House clearance Full or partial property clearances | £300 | £200–£350 | 20 | 8 |
Source: EA-licensed carrier bids on jobs posted on the RubbishBids platform in London, April–August 2026. Figures are bid prices, not final invoiced amounts.
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Table 2: Rubbish Removal Prices by Load Size — London, April–August 2026
Load size as selected by the customer when posting the job. “Not sure” responses (21 bids) are excluded from this table as they cannot be reliably placed in a size band.
| Load size | Typical items | Median bid | 25th–75th percentile | Bids | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 1–2 items, a few bags | £125 | £100–£150 | 14 | 10 |
| Medium | Quarter to half van load, flat clear-out | £200 | £138–£250 | 48 | 21 |
| Large | Full van load, multi-room clearance | £350 | £250–£350 | 14 | 5 |
The 55% Bid Spread: What It Means for You
The most striking number in this dataset is the bid spread — across all London jobs with two or more bids, the median gap between the highest and lowest offer on the same job was 55%. That is significantly wider than the 34% spread seen in house clearance data and reflects the broader range of waste types and carrier specialisations in general rubbish removal.
Widest spread — highly dependent on whether a carrier is already in the area
Variable because scope and access differ significantly job to job
Mid-range — commercial jobs attract specialist and generalist carriers
Narrowest — disposal costs are more standardised for builders waste
Practical implication: On a typical £200 rubbish removal job in London, getting three competing quotes rather than accepting the first you receive is likely to save you £40–£80. The platform maximum of 3 bids exists specifically to generate this spread.
Table 3: Does Same-Day Rubbish Removal Cost More?
The data produces a counterintuitive result: same-day jobs had the lowest median bid. The explanation is compositional — “today” jobs on this platform tend to be smaller and simpler (a single bulky item, a small construction load), while “flexible” jobs skew toward larger clearances and house clearances planned in advance. When controlling for job size, the competitive bidding process largely neutralises any urgency premium — carriers nearby compete for the slot rather than charging extra for convenience.
| Urgency | Median bid | 25th–75th percentile | Bids | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day (today) | £150 | £108–£200 | 18 | Smaller average job size; nearby carriers fill empty slots competitively |
| Within 48 hours | £160 | £100–£250 | 36 | Mixed job types; slight urgency mix but broad range |
| Flexible / scheduled | £250 | £150–£350 | 50 | Skewed by larger clearances — house clearances and big construction loads booked ahead |
Data & Methodology
Dataset
104 bids across 48 London jobs
Period
15 April – 12 August 2026
Average bids per job
2.2 (platform max: 3)
Carriers
EA-licensed only (verified at sign-up)
Publication threshold
≥10 bids across ≥4 jobs
Excluded
Test jobs, non-London postcodes
All figures represent bid prices submitted by carriers, not final invoiced amounts. Actual prices may be adjusted after carriers assess the property in person. Borough-level breakdown is not published in this guide — no London borough yet meets the ≥15 bids across ≥4 jobs threshold required for the borough table. See the London House Clearance Prices guide for borough data on that waste type.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does rubbish removal cost in London?
Based on 104 bids submitted by EA-licensed carriers on 48 London jobs posted on the RubbishBids platform between April and August 2026, the overall median bid was £200 (interquartile range £130–£273). Prices vary significantly by waste type: garden waste and single bulky items sit around £150, mixed construction waste around £225, and full house clearances around £300. Load size has the biggest single effect — a large load (full van) had a median bid of £350, compared to £125 for a small load.
Why do rubbish removal quotes vary so much for the same job?
Across 48 London jobs posted between April and August 2026, the median spread between the highest and lowest bid on the same job was 55%. That means the most expensive carrier typically quoted more than half again as much as the cheapest for identical work. The spread is wider for bulky waste (median 68%) than for construction waste (40%). Variation is driven by carrier proximity, vehicle availability, route density, and disposal facility relationships on the day. A carrier already in your area with an empty slot can price 50–70% below one travelling across London.
Is same-day rubbish removal more expensive in London?
Counterintuitively, same-day jobs on RubbishBids had a lower median bid (£150) than flexible/scheduled jobs (£250). This is not because urgency is cheap — it is because same-day jobs on the platform tend to be smaller and simpler (a single bulky item, small construction load), while flexible jobs skew toward larger clearances booked in advance. When comparing like-for-like job sizes, the competitive bidding process neutralises most of the urgency premium — carriers nearby compete for the slot rather than charging extra for convenience.
What types of rubbish are cheapest and most expensive to remove in London?
Based on qualifying data (≥10 bids), garden waste had the lowest median bid at £150, followed by bulky waste (furniture and appliances) at £170. Mixed construction waste (rubble, timber, plasterboard) had a median of £225. House clearances were highest at £300. These reflect disposal costs — garden waste is light and composts cheaply; heavy rubble and full clearances require more labour and more expensive tipping fees.
How many bids does a London rubbish removal job typically receive?
On RubbishBids, jobs in London received an average of 2.2 bids from EA-licensed carriers over the April–August 2026 period. Each job can receive up to 3 bids. Jobs posted early in the day and in active carrier areas consistently attracted more bids than late-day or outer-borough jobs.
Do the bids include VAT?
Whether bids include VAT depends on the individual carrier. Carriers on RubbishBids are independent businesses — some are VAT-registered, others are not. The platform displays bids as submitted. Confirm VAT status with your chosen carrier before accepting. Most residential rubbish removal carriers in London are not VAT-registered.
What is the cheapest way to get rubbish removed in London?
Getting multiple competing quotes is the single biggest lever. With a median bid spread of 55%, the cheapest EA-licensed quote on any given London job is typically 30–50% below the most expensive. On RubbishBids, posting one job gets you up to 3 competing bids automatically — no calling around required. Beyond that: smaller load sizes, easy access (ground floor, good parking), and flexible timing all reduce the price.
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