Junk removal How to get rid of a hot tub in Charleston

Will your town pick it up at the curb?

Probably not without a call. Only one town in the area mentions hot tubs by name.

• Summerville: the Town's bulk pickup page says to call Public Works at 843-851-4225 for hot tubs, jacuzzis and very large items. Regular bulk items go out monthly, but a hot tub needs that call first.
• Goose Creek: the City says very large items like sheds, garage doors and trailers must be cut into sections no longer than 4 feet. It doesn't mention hot tubs, so don't assume that rule covers one. Call Sanitation at 843-824-2200.
• Moncks Corner: sheds, garage doors and trailers must be taken apart before pickup, and the limit is two bulk items a week. Hot tubs aren't mentioned. Call Town Hall at 843-719-7900.

No other town's page names hot tubs either way. Call before you set one out:

Several towns also limit building materials. The City of Charleston collects owner-generated construction refuse only up to 90 gallons per collection cycle, North Charleston takes no more than 90 gallons of building materials per collection day, and Sullivan's Island doesn't collect construction materials at all.

What removal involves

None of the official sources describe how a hot tub is taken apart, and none of the national cost guides break the price into steps. What the sources do show is that hot tub removal is a service some Charleston junk removal companies list by name. Lowcountry Junk Pros and Good Junk both list hot tub removal among their services.

If you plan to take it apart yourself, call your county first and ask how they want the pieces sorted.

Dropping off the pieces yourself

None of the three counties name hot tubs at their drop-off sites. They do take the kinds of material a hot tub breaks down into, sorted into the right areas.

Charleston County

Each full-service convenience center is split into zones:

• Zone 2 takes bulky items and construction debris, including lumber, insulation and non-recyclable plastics.
• Zone 3 takes scrap metal.

Wood going into the compactors must be under 48 inches. Zone 2 doesn't take hazardous waste. Drop-off is free for residents with a photo ID showing a county address. Double-axle trailers, box trucks and moving vans need an appointment at 843-720-7111. The Signal Point Road center doesn't take construction debris or scrap metal. Because the County doesn't name hot tubs, ask the attendant or call 843-720-7111 before you bring a whole one. See Charleston County convenience centers.

Pro tip if you take it apart, sort the load before you leave home. Charleston County puts scrap metal in Zone 3 and bulky debris in Zone 2, so a sorted trailer gets you through faster.

Berkeley County

All 10 Berkeley County convenience centers take construction debris, scrap metal and furniture, free for residents with a valid photo ID. Only pickup-sized vehicles are allowed. Box trucks and trailers over 12 feet are not, though double-axle trailers up to 12 feet are fine.

A load too big for a center goes to the Berkeley County Landfill, 2277 Highway 52, Moncks Corner, (843) 572-4400. Its Scale House page says residents pay at the gate only for tires, boats and special waste, and lists tipping fees for other loads, such as construction debris at $100 a ton with a 1-ton minimum. The county FAQ lists an older rate of $50 a ton, and neither page is dated. Call the landfill to ask what your load will cost. See Berkeley County convenience centers.

Dorchester County

Dorchester County has construction debris containers at the Old Fort (Oakbrook), St. George, Sandy Pines, Bucks (Knightsville) and Givhans sites. Vehicles are limited to 3/4-ton pickups and single-axle trailers, with no pickup-and-trailer combination loads. The sites are for Dorchester County residential waste only. The county lists no fees, so call the Solid Waste office at (843) 832-0070 before you go. See Dorchester County convenience sites.

If you need a bigger vehicle to move the pieces, our guide to taking a moving truck to the dump covers each county's truck and trailer rules.

What it costs to hire it out

National cost guides put hot tub removal at:

• $200 to $600 (Angi, 2024 data; a related note on the page puts the average at $400)
• $150 to $600 (Fixr, January 2025)
• $235 to $415, with an average of $325 (LawnStarter, December 2025)

These are national figures, not Charleston quotes. See our junk removal cost guide for how Charleston companies price larger loads.

Frequently asked questions