The short answer
A standard hot tub or spa is $390 to remove and haul away. A large 6-to-8-person tub is $501. The tub must be drained and the power disconnected by an electrician first. Related backyard items: barrel or infrared sauna $293, cold plunge tub $271, above-ground pool frame and liner $145. The price is set from photos before you book, and it only changes if you approve it.
Why Michigan tubs come out
The most common reason is winter. Detroit's cold season runs roughly December through March, and a tub that loses power or is drained badly can freeze. Cracked jets, split plumbing and a dead heater can cost more to fix than the tub is worth.
Other common reasons:
- A house sale, where buyers do not want the tub or the inspection flags it.
- A deck replacement, where the tub has to move anyway.
- An inherited house where the tub has sat empty and covered for years.
- The cover finally failed and the shell is full of leaves and ice.
Why the curb and the drop-off do not work for a tub
The City of Detroit's free bulk pickup takes up to 2 cubic yards a week, about the size of two stoves. Even a compact spa is well beyond that in one piece, and cutting it into curb-sized pieces yourself means a saw, a weekend, and several weeks of set-outs at 7 a.m. Outlier Media reported in 2022 that exceeding the weekly limit can bring a $1,500 fine.
Driving it to SOCRRA's transfer station in Troy means a trailer, a crew of friends, and the station's hand-unload hours: weekdays 6 to 10 a.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at $75 per ton with a $50 minimum. Most people who try that once do not try it twice.
Hot tub and backyard prices
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Hot Tub / Spa | $390 |
| Hot Tub / Spa — 6-8 Person | $501 |
| Sauna (1-2 Person / Barrel / Infrared) | $293 |
| Cold Plunge Tub | $271 |
| Above-Ground Pool (Frame + Liner) | $145 |
| Swing Set | $143 |
| Swing Set — Wood (timber) | $182 |
| Trampoline | $116 |
| Patio Table | $89 |
| Patio Chair (Each) | $30 |
A backyard reset with a standard tub and an above-ground pool: $390 + $145 = $535. Tub plus patio table and four chairs: $390 + $89 + $30 + $30 + $30 + $30 = $599.
Before the crew arrives
- Drain it completely. A full tub holds hundreds of gallons. Use a submersible pump if you have one, and send the water somewhere it will not run into a neighbor's basement window well.
- Have the power disconnected at the panel and the line made safe by an electrician. Many tubs are hard-wired.
- Clear the route. Gates, fences, a narrow side yard between houses, steps down from a deck. Measure the tightest point.
- Remove the cover or leave it on; either is fine, but say which.
Access in Detroit backyards
The backyards in Detroit's pre-war neighborhoods and inner-ring suburbs like Ferndale, Royal Oak and Berkley are often narrow, with a detached garage at the back and an alley behind. A tub that went in from the alley before a fence or garage was rebuilt may have to come out the same way.
Suburban yards in Troy, Novi, Canton and Macomb Township are usually wider, but HOA rules may limit where a truck can park and for how long. Check before booking.
Lakefront and canal homes along Lake St. Clair in St. Clair Shores, and the Grosse Pointes, often have tubs on raised decks with steps. Mention it in your photos.
If the deck is coming out too
Tubs and decks often go together. If the deck boards under the tub are soft after years of Michigan winters, it is usually the moment to take the deck out too. A few ways that prices out:
- Tub plus a few bundles of old deck boards: $390 + $41 + $41 + $41 = $513, using the lumber and wood scrap bundle price.
- Tub plus a larger tear-out: the tub at $390, with the demolished deck priced by truck tier from photos, for example a quarter truck at $241: $390 + $241 = $631.
Concrete pads under the tub are different. Concrete is priced at $219 per quarter truck, and it is heavy, so send a photo with a tape measure in it.
Timing it
Best: late spring or early fall, when the ground is firm, the deck is dry and there is no ice on the steps. If the tub froze over the winter, removing it in April or May after the thaw is common.
Winter removal is possible but the drain, the deck and the yard all fight you. We run 7 days a week, 8am to midnight, and same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM.
What happens to it
A hot tub is a mix of acrylic or plastic shell, a wood or synthetic cabinet, foam insulation, pumps, motors and wiring. We recycle whatever we can, metal and electrical parts included. The rest goes to disposal, which is included in the flat price.
Get a photo quote with a picture of the tub and one of the route to the street. For the rest of the yard, see garage cleanout cost in Detroit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hot tub removal cost in Detroit?
A standard hot tub is $390 and a 6-to-8-person tub is $501, flat, including hauling and disposal.
Do I need to drain the hot tub first?
Yes. Drain it fully and have the power disconnected by an electrician before the crew arrives.
Can you remove a hot tub from a deck?
Yes. Include a photo of the deck and the route to the street with your quote request so the job can be planned.
How much is sauna removal?
A 1-to-2-person, barrel or infrared sauna is $293.
Can you remove an above-ground pool too?
Yes. An above-ground pool frame and liner is $145. With a standard tub, that is $390 + $145 = $535.
Can Detroit bulk pickup take a hot tub?
A whole tub is far bigger than the city's 2-cubic-yard weekly limit. Most owners either cut it up over several weeks or book a removal.