6
large items per collection day, free, no appointment
6 p.m.
earliest set-out, the evening before your collection day
$300
maximum fine for an unbagged mattress or box spring
Every route for a mattress in New York, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full New York guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in New York, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
DSNY free curbside large-item collection: mattresses
Free, with a required stepDSNY collects mattresses and box springs free, but each one MUST be sealed in a plastic mattress bag before it goes out, to stop bed bugs from spreading. An unbagged mattress can be refused and fined up to $300. Set it out on your trash-only day.
Who qualifies: Every NYC residential address served by the Department of Sanitation, in all five boroughs. No appointment, no fee.
How to schedule: No scheduling. Set the item at the curb the evening before the right collection day for your address. Mostly metal or rigid plastic items go out on recycling day; everything else goes out on your trash-only day. Find your days at nyc.gov/dsny or by calling 311.
Limits: Up to 6 large items per collection day. Anything too big to fit in a bin or bag counts as a large item. More than 6 means spreading them across collection days.
Set-out: Place items at the curb in front of your building after 6 p.m. the evening before collection, without blocking the sidewalk. DSNY no longer offers pickup appointments for ordinary large items, so there is nothing to book.
Donation pickup in New York (usable mattresses)
FreeNew York’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 New York: 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 mattresses, 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 New York: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
NYC underwent the biggest sanitation transformation in decades over the last two years, bulk pickup appointments were eliminated in favor of a no-scheduling system (set out up to 6 large items on your trash day), citywide composting became mandatory in April 2025, and the official NYC Bin will be required for buildings with 1-9 units starting June 2026. Mattresses must be in clear plastic bags and securely sealed to prevent bedbug spread, this is enforced. Special handling is required for Freon appliances and electronics. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The New York rule for mattresses: DSNY collects mattresses and box springs free, but each one MUST be sealed in a plastic mattress bag before it goes out, to stop bed bugs from spreading. An unbagged mattress can be refused and fined up to $300. Set it out on your trash-only day.
Program basics: Up to 6 large items per collection day. Anything too big to fit in a bin or bag counts as a large item. More than 6 means spreading them across collection days. Place items at the curb in front of your building after 6 p.m. the evening before collection, without blocking the sidewalk. DSNY no longer offers pickup appointments for ordinary large items, so there is nothing to book.
What the city will not take: Covered electronics (illegal at the curb under state law), car tires, appliances with refrigerant that have not had a free DSNY CFC removal, unbagged mattresses, and debris from professional contractors.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: DSNY: Large Items, DSNY: Furniture, Mattresses, and Rugs, DSNY: Appliances and CFC removal, NYC311: CFC and Freon Removal, DSNY: Electronics and E-Waste, DSNY: Construction Debris, DSNY: Automotive Waste (tires), DSNY: Plant, Leaf, and Yard Waste. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why mattresses are different from ordinary bulk. Mattresses contain springs, foam, fabric, and wood, all recyclable individually but bonded together in a way that makes them hard to process. They’re also a notorious vector for bedbugs, which has led several cities to require plastic-wrapping before curbside pickup (NYC and Cleveland have explicit rules).
Three mistakes that get mattresses left at the curb:
When free options don’t fit your timeline or volume:
LoadUp paid mattress pickup
$80+For households who need same-day or next-day service, exceed 6 items per collection day, or need items DSNY won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal across all five boroughs with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your mattress. 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 mattress pickup in New York with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside New York proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete New York junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national mattress disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for New York: couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.
Does New York pick up mattresses for free?
Yes, if it is sealed in a plastic mattress bag. Set it out the evening before your trash-only day. An unbagged mattress can be left behind and fined up to $300.
Where can I donate a mattress in New York?
New York’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 mattress removal cost in New York?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single mattress pickup in New York 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 or next-day service, exceed 6 items per collection day, or need items DSNY won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal across all five boroughs with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I just put a mattress in my regular trash?
No. Mattresses are too big for residential trash bins and are explicitly banned from regular trash collection in most U.S. cities. Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, and Oregon ban mattresses from landfills entirely under state law. Use one of the free or paid options above instead.
How much do paid mattress pickups cost?
Single mattress pickups typically range $80 to $200 depending on the service and your city. National services (LoadUp, 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks) cluster in the $80 to $130 range for one mattress. Local independent haulers can be cheaper ($50 to $100). Booking 2 mattresses together is often only marginally more expensive than booking 1, ask about bundled pricing.
What about box springs, are they treated the same?
Yes, box springs follow the same rules as mattresses in nearly every city, same pickup eligibility, same disposal channels, same bedbug-wrap requirements. State recycling programs (CT, RI, CA, OR) accept both. Most retailers haul both away together with new mattress delivery. King and queen splits typically count as 2 separate items, while single-piece box springs count as 1.
My mattress has bedbugs, what should I do?
Plastic-wrap the mattress fully before moving it (heavy-duty mattress disposal bags are sold at hardware stores for $5 to $15). Many cities require plastic-wrapping for ANY mattress disposal to prevent spreading bedbugs to other households along the route. Donation programs CANNOT accept mattresses with bedbug history. Use city bulk pickup (with proper plastic-wrapping) or paid hauler. Tell the hauler in advance, some services charge extra or refuse, while others handle bedbug mattresses routinely.
Is this New York page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full New York guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
