How to Get Rid of an Old Couch

PDF download Download Article
Easy ways to sell, donate, or throw away your used sofa
PDF download Download Article

When your couch starts to take up space, it's time to toss it to the curb—literally. For a fee, junk removal companies allow you to easily get rid of your furniture without any hassle. We'll walk you through everything you need to know, including alternative ways to get rid of your couch, like donating or selling it.

How can I throw away a couch?

  • Call up a junk removal company to pick up your old couch. For around $200-250, they'll remove the couch so you don't have to do any heavy lifting.
  • Donate the couch to a thrift store or a charity like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, which often offer courtesy pickup services.
  • Sell the couch locally on Craigslist or eBay to make some cash, or just give it away to a friend or colleague to free up space.
  • Check your city’s large-item pickup schedule and leave the couch on the curb for waste management, or disassemble it and throw away the pieces.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Ways to Get Rid of a Couch

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you need the couch gone, and need it gone quickly, a professional junk removal service is probably your best bet. They charge on average around $200-250, but for that price a team of professionals will come and take the couch off your hands with no elbow grease spent on your part. [1]
    • Not all junk removal services are created equal. Some will only do curbside pickup, and others may go the extra mile and recycle your items. Make sure to ask about the services your local junk removal team provides before you book them.
    • Dumpster rental companies are also a good option if you’ve got other items to dispose of as a batch. Just fill up the delivered dumpster, then have the service haul it away.
  2. Charity thrift stores like Goodwill , The Salvation Army , or Vietnam Veterans of America are often quick to accept furniture donations, as long as they’re in working condition. Many also provide complimentary pickup services where employees will come and get your couch for you, saving you a whole lot of work. Plus, many provide tax receipts so that you can write off the donation on your taxes. [2]
    • Or, call up some local good causes like community centers, animal shelters, retirement homes, or furniture donation warehouses to see if they’d take a free couch. You may have to deliver it yourself, but it’s a great way to rehome a sofa.
    Advertisement
  3. Selling the couch on eBay , listing it on Craigslist , or using Facebook Marketplace to pawn it off puts some cash in your back pocket. What’s more, the buyer may even agree to come pick it up for you. For the best listing, include plenty of photos and a thorough description of the couch’s condition. [3]
    • Used couches sell for a wide range of prices; it depends on the style, condition, and antique status of your couch. Browse an online marketplace for similar couches and price it appropriately.
    • Be sure to specify that the couch is for local sale or pickup only. Shipping a bulky couch cross-country is probably more work than it’s worth.
  4. Ask your friends, family, or coworkers if they’re in the market for a free couch. You never know who might be looking to score some furniture. Or, list it on Craigslist for free, or post it to a local swap site like Freecycle.org . [4] If all else fails, you can always set it up on the curb with a sign that says “free” and wait for someone to haul it away.
    • If you put the couch on the curb, make sure it’s not in the way of any sidewalks or parking. Also, call your municipality to make sure curbside disposal is legal in your area.
  5. Many municipalities offer a regularly scheduled large-item pickup day, where you place unwieldy trash on the curb for your city’s waste management organization to haul away free of charge. [5] Look up your city’s large-item pickup schedule and plan accordingly.
    • Some cities may also offer individually scheduled pickups outside of their regular schedule, but these may require purchasing a special tag. Check your local waste management’s website for more information.
  6. Give your couch a good look and ask yourself if it’s really too far gone. It could be that all it needs is some reupholstering or polishing to give it new life. For example, try stuffing flat or sagging cushions with a foam core to plump them up in a snap. Alternatively, you might take it apart and use the components in other projects—all that fabric might make some nice throw pillows , and the wood frame might be used for carpentry projects, like making a small table .
    • Or, relocate it to a room that might not require high-end furniture, like a basement or a garage, to add some sitting space elsewhere in your home.
  7. Just like trading in an old car, some retailers allow you to trade in an old couch for a discount when you purchase new furniture. The number of companies that do is admittedly fairly small, and often they only accept couches they manufactured themselves, but ask your local retailer if they’ve got any similar offers. [6]
    • Companies that offer trade-ins include Ikea and Sabai .
  8. No budget, but have some basic tools handy? Take apart your couch to break it up into more manageable pieces, then haul it to your local dump or waste management facility in 1-2 trips (it's even easier if you can recruit a friend with a truck). [7] You might even find some change buried between the cushions!
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Dismantling and Discarding Your Couch

PDF download Download Article
  1. Depending on what kind of couch you have, some cushions will be loose, while others will have to be cut or torn away. Remove any loose cushions and other detachable components to strip the couch down to just the basic frame and upholstery. Then, vacuum up any dust or dirt beneath the cushions to avoid tracking the mess elsewhere. [8]
    • If they're still usable, consider saving the couch cushions while getting rid of the rest of the frame. They may come in handy as makeshift floor pads for guests, for example.
    • Otherwise, feel free to remove the stuffing from the cushions and trash them.
  2. If the fabric is stapled to the frame, use a flathead screwdriver or a heavy-duty staple remover to pry up the staples and take the fabric off the couch. [9] You don’t need to remove all of the fabric, just the material that is covering the wooden frame of the furniture.
    • Removing the fabric above and below the part of the couch where the cushions go is usually sufficient.
  3. Now, break the couch down into smaller, more manageable pieces with a hand saw . Wear work gloves and eye protection and, as you saw, stay away from sharp springs, bolts, and nails, as these will dull your blade. Cut each piece multiple times to make each chunk of couch frame smaller and easier to transport. [10]
    • Aim to cut pieces small enough to fit into a half-dozen or so cardboard moving boxes for easy transportation.
  4. Whatever pieces you can fit in your trash at home, dispose of them there. Ultimately, however, you'll most likely have to throw away some of your couch in a separate dumpster. Keeping some of the trash at home simply makes that job a little bit easier. Make sure to take your couch pieces to a designated waste disposal facility, like a dump, landfill, or waste management plant. [11]
    • Flatten the backseat of your car to fit the pieces of your couch. Lay some tarp, a blanket, or a bed sheet down before putting the couch pieces in to protect the seats. If you don't have tarp, use an old blanket or bed sheet instead.
    • If your car is too small, consider renting a trailer or borrowing a pickup truck.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Dismantle a Recliner Sofa
      How to
      Separate a Sectional Sofa
      How to
      Restore a Leather Sofa: Fix Tears and Rips
      How to
      Fix a Sagging Couch Yourself.
      How to
      Renew a Leather Couch: Restore Color & Revive Your Aging Leather
      How to
      Drape a Throw over a Sofa
      How to
      Clean a Sofa
      How to
      Remove Odors from a Couch
      How to
      Repair a Faux Leather Sofa
      How to
      Clean a Leather Sofa
      How to
      Keep Couch Cushions from Sliding
      How to
      Open a Sofa Bed
      How to
      Clean a Papasan Cushion
      How to
      Make a Sofa Slipcover
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/storage-organization/reviews/junk-removal-cost
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/get-rid-of-practically-anything-a1083549693/
      3. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/get-rid-of-practically-anything-a1083549693/
      4. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/get-rid-of-practically-anything-a1083549693/
      5. ↑ https://www.cityofalhambra.org/302/Bulky-Item-Pick-Up
      6. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-couch/
      7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-couch/
      8. ↑ https://moving.tips/packing-tips/how-to-disassemble-a-couch-for-moving/
      9. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-couch/
      1. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-couch/
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-couch/

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 97,780 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement