$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 carpet and rugs 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: carpet and rugs
SPU pickup, $30 per itemRolled carpet is a $30 Special Item Pickup or a transfer station load.
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.
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 carpet and rugs, 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 carpet and rugs: Rolled carpet is a $30 Special Item Pickup or a transfer station load.
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 carpet and rugs are different from ordinary bulk. The volume is the first surprise. Carpet rolls do not compress, and a whole house of carpet can be 500 to 1,000 pounds spread over 15 to 25 rolls. Bulk programs set item limits that a whole-house removal exceeds, so staged pickups or a hauler are often needed.
Three mistakes that get carpet and rugs left at the curb:
Paid options are for whole-house tear-outs that exceed bulk limits and for contractor-generated carpet, which residential bulk programs exclude.
Self-haul to a transfer station or recycler
$20 to $80Rolled carpet loads easily into a pickup or trailer. Transfer stations charge by weight; carpet recyclers charge a small per-pound fee or accept free where stewardship programs exist.
Weigh it in your head: about 0.5 pounds per square foot for carpet, 0.25 for padding.
LoadUp paid carpet 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 carpet. 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 carpet 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 carpet and rugs 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, bed frame and box spring.
Does Seattle pick up carpet and rugs for free?
Not free. $30 through SPU or a transfer station.
How much does paid carpet and rugs removal cost in Seattle?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single carpet 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 old carpet out with bulk trash?
Yes in most cities, if it is cut into rolls under the program’s length limit (usually 4 to 6 feet), rolled tightly, and tied. Padding should be rolled separately. Contractor-generated carpet is usually excluded. Check your city’s rule below.
How do I cut and roll carpet for pickup?
Flip a section face down and cut strips 3 to 4 feet wide from the back with a utility knife and a straight edge. Roll each strip tightly and tie it in two places with twine or wrap it with tape. Keep rolls under about 50 pounds.
Is carpet recyclable?
Yes, though access varies. Nylon carpet is the most recyclable, and padding is widely recycled into new padding. California’s CARE program provides free drop-off statewide; elsewhere, carpet reclamation facilities and some flooring retailers accept it, sometimes for a small fee.
What do I do with the tack strips?
Pry them up with a flat bar, stack them nail side in, wrap tightly in cardboard, and tape. Put the bundle in the trash cart or with bulk, clearly wrapped so no one gets stuck.
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.
