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How to Dispose of Furniture

The Complete Furniture Disposal Guide

In our complete furniture disposal guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to get rid of your furniture the right way. Should you donate or throw away? How can you donate or throw away furniture? And most importantly, how much will this cost you? We've got answers to these questions and more. Let's get into it!

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How Much Does Furniture Removal Cost?

Furniture removal can cost anywhere from $5 to $700+ depending on what you're throwing out and where you live.

Before we dive into the best ways to get rid of furniture, let's take a look at what key factors will affect the cost of your furniture removal project. In general, the price to get rid of furniture is generally determined by:

The number of items you’re getting rid of.
The total volume of your load.
Whether you use a furniture removal service or dump it yourself.

Average Cost to Throw Furniture Away

Disposal Option	Cost	Basic Pros & Cons
Roll Off Dumpster	$472 on average, with prices ranging from $279 to $795	Throw away more than just furniture! This is a great option for bigger projects, but may not be right if you're just throwing away one or two things.
Junk Removal Service	Between $235 and $600 depending on how many truckloads of furniture you have to throw away.	A junk removal service picks up and throws away your furniture for you. The added level of service usually means it's more expensive, and you typically can't throw away as much.
Take Furniture to the Dump	Between $32-$40 a ton at most landfills. Note that this doesn't include the cost of a truck rental, gas, or time spent hauling.	It can be affordable, but you'll have to do the most work with this option.
Take Furniture to a Landfill	Between $10-$50 per item. This does not include the cost of truck rental, gas, or time spent hauling.	This is great if you're near to a landfill and only need to throw away one or two items. With more, costs can add up quickly.
Leave Furniture at the Curb	Between $5-$50 per item, depending on your area.	This is the most convenient solution, but not every municipality offers curbside pickup of furniture.This is only a good option if you just have one or two things to throw away.

5 Best Ways to Get Rid of Furniture: The Complete Breakdown

The five best ways to get rid of furniture are:

1. Roll Off Dumpster

2. Junk Removal Service

3. Scrap Dealer

4. Landfill

5. Curbside Disposal

But how do you know which option is best for your project and the furniture you’re trying to get rid of? That depends on the type of furniture you're tossing and how quickly you want the job done.

Before you decide how to throw furniture away, take inventory of everything you're getting rid of. Items in good condition can be donated, but if there are major tears, scrapes, or pet damage, you'll need to toss it.

If you're ready to throw away that old couch, dresser, or nightstand, let's talk a little bit more about which of these five furniture disposal options is best for you.

1. Rent a Roll Off Dumpster

This is a quick and affordable way to get rid of furniture and other junk during a home cleanout. Budget Dumpster offers a variety of different dumpster rental sizes you can choose from, ranging from 10 to 40 yards.

Once you’ve picked a size that fits your project, we will drop off the container in a spot of your choosing. Then, you can easily load your couch, chairs and everything else into the bin. When you’re finished, just schedule your pickup online and we’ll come haul it away.

This option is ideal for home cleanouts and major junk removal or decluttering projects, as it allows you to work at your own pace as you sort through your items.

Dumpster Filled With Furniture on Blueprint Background

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Roll Off Dumpster for Furniture Disposal?

If you rent a 20 yard dumpster, you can expect to spend somewhere around $472 on average, with prices ranging from $279 to $795.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Load your furniture at your own pace.	Best for removing multiple items, or large furniture.
No need to be home for pickup.	You have to load your own items.
Low, upfront rate is provided before your rental arrives.	Dumpster sizes, weight limits and restrictions can vary by location.
Offers a guaranteed, scheduled removal of your furniture.

Learn More About Service in Your Area

Two Men Carrying a Yellow Couch With Blueprint Background

2. Hire a Junk Removal Service

A junk removal service will send professionals to your house to determine the cost of removing your furniture. If you agree on the price, they will load up your items and haul them away.

This is a good option for getting rid of a couple big-ticket items on the spot. But because junk removal prices are often based on the total volume of your items, it may not be the best choice if you’re working on a full home cleanout or an ongoing junk removal project.

Do your homework before hiring a junk removal company for your furniture disposal.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Junk Removal Service to Get Rid of Funiture?

It costs around $235 for a quarter bedload to $550 for a full bedload of junk. The size of your bedload will be estimated by the junk removal team you hire, and will depend on the combined size and weight of the furniture you’re getting rid of.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Offers a scheduled removal of your furniture.	Best for removing a few pieces of furniture.
No heavy lifting involved.	Price is subject to increase upon arrival.
	Cost of furniture removal increases per item.
	Must be present for pickup.

3. Take It to a Scrap Dealer

If you have metal chairs, tables or bed frames, you may be able to recycle your furniture at a local scrap metal dealer. Some scrap yards can even recycle steel spring mattresses, provided the cloth is removed beforehand.

Before recycling metal furniture, you’ll want to determine whether the metal is ferrous or non-ferrous. Though most scrap yards will take either kind, non-ferrous metal furniture will cost more to dispose of. To determine what kind you’re dealing with, hold a magnet to your furniture. If the magnet does not stick, it’s a non-ferrous metal.

You can find a metal furniture recycling option near you using iScrap App’s scrapyard finder.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Allows metal furniture to be recycled.	Requires access to a truck.
Scrap yards will pay you for your materials.	Nearest scrap yard may be far away.
	Could require multiple trips.

Important Disposal Tip for Old Furniture:

If you're dealing with a particularly bulky piece of furniture, like a large couch, taking it apart can make the disposal process much easier.

4. Haul It to the Landfill

With the right size pickup truck, you might be able to dump furniture yourself at the local landfill. If you don’t need to get rid of that old couch right away, see if your area landfill offers free bulk waste disposal days and wait until then to dump it.

Always call before hauling your items, as some locations are not open for public dumping, or may not be able to dispose of certain types of furniture.

Pickup Truck Bed Filled With Mattress and Other Junk

How Much Does it Cost to Haul Furniture to the Landfill Yourself?

Knowing where to throw away furniture on your own can be a great way to save money on disposal costs. In general, you can expect to spend between $10-$30 per item or between $32-$40 per ton at landfills. This cost doesn’t include the price of a truck rental, gas, or time spent hauling the materials.

It’s also important to remember that some landfills do not offer furniture disposal. If your local providers do, they may be limited in what furniture they can accept, or the number of items they can take each week. Always call ahead to confirm whether your items can be dumped.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Low-cost or free furniture disposal option.	Requires access to a truck.
Allows you to remove furniture at your own pace.	Nearest landfill may be far away or not open to the public.
	Could require multiple trips.

Important Furniture Disposal Tip:

Illegal dumping can harm your local environment and result in thousands of dollars in fines. If you cannot leave your items at the curb or your local landfill, don’t dump them illegally. Enlist the help of a furniture removal or dumpster rental service.

5. Leave It at the Curb

If you have only a few smaller items, getting rid of furniture may be as easy as dragging it out to your curb. But you should always touch base with your local service provider before doing so.

Some municipal and private trash collection services will charge extra to dispose of furniture in addition to your regular trash. You may also be limited to a certain number of items or a certain time when your furniture can be dumped. For example, many cities only do bulk pickups once a month or a few times a year. You might even be required to seal upholstered furnishings in plastic before curbside collection will accept it.

Benefits	Things to Consider
Very little extra work involved.	Best for getting rid of a few items.
Can be low-cost furniture disposal option.	You may need to store furniture until the next bulk pickup day.
	Some cities may not accept furniture at the curb at all.

How Much Does it Cost to Dump Furniture at the Curb?

Depending on your area, it may cost anywhere from $5 to $50 per item to dump furniture at the curb. Please note that in some areas, furniture cannot be dumped at the curb at all.

What's the Easiest Way to Get Rid of Furniture?

If you're looking for the most convenient way to dispose of your furniture, a dumpster rental or junk removal service is likely the best way to go.

Most junk removal services can handle smaller pickups of one to two items for around $100-150. Junk removal services can also haul a full truckload of furniture, around 15 cubic yards, for about $550.

On the other hand, a 20 yard dumpster can handle up to 20 cubic yards of junk for an average rate of $472. This allows you to get rid of more furniture for less. If you are disposing of multiple large items, or if you’re working on a major junk removal project, the cost of a dumpster rental is often lower than other furniture disposal options.

Can I Donate Furniture Instead of Throwing it Away?

It can be tough to let go of old furniture, especially if you know there’s still life left in that old couch or dresser. If you’re ready to part ways, but can’t bear to throw furniture away, there are several options for donating your items, depending on their condition.

The item can be used as-is, with no need for repairs.
Upholstery is free of major rips, stains and odors.
Wood is free of major scratches or gouges.
The item has never been infested with bedbugs or other pests.

If your old couch didn’t pass the donation inspection, revisit the furniture disposal options above.

Once you’ve inspected your items, here are a few places where you can donate old furniture:

1. Charities and Nonprofits

You can typically donate gently used furniture to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or other charities in your area. Depending on your location, you can find many organizations that accept donations and some that will even pick up the furniture for you. If you’re looking for a place to get rid of furniture charitably, these donation centers usually offer pickup services:

Habitat for Humanity ReStores
Salvation Army (also allows for drop-off)
National Furniture Bank Association (also allows for drop-off in some locations)
Vietnam Veterans Association (small furniture only)
Local furniture banks

These donation centers typically require furniture drop-off:

Goodwill
Local shelters

Important Furniture Donation Tip:

Always call before donating large furniture items, and never dump your items at a donation center without permission. This puts the burden of furniture disposal on the charity if the item cannot be taken.

2. Local Schools, Churches or Community Theaters

If you have old computer desks, tables or chairs in good condition, some local organizations may be able to put them to good use. Many schools, churches and theater departments operate on small budgets, and may be able to use your old furniture for an upcoming event, meeting or show. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask. Give your community organizations a call to see if they have a need for your gently used items.

3. Animal Shelters

If your items are too banged up for charity, some animal shelters accept worn-out recliners, loveseats or couch cushions for their furry residents to curl up in. Call your nearby humane society or shelter to see if your old furniture can make a difference for local animals in need.