House Clearance Cost in Switzerland 2026: Prices and Tips
Published on 14.10.2026 · Updated on 15.10.2026 · Offrendo editorial team
Clearing and disposing of the contents of a 3.5-room apartment costs around CHF 1,500 to 4,000 in Switzerland in 2026, and a complete household clearance including cellar and attic CHF 1,500 to 6,000. Clearing a cellar or attic costs CHF 300 to 1,200, and bulky waste collected and disposed of costs CHF 80 to 200 per cubic metre. The price depends mainly on the volume and on whether valuable items are credited against it. In Switzerland, disposal is organised by each municipality, and a rented apartment must be completely empty before the end-of-tenancy cleaning and the handover.
Clearance and disposal prices 2026
Clearance companies calculate mainly by volume, floor, lift, carrying distance and regional disposal fees. In the city of Zurich, quotes are usually in the upper half of the Swiss ranges: many inner-city apartments in older buildings have no lift, parking spaces for the lorry are scarce, and the time needed per cubic metre increases.
| Service | Indicative price Switzerland | Tendency city of Zurich |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment clearance, 2.5 rooms | CHF 1,000 – 2,500 | rather CHF 1,750 – 2,500 |
| Apartment clearance, 3.5 rooms | CHF 1,500 – 4,000 | rather CHF 2,750 – 4,000 |
| Clearing a cellar or attic | CHF 300 – 1,200 | rather CHF 900 – 1,500 |
| Complete household clearance, incl. cellar and attic | CHF 1,500 – 6,000 | rather CHF 3,750 – 6,000 |
| Bulky waste collected and disposed of, incl. loading | CHF 80 – 200 per m³ | rather CHF 140 – 200 per m³ |
| Electronic waste, metal | usually free of charge | – |
| Building rubble | CHF 150 – 300 per m³ | – |
Indicative prices 2026 incl. VAT for insured clearance companies (Offrendo price guide). The column for the city of Zurich is an estimate (upper half of the Swiss range), not a survey. Electrical appliances and metal are usually taken back free of charge thanks to the take-back obligation and the advance recycling fee (vRG) paid on purchase. Crediting saleable furniture, antiques or collections can reduce the price considerably.
How the price is calculated
Clearance companies look at the volume in cubic metres, the floor and lift, the carrying distance to the lorry and the disposal fees in your region. Reputable companies credit well-preserved furniture, antiques or vehicles against the price – for households with valuable items, a clearance can become much cheaper or even cost-neutral.
Ask for a viewing, or send photos, and request a fixed-price quote that includes working time, transport and disposal fees, with any credit for valuables shown in writing.
Bulky waste in Switzerland: how disposal works
Each Swiss municipality organises its own waste disposal, so the rules, fees and collection options depend on where you live. Check your municipality's website before you start. The city of Zurich, run by Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich (ERZ), is a good example. There, bulky waste means combustible waste that is too big and too heavy for the Züri-Sack (the city's official rubbish bag), such as furniture, mattresses, carpets, suitcases or skis. Electrical appliances and stoves are not included.
- Mobile recycling centre (Mobiler Recyclinghof): free for city residents. Since January 2026 the former Cargo-Tram and E-Tram run under this name, and the service is being extended across the city by the end of 2026. Drop-off only on foot, by bike or public transport, not by car. Maximum 40 kg and 2.5 m length per item, sofas and upholstered furniture maximum 2 m.
- Recycling centres Looächer and Werdhölzli: bulky waste is accepted for a fee, charged by weight according to the city's current tariff.
- Collection by ERZ: bulky waste, metal, electrical appliances and Grubengut (inert waste such as stones or ceramics) are collected outside your building for a fee. Orders only by phone via the ERZ Service Center, ideally at least 3 working days in advance. The sorted items must be outside the building by 7 am on the collection day; loading is limited to 60 minutes per day and location. Charges are based on loading time according to the current tariff.
Tariffs and locations can change, so check the current details on the City of Zurich website. For a whole apartment, the collection is often not enough: you carry everything down and sort it yourself, and the loading time per day is limited.
Clearance before the apartment handover
When you leave a rented apartment, it must be completely empty before the end-of-tenancy cleaning – only then can the cleaning company work with a handover guarantee. Around the official moving dates (in the city of Zurich 31 March and 30 September; if in doubt, your tenancy agreement applies) and at every month-end, clearance, removal and cleaning companies are booked up early.
- Do not forget the cellar, attic, bike room and letterbox: items left behind can be objected to at the handover
- Clarify fixtures or items you took over from the previous tenant with the property management in good time
- Plan clearance, cleaning and handover together: ideally the clearance on one day, cleaning and handover the next
Clearing the home of a deceased person
If an apartment has to be cleared after a death, deadlines and inheritance questions come into play:
- Heirs have three months to renounce an inheritance. Anyone who takes valuables during this time – such as jewellery, an expensive watch or a painting – risks losing the right to renounce.
- According to the SRF legal advice programme, giving notice on the apartment and disposing of worthless items count as purely administrative acts and are generally unproblematic. Valuables should be inventoried and kept until the decision is made.
- If in doubt, for example because of possible debts, ask the competent inheritance office or a legal adviser before clearing.
- Many clearance companies credit saleable furniture, antiques or collections against the price. Ask for this to be listed in writing in the quote.
- Photos and an inventory list help when dividing the estate among the heirs and with the final accounts.
Do it yourself or hire a company?
If you have time and a vehicle, you can dispose of small amounts cheaply at your municipality's collection point. For a whole apartment, a company is usually worth it: a team does in one day what takes private individuals a weekend and several trips. An apartment is usually cleared in a day, and an appointment is often possible within a week.
Be careful with ads offering free clearance: a reputable company offers a fixed price, liability insurance and disposal through official disposal sites, with proof.
Comparing clearance quotes
Describe the number of rooms, floor, lift, cellar and attic and any special items such as a piano or safe; photos speed up the quote. On Offrendo you describe your clearance once and can compare up to 3 quotes from local companies, free and without obligation, combined with end-of-tenancy cleaning if you wish.
Clearance & disposal in your region: local pages
Sources & methodology
As of: 15.10.2026 · editorially reviewed by the Offrendo editorial team
Basis: publicly available price information from Swiss specialist companies, industry information from the professional organisations listed below and Offrendo's own market data where sufficient data is available. All prices are indicative values in CHF incl. VAT for Switzerland – not quotes.
Percentages for price differences, surcharges or budget shares are industry experience values, not Offrendo statistics.
Offrendo's own market data will be included as soon as there are at least 20 quotes per category. Insights →
Professional organisations and primary sources
- Swiss Recycling
- City of Zurich: bulky waste (Sperrgut)
- City of Zurich: collection of bulky waste, metal, electrical appliances and Grubengut
- City of Zurich: mobile recycling centre in your neighbourhood
- City of Zurich: recycling centres
- City of Zurich: press release on neighbourhood-based disposal (September 2024)
- SRF Espresso: indebted estate – am I liable if I clear the room in the care home? (2023)
Public sources for the guide prices (checked on 15.10.2026)
- Apartment clearance, 3.5 rooms: CHF 1'500 – CHF 4'000 flat rate · Sources: ofri.ch (2025), neho.ch (2026)
- Basement/attic clearance: CHF 300 – CHF 1'200 flat rate · Sources: swissofferten.ch (2026), bestofferten.ch (2026)
- Bulky waste collection and disposal (incl. loading): CHF 80 – CHF 200 per m³ · Sources: bestofferten.ch (2026), offerio.ch (2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to clear a 3.5-room apartment?
Around CHF 1,500 to 4,000, in the city of Zurich rather in the upper half. A complete household clearance costs CHF 1,500 to 6,000; crediting valuable items can reduce the amount.
How much does a household clearance after a death cost?
For a complete household including cellar, usually CHF 1,500 to 6,000. Crediting saleable furniture, antiques or collections can reduce the amount considerably.
How quickly can an apartment be cleared?
An apartment is usually cleared in one day. An appointment is often possible within a week, and faster in urgent cases.
Where can I dispose of bulky waste for free in Zurich?
At the mobile recycling centre (Mobiler Recyclinghof), which is free for city residents. Drop-off without a car, items up to 40 kg and 2.5 m long. At the recycling centres Looächer and Werdhölzli, bulky waste is subject to a fee.
Do I have to pay to dispose of old electrical appliances?
Usually not. Electronic waste and metal are generally taken back free of charge thanks to the take-back obligation and the advance recycling fee included in the purchase price.
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