$30
per large item (furniture, appliances, TVs) for SPU Special Item Pickup
$38
per refrigerator or freezer containing CFCs (pre-2005)
2 free
special item pickups a year for Utility Discount Program customers
Every route for a bed frame or box spring in Seattle, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Seattle guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Seattle, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Seattle Public Utilities Special Item Pickup: bed frames and box springs
SPU pickup, $30 per itemA bed frame is a $30 Special Item Pickup. Metal frames go to a scrap yard free.
Who qualifies: SPU solid waste customers (the utility account holder must make the request). Seattle has no free bulky program; this is a per-item fee service billed to your utility bill. Utility Discount Program customers in single-family homes get 2 free special item pickups a year and up to 2 free transfer station passes.
How to schedule: Schedule online through your SPU account or call 206-684-3000. Items go out at your normal collection point by 7 a.m. on the collection day given; SPU sends preparation instructions when you book.
Limits: $30 per item for large furniture, appliances, and TVs larger than 2 by 2 by 2 feet. $38 per item for CFC appliances such as refrigerators and freezers made before 2005. $20 for a special items box of small electronics and appliances. $5 for CFLs, batteries, and small propane canisters.
Set-out: At your normal solid waste collection point by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day; if that spot is behind a locked gate, put the item outside it. Leaving bulky items on the planting strip without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping, and items found next to your cart are collected and billed.
Donation pickup in Seattle (usable bed frames and box springs)
FreeSeattle’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 Seattle: 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 Seattle: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Seattle takes a different approach than most major U.S. cities: bulk pickup is fee-based, not free. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) charges per-item fees for its Special Item Pickup, $30 for furniture, $38 for CFC-containing appliances like fridges and freezers. The catch is that Utility Discount Program (UDP) customers get up to 2 free pickups per year, and starting April 2026, all SPU customers will get 1 free Special Item Box per year. Mandatory composting has been in place since 2015. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Seattle rule for bed frames and box springs: A bed frame is a $30 Special Item Pickup. Metal frames go to a scrap yard free.
Program basics: $30 per item for large furniture, appliances, and TVs larger than 2 by 2 by 2 feet. $38 per item for CFC appliances such as refrigerators and freezers made before 2005. $20 for a special items box of small electronics and appliances. $5 for CFLs, batteries, and small propane canisters. At your normal solid waste collection point by 7 a.m. on the scheduled day; if that spot is behind a locked gate, put the item outside it. Leaving bulky items on the planting strip without a scheduled pickup is illegal dumping, and items found next to your cart are collected and billed.
What the city will not take: Nothing is free, and construction debris and hazardous waste are not part of the program. Electronics can instead go free through E-Cycle Washington drop-off sites.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Seattle Public Utilities: Special Item Collections (fees), Seattle Public Utilities: Transfer Station Rates. 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, want full-service hauling (no curbside drag-out required), or live in apartment buildings without property manager Special Item Pickup coordination, LoadUp offers professional removal in Seattle 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 Seattle with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Seattle proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Seattle 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 Seattle: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, dishwasher.
Does Seattle pick up bed frames and box springs for free?
Not free through SPU ($30). Scrap yards take metal frames free.
Where can I donate a bed frame or box spring in Seattle?
Seattle’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 Seattle?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single bed frame or box spring pickup in Seattle 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, want full-service hauling (no curbside drag-out required), or live in apartment buildings without property manager Special Item Pickup coordination, LoadUp offers professional removal in Seattle 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 Seattle page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Seattle guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
