How to Get Rid of Furniture When Moving [2026 Guide]

Not every piece of furniture is worth moving. A couch that costs $200 to ship might only be worth $50. Here's how every disposal method compares — from free to full-service.

Most cities offer free bulk trash pickup, but there's a catch: you typically need to schedule 2–9 weeks in advance, items must meet size and material restrictions, and some cities only run the program monthly or quarterly. If you're moving in two weeks, city pickup probably won't work.

To check if your city offers bulk pickup and what the restrictions are, visit your city's public works department website or search "[your city] bulk trash pickup schedule."

Donation is free and feels good, but most organizations are picky about what they'll accept. Furniture must be clean, structurally sound, and free of stains, tears, or pet damage. Many organizations also require you to schedule a pickup 1–2 weeks in advance.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is usually the best option for furniture donations — they accept a wider range of items than Goodwill or Salvation Army, and they'll often pick up for free.

Selling furniture online is the only option that puts money in your pocket, but it requires the most effort. You'll need to take photos, write listings, respond to messages, coordinate pickup times, and deal with no-shows. Budget 3–7 days minimum for selling furniture online.

Pricing tip: if you're moving in less than a week, price items at 50% of what you'd normally ask. Speed matters more than profit when you're on a deadline.

If you have a truck or can rent one, hauling furniture to the dump yourself costs $30–$80 in dump fees plus your time. Most transfer stations charge by weight ($40–$60 per ton is typical). Factor in the rental truck cost ($20–$50 for a few hours from Home Depot or U-Haul) plus gas, loading time, and driving.

This option works well if you're already renting a moving truck and can fit the furniture in before returning it.

Dropcurb is purpose-built for exactly this scenario: you need furniture gone today, you don't have a truck, and you don't want to wait weeks for city pickup. Place your furniture at the curb, book online in 60 seconds, and a local hauler picks it up the same day.

Pricing is per-item and transparent: your first item starts at $79, each additional item is $19–$59 depending on size. A couch + mattress + dresser costs $137 total. No estimates, no appointment windows, no crew inside your home.

This is the fastest and lowest-effort option for most people moving out of a home or apartment.

Companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and College Hunks send a crew to your home, carry items out for you, and haul everything away. This is the best option if you have a large volume of items, items in upper floors or basements, or items too heavy to move to the curb yourself.

The downside: pricing is volume-based (not per-item), you'll need an in-home estimate, appointment windows are typically 2-hour blocks, and costs run $150–$400+ for even a few items. You'll also need to be home for the entire appointment.

In practice, most people moving use a combination of methods:

1. Sell the valuable stuff on Marketplace first (start 2+ weeks before moving) 2. Donate anything that's clean and functional (schedule pickup 1–2 weeks before) 3. Book curbside pickup for whatever's left (day before or day of move)

The mistake people make is waiting until the last minute to deal with furniture. Start selling and donating 2–3 weeks before your move date, and have a curbside pickup plan ready for the items that don't sell or get donated.