How to Get Rid of an Old Mattress

Few household items are as awkward to get rid of as a mattress. It's too big for the trash can, it flops around when you try to carry it, and a lot of places that take other junk either refuse mattresses or charge extra for them. Still, there are more options than most people realize, and some of them are free.

This post walks through the choices roughly in the order most people should try them, from easiest to most work.

Option 1: Let the store take it when you buy a new one

If you're replacing a mattress, the simplest route is usually the retailer. Many stores and online brands that deliver a mattress will also haul the old one away. Sometimes it's included; sometimes there's a fee. The catch is that you normally have to request it when you order, and the old mattress may need to be stripped and ready when the delivery crew arrives. Some retailers require it to be free of bed bugs or stains.

Ask about removal before you buy. It's often cheaper than paying for disposal separately, and it saves you from wrestling a king-size mattress into a pickup.

Option 2: Check for a state mattress recycling program

A handful of states run mattress stewardship programs. They're funded by a small recycling fee collected when new mattresses are sold, which pays for free drop-off sites, collection events and, in some cases, free recycling at participating transfer stations. The Mattress Recycling Council operates these programs as Bye Bye Mattress, and byebyemattress.com lists drop-off locations in participating states.

If you live in a state with a program, this is often the cheapest option by far.

Option 3: Donate it (if it's truly in good shape)

A clean, gently used mattress can help someone. But donation is harder than with furniture. Many charities no longer accept used mattresses or box springs because of hygiene concerns and storage limits. Some that do will want it free of stains, rips and odors, and some want a label showing it meets flammability standards.

Always call before you haul a mattress to a donation center. Leaving it outside a closed donation site usually just creates an illegal dumping problem for the charity.

Other reuse ideas:

• Offer it for free on local marketplaces or neighborhood groups, and be upfront about its age and condition.
• Shelters or refugee resettlement groups sometimes accept newer mattresses; again, call first.

Option 4: Use bulk trash pickup

Many cities and private trash haulers offer bulky-item collection. It may be on a regular schedule, by appointment, or for a per-item fee. Common rules include:

• Sealing the mattress in a plastic mattress bag
• Scheduling in advance
• Limiting how many bulky items you can put out at once

Bagging helps protect collection crews and prevents pests from spreading, and it's a good practice even where it isn't required.

Option 5: Take it to a transfer station, landfill or recycler

Most transfer stations and landfills accept mattresses from residents, often for a per-item fee because mattresses take up a lot of space and are hard to compact. Some areas also have dedicated mattress recyclers that break them down into steel springs, foam, fiber and wood, which can be recycled into things like carpet padding, scrap steel and mulch.

You can find transfer stations and landfills near you on our map, then call to confirm whether they take mattresses and what they charge. Our mattress disposal guide has a shorter checklist.

Option 6: Hire a junk removal service

If you can't lift or haul the mattress yourself, a junk removal company will do all the work. It's usually the most expensive option for a single item, but it can make sense if you're clearing out several pieces of furniture at once. Ask whether they recycle or donate what they collect.

What about bed bugs?

If the mattress has bed bugs, don't donate it, sell it or leave it where someone might take it home. Wrap it completely in a sealed plastic mattress bag or heavy plastic, and label it as infested if your local rules allow. Tell your trash hauler or the disposal site what you're bringing. Treating the room is a separate job, but getting the infested mattress out without spreading bugs is an important first step.

How to haul it yourself safely

If you're taking the mattress to a drop-off site:

• Use a pickup, van or trailer. A queen mattress lies flat in most full-size pickup beds, resting on the wheel wells. A king may overhang the tailgate a bit.
• Strap it down well. Mattresses act like sails at highway speed. Use at least two ratchet straps across the top, anchored to solid tie-down points. Don't rely on the mattress handles.
• Avoid the car roof. Without a proper roof rack, a mattress on a car roof is dangerous. If you must, use straps through the vehicle's doorframes or rack and drive slowly on local roads.
• Keep it dry. A wet mattress is much heavier, and some recyclers refuse wet ones.
• Bag it. A mattress bag keeps it clean, makes it easier to grip, and is required by some sites.

A typical full, queen or king mattress weighs somewhere around 50 to 130 pounds depending on size and construction, and a box spring about 30 to 70 pounds. If you're taking several items at once, the dump cost calculator can estimate total weight and cost if you know the site's per-item fee.

Don't dump it

It's tempting to lean an old mattress against a dumpster behind a store or leave it on a vacant lot, but illegal dumping can bring fines, and property owners end up paying to clean it up. With retailer take-back, state programs, bulk pickup and drop-off sites available in most places, there's almost always a legitimate option within a reasonable drive.

Quick recap

1. Buying a new one? Ask the retailer to take the old mattress.
2. See whether your state has a mattress recycling program.
3. Donate only if it's truly clean and the charity confirms they'll take it.
4. Check your city's bulk pickup rules.
5. Drop it at a transfer station, landfill or mattress recycler.
6. Hire a junk hauler if you can't move it yourself.

Ready to find a drop-off site? Open the map.