The old mattress is the part of the new-bed transaction nobody plans for. After the new bed arrives, the old one is suddenly in the hallway, the spare room, or the garage, taking up significant space and resisting easy disposal. The options have improved over the last decade as recycling infrastructure has expanded, but the rules vary widely by city and brand. This guide walks through the realistic ways to get rid of an old mattress in 2026, what each costs, and which approach makes sense for which situation.
Option 1: brand-included removal
The cleanest option, if available, is a removal service bundled with the new mattress delivery. The major brands that include or offer this in 2026:
White glove delivery brands. Saatva, Tempur-Pedic, Avocado, Aireloom, and Helix (on premium tiers) include in-room setup and old mattress removal in their white glove service, typically for free or for a $100 to $150 add-on. This is the simplest option because the same delivery team carries the new bed in and the old bed out.
Bed-in-a-box brands. Casper, Purple, Nectar, and most DTC brands ship via standard freight that drops the box at the door. They do not generally offer removal because the delivery model is too lightweight. A few have begun partnering with third-party removal services as an upsell at checkout.
If the brand-included option exists for your purchase, it is almost always worth the modest fee. The convenience of having the old bed leave the same hour the new bed arrives is hard to match.
Option 2: city bulk waste pickup
Most municipal sanitation departments accept mattresses as bulk waste, but the specifics vary widely. The common structures:
Annual free pickup. Many cities offer 1 to 2 free bulk waste pickups per year per household. The mattress counts as one item, scheduled in advance through the city website or a phone line. The pickup is usually 1 to 4 weeks out and requires the bed to be at the curb on a specific day.
Per-item fee. Some cities charge $15 to $50 per mattress as a special pickup. The fee is added to the next water or trash bill, or paid online when scheduling.
Drop-off only. A minority of cities do not pick up mattresses but accept them at a city transfer station or landfill for a similar fee.
Sealed bag requirement. A growing number of cities require the mattress to be sealed in a heavy plastic disposal bag (sold at hardware stores for $5 to $15) before pickup, to control bed bug spread. Unbagged beds are skipped.
The municipal option is usually the cheapest path. The disadvantage is the wait time and the need to store the old mattress for 1 to 4 weeks until the scheduled pickup day.
Option 3: donation
Donating is the most satisfying option when the bed qualifies, but the qualification rules are stricter than most people expect.
Most charities will accept a used mattress only if:
- No stains of any size
- No tears, holes, or split seams
- No odor
- No bed bug or pest history (the donor usually signs a statement to this effect)
- Less than 5 to 7 years old
- Foam beds still have the original cover
Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Furniture Bank Network locations, and many local homeless shelters are the most common acceptors. Some Salvation Army branches accept mattresses; others do not. Call the specific location before bringing a bed in, because policies vary by region and even by individual branch.
For approved donations, most charities offer pickup if you have other large items in the donation, but a single mattress alone usually requires drop-off. The donor is responsible for transport unless the charity specifically offers pickup for mattresses.
A donated mattress in good condition is the highest-value disposal option because it provides a tangible benefit to someone who needs a bed, but the eligibility rules disqualify a significant share of older beds.
Option 4: recycling
Mattress recycling has expanded substantially in the United States since 2015. The Mattress Recycling Council, a non-profit funded by an industry recycling fee on new mattress sales, operates state-level programs in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. In those states, residents can drop off old mattresses for free at participating retailers and transfer stations.
Outside those three states, recycling is available through private facilities listed at byebyemattress.com, the Mattress Recycling Council’s national directory. Most metropolitan areas have at least one facility within a reasonable drive. The fees are typically $10 to $40 per mattress.
Recycling diverts roughly 75 to 85 percent of mattress materials (steel from coils, foam, fiber, wood from box springs) from landfill. The remaining materials are mostly textiles that are not currently economic to recycle. From a waste-reduction perspective, recycling is the best option after donation.
Option 5: junk removal service
The fastest paid option is a junk hauler. The national brands (1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, LoadUp) and the broad ecosystem of local haulers will pick up a mattress at the home, typically same week and sometimes same day.
The pricing models:
- National brands: $75 to $150 for a single mattress, with discounts for adding the box spring or other furniture
- Local haulers: $40 to $80 for a single mattress, varying by region
- Volume-based pricing: $25 to $50 per cubic yard of truck space, with a mattress taking roughly 1 to 2 cubic yards
Most haulers route the mattress to the local landfill, although a growing number have begun partnering with recycling facilities. Ask before booking if you specifically want the bed recycled rather than landfilled.
Option 6: deconstruct and discard piecewise
For homeowners who want to avoid a hauling fee, an older innerspring mattress can be cut apart with a utility knife and disposed of as multiple smaller items.
The procedure: cut along the perimeter seam to remove the top fabric, peel out the foam and fiber layers, and cut the metal frame into smaller pieces with bolt cutters or a reciprocating saw. The fabric and foam usually fit in standard trash bags that municipal trash will collect. The metal can be taken to a scrap yard, often for a small payment of $5 to $20 depending on weight.
This approach takes 2 to 4 hours of labor and produces a mess that needs cleanup. It is rarely worth the time for a single bed, but is sometimes useful for older box springs that cannot be donated or for sleepers who want to know exactly where the materials go.
Choosing the right option
The decision tree is roughly:
- Is the new mattress brand offering removal? Take that option.
- Is the bed clean, stain-free, and under 7 years old? Donate it.
- Is the city offering free bulk pickup soon? Use that.
- Is recycling available in the area? Recycle for $10 to $40.
- Otherwise: pay $40 to $150 for a junk hauler.
The total cost of disposal in 2026 generally falls between $0 (free pickup or donation) and $150 (premium junk removal). Planning the disposal at the same time as buying the new bed avoids the situation where the old one ends up parked in the garage indefinitely.
For related reading, see the mattress trial period comparison, the mattress warranty fine print, and the clean mattress stains step by step guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will my new mattress brand take away the old one?+
Often yes, but usually for an extra fee of $50 to $150 unless white glove service is included. Saatva, Avocado, and Tempur-Pedic typically include removal in their white glove tier. Most DTC brands that ship in a box do not offer removal at all, since the delivery is dropped off rather than carried in. Check the checkout page before assuming the old bed is handled.
Can I put a mattress out at the curb for trash collection?+
Sometimes, with restrictions. Many cities accept mattresses as bulk waste with advance scheduling, often through a free annual program limited to 1 or 2 large items per year. Other cities require the mattress to be sealed in a disposal bag, charge a per-item fee of $15 to $50, or do not accept mattresses at all. Check the local public works or sanitation department website before setting one out.
Where can I donate a used mattress?+
Habitat for Humanity ReStores, Furniture Bank Network locations, Salvation Army (some branches), and local shelters often accept mattresses in good condition. Eligibility usually requires no stains, no tears, no bed bug history, and an age under 5 to 7 years. Some chapters require a sanitation certificate from the original owner.
What is mattress recycling and how do I find a facility?+
Mattress recycling separates the materials into steel, foam, fiber, and wood, which are then sold or reused. The Mattress Recycling Council operates programs in California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island that fund free recycling at participating retailers. Outside those states, the Bye Bye Mattress directory at byebyemattress.com lists private recycling facilities in most metropolitan areas, with fees typically $10 to $40 per mattress.
How do junk removal services price mattress haul-away?+
1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks, and similar national haulers typically charge $75 to $150 for a single mattress pickup, with discounts for adding the box spring or other furniture in the same load. Independent local haulers are often cheaper at $40 to $80. Most pricing is by volume in the truck rather than by item count, so combining loads saves money.
