When a new bed moves in, the old mattress has to move out. That sounds simple, but getting rid of a mattress is a deceptively tricky task. Mattresses are bulky, hard to maneuver down stairs, and usually need to be gone the day the new one arrives. So most old mattresses end up at the dump, whether a removal service hauls them or the owner makes the trip.
But a mattress does not have to end up as trash. It can go to charity instead, where it helps fuel a mission in your local community. Along the way, it stays out of the landfill, where it would simply go to waste.
This guide covers why donating is worth the effort, which charities accept mattresses, why charity beats the alternatives, and how to get your mattress where it needs to go.
In This Article
Why Donate Your Mattress Instead of Throwing It Away
A mattress is one of the largest things most households ever throw out. The Mattress Recycling Council estimates that more than 50,000 mattresses are discarded in the U.S. every day. Plenty of those mattresses still have years of comfortable sleep left in them.
Once they leave the house, those mattresses become a problem. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) notes that discarded mattresses are expensive to transport, hard to compact, take up a lot of landfill space, and can damage incinerator equipment.
Some states have decided mattresses should stay out of the trash entirely. Massachusetts banned mattresses from disposal starting November 1, 2022, and MassDEP’s first recommendation to residents is to donate mattresses in good condition.
Donation also meets a real need. For a family moving into an empty apartment, a bed is one of the most basic needs. A mattress you no longer want can be exactly what someone else is waiting for.
Which Charities Accept Mattress Donations
Not every charity can take a mattress, but several kinds of organizations actively look for them. The best fits are groups that give furniture directly to people who need it, rather than selling it in a store. Every organization sets its own rules about what it can accept, so it pays to check before you go.
Furniture Banks
Furniture banks are nonprofits that provide gently used furniture to people in need at little or no cost, according to the Furniture Bank Network. They serve families who have found housing but have little to put in it, including people leaving homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, and victims of fires and natural disasters.
Beds are often at the top of their lists. In 2025, the head of one Detroit-area furniture bank told WXYZ that about 20,000 children in metro Detroit do not have a bed of their own. Another Michigan furniture bank told C & G Newspapers that it was seeing high demand for mattresses and box springs.
Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs
Homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and transitional housing programs sometimes accept mattresses for residents to use directly. Because these programs give mattresses to people rather than resell them, they may have more flexibility than a retail store. Needs change often, so always call first.
Thrift Stores and Reuse Centers
Some charity thrift stores and reuse centers accept mattresses, but many do not. The Salvation Army, for example, lists mattresses among the furniture it accepts, but notes that local rules and needs vary from one location to the next. Ask your local donation center before you load up the car.
Where to Look
Start with your city or county recycling or solid waste office, which often keeps a list of local reuse options. In Massachusetts, MassDEP points residents to its Beyond the Bin directory to find organizations that accept mattresses for reuse.
Why Charity Is the Best Place for Your Old Mattress
An old mattress can leave your home a few ways: the curb, the dump, a recycling center, an online listing, or a charity. Only one of those puts it straight back to work for someone who needs it. Each option has its place, but donation is the one that does the most good.
- It helps someone right away. A furniture bank or shelter can put a donated mattress into a home almost as soon as it arrives. Recycling recovers materials, and MassDEP notes that more than 75 percent of a mattress’s components can be reused once it is taken apart. Donation keeps the whole mattress in use.
- It fuels a local mission. Whether a charity gives your mattress to a family or sells it to fund its programs, your donation supports work happening in your own community.
- It skips the hassle of throwing it out. Taking a mattress to the dump means getting together the folks who can move it, getting a truck, and spending the time to drive it and wait in line. When you donate with a home pickup service, it’s gone right away.
- It may help at tax time. If you itemize, a mattress donated to a qualified charity may be tax-deductible. The IRS requires donated household items to be in good used condition or better. Keep your receipt, and check with a tax professional.
The Hardest Part: Getting It There
Deciding to donate is the easy part. Following through is harder. That is where many good intentions stall. Getting a mattress from a bedroom to a charity’s door takes more planning than most people expect.
- Finding a charity that says yes. Every charity has its own rules, so you may need to call several before one agrees to take your mattress.
- Moving it out. A queen mattress is heavy, floppy, and awkward. Getting it down stairs or around a tight corner usually takes two people.
- Finding a vehicle. Most mattresses will not fit in a car, so you need a truck or van.
- Making the trip. You have to drive it across town and unload it during the charity’s donation hours.
- Timing it. Your old mattress often needs to be gone the same day the new one arrives.
This is where a donation pickup service can make the difference between a mattress that gets donated and one that ends up on the curb.
How ReSupply Makes Mattress Donation Easy
Finding the right charity, checking its rules, and getting your mattress there on its schedule is a lot to manage for one piece of furniture. ReSupply’s full-service mattress donation pickup takes all of that off your plate.
Instead of calling around to see who accepts mattresses, you book a pickup online. ReSupply works with more than 3,000 charity partner locations, so it can match your mattress with a charity that can use it. A vetted pickup team carries it out of your home and takes it there. Here is how it works:
- Book online. Select your mattress, box spring, and anything else you want to donate, from any room in your home. ReSupply matches your items to the right vehicle and driver.
- Let the team do the lifting. A vetted pickup team carries everything out, stairs included. Disassembly is available for bed frames. Additional fees may apply.
- Your mattress goes to charity. Your donation is transported safely to charity instead of the landfill. If one charity can’t use it, ReSupply brings it to another.
As a Veteran-Founded service, ReSupply has charity partners across 48 states, and priority pickups are available in 24 to 48 hours.
Why Charity Is the Best Place for Your Old Mattress
An old mattress can leave your home a few ways: the curb, the dump, a recycling center, an online listing, or a charity. Only one of those puts it straight back to work for someone who needs it. Each option has its place, but donation is the one that does the most good.
- It helps someone right away. A furniture bank or shelter can put a donated mattress into a home almost as soon as it arrives. Recycling recovers materials, and MassDEP notes that more than 75 percent of a mattress’s components can be reused once it is taken apart. Donation keeps the whole mattress in use.
- It fuels a local mission. Whether a charity gives your mattress to a family or sells it to fund its programs, your donation supports work happening in your own community.
- It skips the hassle of selling. Listing a mattress online means photos, messages, and coordinating with strangers to pick it up. Donating takes one handoff.
- It may help at tax time. If you itemize, a mattress donated to a qualified charity may be tax-deductible. The IRS requires donated household items to be in good used condition or better. Keep your receipt, and check with a tax professional.
Donate the Rest of Your Bedroom, Too
Clearing out a whole bedroom? ReSupply picks up more than mattresses, so everything can go in one trip. Add any of these to the same pickup:
Moving soon? Our moving donation checklist can help you decide what else to leave behind. For more tips, browse our donor resources.
Ready to donate? Book a home pickup and we handle the rest.
Schedule a pickupMattress Donation FAQs
What charities accept mattress donations?
Furniture banks are among the most likely to accept mattresses, along with some shelters, transitional housing programs, and charity thrift stores. Policies vary by location, so call before you go.
Can I donate my box spring and bed frame too?
Often, yes. Many organizations that accept mattresses also take box springs and frames in good shape. ReSupply can pick them up along with your mattress.
Does ReSupply pick up mattresses?
Yes. ReSupply offers full-service mattress donation pickup. A vetted pickup team carries your mattress out of your home and transports it to charity. You can book your pickup online.
Can I recycle my mattress instead?
Yes. Most of a mattress can be recycled, and the steel, foam, fiber, and wood inside can be recovered and turned into new products. California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Rhode Island run statewide mattress recycling programs, and many cities and retailers offer collection. Recycling is a good choice for a mattress that is too worn to donate.
What happens if a charity can’t use my mattress?
ReSupply works with more than 3,000 charity partner locations, so if one charity can’t take your mattress, ReSupply will bring it to another charity that can. In the rare case that a mattress can’t be donated, ReSupply recycles it responsibly.
