The short answer
Our prices are the same every day and every hour, so the best time is the one that fits your deadline and avoids the local crunches. In St. Louis those are: the days after a spring storm, May move-outs around SLU and WashU, late July and August lease turnover, summer PCS moves near Scott AFB, and the last two days of any month. Winter is the easiest season for basements and attics. Book a few days ahead in busy windows; same-day works when you book by 4 PM.
Spring: storms and spring cleaning
Spring is severe-weather season in St. Louis. The May 16, 2025 EF3 tornado damaged about 5,000 structures from Clayton and Richmond Heights through the Greater Ville, Fountain Park and O'Fallon, and into Illinois near Granite City. After big storms, debris demand spikes across the affected areas.
If you are planning a spring garage or yard cleanup that is not storm-related, aim for March or April, before storm season peaks, or book early in the week. Yard waste is banned from Missouri landfills, so it has to go a different route from household trash; yard waste is $88 on the price list.
Heavy spring rain is the other trigger. Flooded basements are a known problem near the rivers, in Valley Park and Chesterfield Valley along the Meramec and Missouri, and in older City basements anywhere after a hard storm. Wet carpet, boxes and furniture should come out quickly, before mold sets in, so this is one job not to put off for a quieter week.
May: university move-out
Saint Louis University has 17,059 students and Washington University 16,399, and May is when many of them move out — around the CWE, Skinker-DeBaliviere, Clayton, the Delmar Loop and the South 40. SIUE move-outs in Edwardsville land in May too.
If you live in those areas, book early for the last week of the semester. Expect busy streets and full loading zones. If you are not a student, it is a good month to avoid scheduling a big job in those neighborhoods. Students who share a flat can book one pickup and split it: a futon, a desk and a twin mattress are $111 + $83 + $82 = $276.
Summer: leases, PCS and heat
- Late July and August bring lease turnover across the City and medical residents arriving at the Washington University Medical Center in the CWE.
- PCS season at Scott AFB fills summer calendars in O'Fallon IL, Shiloh and Mascoutah.
- Heat. St. Louis summers are hot and humid. For attic cleanouts, book a morning window; attics in older brick homes get very hot by afternoon.
We are open 8am to midnight, so early-morning and evening windows are available when it is cooler. Military families on PCS orders usually know their report date weeks ahead, which is the best time to lock in a window rather than the final weekend.
Fall: garages and yards
Fall is the second garage season. People clear space for the car before winter, pull the dead window AC units out, and deal with leaf and branch piles. It is also a good time to remove a hot tub you no longer want to winterize: a standard hot tub is $390, and doing it before the ground freezes keeps the path across the yard simple.
October and November are generally less pressured than May or August for scheduling. That makes fall a sensible window for jobs with no deadline, such as a garage in Affton, Oakville or Florissant that has been filling up since spring. A typical fall garage mix of a lawn mower, a large junk pile and two bicycles is $65 + $208 + $37 + $37 = $347.
Winter: the basement season
St. Louis winters are cold, and outdoor piles wait for spring. But winter is ideal for indoor jobs: basement cleanouts in South City flats and Florissant ranches, attic clear-outs in Kirkwood and Webster Groves, and estate work. There is no heat to fight, and calendars are more open.
Snow and ice can slow access on steep alleys and stairs, so clear the path from the door to the street or alley before the crew arrives. Salt the back steps of a flat if the crew will be carrying out that way. Price doesn't change for weather.
Working around your City collection week
City residents get one bulky pickup a month: up to three items, out by 6:00 am on the Monday of the collection week, nothing over 100 lbs or 6 ft long. A smart schedule uses both routes. Put out three small, light pieces for your collection week, and book a pickup for the heavy and oversized pieces separately. There is no need to wait for your week for those, and no reason to leave a sofa in the alley for days.
County and Metro East residents should check their own city or district's schedule, since each runs its own service and some book bulky items weeks out in spring.
Events and local calendar quirks
- Soulard Mardi Gras disrupts parking and access around Soulard. Avoid scheduling there on event days.
- Cardinals home games affect Downtown parking and traffic. Book a morning window Downtown on game days.
- Month-end. The last two days of the month are the busiest for move-outs metro-wide.
- Building rules. CWE and Clayton high-rises and Downtown lofts often restrict move times. Check before choosing a window.
Because we run 8am to midnight every day, the two-hour window you choose matters more than the date for many jobs. Early morning suits attics in July and Downtown on game days; evening works for people who cannot take time off; late evening can help on City alley blocks where daytime parking is tight.
Same price, any time
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Sofa / Couch | $126 |
| Mattress — Queen | $103 |
| Yard Waste | $88 |
| Window AC Unit (Small, under 8k BTU) | $87 |
| 1/4 truck (~4 cubic yards) | $241 |
No same-day surcharge, no weekend surcharge, no evening surcharge. A sofa and a queen mattress on a Sunday night are $126 + $103 = $229, the same as Tuesday morning. Pick your two-hour window at the instant quote page.
Frequently asked questions
Is junk removal cheaper on certain days?
No. Prices are the same every day, 8am to midnight, with no same-day or weekend surcharge. The only thing that changes is how many windows are open. Busy weeks fill sooner.
When is the busiest time in St. Louis?
After spring storms, in May and late July through August for move-outs, during summer PCS season near Scott AFB, and at month-end. Book a few days ahead in those stretches. Quieter weeks often have same-day space.
Can I book same-day?
Yes, when you book by 4 PM. You pick from the two-hour windows still open that day. Evening windows run until midnight.
Is winter a good time for basement cleanouts?
Yes. Indoor jobs work well in winter, and calendars are usually more open. Clear ice from the steps and the path to the alley or street first. Weather does not change the price.
Should I avoid game days Downtown?
Cardinals home games affect parking and traffic, so pick a morning window or another day if you can. The same goes for Soulard during Mardi Gras. Loft buildings may also restrict moves on event days.