Estimating clearout volume
A typical 3-bedroom suburban home contains roughly 15–20m³ of dispose-able stuff once furniture and large items are accounted for. That includes personal items, clothes, books, kitchenware, bedding, and general clutter.
Start by removing valuable or sentimental items — family keepsakes, jewellery, important documents. Then sort what can be donated or sold, and finally bin the rest.
| Home Size | Typical Clearout Volume | Recommended Bin |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 6–8m³ | 12–15m³ |
| 2-bed home | 10–15m³ | 15m³ |
| 3-bed home | 15–20m³ | 20m³ |
| 4-bed home or larger | 20–30m³ | 30m³ or dual bins |
What to donate or sell first
- Furniture: beds, sofas, tables, chairs — charity shops, Facebook Marketplace, bulk hard-rubbish pickup.
- Kitchen appliances: working ovens, microwaves, dishwashers — sell or donate; take to e-waste if broken.
- Clothing: donate to op shops (Vinnies, Salvos) by the bag.
- Books: donate to libraries, schools, or charity bookshops.
- Tools and garden equipment: sell or donate.
- Collectibles, art, antiques: get valued, list on eBay or at auction.
Removing sellable and donatable items first reduces bin volume by 20–30% and may fund some of the clearout cost. Allow 2–4 weeks for donations and selling.
Handling sensitive clearouts at your pace
Deceased estates and house clearouts are often emotional. Don't rush. Book your bin with a 7-day hire period, giving you time to sort without pressure.
If you need longer, extensions are $15/day — simpler than rushing and making decisions you'll regret. Some families extend 2–3 days to finish sorting or wait for family to collect items.
If you need help, professional house clearance companies can handle the entire job and donate or sell items on your behalf.
E-waste, whitegoods, and prohibited items
TVs, computers, monitors, printers, and other electronics (e-waste) are prohibited in bins — they contain hazardous materials and are recyclable. Drop them at a council e-waste facility or a retailer's take-back scheme (JB Hi-Fi, Hardly Normal, etc. offer free drop-off for old electronics).
Whitegoods — fridges, washing machines, dryers — are accepted in bins. Compressors must be drained of refrigerant first (an auto-shop or the appliance store can do this cheaply).
Batteries, gas bottles, and hazardous chemicals are prohibited — contact council for disposal pathways.
One big bin or multiple small bins?
A single 20m³ bin is simplest for most house clearouts — book it, fill it over 7 days, collect and done. Cost is all-in.
If the house is large (4+ beds) and the clearout will take longer than 7 days, book a 30m³ bin or plan for two 15m³ bins with a swap. Multiple small bins can be cheaper if you're clearing slowly.
Discuss timing when you quote. If it's a rushed deceased estate settlement, a big bin at once makes sense. If it's a gradual family clear-out, staged bins are less pressure.