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Even with diligent cleaning, an old carpet will eventually need to be replaced. Most carpets become matted and frayed after as little as 3 years and typically last less than 10 years. When it is time to replace that old carpet, one solution is for the homeowner to pull it up and haul it to the landfill. A better option is hiring a carpet removal and disposal service.
A good carpet removal service hauls away the old carpet to be responsibly recycled—and some companies may even do the hard work of ripping it up, too. Ahead, learn what to look for when hiring one of the best carpet removal services.
- BEST OVERALL: College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving
- BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: The Junkluggers
- BEST AGGREGATOR: Thumbtack
- ALSO CONSIDER: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Carpet Removal Services
When vetting a carpet removal service, it’s crucial to consider what services it offers, how it disposes of old carpeting, and how the company charges for its services.
Service Area and Scheduling
Many dumpsters or residential trash centers won’t accept large amounts of carpet, so finding a company that knows how and where to dispose of it saves customers time and energy. Customers will want to begin by identifying which carpet removal services serve their location. Searching online will be the easiest way to do this. During this process, it’s also essential to determine how scheduling works. Some companies schedule appointments online, while others require the client to call.
Removal vs. Disposal and Disposal Methods
It’s important for customers to understand the difference between carpet removal and disposal services. Removal services involve ripping up the carpet, but disposal services will only take the carpet from the property after the customer has ripped it up. While the latter may be more affordable, it does require customers to do more work. Customers will also want to look for responsible companies that attempt to recycle carpet before sending it to a landfill for disposal.
Service Liability Coverage
As with any service that involves technicians coming into a customer’s home, a carpet removal service should have general liability coverage. This should cover any damage to the house that happens during the removal and disposal processes and any injuries its technicians may incur while on the job.
Customer Support
Carpet removal services offer varying levels of customer service. While some are only reachable by phone, other companies provide email and live chat on their websites. Companies will also vary in how they provide price quotes. Some companies will offer quotes over the phone based on the square footage of carpeting that needs to be removed, but many will only offer on-site quotes.
Our Top Picks
The services below made the list by offering easy scheduling, transparent pricing, and environmentally friendly disposal methods.
Best Overall
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving
Pros
- Full-service carpet removal and disposal offered
- Same-day and next-day service available
- 70 percent of items recycled or responsibly discarded
- Ongoing partnership with U.S. Hunger
Cons
- Somewhat unclear pricing structure
- Service area: 39 states
- Scheduling: Online, phone
- Removal vs. disposal: Removal and disposal
- Customer support: Phone, email
Why It Made the Cut: Customers will feel good about hiring College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving for carpet removal services, thanks to the company’s dedication to recycling and charitable partnerships. End-to-end carpet removal and disposal, coupled with its ongoing charitable partnerships, make College HUNKS a favorite when it comes to carpet disposal. Technicians can rip up and dispose of carpet for customers, though customers will want to inquire at the time of scheduling about how the company calculates its charges. The company also offers same-day and next-day service, which is ideal for those who need immediate carpet disposal following a flood or other unexpected disaster. College HUNKS has an excellent reputation for disposing of the items responsibly, recycling or donating 70 percent of the items it hauls off. Customers will also feel good about the fact that College HUNKS provides a child with two meals for every service it completes through its ongoing partnership with the hunger relief organization U.S. Hunger.
Best Customer Experience
The Junkluggers
Pros
- Final cost guaranteed never to exceed quoted price
- Discounts offered in the event of delayed truck arrival
Cons
- Customer support only available by phone
- Service area: 31 states and Washington, D.C.
- Scheduling: Online, phone
- Removal vs. disposal: Disposal
- Customer support: Phone
Why It Made the Cut: With its price guarantee and discounts for late truck arrival, The Junkluggers sets itself apart. Customers frustrated by companies that miss their scheduled arrival times will like The Junkluggers’ guarantee. The Junkluggers gives its customers a 2-hour arrival window. If the truck arrives 30 minutes after that window, the company provides the customer a 5 percent discount. Any later, and that discount jumps to 10 percent. Customers also don’t have to wonder about what they’ll be paying as The Junkluggers guarantees its quotes. Customer support is only available by phone, but The Junkluggers allows customers to schedule service by phone or online.
Best Aggregator
Thumbtack
Pros
- Full-service carpet removal and disposal offered
- Client-controlled hiring process
- Top-rated professionals recognized and highlighted
Cons
- Customers must reach out to professionals individually to obtain quotes
- Service area: 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Scheduling: Online
- Removal vs. disposal: Removal and disposal
- Customer support: Live chat, phone
Why It Made the Cut: Thumbtack allows customers to find quality local carpet removal and disposal services with just a few clicks. There are plenty of excellent local services for carpet removal, and Thumbtack makes it easier to identify the best. Thumbtack highlights the top 4 percent of carpet removal services in the area, removing a lot of the guesswork for the customer. And unlike other aggregation services that assign professionals to the job, the customer gets to handpick who they want to hire for removal and disposal services. (This does mean that customers have to reach out to the professionals directly to receive a quote, though). The scheduling process is done entirely online, and customers can access Thumbtack customer service via live chat or phone.
Also Consider
1-800-GOT-JUNK?
Pros
- Same-day service available
- 24/7 customer service by phone
Cons
- Hours of operation and policies may vary by location
- Service area: 45 states and Washington, D.C.
- Scheduling: Online, phone
- Removal vs. disposal: Disposal
- Customer support: Phone, email
Why It Made the Cut: Customers can trust 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a popular name in junk removal, to get old carpets out of their homes quickly and easily. While carpet removal is often planned, sometimes disaster strikes, and it may be necessary to get rid of a saturated or damaged carpet as soon as possible. In those cases, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a great option. The company offers same-day service that allows clients to schedule disposal nearly as quickly as ordering a pizza, though its operating hours vary depending on location. Since 1-800-GOT-JUNK? offers only removal services, the company is a good option for those who plan to save money by pulling up the old carpet themselves. Customers can schedule service online or by phone. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is also one of the larger national junk removal companies in the country, with locations in 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Our Verdict
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving offers both removal and disposal services, has ongoing partnerships with national charities, and responsibly discards 70 percent of what it hauls away, making it the best all-around option for carpet removal services. Those looking for a company that offers guaranteed pricing and scheduling will want to consider The Junkluggers, which sticks to its quotes and offers discounts for late arrival.
How We Chose the Best Carpet Removal Services
We used several criteria to narrow the field of carpet removal services down to the best options. Our list includes national companies as well as an aggregator that assists customers with identifying reputable local carpet removal services. We included companies that offer both removal and disposal services, which is ideal for customers who need an end-to-end service, and companies that only offer disposal, which is a good choice for customers who want to save money by pulling up the carpet themselves. We also leaned toward companies that dispose of the items they collect responsibly by committing to recycling or reusing when possible. Other factors we considered included pricing transparency and customer support contact options.
Before You Use One of the Best Carpet Removal Services
Before hiring a service to rip up and remove an old carpet, customers will want to consider whether hiring such a service is necessary. Often, stained or dirty carpets can be cleaned (by hiring one of the best carpet cleaning companies or using one of the best carpet cleaner rentals). Regularly and properly cleaning a carpet extends its life. If the customer is hiring another company to install new flooring, they may want to check if that company provides carpet removal and disposal. Many flooring companies will haul away the old carpet at a cost that’s cheaper than hiring a carpet removal service.
Cost of Using One of the Best Carpet Removal Services
Customers should expect to pay between $100 and $300 for carpet removal cost. The amount of carpet typically dictates the cost. Contractors typically charge an average of $1 to $1.50 per square foot for carpet removal. Other factors that can impact cost include market rates and factors that complicate the job, such as whether the carpet is glued to the subfloor.
The Advantages of Using One of the Best Carpet Removal Services
There are many advantages to hiring a pro to handle carpet removal and disposal services. First and foremost, it’s more convenient. By hiring a carpet removal service, the customer doesn’t need to go through the time and effort of ripping up the carpet and finding a means of transporting it to the local landfill or finding a place to donate it. Carpet removal services are equipped with the proper carpet removal tools and know how to rip up carpet efficiently. Hiring a company to handle the removal and disposal eliminates the risk of injury associated with DIY removal. Employing a top carpet removal service is also a more responsible way of handling carpet disposal. These services will seek to recycle this material before throwing it in the landfill, reducing the impact of this waste on the environment.
- Saves time and effort
- Minimizes the risk of personal injury
- Disposes of old carpet responsibly
FAQs
Ahead, learn more about how to remove carpet, whether it’s cheaper to clean carpet or replace it, how to remove carpet glue from concrete, and more.
Q. What is the fastest way to get rid of carpet?
The fastest way to get rid of an old carpet is to hire one of the best carpet removal services. These companies have competitive rates, dispose of the carpet responsibly, and often offer same-day or next-day services.
Q. How much does it cost to clean 1,000 square feet of carpet?
Cleaning carpet costs $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot, so cleaning 1,000 square feet of carpet would cost between $200 and $400.
Q. Can old carpet make you sick?
Old carpet can be a place where mold, pollen, dust mites, animal dander, and fungus can collect and grow, so it does have the potential to exacerbate allergies or even make one ill.
Q. Is it cheaper to clean carpet or replace it?
It is significantly cheaper to clean carpet rather than replace it. Carpet costs around $3 per square foot, making the cost of recarpeting a 1,000-square-foot space about $3,000 (not including the costs of disposing of the old carpet). Cleaning a carpet of that size typically costs a few hundred dollars. Even with cleaning a carpet twice a year, customers would pay only about half the cost of a new carpet in a 5-year period.
Q. Which is better: wet or dry carpet cleaning?
The wet method of carpet cleaning does a better job of cleaning heavily soiled carpets and removing stubborn stains. While dry cleaning is not as thorough, it is a faster method, which makes it a good option for light cleanings.
Q. How do you remove carpet from a concrete floor?
Wondering how to pull up carpet? Begin removing carpet from a concrete floor by cutting the carpet into manageable 12- to 24-inch-wide strips. Roll each strip up on itself, then cut it while the roll is still manageable enough to lift and remove. Repeat the process with the carpet underlayment. You can use a pry bar to remove carpet tack strips. Finally, use a metal scraper to remove any carpet glue stuck to the floor. If you plan on disposing of the carpet yourself, do an online search for “carpet recycling near me” to dispose of it responsibly.
