Clearance costs depend on volume, access and scope of service – not on made-up per-room flat rates. This guide explains how clearing out differs from moving, household dissolution and furniture disposal, shows orientation bands within this site's CHF 200–1,500 range, and walks through process, price components and special cases such as cellars or attics.
What is clearance – and how does it differ from other services?
Clearance means fully or partly emptying a flat, house or individual rooms: furniture, boxes, household items and often cellar or attic contents are sorted, removed and disposed of properly. Unlike a classic move, the goal is not to take everything to a new address but to reduce what is left and hand over the space broom-clean.
Clear boundaries help with planning: in a private move you transport what stays. Household clearance focuses on winding up an entire home – often with emotional or inheritance aspects. Furniture disposal covers individual pieces or smaller amounts, not clearing a whole flat. If you only need to get rid of a sofa or wardrobe, the furniture disposal costs guide is a better fit than a full clearance job.
Professional clearing out pays off when volume, time pressure or access (floors without a lift, narrow stairwells) make the DIY route unrealistic. For a broader view of clearance services, see Clearance.
Clearance costs by flat size and volume
Clearance costs depend on quantity, weight, access and the scope of service you want. On this site, disposal and clearance typically sit in a CHF 200–1,500 band – from a cellar locker to a larger flat clearance. The table below maps typical scopes; a quote after inspection is always what makes the price binding.
Orientation: clearance costs by scope
| Scope | Guide price (CHF) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cellar locker / attic / garage | ca. 250–700 | Depends on fill level and access |
| 1.5–2.5-room flat (partial or full clearance) | ca. 600–1,500 | Volume and floor level matter |
| 3.5–4.5-room flat | ca. 1,500–3,000 | Volume, floor and access matter |
| Whole house / detached home | ca. 3,000–8,000 | Heavily cluttered or large properties can cost more — individual quote |
Note: These prices apply to a standalone clearance job. If only part of the household is disposed of as part of a move, it is usually cheaper (see Moving company costs).
<!-- VERIFY --> The spans per flat size are soft market orientations derived from this site's overall CHF 200–1,500 band. Larger houses, short-notice jobs or special waste can sit above that. Fix photos, access and the handover standard you want (broom-clean yes/no) in the quote.
Budget individual furniture and smaller loads in the guide Furniture disposal costs. For the full picture of add-on services when moving, see Moving company costs.
What is included in the price
A serious clearance or removal quote lists clearly what is included – and what costs extra. Typically that covers:
- Removal of items from the property to the vehicle.
- Disposal fees for landfill, recycling or special waste (where shown in the offer).
- Team labour including carrying from upper floors.
- Optional: broom-clean handover of the rooms.
- Optional: checking usable items for donation before disposal.
Typical add-on costs
- Reserving parking or applying for a no-parking zone.
- Floors without a lift or narrow stairwells (more staff, more time).
- Special waste (paint, chemicals, electrical goods) – quote separately.
- Express slot or weekend work.
- Cleaning beyond broom-clean standard.
Process: from inspection to handover
- Enquiry with photos, address, floor and preferred date – the more detail, the faster the first estimate.
- On-site inspection or virtual walk-through for a binding quote.
- Fix the date; for rental flats, align with landlord and handover deadline.
- Execution: sort (keep / dispose / donate), removal, disposal.
- Handover broom-clean or to the agreed standard; disposal certificate on request.
For household clearances with inheritance or emotional context, see the guide Apartment clearance after death. For overall move planning, the Private moving checklist helps.
DIY clearance vs professional firm
Clearing out yourself saves the firm's labour cost – but not necessarily the total bill. Hiring a van, landfill fees, bulky-waste stickers, time for multiple trips and physical strain add up quickly. A full cellar may still be manageable DIY; a 4-room flat with a tight stairwell often is not.
When DIY is still realistic
- Few cubic metres, ground floor or lift available.
- Time window without handover pressure.
- Your own van or trailer available.
- Local landfill and bulky-waste rules understood.
When a professional firm makes more sense
- Large volume or short deadline before flat handover.
- Several floors without a lift.
- Donation coordination and disposal proof wanted.
- Combined with a move, household clearance or office clearance.
More on household clearance as a special case at Household clearance.
Special cases: cellar, attic and garage
Cellar lockers, attic rooms and garages are popular clearance projects – often filled for years, hard to reach and with unclear contents. Damp, mould, old paint or chemicals can trigger special disposal. Build some reserve into budget and time.
- Access via narrow cellar stairs or external cellar: more manual work, longer carry routes.
- Attic over several floors: is there a lift? Are roll containers useful?
- Garage with shelves, tools and old oil: clarify special waste separately.
- Shared cellars: inform caretaker and neighbours in good time.
Further links: Clearing out, Clearance, Furniture disposal costs, Household clearance, Apartment clearance after death.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can a clearance be done?
With capacity available, often within a few days of the quote – sometimes the same or next working day. Short-notice and weekend slots are possible but may carry a surcharge. The earlier you send photos and access details, the faster planning can start.
What happens to usable items?
Many providers check furniture, clothing and household goods for donation before everything goes to landfill. What cannot be donated is sorted for disposal or recycling. Clarify in the quote whether donation coordination is included and whether you want to keep specific pieces.
Who pays for clearance in a rental flat?
As a rule, whoever orders the clearance – usually the tenant on move-out, or the landlord when re-letting after vacancy. In disputes or estates, tenancy law and the handover protocol apply. If unsure, clarify who pays before booking.
Is broom-clean handover included in the price?
Not automatically. Broom-clean means empty, swept rooms without major dirt – not end-of-tenancy cleaning with an acceptance guarantee. Define the standard you want in writing in the quote so there is no argument on handover day.
What does clearing out just a cellar locker cost?
Cellars, attics or garages on this site typically sit in the lower part of the disposal/clearance band – roughly CHF 250–700 depending on fill level and access. Photos and a short description are often enough for a first estimate; the quote makes it binding.