How to Get Rid of Old Furniture in Denver: Every Option Ranked (2026)

You've got an old couch, a busted recliner, or a mattress that's seen better decades. It needs to go. But getting rid of furniture in Denver isn't as simple as dragging it to the curb. Denver doesn't have regular bulk trash pickup like some cities, and illegal dumping fines start at $150 and go up to $999 per item. So what are your actual options?

We've ranked every furniture disposal method available to Denver residents by cost, speed, and effort required. Whether you're in Capitol Hill, Aurora, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, or anywhere in the metro, these options apply to you.

Why Furniture Disposal Is a Pain in Denver

Unlike cities like Phoenix or Houston where you can pile furniture on the curb on bulk trash day, Denver has no regular bulk trash pickup service. The city discontinued it years ago in favor of a request-based system. This means you have to actively arrange disposal for every piece of furniture, and most Denver residents don't know their options.

The result? Alleys full of abandoned furniture. Denver's illegal dumping problem has gotten so bad that the city installed surveillance cameras at known dumping hotspots and increased fines. In 2024, Denver issued over 3,200 illegal dumping citations, up 18% from the year before.

The good news: there are legitimate options for every budget and timeline. Here's every one of them, ranked.

Option 1: Donate (Free, But Slow)

If your furniture is still in usable condition, meaning no major stains, tears, structural damage, or pest issues, donation is the best environmental and financial choice. You get a tax deduction receipt, and someone who needs furniture gets it.

Denver Donation Pickup Services

Organization	Pickup Area	Wait Time	What They Take
Arc Thrift Stores	Denver metro wide	3-7 days	Furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing
Habitat for Humanity ReStore	Denver, Littleton, Arvada	5-14 days	Furniture, cabinets, building materials
Goodwill	Drop-off only (20+ locations)	Same day	Small furniture, clothing, household items
Salvation Army	Denver metro	7-14 days	Furniture, appliances, clothing
Furniture Bank of Metro Denver	Denver metro	Varies	Gently used furniture for families in need

The catch: Donation centers are picky. They won't take anything with stains, rips, pet damage, smoke smell, or structural problems. During peak seasons (spring and summer), wait times for pickup can stretch to 2-3 weeks. And you'll need to have items accessible on a ground floor or in the garage, as most donation trucks have a two-person crew that won't navigate narrow staircases.

Tax Deduction Tip

Keep your donation receipt. For furniture valued over $500, you'll need a written acknowledgment from the charity. The IRS allows you to deduct the fair market value of donated items, which is typically 20-40% of what you originally paid. A couch you paid $1,200 for can reasonably be claimed at $300-500 depending on condition.

Option 2: Sell It (Free, If It Sells)

If your furniture has resale value, selling it means someone picks it up AND pays you. The key is pricing it to move fast.

Best Platforms for Selling Furniture in Denver

• Facebook Marketplace: Largest audience in Denver. Price 20-30% of retail for quick sales. Furniture typically sells in 1-7 days if priced right. Free to list.
• Craigslist Denver: Still active for furniture. Good for mid-range items. Free to list. Higher flake rate than Facebook.
• OfferUp: Mobile-first platform, popular in the Denver metro. Good for items under $200.
• Nextdoor: Hyper-local. Great for free/cheap items to neighbors. Pickup is usually same-day because buyers are close.

Pricing strategy: Look up what similar items sell for (not list for, but actually sell for) on Facebook Marketplace. Price yours 10-20% below that. If it doesn't get interest in 3 days, drop the price by 25%. If it hasn't sold in a week, it's not going to at that price. Time to donate or hire a hauler.

Reality check: IKEA furniture, mattresses, and anything older than 10 years typically has zero resale value. Don't waste time listing a 15-year-old KALLAX shelf, just donate or haul it.

Option 3: Denver 311 Free Pickup

Denver residents get 4 free large item pickups per year through Denver 311. This is the best-kept secret in Denver furniture disposal.

How It Works

1. Call 311 or schedule online at denvergov.org/311
2. Request a large item pickup (up to 4 items per request)
3. They'll give you a pickup date (usually 2-3 weeks out)
4. Place items at the curb by 7 AM on your pickup day
5. Denver crews collect within that day

What They Will and Won't Take

Accepted	Not Accepted
Couches, chairs, tables	Appliances with Freon (fridges, AC units)
Mattresses, box springs	Electronics (TVs, computers)
Dressers, bookshelves	Tires
Desks, bed frames	Hazardous materials
Carpet rolls (bundled)	Construction debris

The downside: You have to get items to the curb yourself. For a second-floor couch or a basement dresser, that's a serious physical challenge. And the 2-3 week wait means you're living with the junk until then. Also, this service is only available to Denver proper residents, not Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, or other metro cities.

Option 4: Hire a Junk Removal Service

This is the "I want it gone today and I don't want to lift a finger" option. A crew shows up, carries everything out of your house regardless of what floor it's on, loads it in their truck, and it's gone. Usually within 30-60 minutes.

Furniture Removal Pricing in Denver

Item	Local Company	National Franchise
Couch / Sofa	$75-150	$150-250
Mattress + Box Spring	$100-175	$175-275
Recliner / Armchair	$75-125	$125-200
Dining Table + Chairs	$100-175	$175-275
Dresser / Bookshelf	$75-125	$125-200
Sleeper Sofa (heavy)	$125-200	$200-300
Full Room of Furniture	$250-450	$400-700

Local companies like Trustie Services typically run 30-40% cheaper than national franchises like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or College Hunks. The service is identical: a crew comes, they carry and load, they haul it away. The difference is overhead and brand markup.

At Trustie Services, we do text-a-photo quotes. Send a picture of your furniture to (720) 213-5521 and get a binding price in minutes. No in-person estimates needed. The quote is the price.

Option 5: DIY Haul to the Dump

If you have a truck, trailer, or SUV and don't mind the physical labor, you can haul furniture to a transfer station yourself.

Denver-Area Transfer Stations

Facility	Location	Cost	Hours
Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site	5500 Quebec St, Commerce City	$40-80/ton (min charge ~$25)	Mon-Sat 6am-4:30pm
Tower Road Transfer Station	9900 Tower Rd, Commerce City	$35-70/ton	Mon-Sat 6am-4pm
Rooney Road Recycling Center	18201 Rooney Rd, Golden	$25-60/ton	Mon-Sat 7am-4pm

Hidden costs: Gas, your time (plan 2-3 hours), potential vehicle damage from loading/unloading heavy items, and risk of back injury. When you factor in your time at even $20/hour, the DIY route often costs more than hiring a service for 1-3 items.

This option makes more sense for large volumes, like a full garage cleanout where you'd fill a truck multiple times.

What NOT to Do (Illegal Dumping)

We have to say it because people still do it: do not dump furniture in alleys, dumpsters, or vacant lots.

• Fines: $150-$999 per item under Denver Municipal Code Section 36-40
• Detection: Denver has surveillance cameras at 200+ known dumping spots. Neighbors report. If any identifying information is in or near the pile, they'll find you.
• Criminal charges: Repeat offenders face misdemeanor charges, not just fines
• Citations in 2024: 3,200+ illegal dumping citations issued in Denver alone

It's just not worth it. A $75 furniture removal call is cheaper than a $999 fine plus the court appearance. Every time.

Cost Comparison Chart

Method	Cost	Speed	Effort	Best For
Donate	Free	1-3 weeks	Medium	Usable furniture, tax deduction
Sell	Free (you earn)	1-7 days	Medium	Furniture with resale value
Denver 311	Free	2-3 weeks	High (curb it yourself)	Denver residents, 1-4 items
Junk Removal	$75-450	Same day	Zero	Any items, any condition, fast
DIY Dump Run	$25-80 + gas/time	Same day	Very High	Large volumes, truck owners
Illegal Dumping	$150-999 fine	Immediate	Low	Nobody. Don't do this.

Special Cases: Heavy and Oversized Items

Sleeper Sofas

Sleeper sofas are the worst furniture to move. They weigh 200-350 lbs due to the metal frame and mattress mechanism inside. Two people can barely lift one, and they don't fit through standard doorways without tilting and rotating. Professional removal is almost always worth it here. Cost: $125-200.

Piano Removal

Upright pianos weigh 300-500 lbs. Grand pianos: 500-1,200 lbs. This requires specialized equipment and 3-4 people minimum. Standard junk removal companies handle uprights. For grand pianos, you may need a piano moving specialist. Cost: $200-500 for uprights, $400-800+ for grands.

Hot Tubs

Hot tubs require demolition before removal. They're too large to move intact and too heavy (500-800 lbs empty). A junk removal crew will cut it into sections with a reciprocating saw, then haul the pieces. Cost: $300-800 depending on size and access.

Pool Tables

Slate pool tables weigh 700-1,000 lbs. The slate alone is 400-600 lbs. Removal requires disassembly: felt removal, slate separation, frame breakdown. Cost: $250-500.

For any heavy or oversized item, always mention it when getting quotes. Companies need to send enough crew members and the right equipment. Surprises on arrival mean delays or price changes.

Need furniture removed in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Boulder, or anywhere in the Colorado Front Range? Text a photo to (720) 213-5521 for an instant quote from Trustie Services.