9 weeks
between Large Item Pickups, on your regular collection weekday
5 + 10
large items plus extra bags per pickup, out by 6 a.m.
Free
separate appliance collection by appointment through 311 or 720-913-1311
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in Denver, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Denver guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Denver, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Denver Large Item Pickup: bed frames and box springs
FreeA bed frame is one item, disassembled and bundled.
Who qualifies: Homes served by Denver Solid Waste Management (the city trash service). Apartments, HOAs, and anyone with a private hauler are not eligible.
How to schedule: No appointment. Large Item Pickup comes about every 9 weeks on your regular collection weekday; the exact date shows as a Large Item Pickup entry in your address calendar at denvergov.org or the Denver Trash and Recycling app. Appliances are a separate free appointment program.
Limits: Up to 5 large items plus up to 10 extra trash bags per Large Item Pickup. A mattress and a box spring count as 2 items.
Set-out: Items at the curb by 6 a.m. on your Large Item date, visible, 2 feet from carts and obstacles. Mattresses and box springs must be fully bagged or wrapped. Furniture at the curb on any other day is illegal dumping in Denver and is fined.
Donation pickup in Denver (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeDenver’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 Denver: 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 Denver: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Denver runs Large Item Pickup on an unusual 9-week rotating cycle, not monthly, not on-demand. Every household gets it automatically on their normal trash day with no appointment needed, capped at 5 large items plus 10 bags. The catch: if you need something gone faster than the next 9-week window, the city won’t help, and the exclusion list (electronics, Freon appliances, hazardous, construction debris) is long. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Denver rule for bed frames and box springs: A bed frame is one item, disassembled and bundled.
Program basics: Up to 5 large items plus up to 10 extra trash bags per Large Item Pickup. A mattress and a box spring count as 2 items. Items at the curb by 6 a.m. on your Large Item date, visible, 2 feet from carts and obstacles. Mattresses and box springs must be fully bagged or wrapped. Furniture at the curb on any other day is illegal dumping in Denver and is fined.
What the city will not take: Appliances (separate free appointment), electronics (banned from Colorado landfills), tires and auto parts, construction debris, hazardous waste, hot tubs, stumps, dirt and sod, unbundled branches, and loose trash.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City and County of Denver: Appliance Collection (free, by appointment), City and County of Denver: Trash, Recycle, Compost schedules and Large Item Pickup, CBS Colorado: Denver moves Large Item Pickup to every nine weeks (January 2025). 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 the 5-item limit, or need items the city won’t take (electronics, Freon appliances, construction debris), LoadUp offers professional removal in Denver 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 Denver with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Denver proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Denver 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 Denver: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does Denver pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
Yes, as one item on your Large Item date.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in Denver?
Denver’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 Denver?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in Denver 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 the 5-item limit, or need items the city won’t take (electronics, Freon appliances, construction debris), LoadUp offers professional removal in Denver 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 Denver page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Denver guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
