Nonprofits will, for anything they can resell. A hauler quotes a fee for the rest.
Nobody hauls true junk for free. Most of what gets called junk, though, is furniture, appliances and household goods that a nonprofit will pick up at no charge if it can resell them. Enter your zip code and one request goes to the nonprofits near you. Check Priority Pickup on the same form and a hauler will contact you to quote a fee for whatever they won’t take.
What counts as junk, and what counts as a donation
Nonprofits run thrift stores. They pick up what they can sell and leave what they can’t, so condition matters more than category. A dresser with working drawers is a donation. The same dresser with the back kicked out is junk.
Nonprofits usually take these free
- Couches, chairs and tables that are clean and intact
- Dressers, bookcases and bed frames, especially solid wood
- Working appliances, usually under ten years old
- Dishes, cookware, lamps, rugs and decor
- Clothing and shoes, when they ride along with a larger item
Usually left for a hauler
- Mattresses and box springs (a few nonprofits take them; most don't)
- Torn, stained or pet-damaged upholstery
- Particleboard furniture that has already been moved once
- Broken appliances, dead electronics and tube TVs
- Construction debris, carpet and yard waste
- Hot tubs, pianos and exercise equipment
How to get both handled with one request
- Enter your zip code and list what you have. Be specific about condition, because that decides who says yes.
- Your request goes to the nonprofits within 15 miles of you, or to our featured partner in your city. One that wants your items contacts you, usually within 48 hours, and picks up free. If nobody reaches out, no nonprofit took it.
- Check Priority Pickup on the same form. A provider contacts you to quote a fee for what’s left, whether that’s a mattress, a broken recliner or the pile in the garage. Same-day or next-day is often possible.
You can request both at once and take whichever offer works. Plenty of people do both. The nonprofit takes the couch and dining set, and the hauler takes the rest in one trip.
What junk removal costs when you do pay
Haulers price by how much of the truck you fill, not by weight. Most residential jobs run $150 to $500. A single item like a mattress or a fridge is usually $75 to $200, and most companies charge a minimum of about an eighth of a truck even if you have one thing. A full truck is $600 to $800.
Those are national ranges. Your Priority Pickup quote depends on your city, how far the crew has to carry, and whether anything needs special disposal, like a fridge with refrigerant. Everything a nonprofit takes first is volume you aren’t paying a hauler for.
Other ways to get rid of junk for free
- City bulk pickup. Many cities collect bulky items on a monthly schedule or by request. Call 311 or check the sanitation department's site. Most limit you to a few items and there's usually a wait.
- Scrap metal collectors. Appliances, grills, bed frames and anything mostly metal get picked up free by scrappers. A "free scrap metal" post on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist usually gets a reply the same day.
- Free listings. Buy Nothing groups and the free section of Marketplace move things nonprofits won't take, like a worn couch, to someone who will come get it.
- Retailer haul-away. If you're buying a new mattress or appliance, the delivery crew will often take the old one for a small fee or free. Ask before you order.
For furniture specifically, see what furniture qualifies for free pickup, plus the couch and mattress guides.
Frequently asked questions
Will anyone pick up junk for free?
Nonprofits will, for things they can resell. True junk, meaning broken, stained or hazardous items, costs money to dispose of, so nobody hauls it free. City bulk pickup is the exception for a few items at a time.
Does Goodwill or the Salvation Army pick up junk?
No. Both take donations in sellable condition. The Salvation Army offers furniture pickup in many areas; Goodwill pickup is rare. See whether Goodwill picks up furniture and how Salvation Army pickup works.
Is Priority Pickup a junk removal service?
It’s a paid pickup from a provider in our network, and many of them are junk haulers. They contact you to quote a fee before anything is booked. It’s the right choice when you need a firm date or have items nonprofits won’t take.
Can I donate a mattress?
Most nonprofits don’t take mattresses. A few do, and the form will tell you if one near you is a match. See mattress donation pickup.
How fast can someone come?
A nonprofit usually contacts you within 48 hours and schedules the pickup on its route, which can be a week or two out. Priority Pickup providers often come within a few days and sometimes the same day.
What won't a junk hauler take?
Hazardous materials: paint, chemicals, fuel, asbestos, ammunition and medications. Appliances with refrigerant usually carry an extra disposal fee.
Start with one request
It reaches the nonprofits near you and, if you check the box, a hauler for the rest.