Mattress and Box Spring Disposal: Every Option Compared [2026]

The cost depends entirely on your method. Here is what each option actually charges:

LoadUp lists an average mattress disposal cost of $80, with prices starting at $89 in major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. A mattress-plus-box-spring set runs $100–$150+ after their $50–$80 service area fee. Fixr.com reports king mattress disposal specifically at $40–$120 depending on the hauler and whether stairs are involved.

1-800-GOT-JUNK does not publish mattress removal prices. Their truck-fraction model means you get an on-site quote only. Based on their minimum charges and typical half-truck loads, expect $150–$300+ for a mattress and box spring set.

Municipal transfer stations charge $0–$40 per item. Hingham, MA charges a flat $20 per mattress or box spring at their transfer station. Somerville, MA reported an average cost of $63.46 per unit for their city-run recycling program in FY2025, which gives a sense of the true disposal cost that tax dollars cover.

Four genuinely free options exist, each with limitations:

• •City bulk pickup: Most cities accept mattresses and box springs through their bulk waste program at no cost. The catch is timing — wait times range from 2 to 8 weeks depending on your city. Many municipalities require mattresses to be wrapped in a plastic bag before curbside collection. Mattress disposal bags run about $7 on Amazon, according to Reddit's r/Mattress community.

• •Donation pickup: The Salvation Army picks up mattresses and box springs as long as there are no holes, tears, or stains. Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts them in some locations. Schedule pickup by calling 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825).

• •Free listings: Posting "free mattress" on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor often gets it claimed within hours. Reddit users report box springs getting picked up from the curb within two hours after listing as free on Nextdoor.

• •Retailer take-back: Most mattress retailers accept old mattresses when delivering a new one. Massachusetts requires this by law. Ask at checkout — it is often free or $10–$50.

The United States has no federal mattress recycling law. However, three states have enacted mandatory mattress recycling programs through the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC):

• •California: $16 recycling fee per unit on new purchases since 2016. Funds free recycling through the Bye Bye Mattress program. Over 75% of mattress materials can be recycled including steel springs, foam, cotton, and wood.

• •Connecticut: $16 recycling fee per unit. Operates the same Bye Bye Mattress collection network.

• •Rhode Island: $16 recycling fee per unit. Residents can drop off old mattresses at designated collection sites for free.

In these three states, you can use the Bye Bye Mattress locator (byebyemattress.com) to find free drop-off or collection sites. In all other states, mattress disposal falls under local bulk waste rules. Many cities require plastic wrapping before curbside collection, and some charge $10–$40 per item at transfer stations.

Americans discard an estimated 18–20 million mattresses per year, according to EPA data and The Furniture Bank. That is more than 50,000 mattresses thrown away every single day — enough to fill 1.5 million dump trucks annually.

The Mattress Recycling Council reports that over 75% of a mattress is recyclable: steel springs become scrap metal, foam gets shredded for carpet padding, cotton fiber goes into industrial oil filters, and wood frames from box springs become mulch or fuel.

Despite that recyclability, only about 19% of discarded mattresses are actually recycled. The rest end up in landfills where a single mattress takes up roughly 23 cubic feet of space and does not compress well, creating expensive disposal problems for waste management systems.

Many cities require mattresses to be enclosed in a plastic bag or wrap before curbside collection. Montgomery County, PA specifically requires mattresses and box springs to be wrapped before bulk pickup.

Mattress disposal bags are sold at Home Depot, Lowe's, and Amazon for $5–$10. They are essentially large, thick plastic sleeves that slip over the mattress and seal with adhesive. If your city requires bagging, skipping this step means your mattress will be left at the curb.

Junk removal services like Dropcurb, LoadUp, and 1-800-GOT-JUNK do not require plastic wrapping — they take mattresses in any condition. If bagging is a hassle and you want the mattress gone fast, paying for removal eliminates the requirement.

Proper preparation gets the job done faster and avoids rejected pickups.

A standard innerspring mattress contains several recyclable materials:

• •Steel springs and coils: Melted down and reused as scrap metal. A single mattress can contain 10–20 pounds of steel.

• •Foam (polyurethane and memory foam): Shredded and used as carpet padding, pet beds, or packaging material.

• •Cotton and fiber: Processed into industrial oil filters, insulation, and textile products.

• •Wood (box spring frames): Chipped into mulch or used as biomass fuel.

The Mattress Recycling Council estimates that over 75% of a mattress by weight can be diverted from landfills. In their three program states (CA, CT, RI), the Bye Bye Mattress program provides free collection and recycling funded by the $16 per-unit fee collected at point of sale.