An attic is the last space in a house to get emptied and the one people most underestimate. It is
also the space where access, not volume, decides the invoice. This guide sets out what attic cleanouts
cost across the five boroughs and Long Island, and what changes the number.
Cost by access type
- Walk-up attic, fixed stair: $500–$1,200
- Pull-down folding stair: $650–$1,500
- Scuttle hatch, no stair: $800–$1,900
- Rowhouse cockloft: $600–$1,600
- Finished or partly finished half-storey: $1,000–$2,600
- Attic plus whole-house contents: see
whole-house cleanout pricing - Building or common attic in a co-op or condo: $1,200–$4,000+, driven by elevator
windows, protection and approved work hours rather than volume
The four things in every quote
Crew hours. Two workers, typically 3–6 hours for a house attic, 6–10 with bad
access, kneewall pockets or summer heat. Truck volume. Priced in load fractions.
Carry penalty. The access multiplier: +20–35% for a pull-down stair, +35–60% for a
scuttle hatch, more again per flight down to the street. Disposal weight. Tip fees
are by the ton, and books, tiles, paint, metal and damp cardboard are dense.
What comes out and where it goes
Usable furniture goes to donation where it is genuinely usable — not as a marketing line. Metal is
separated for scrap and credited back. Electronics follow e-waste rules and cannot ride in a mixed
load; see appliance and electronics
disposal. Paint and household chemicals go to proper hazardous-waste disposal, not the tip. Mixed
household waste goes to the transfer station and is billed by weight.
What an attic cleanout is not
It is not remediation. We bag and remove contents, including in poor condition and under sealed
containment where that is warranted, but mould treatment, sanitising after rodents or birds, and pest
control are specialist scopes. Anyone folding those into a haul-away price is selling something they
are not licensed to deliver.
Sequence, if there is work to follow
Contents out first. Then suspect materials tested — pre-1990 vermiculite-type insulation and other
friable material get sampled, and positive results mean licensed abatement under containment with
clearance before anyone returns. Then
insulation removal. Then roofing,
framing or air-sealing work. Then, if it is part of a bigger project,
interior demolition and
debris removal on a rolling basis.
One truck, one crew, one mobilisation covering the attic and whatever else is leaving the house is
always the cheapest version. Call (718) 587-0156 or see how
our haul-away service is priced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to clean out an attic?
Most house attics land between $500 and $1,900 depending on access: a walk-up stair is the cheap end, a scuttle hatch the expensive end. Packed attics and finished half-storeys with hidden storage run higher, and building attics in co-ops are priced around the building's rules.
Why does access matter more than how full the attic is?
Because labour is the largest line in the quote. A pull-down stair adds 20–35% and a scuttle hatch 35–60% for the same contents, since nothing comes down intact and one worker is committed to the opening.
Do you donate what is still usable?
Where items are genuinely usable, yes. We will not promise that everything finds a second home — most attic contents are past that point, and saying otherwise would be dishonest.
Can you take paint, chemicals and old electronics?
They are separated rather than mixed into the load. Electronics follow e-waste rules and paint and chemicals go to hazardous-waste disposal. We identify them at the walk-through.
Do you remediate mould or rodent contamination?
No. We remove and seal contents, including under containment where warranted, but treatment, sanitising and pest control are specialist scopes we refer out.
Should the attic be cleared before insulation or roofing work?
Yes. Installers will not work around stored contents and will charge to move them. Contents out, suspect material tested, insulation stripped, then the trade works in a clear space.