3
on-demand bulk collections per calendar year, scheduled online or through 3-1-1
3 piles
metal, tires, and everything else, in place by 5:30 a.m.
8
passenger tires per collection, rims removed
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in Austin, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Austin guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Austin, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Austin Resource Recovery on-demand bulk collection: bed frames and box springs
FreeBed frames are accepted. Metal frames go in the metal pile.
Who qualifies: Austin Resource Recovery curbside customers: single-family homes up to fourplexes. Larger complexes contract their own haulers.
How to schedule: Since January 2025 bulk is collected on demand, not on fixed weeks. Schedule through austintexas.gov or 3-1-1, up to 3 bulk collections per calendar year (brush, household hazardous waste, and textiles each have their own 3). Extra collections are available for a fee.
Limits: 3 bulk collections a year. Items are sorted into three piles at the curb: metal, passenger tires (rims off, up to 8), and everything else.
Set-out: Put items at the curb only on your scheduled date, in place by 5:30 a.m., in three separate piles, clear of cars, poles, and meters. Material left out before the date is an illegal dumping issue.
Donation pickup in Austin (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeAustin’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call before scheduling if you’re unsure, pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Austin: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering bed frames and box springs, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Austin: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Austin’s bulk system changed materially in January 2025, Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) moved from a predetermined biannual schedule to on-demand collection with up to 3 appointments per service type per calendar year. New on-demand household hazardous waste pickup launched the same day. This page walks through every option in order from free to paid, including the strict 5+ unit cutoff that excludes most apartment buildings.
The Austin rule for bed frames and box springs: Bed frames are accepted. Metal frames go in the metal pile.
Program basics: 3 bulk collections a year. Items are sorted into three piles at the curb: metal, passenger tires (rims off, up to 8), and everything else. Put items at the curb only on your scheduled date, in place by 5:30 a.m., in three separate piles, clear of cars, poles, and meters. Material left out before the date is an illegal dumping issue.
What the city will not take: Brush (separate service), cardboard, construction and remodeling debris including sheet glass, tile, and mirrors, carpet from construction, hazardous materials, household trash, tires still on rims, and vehicles, boats, and trailers.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Austin Resource Recovery Administrative Rules (Chapter 15-6), on-demand bulk and brush guidelines, Austin American-Statesman summary of ARR's accepted and not-accepted bulk items (August 2026). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why bed frames and box springs are different from ordinary bulk. The frame problem is mostly logistical: beds come apart into pieces, and bulk programs differ on whether a disassembled bed is one item or five. Some count the bundle as one if it is tied together; some count each piece. Metal frames can be folded flat and tied.
Three mistakes that get bed frames and box springs left at the curb:
Paid options cover box springs in states where free drop-offs are inconvenient and large platform or storage beds that need breaking down.
Self-haul to a transfer station or mattress recycler
Free to $25 per pieceBox springs are accepted at transfer stations for a per-piece fee in most areas and free at state program drop-offs in CA, CT, and RI. Disassembled frames fit in a car.
Tie box springs to a roof rack only if you must; they catch wind.
LoadUp paid bed frame or box spring pickup
$80+For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your bed frame or box spring. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book bed frame or box spring pickup in Austin with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Austin proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Austin junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national bed frame and box spring disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Austin: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does Austin pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
Yes, with an on-demand bulk collection. Metal frames in the metal pile.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in Austin?
Austin’s donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program-specific rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
How much does paid bed frame removal cost in Austin?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in Austin starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-week service, exceed 3 annual ARR collections, or live in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city pickup), LoadUp offers professional removal in Austin with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I put a bed frame out for bulk pickup?
Yes in nearly every city. Disassemble it and tie the pieces together so the bundle counts as one item. Metal frames can also be folded and taken to a scrap yard free.
Is a box spring treated like a mattress?
In most cities, yes. Box springs follow the same bulk pickup rules as mattresses, including plastic wrapping where required and separate appointments in some cities. In Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, box springs are covered by state mattress laws.
Which states have mattress and box spring laws?
California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island run Bye Bye Mattress recycling programs funded by a fee on new purchases, with free drop-off sites. Massachusetts banned mattresses and box springs from disposal in November 2022 and requires recycling. Oregon has enacted a program as well.
Can I donate a box spring?
Rarely on its own. Most programs only accept a box spring paired with a clean, like-new mattress. Metal frames in good condition and complete wood frames are much easier to donate.
Is this Austin page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Austin guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
