Updated July 6, 2023
If you have an old, run-down swing set taking up valuable space in your backyard, tearing it down and having it disposed of is definitely worth the effort.
There are multiple different ways to remove and dispose of an unwanted swing set, each with differing amounts of effort and pricing.
We'll go over the available swing set removal options on the market and the average cost of each:
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List as a Free Item
Average Cost: $0
The only way to have your swing set removal be completely free of charge is to list it as a free item, whether that be on online marketplaces, like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or putting it at the end of the road with a "Free" sign displayed.
This is typically only an option when the swing set is still in safe, working condition, so if the wood on your swing set is splintering, rotting, or otherwise compromised, do not offer this to others under the guise that it can be reused.
Whether you take apart the swing set or the person picking it up takes apart the swing set is completely up to you and can be negotiated if you find someone interested in your play set.
DIY Hauling
Average Cost: $100-$300
If your swing set isn't in good enough condition to hand down to someone else to use, you'll have to choose a disposal method that works best for you.
The cheapest option is to do all of the manual labor yourself, but there are several things to consider before going this route.
Taking apart a swing set is a 2 person job, requires safety gear, power tools, strength, time, and patience. You can expect to dedicate at least a whole afternoon to deconstructing a swing set, and this doesn't even include the time it would then take to load up a truck or trailer with the materials, drive to the nearest landfill or recycling center, wait in line at the disposal center, unload the materials, wait in line to pay, and then the drive back home.
If you live in a busy area, wait time at landfills (especially on the weekends) can easily take up 30 minutes to a couple hours. Spending this amount of time next to a smelly landfill is hardly an ideal way to spend a weekend.
While going the DIY route can save you some money, taking a closer look at how these expenses can add up will paint a more realistic picture.
Landfill fees vary, but the average cost of landfill fees across the U.S. is around $40-$60 per ton—or around $15-$30 per cubic yard for relatively small loads—but landfill fees aren't the only cost to consider. It's also important to consider the cost of fuel and your time when deciding whether or not to haul your items to the landfill yourself.
If we conservatively assume you're charged around $100 by your landfill, spend around $30 in gas, and consider your time worth $20 an hour, it can easily cost you around $250 for a DIY swing set removal and disposal.
Learn more:
- How to Get Rid of an Old Swing Set, Trampoline, and More
- The Easiest Ways to Manage Debris from DIY Projects
- How Much It Costs to Dump at the Landfill (and Why It's Not Always the Best Option)
Rent a Dumpster
Average Cost: $250-$450
Alternatively, for a comparatively similar price, you can opt to rent a temporary dumpster for a significantly more convenient disposal method.
While you'll still need an extra pair of hands and the time and strength to take apart your swing set yourself, having a dumpster onsite means that the disposal aspect of your project will take a fraction of the time.
You can put each piece of swing set material into your dumpster rental as it's being taken apart, meaning the only thing you have left to do once the swing set is deconstructed is to contact the dumpster company to come pick their container back up.
A 10 yard container is usually the smallest option dumpster rental companies offer and is large enough to contain the average size swing set while being small enough to conveniently fit in your driveway.
The average cost of a 10 yard dumpster rental is $250-$450, but can be more or less depending on landfill fees and cost of living in your area, the weight of your swing set, who you hire, and more.
Renting from a locally-owned and operated dumpster rental company is typically cheaper than renting from their larger nationwide competitors, which is why Hometown publishes small, local dumpster rental businesses throughout the U.S.
You can fill out our single quote request form to quickly get multiple dumpster rental quotes completely free of charge so that you can compare pricing, customer service, and availability.
Keep reading:
- Should I Rent a Dumpster or Take Junk to the Landfill Myself?
- Waste Management's Dumpster Rental Prices Are Costly Compared to Local Haulers
- 7 Factors That Affect the Cost of a Dumpster Rental
Find dumpster rentals near you
Hire Junk Removal
Average Cost: $300-$600
The easiest way to get rid of a swing set, by far, is by hiring a junk removal service to handle everything, including the deconstruction, hauling, and disposal.
While junk removal services aren't typically the cheapest option, their convenience cannot be overstated. Without having to lift a finger, you can have your unwanted swing set torn down and hauled away in a single afternoon (usually no more than 1-2 hours).
Similarly to dumpster rental, Hometown makes it easy to find and request free project quotes from local junk removal services across the country.
After you've reached out to multiple junk removal experts in your area and have hired the best company for the job, they'll send a crew of at least 2 workers to come and tear down your swing set quickly and safely, being sure to respect your property throughout the entire process.
Once they're done deconstructing your swing set and loading it onto their truck/trailer, they'll give you an invoice that you can either pay on the spot or call into their office and pay over the phone. Then the only thing you have left to do is to enjoy your newly cleared out back yard!
Read on:
- How to Request Junk Removal Quotes with Hometown
- You Just Requested a Junk Removal Quote...What to Expect Next
- How to Compare Quotes and Hire the Right Junk Removal Company
Get free junk removal quotes in my area
Light Demolition Contractor
Average Cost: $500-$800
Demolition contractors can be slightly more expensive than a junk removal company because they usually have a higher minimum for their services. With that being said, they would perform a swing set removal in the same manner as a junk removal company, offering a completely labor-free experience for you.
If you're only having a swing set removed, it would probably be more cost-effective to go with a junk removal company for this service. However, if you're having other light demolition work in your backyard, like shed demolition, deck removal, fence removal, concrete removal, etc., it would likely be more cost-effective to bundle the services and use the same demolition contractor to tackle it all at once.
Our sister site, Hometown Demolition, offers a single quote request form so that you can easily get in touch with local contractors that are in your service area. By answering a few short questions about your swing set removal project, you'll be shown qualified light demolition services near you.
You can read more about each company, read reviews from verified real customers, and compare pricing and customer service to find the best company for your project—all in one convenient place!
Continue reading: How to Request Demolition Quotes with Hometown