How to Get Rid of a Mattress: 7 Options Ranked by Cost [2026]

Mattress disposal costs range from free to $240 or more. The price depends on whether you need someone to haul it, how fast you need it gone, and where you live.

Free options include city bulk pickup, retailer take-back (when buying new), state-funded recycling programs, and donation pickups. Paid options range from $5 at a local transfer station to $240 for full-service junk removal companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

The middle ground is Dropcurb at $79. You move the mattress to your curb, a local hauler picks it up same-day. No waiting weeks for a city truck. No paying $150 or more for two uniformed workers to carry it out of your bedroom.

Most cities offer free bulk pickup that accepts mattresses. The catch is the wait. City bulk pickup schedules run 2 to 8 weeks in most areas, and some cities only offer it once or twice a year.

To schedule a free pickup, call your city's solid waste department or check their website. You typically need to schedule in advance, place the mattress at the curb on your assigned day, and follow any wrapping requirements (some cities require mattresses to be bagged in plastic).

• •New York City: Free with DSNY, schedule online, 2–4 week wait
• •Los Angeles: Free bulky item pickup through LA Sanitation, up to 3 items
• •Chicago: Call 311, free pickup for 2–3 large items per request
• •Denver: No free bulk pickup — residents must self-haul or hire a service
• •Portland: No free city pickup — use Metro transfer stations ($22.50 mattress recycling fee)
• •Phoenix: Free bulk trash collection on a rotating monthly schedule

If your city does not offer free bulk pickup, or you cannot wait weeks, a paid service is your next option.

Several mattress retailers offer free removal of your old mattress when you buy a new one. This is the best deal if you are already shopping for a replacement.

• •Mattress Firm: Free haul-away with delivery of a new mattress. One-for-one swap — they take one old mattress for each new one you buy. The delivery crew handles removal.
• •Casper: Free old mattress removal included with in-home delivery at no extra cost. The delivery team removes and recycles the old mattress.
• •Costco: Haul-away included on select mattress deliveries. Check the product listing for "haul away included" before purchasing.
• •IKEA: Removal service available when you buy a mattress in-store and schedule delivery. Available at participating locations.

The limitation: retailer take-back only works when you are buying a new mattress. If you just need to get rid of one without buying a replacement, this option does not apply.

Yes. Mattresses are about 80% recyclable. The steel springs, foam, cotton, and wood can all be separated and reprocessed. The question is where you live and what it costs.

Four states have mattress recycling laws that fund free drop-off programs through the Bye Bye Mattress program run by the Mattress Recycling Council:

• •California: Free drop-off at 200+ collection sites statewide
• •Connecticut: Free drop-off at participating transfer stations
• •Rhode Island: Free drop-off at participating facilities
• •Oregon: Free drop-off at Metro transfer stations (small fee may apply)

If you live outside these four states, mattress recycling costs money. Spring Back Colorado charges $40 per mattress. Many local recyclers charge $15 to $50 per piece. You will need to transport the mattress yourself.

Check byebyemattress.com to find the nearest free drop-off location if you live in CA, CT, RI, or OR.

Donation is free but rarely accepted. Most donation centers refuse mattresses due to bed bug risk and health regulations.

The Salvation Army accepts mattresses at some locations but requires them to be in like-new condition with no stains, tears, or odors. Habitat for Humanity ReStore does not accept mattresses at most locations. Goodwill policies vary by store but most decline mattresses.

If your mattress is less than 5 years old, has no stains or damage, and is genuinely in good condition, try listing it for free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Reddit users report mattresses listed as "free" on Marketplace are typically picked up within a day. This costs nothing and keeps the mattress out of a landfill.

Yes. Most transfer stations and landfills accept mattresses for a fee. This is the fastest DIY option if you have a vehicle large enough to transport a mattress.

Transfer station fees vary by location:

• •Columbia County, NY: $5–$15 per mattress
• •Portland Metro stations: $22.50 recycling fee
• •North Kingstown, RI: $70 for non-recyclable mattresses
• •Most areas: $15–$50 per mattress

You will need a pickup truck, SUV, or van to transport the mattress. Some transfer stations require you to unload it yourself. Call ahead to confirm hours, fees, and whether mattresses require special handling at your local facility.

Technically yes, but it takes 1 to 2 hours of physical labor. You need a utility knife to cut through fabric and foam layers, pliers and wire cutters to remove the steel springs, and heavy-duty trash bags.

The process: remove the outer fabric with a utility knife, pull out the foam and cotton layers, cut or clip the steel spring coils with wire cutters, and bag everything separately. The springs can go to a scrap metal recycler. The foam and fabric go in regular trash bags.

This is genuinely free but messy. Spring coils are sharp. The foam creates dust. You will want gloves, a dust mask, and a workspace you can clean up. Most Reddit users who have done this say it works but they would not do it again.

Professional junk removal prices for a single mattress range from $60 to $240 or more depending on the company and service level.

1-800-GOT-JUNK charges based on truck volume, not per item. A single mattress takes up roughly a quarter of their truck, so you pay the quarter-truck rate even though it is just one item. Their average job costs about $240. They also send two uniformed workers in a branded truck — that overhead gets passed to you through franchise fees that run 16 to 21% of every job's revenue.

For curbside mattress removal, this is overkill. You do not need two workers and a branded truck to pick up a mattress that is already at the curb. Dropcurb sends a solo hauler with a pickup truck for $79. Same result, a third of the price.

A mattress with bed bugs requires extra precautions before disposal. Most donation centers and recycling facilities will refuse it.

Wrap the mattress completely in heavy-duty plastic sheeting or a mattress encasement bag. Seal all openings with tape. Label the wrapping clearly with "BED BUGS" so haulers and sanitation workers are warned. Some cities require this labeling by law.

Many city bulk pickup programs still accept bed-bug-contaminated mattresses if properly wrapped. Professional junk removal services including Dropcurb will pick up wrapped mattresses. The key is full encasement — loose plastic does not contain bed bugs during transport.

Yes. Dumping a mattress on the street, in an alley, or on vacant land is illegal dumping in every state. Fines range from $100 to $25,000 depending on your jurisdiction.

Illegally dumped mattresses are a health hazard. They collect rainwater, attract rodents, and become breeding grounds for pests. Cities spend millions annually cleaning up illegal mattress dumps.

Every option on this page — from free city pickup to paid services — is a legal alternative that costs less than the fine.