311
or 614-645-3111: nothing is collected without a scheduled request
Free
for furniture, mattresses, carpet, and non-refrigerant appliances
2
free Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers (Alum Creek Dr and Georgesville Rd)
Every route for furniture in Columbus, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Columbus guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Columbus, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
City of Columbus scheduled bulk collection: furniture
Free, with a step firstFurniture is accepted free once scheduled through 311. Curb-served homes put it in front; alley-served homes put it at the alley line.
Who qualifies: Homes that get City of Columbus refuse collection (the city cart). Larger apartment complexes use private haulers.
How to schedule: Nothing is collected without a request. Schedule online at 311.columbus.gov or call 311 (614-645-3111); you get a specific collection day. Waits of a week or two are common.
Limits: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied.
Set-out: On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
Donation pickup in Columbus (usable furniture)
FreeColumbus’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 Columbus: 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 furniture, 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 Columbus: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Columbus runs a strict but well-organized system: bulk pickup is free, but you MUST schedule it first through 311. Items placed at the curb without a scheduled appointment will not be collected and may be tagged as a code violation. Columbus also rolled out weekly curbside recycling citywide in June 2023, a major upgrade from the old biweekly model, and yard waste runs biweekly on a Zone A or Zone B rotation. SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) contracts with EEI for free household hazardous waste disposal for all Franklin County residents. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Columbus rule for furniture: Furniture is accepted free once scheduled through 311. Curb-served homes put it in front; alley-served homes put it at the alley line.
Program basics: No published pile limit, but items must be listed on the request. Rolled carpet must be cut to about 4 feet and tied. On your scheduled day only. Curb-collected homes put items in front of the house; alley-collected homes put them at the alley line on the edge of the property, clear of obstructions. Never put bulk items in the cart.
What the city will not take: Refrigerated appliances of any kind (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, water coolers, heat pumps), auto parts and tires, electronics, hazardous materials, construction and building materials, and eviction or foreclosure set-outs.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Columbus Refuse Collection: Bulk Collection. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why furniture are different from ordinary bulk. Furniture disposal isn’t heavily regulated like refrigerators or hazardous waste, the challenges are practical: (1) Size and weight (sectionals, dining tables, large dressers, entertainment centers can exceed city bulk pickup limits). (2) Condition (donation programs reject furniture with significant damage, stains, or pest history). (3) Disassembly (some cities require large pieces broken into manageable sections). (4) Pickup logistics (most donation programs require ground-floor or accessible placement; few will navigate stairs).
Three mistakes that get furniture left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit your timeline or your furniture is too damaged for donation:
Other Paid Junk Removal Services
$70 to $300+National services include 1-800-Got-Junk and College Hunks Hauling Junk. Local independent haulers in most metros offer competitive pricing, typically $50 to $150 if you find a smaller operator. Bundling multiple furniture items into one pickup is often only marginally more expensive than booking 1, ask about bundled pricing for whole-room cleanouts.
Whole-room or whole-house cleanouts: Pricing scales with volume. A typical 1-bedroom cleanout: $200 to $500. A typical estate cleanout: $500 to $2,000+. Always get 2 to 3 quotes.
LoadUp paid furniture pickup
$80+For households who need same-day service, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your furniture. 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 furniture pickup in Columbus with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Columbus proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Columbus junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national furniture disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Columbus: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does Columbus pick up furniture for free?
Yes, free, after a 311 request.
Where can I donate furniture in Columbus?
Columbus’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 furniture removal cost in Columbus?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single furniture pickup in Columbus 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, have items the City won’t accept (Freon appliances, electronics, construction debris), can’t wait for a scheduled bulk appointment, or live in larger buildings without included bulk service, LoadUp offers professional removal in Columbus with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s the easiest way to get rid of old furniture?
If the furniture is usable, donation pickup is the easiest path. Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, and local Furniture Banks offer free pickup of usable furniture in 50+ U.S. metros. Schedule online or by phone, typically 1 to 2 weeks out. If the furniture is broken or unusable, free city bulk pickup is the next easiest option in most cities.
Will Salvation Army or Goodwill pick up furniture for free?
Yes, both programs offer free pickup in most major U.S. metros. Salvation Army: schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK. Goodwill pickup availability varies by region, many local Goodwills offer pickup, others only accept drop-offs. Habitat for Humanity ReStore (habitat.org/restores) is another excellent option specifically for larger furniture. All three require furniture to be in usable condition: no significant tears, stains, broken frames, or odors.
What if my furniture is broken or really damaged?
Donation programs typically reject broken or heavily damaged furniture. Your remaining options: (1) Free city bulk pickup, most cities accept furniture in any condition as long as the frame is intact enough to lift. (2) Online “Free” listings on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Buy Nothing groups, some takers will rehab furniture donations reject. (3) Paid hauler ($70+) for full-service same-day pickup. The Buy Nothing groups especially find takers for furniture donation programs reject.
Do furniture stores offer free haul-away with delivery?
It varies. High-end retailers (West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Room & Board) typically include free old-furniture haul-away with new furniture delivery. Mid-tier and budget retailers (IKEA, Wayfair, Ashley, Bob’s Discount Furniture) often charge $50 to $150 for haul-away, or offer it as an add-on. Always confirm at purchase. This is especially valuable for large pieces (sectionals, dining sets) that exceed city bulk pickup size limits.
Is this Columbus page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Columbus guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
