3
large items per household during your monthly bulk week, out by 6 a.m. Monday
BOAT-E
batteries, oil, appliances, tires, and electronics are recycled in the same week
1 load
pickup-truck load per visit at a city transfer station for residents
Every route for a hot tub in St. Louis, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full St. Louis guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in St. Louis, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
St. Louis monthly bulk and BOAT-E pickup: hot tubs
Free, with a step firstA broken-down tub exceeds 3 items; a transfer station load or a crew is realistic.
Who qualifies: Properties served by the City of St. Louis Refuse Division (city limits only; St. Louis County has separate trash districts).
How to schedule: No appointment. Once a month, during your region's bulk week (find it at stlouis-mo.gov/my-pickup or 314-622-4800), set up to 3 large items out by 6 a.m. Monday. BOAT-E items (batteries, oil, appliances, tires, electronics) are recycled during the same bulk week. Crews have the whole week; report misses to the Citizens' Service Bureau on Friday.
Limits: Up to 3 large items per household per month. City residents can also bring one pickup-truck load to a city transfer station.
Set-out: Roll-cart homes: at the curb in front of the house. Alley-dumpster homes: in the alley directly behind the house, away from the dumpster, not blocking the alley. Never in or next to the trash container.
City of St. Louis transfer stations (resident drop-off): hot tubs
Free load for residentsOne truck load.
Where: North: 4100 N. 1st St. South: 2821 Gasconade St.
How it works: City residents with ID can bring one pickup-truck load of trash, bulk items, yard waste, or recycling per visit. Remodeling debris is accepted with limits. Check hours and the accepted list on the city site.
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 St. Louis: 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 St. Louis: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
St. Louis residents have a generous combination of free services: monthly bulk pickup organized by region, plus 12 free loads per year at the city’s two transfer stations. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, with the specific rules that apply in St. Louis City.
The St. Louis rule for hot tubs: A broken-down tub exceeds 3 items; a transfer station load or a crew is realistic.
Program basics: Up to 3 large items per household per month. City residents can also bring one pickup-truck load to a city transfer station. Roll-cart homes: at the curb in front of the house. Alley-dumpster homes: in the alley directly behind the house, away from the dumpster, not blocking the alley. Never in or next to the trash container.
What the city will not take: Railroad ties, construction and remodeling debris (transfer station), household hazardous waste, and regular trash mixed with bulk.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of St. Louis Refuse Division: Bulk and BOAT-E item pickup, City of St. Louis: Residential Collection overview. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in St. Louis. St. Louis Refuse Division accepts automotive batteries and motor oil at Transfer Stations free for City residents. For other household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, pesticides), check stlouis-mo.gov for periodic HHW collection events. Several retailers offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, and most pharmacies for unused medications.
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 households who can’t wait for monthly bulk Monday or have construction debris not accepted by city services, LoadUp offers professional removal in St. Louis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 St. Louis with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside St. Louis proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete St. Louis 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 St. Louis: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does St. Louis pick up hot tubs for free?
Transfer station in pieces, or a crew.
How much does paid hot tub removal cost in St. Louis?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single hot tub pickup in St. Louis starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who can’t wait for monthly bulk Monday or have construction debris not accepted by city services, LoadUp offers professional removal in St. Louis with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
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 St. Louis page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full St. Louis guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
