2
bulky collection weeks a year, plus 2 separate brush weeks
8 cu yd
maximum pile, within 8 feet of the curb
4
Bulky Waste Collection Centers, free with your CPS Energy bill
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in San Antonio, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full San Antonio guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in San Antonio, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
San Antonio curbside bulky item collection: bed frames and box springs
FreeBed frames are bulky waste. Take them apart so the pile stays neat.
Who qualifies: City of San Antonio residential solid waste customers (the city-cart households). Apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: No appointment. Bulky collection comes twice a year and brush collection twice a year, on separate weeks. A door hanger arrives 7 to 10 days ahead with your set-out date; Find My Collection Day on sa.gov gives an estimate. Need it sooner? Request an out-of-cycle collection through 311 or 210-207-6000 for a fee estimate.
Limits: Up to 8 cubic yards per pile. Brush and bulky are separate services: a bulky pile that contains brush can be fined up to $2,000 a day plus a collection fee.
Set-out: Pile at the curb in front of your house (even if your garbage is collected in the alley), within 8 feet of the curb, by 7 a.m. Monday of your collection week, clear of parked cars, fences, trees, and meters. Crews can take all week to come through.
Bulky Waste Collection Centers: bed frames and box springs
Free with CPS bill and IDAccepted at the centers.
Where: Four centers around the city; addresses and hours on sa.gov (Bitters is accessed from Jones Maltsberger and Wurzbach Parkway)
How it works: Residential customers only. Bring a recent CPS Energy bill showing the environmental fee and a photo ID, and the visit is free. Limits: 4 cubic yards of bulky items, 1 cubic yard of construction material, 6 tires with no rims. No household trash, no commercial loads.
Donation pickup in San Antonio (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeSan Antonio’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 San Antonio: 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 San Antonio: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
San Antonio runs a tightly structured but generous system: biannual curbside Brush & Bulky pickup (twice each per year, so 4 collections total spread throughout the year) with door-hanger notifications about 7-10 days before your week, a three-cart system (brown trash weekly, blue recycling weekly, green organics/composting weekly), and four FREE Bulky Waste Collection Centers open year-round for residents. The trade-off is the strict Tarp Law (Ordinance No. 2015-09-10-0760) requiring residents to cover brush loads or face a $5 penalty. Annual Free Landfill Day on Saturday, February 14, 2026 (8 AM-1 PM) offers an additional free disposal opportunity. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The San Antonio rule for bed frames and box springs: Bed frames are bulky waste. Take them apart so the pile stays neat.
Program basics: Up to 8 cubic yards per pile. Brush and bulky are separate services: a bulky pile that contains brush can be fined up to $2,000 a day plus a collection fee. Pile at the curb in front of your house (even if your garbage is collected in the alley), within 8 feet of the curb, by 7 a.m. Monday of your collection week, clear of parked cars, fences, trees, and meters. Crews can take all week to come through.
What the city will not take: Brush in the bulky pile, construction debris, glass and mirrors, household hazardous waste, auto parts, and anything from a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of San Antonio SWMD: Curbside Brush and Bulky Item Collection, City of San Antonio SWMD: Bulky Waste Collection Centers. 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-day service, can’t wait until next Brush & Bulky week, exceed Bulky Center limits, have items the city won’t accept, live in apartment buildings, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in San Antonio 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 San Antonio with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside San Antonio proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete San Antonio 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 San Antonio: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does San Antonio pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
Yes, on your bulky week or at a Bulky Waste Collection Center.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in San Antonio?
San Antonio’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 San Antonio?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in San Antonio starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day service, can't wait until next Brush & Bulky week, exceed Bulky Center limits, have items the city won't accept, live in apartment buildings, or want full-service in-home pickup, LoadUp offers professional removal in San Antonio 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 San Antonio page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full San Antonio guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
