Getting rid of old furniture in LA comes down to three questions: Is it in good shape? How soon does it need to go? Can you move it yourself? Use this guide to pick the right option.
Quick comparison
| Option | Cost | Speed | You lift? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sell it | You earn | Days–weeks | Buyer usually | Quality, in-demand pieces |
| Give it away free | Free | 1–3 days | Usually the taker | Usable items |
| Charity pickup | Free | 1–3 weeks | Sometimes | Clean, undamaged furniture |
| City bulky-item pickup | Free | About 1–2 weeks | Yes, to the curb | Any condition, if you can wait |
| Transfer station drop-off | Fee by weight | Same day | Yes, plus a truck | DIYers with a truck |
| Junk removal service | From about $129 | Same day | No | Fast, no lifting, any condition |
1. Sell it
Solid wood, mid-century, designer and nearly-new furniture sells well in LA on marketplace apps and through consignment shops. Expect to negotiate and to deal with no-shows.
2. Give it away
List it free on a neighborhood group or a Buy Nothing group. In dense areas like Santa Monica, Venice or Culver City, free furniture often goes within hours.
3. Donate it
See our furniture donation pickup guide for which organizations pick up and what they accept.
4. Use your city’s bulky-item collection
If you live in the City of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation picks up bulky items at the curb for free when you book through MyLA311. Other cities in the South Bay and Westside have their own programs. Read the LA bulky-item pickup guide.
Don’t leave furniture on the curb without a booking. Illegal dumping can lead to fines, and unbooked items may not be collected.
5. Take it to a transfer station
If you have a truck, you can haul furniture to a local transfer station and pay by weight. Factor in the truck rental, gas, time and the risk of injury.
6. Hire a furniture removal service
When you need furniture gone quickly, it’s upstairs or heavy, or charities turned it down, a junk removal company does everything: carrying, loading, hauling, donating and recycling. Blaze serves West LA and the South Bay with same-day furniture removal and couch removal, starting around $129 per item.
What about mattresses?
Mattresses have their own rules in California. See how to dispose of a mattress in Los Angeles.