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A public resource guide
Free pool table removal in Chicago, IL
Most people hire a crew.
Checked against Chicago Sanitation Code
Home › By item › Pool table › Chicago
A public resource guide
Most people hire a crew.
Checked against Chicago Sanitation Code
311
arrange large items with your ward superintendent before set-out
4 units
or fewer: city garbage service and large-item collection
Free
electronics and chemical drop-off at the city's HCCRF facility
Every route for a pool table in Chicago, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Chicago guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Chicago, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Chicago Streets and Sanitation large-item collection: pool tables
Free, arrange via 311 firstDisassemble it first; slate is heavy and a whole table blocks an alley. Arrange through 311 or use a paid crew.
Who qualifies: Single-family homes and buildings with 4 or fewer units that get city garbage service (the black cart). Buildings with 5 or more units use a private hauler; ask your building manager.
How to schedule: Chicago has no scheduled bulk program. The sanitation code says to arrange with your ward's Streets and Sanitation superintendent, through 311 (dial 3-1-1 or 312-744-5000, or 311.chicago.gov), before putting out any large item or extra load. Crews then collect it with your regular garbage route, from the alley or the curb depending on how your block is served.
Limits: No published item limit, but the code prohibits piling large quantities in the alley. One or two items next to the cart on garbage day is routine; a cleanout should be arranged with the ward office first.
Set-out: Place items next to your black cart, in the alley or at the curb, the night before or the morning of your garbage day. Keep the alley passable; obstructing it is a code violation. Remove doors or lids from refrigerators and freezers before setting them out.
Donation pickup in Chicago (usable pool tables)
FreeChicago’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 Chicago: 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 pool tables, 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 Chicago: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation provides free Bulky Item Pick Up through 311 for residents in 1-4 unit buildings, one of the more straightforward city bulk programs. Combined with the city’s electronics and hazardous waste facility, donation pickup, and Cook County’s CHaRM Center, Chicago residents have several options. This page walks through every one.
The Chicago rule for pool tables: Disassemble it first; slate is heavy and a whole table blocks an alley. Arrange through 311 or use a paid crew.
Program basics: No published item limit, but the code prohibits piling large quantities in the alley. One or two items next to the cart on garbage day is routine; a cleanout should be arranged with the ward office first. Place items next to your black cart, in the alley or at the curb, the night before or the morning of your garbage day. Keep the alley passable; obstructing it is a code violation. Remove doors or lids from refrigerators and freezers before setting them out.
What the city will not take: Electronics (banned from Illinois landfills), household chemicals and paint, tires and auto parts, construction and demolition debris, and anything from a building with 5 or more units or a business.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Chicago: Sanitation Code (residential garbage and bulk pick-up guidance), City of Chicago: Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, 44th Ward Streets and Sanitation service page (bulk and yard waste practice). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why pool tables are different from ordinary bulk. Nobody can move a slate table intact. The slate cracks if the frame flexes, the table does not fit through a door, and the weight exceeds what four people can safely carry. Every disposal option therefore starts with disassembly, which takes two people two to four hours with a socket set, a staple remover, and a drill.
Three mistakes that get pool tables left at the curb:
Paid options are for tables that will not sell, basements with tight stairs, and cities that exclude slate from bulk pickup.
Pool table movers (disassembly only)
$200 to $500Billiards service companies will disassemble a table and leave the pieces staged for bulk pickup or a hauler. This is the right call when you cannot do the slate yourself.
Ask them to haul the slate if your city excludes it; many have a landscape outlet for it.
LoadUp paid pool table pickup
$80+For households in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city service), residents who need same-week service, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Chicago with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. Typically 20-30% below national competitors.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your pool table. 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 pool table pickup in Chicago with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Chicago proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Chicago junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national pool table disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Chicago: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Chicago pick up pool tables for free?
Yes, disassembled and arranged through 311. Most people hire a crew.
Where can I donate a pool table in Chicago?
Chicago’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 pool table removal cost in Chicago?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single pool table pickup in Chicago starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households in 5+ unit buildings (excluded from city service), residents who need same-week service, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp offers professional removal in Chicago with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal. Typically 20-30% below national competitors.
How much does a pool table weigh?
A 7-foot slate table weighs about 700 pounds, an 8-foot 800 to 1,000, and a 9-foot up to 1,200. Three-piece slate accounts for 400 to 600 pounds of that. MDF tables weigh 200 to 350 pounds.
Can a pool table go out with bulk trash?
In pieces, the cabinet, legs, and rails are accepted by most bulk programs as furniture. Slate slabs are accepted in some cities and excluded as construction debris in others. Check your city in the directory below.
How do I disassemble a pool table?
Remove the pockets, unbolt and lift off the rails, pull the staples and remove the felt, unscrew the slate from the frame (typically a dozen screws per slab, sometimes under wax or plaster at the seams), lift each slab out with two people, then unbolt the frame from the legs. Two people, two to four hours.
Is a used pool table worth anything?
A slate table from a known maker in good condition sells for $300 to $2,000. Generic slate tables sell for $100 to $500 or move free within days. MDF tables have little resale value.
Is this Chicago page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Chicago guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.