3
bulky items per week, by request at durhamnc.gov/855 or 919-560-1200
6 a.m.
out at the curb on your scheduled day
Free
electronics, appliances, and up to 5 tires at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in Durham, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Durham guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Durham, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Durham bulky item collection by request: bed frames and box springs
Free, with a step firstBed frames are bulky items by request.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes and city-served townhome communities with City of Durham garbage collection.
How to schedule: Bulky items are picked up by request only: schedule online at durhamnc.gov/855, through the Durham Rollout app, or by calling Durham One Call at 919-560-1200. Free for ordinary household bulky items, up to 3 per weekly collection, out with your garbage by 6 a.m.
Limits: 3 bulky items per weekly collection. No alley collection; the truck's mechanical arm needs clear access at the curb.
Set-out: At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, on a street the trucks can navigate.
Donation pickup in Durham (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeDonation 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 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 the program before scheduling.
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 Durham: 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 Durham: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Durham, North Carolina (#71 nationally) is part of the Research Triangle and operates one of the more efficient bulky item programs among comparable cities. One collection per week of up to 3 bulky items is free of charge, scheduled by request via Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200. Items beyond 3 incur charges. Yard waste customers get an additional 2 free bulky brush pickups per year. Yard waste switched to a biweekly Blue Week / Red Week schedule starting August 2025 (collected the same week as your biweekly recycling). Items containing Freon must have a certification tag from a licensed technician. The City operates a Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, Yard Waste Facility, and Household Hazardous Waste Center for residents. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Durham residents.
The Durham rule for bed frames and box springs: Bed frames are bulky items by request.
Program basics: 3 bulky items per weekly collection. No alley collection; the truck's mechanical arm needs clear access at the curb. At the curb by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day, 3 feet from carts and obstacles, on a street the trucks can navigate.
What the city will not take: Building materials, car parts, construction debris, dirt, electronics and TVs, glass and mirrors, loose leaves, propane tanks, tires, tree stumps, and wood or lumber. All of those go to the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center on East Club Boulevard.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Durham Solid Waste Management: Bulky Services (by request only), City of Durham: Disposal and Drop-Off Facilities (Waste Disposal and Recycling Center fees), City of Durham: Bulky Item Curbside Collection FAQ. 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 Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Durham proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Durham 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 Durham: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does Durham pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
Yes, after scheduling.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in Durham?
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 rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
How much does paid bed frame removal cost in Durham?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in Durham starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Durham households needing in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (construction debris, hazmat), or service when crew labor is needed (heavy items, multiple-piece sets), LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Triangle for upfront-priced pickup.
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 Durham page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Durham guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
