Work order
required before any large item goes out; furniture is free
Fee items
refrigerant appliances, motor appliances, microwaves, and tires carry a recycling fee
3
Streets Division drop-off sites; electronics are free there in 2026 with proof of residency
Every route for a hot tub in Madison, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Madison guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Madison, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Madison large item collection by work order: hot tubs
Work order plus a feeList it on a work order; special handling may apply. Most people hire a crew.
Who qualifies: Homes with Streets Division collection (properties of 8 units or fewer). Since January 2025, larger properties have no curbside large item service and use their private hauler, though all residents can use the drop-off sites.
How to schedule: Complete a large item work order at cityofmadison.com/LargeItemWorkOrder before setting anything out, choosing a set-out date. Furniture and most bulky items are free; refrigerant appliances, motor appliances, and a short list of special items carry a recycling fee paid when you schedule. Collection happens during the work week after your set-out date.
Limits: Only items listed on the work order are collected. Fee items are a defined short list; everything else is free.
Set-out: On the terrace or road edge along the public street on the date you picked, not early, not on carriage lanes or private drives. Collection follows sometime that week.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Madison: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering hot tubs, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Madison: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Madison, Wisconsin runs a carefully structured large item pickup system: you choose a Sunday set-out date via an online work order, and city crews collect the items during the following work week. Metal items (appliances) and non-metal items (furniture) are collected by separate crews, keep them separated. Fees apply for appliances with refrigerants ($35) or motors ($15). Madison also has three drop-off sites open April through December for residents who prefer to self-haul. This guide covers every option for City of Madison residents (properties with 9+ units use private dumpster service, not city collection).
The Madison rule for hot tubs: List it on a work order; special handling may apply. Most people hire a crew.
Program basics: Only items listed on the work order are collected. Fee items are a defined short list; everything else is free. On the terrace or road edge along the public street on the date you picked, not early, not on carriage lanes or private drives. Collection follows sometime that week.
What the city will not take: Electronics (TVs, computers, printers) are never collected curbside under Wisconsin law; they are free at the drop-off sites in 2026. Construction debris and hazardous waste are not large items.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Madison Streets Division: Large items and appliances, City of Madison Streets Division: Large Item Collection guidelines flyer, City of Madison Streets Division: 2026 drop-off site hours and locations. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why hot tubs are different from ordinary bulk. Hot tubs combine multiple disposal challenges in one item: weight (a typical 6-person hot tub weighs 300 to 500 lbs empty, 3,000+ lbs filled), size (typically 7 to 8 ft square or larger), specialized utilities (220V electrical, dedicated plumbing connections), and assembly complexity (rigid acrylic shell, foam insulation, frame, decorative skirt, jets, pumps, heaters).
Three mistakes that get hot tubs left at the curb:
For households without time or equipment for DIY disassembly:
Specialized Hot Tub Removal Services
$300 to $1,200Many local junk removal companies have hot-tub-specific service lines. Search “hot tub removal [your city]” for specialists. Pricing ranges $300 to $1,200 depending on size, complexity (above-ground vs. in-ground), and access (basement hot tubs cost more due to stair handling). Always get 2 to 3 quotes, pricing varies dramatically by region.
LoadUp paid hot tub pickup
$80+For Madison households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Madison area.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your hot tub. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book hot tub pickup in Madison with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Madison proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Madison junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national hot tub disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Madison: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Madison pick up hot tubs for free?
With a work order; most people hire a crew.
How much does paid hot tub removal cost in Madison?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single hot tub pickup in Madison starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Madison households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Madison area.
How much does professional hot tub removal cost?
Typical pricing ranges $300 to $800 for above-ground hot tubs, $500 to $1,200+ for in-ground or hard-to-access installations. The cost reflects 3 to 6 hours of labor with multiple crew members, specialized equipment for disassembly, electrical and plumbing disconnects, and disposal fees. Always get 2 to 3 quotes, prices vary significantly by region and accessibility.
Can I sell a non-working hot tub?
Sometimes. Non-working hot tubs occasionally find buyers who want them for: (1) Repair and resale, some buyers fix and flip. (2) Parts, the pumps, heaters, and jets have resale value separate from the shell. (3) Scrap metal, the frame contains 50 to 150 lbs of steel. List on Craigslist Free section or Facebook Marketplace at $0 with details about what works and what doesn’t. The key benefit even at $0: the buyer handles removal, saving you $300 to $800 in paid hauler fees.
Can I just drain it and leave it for trash collection?
Generally no. Most U.S. cities explicitly exclude hot tubs from regular bulk pickup because of weight (300+ lbs even drained) and size. A hot tub left at the curb without confirmed pickup will sit there, accumulate code enforcement notices, and may result in fines that exceed the cost of paid removal. Always check your city’s rules before any DIY approach, the city section above has summaries.
Do I need a permit to remove a hot tub?
For above-ground hot tubs, no permit is typically required for removal, just for installation. For in-ground hot tubs, removal may require a permit because of the excavation and electrical work involved. Some HOAs also require notification or approval for hot tub removal, especially if visible from common areas. Check with your municipality and HOA before starting work, and confirm with your removal service that they’ll handle any required permits as part of their pricing.
Is this Madison page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Madison guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
