5 Best Junk Removal Companies in Des Moines

If you've Googled "junk removal Des Moines," you've seen the same handful of names come up over and over: a few national franchises, a few local operators, and a long tail of one-truck haulers. The good news is the metro is well-served. The harder question is figuring out which one is right for your specific job.

This is an honest comparison of the five top junk removal companies serving the Des Moines metro. Yes, we're one of them. We've put ourselves at #2 because we genuinely think Junk King's truck size and price guarantee make them the right answer for a lot of jobs. We're listing every competitor with what they're actually best at, not a watered-down marketing pitch.

How We Picked the Top 5

We looked at companies that:

• Have an established Des Moines metro presence (not pop-up haulers or lead-gen aggregators)
• Show up consistently on page one of Google for "junk removal Des Moines" and related queries
• Have verifiable customer reviews and a real service track record
• Cover most of the metro, not just one suburb

Then we ranked them by overall search visibility, customer review volume, and the breadth of services offered. Pricing was a factor but secondary, since every job is different.

1. Junk King Des Moines

Website: junk-king.com/locations/des-moines

Reviews: ~394+ Google reviews, ~4.9 stars

Junk King is a national franchise (part of the Neighborly family) with a strong local presence in the Des Moines metro. They built their reputation on three things: oversized trucks (about 20% larger than the standard hauling truck, around 18 cubic yards), a price-beat guarantee on any written competitor estimate, and a strong recycling track record (up to 60% of hauled items are recycled or repurposed).

Where they shine: Larger jobs where truck volume matters. Because their trucks are bigger, you can fit more into a single load before you tick up to a higher pricing tier. They also offer a $20 online booking discount and same-day appointments when crews are available.

Service area: Most of the Des Moines metro plus surrounding communities including Ames, Newton, Pella, and Adel.

Best for: Customers who want a national-brand price guarantee, larger truck capacity, and broad metro coverage.

2. Des Moines Junk Removal (That's Us)

Website: dsmjunkremoval.com

We're family-owned and have been hauling junk across the Des Moines metro for twelve years. Our pitch is simple: local ownership on the truck, flat-rate quotes you get before anyone touches your stuff, and a crew that actually cares about not scratching your door frames on the way out.

Where we shine: Local responsiveness, honest pricing, and the kind of jobs where access matters (older homes in Sherman Hill, basement clear-outs with tight stairs, alley-access garages in Valley Junction). We're typically scheduled within 2 to 4 days, with same-day slots opening up regularly.

Service area: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Altoona, Clive, Pleasant Hill, Norwalk, Grimes, Windsor Heights, plus surrounding communities.

Best for: Customers who want a local family-owned operator over a national franchise, honest flat-rate pricing, and a crew that knows the metro's older neighborhoods.

See our flat-rate pricing →

3. College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving

Website: collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/des-moines

Reviews: ~4.8-4.9 stars, hundreds of local reviews (system-wide average 4.9 across 195,000+ Google reviews)

College HUNKS is a national franchise built around the idea of pairing junk removal with full-service moving, all under one roof. Uniformed crews, recognizable brand, and a focus on stress-free service. They donate or recycle up to 70% of items hauled.

Where they shine: One-stop convenience. If you're already moving (local or long-distance), College HUNKS can handle the haul-away of unwanted items as part of the same booking. Their brand recognition also means consistent service standards across locations.

Service area: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Ankeny, Johnston, Waukee, and surrounding metro.

Best for: Customers who want junk removal and moving help bundled together, or who prefer a recognizable national brand.

4. The Goat Junk Removal

Website: thegoatjunkremoval.com

The Goat is a Central Iowa local operator with over two decades of hauling experience. They're known for handling heavy cleanouts (hoarder situations, estate clear-outs), the full range of standard services (furniture, appliances, yard waste, brush), and they also offer dump trailer rentals for DIY jobs.

Where they shine: Larger and more complex cleanouts where 20+ years of experience makes a real difference. Their dump trailer rental option is also useful if you'd rather load it yourself and skip the labor cost.

Service area: Ankeny, Des Moines, and the broader Central Iowa region.

Best for: Customers with heavy cleanouts who want a seasoned local operator, or anyone considering a DIY dump trailer rental as an alternative to full-service hauling.

5. Junk Free Iowa

Website: junkfreeiowa.com

Junk Free Iowa is an Ankeny-based independent that positions itself as the "real Iowans, not a 1-800 call center" alternative. They offer free instant quotes, upfront no-hidden-fee pricing, and customer-experience touches like SMS arrival updates 24 hours before the job.

Where they shine: Communication. The SMS updates, clear published pricing, and no-call-center experience appeal to customers who've had bad experiences with franchise dispatch systems.

Service area: Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Ames, Boone, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, and 20+ additional Central Iowa towns across five counties.

Best for: Customers who want a local independent and value clear communication and SMS updates over brand recognition.

How to Pick the Right One

Honestly, you can't go badly wrong with any of these five. They're all licensed, insured, and have solid track records in the metro. The right pick depends on your specific job:

• Large-volume cleanout? Junk King's bigger trucks give you the best value per load.
• Local job in an older Des Moines neighborhood? Our crew knows the access challenges and family-owned responsiveness usually wins here.
• Moving and junk removal in one shot? College HUNKS bundles it.
• Heavy cleanout or DIY trailer rental? The Goat.
• Local communication and clear pricing? Junk Free Iowa.

The best move is to get 2 to 3 quotes for any larger job. Most of these companies (including us) will send a flat-rate price the same day if you text photos. Compare and pick.

What All Five Have in Common

• Licensed and insured Iowa hauling
• Same-week scheduling (often same-day)
• Donation and recycling routing for usable items
• Free quotes
• Service across most of the Des Moines metro

Ready for a Real Quote?

Text photos of your job to (515) 414-2280 or use our quote form. We'll send a flat-rate price the same day, and you can compare it against any other quote in town.