Where to Donate Furniture Before Moving Out

Should You Sell or Donate Old Furniture Before Moving Out?

Selling furniture and earning some money may seem like the easiest solution to getting rid of used furniture. But it actually can be tedious and time-consuming.

It will mean the following:

• You have to deal with selling online which includes taking pictures, posting online, answering questions, discussing prices back and forth, and meeting buyers
• You may have to deal with buyers canceling last minute
• The entire selling process may take hours or even days

To make matters worse, selling used furniture online generally does not produce the returns that sellers hope for. Although selling your gently used furniture may not make a big difference in your budget, it can make a significant impact on nonprofit organizations.

Donating furniture that no longer holds value to you can be extremely valuable to families or individuals in need. Say you upgraded to a bigger mattress and no longer need your bed frame that’s still in good condition. The too-small bed frame, and even your former mattress, will likely be especially useful for someone trying to pinch pennies.

Keep in mind that when doing a furniture donation pick-up, it’s important to save donation receipts and itemized lists for tax purposes. Donating your furniture to an accredited nonprofit organization is a tax-saving strategy, meaning you may be able to write it off on your income tax return.

Top 7 Organizations With Furniture Donation Pick-Up Services

Donation is one of the most convenient and sustainable ways to take care of your old furniture. Best yet, most organizations will pick up your used furniture for free and help find it a new home.

Here are some of the best places to donate your gently used household items:

1. The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is one of the longest-running non-profit organizations, founded in 1865. When planning to donate your used furniture, The Salvation Army may be one of the most convenient options, as there are more than 130 locations in the U.S.

On its website, the organization makes it easy to find a drop-off location or schedule a free furniture pick-up. All you have to do is input your ZIP code and provide a few details about what you’d like to donate.

Your donation to The Salvation Army may go toward:

• Disaster relief
• Holiday giving
• Rehabilitation centers
• Homeless shelters
• Victims of domestic violence
• Veteran services

2. Goodwill

Another well-known charity donation center is Goodwill. It has more than 150 community organizations across the U.S., Canada, and 12 other countries. You can find out if a Goodwill pickup donation is available in your area by contacting your local donation center.

Most Goodwill locations offer pickup for old furniture and other large items. The organization then raises money for their community-based programs by selling your donated furniture in stores or online.

Your Goodwill donation may go toward:

• Job placement and training programs
• Online classes
• Combatting unemployment

3. Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve affordable housing. Part of its mission is to create a better and more stable community worldwide. To fund its efforts, the organization sells donated items in-store across all 50 states and in 70 international countries.

Habitat for Humanity offers free donation pickup for furniture donations, as well as other large items. By entering your zip code online, you can find your nearest Habitat for Humanity store. You’ll then be directed to a page that matches your location to schedule your free donation pickup.

Your Habitat for Humanity donation may go toward:

• Families in need of a place to live
• Funds for building and repairing homes

1. Arc Donations The Arc supports and serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since 1950, the organization has helped facilitate research, served as an advocate, and fostered the development of key skills among these individuals.

The Arc funds its efforts through 600 and counting local chapters throughout the U.S. Through its website, you can find out if your local chapter offers free furniture donation pickup.

5. Furniture Bank Network

The Furniture Bank Network is a collection of charitable donation centers that help individuals who can’t afford to furnish their homes.

Visit their website to find a furniture bank location near you, and call to schedule a furniture donation pick-up. Keep in mind that not all furniture bank locations offer free pick-ups; some will charge a small fee.

Your furniture bank donation may go toward:

• Formerly homeless individuals
• Women and children escaping domestic violence
• Immigrants
• Unemployed individuals

6. GreenDrop

GreenDrop partners with some of the most well-known charities, including the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation.

Through these partnerships, GreenDrop professionally fundraises by selling your donations to area thrift stores. In 2021 alone, Greendrop raised over $4.2 million for various nonprofit organizations.

To schedule a donation pick-up, visit the GreenDrop website and enter your name, phone number, and zip code.

7. AMVETS

The AMVETS National Service Foundation has served U.S. veterans and their families since 1948. The organization has physical stores in 22 U.S. states, and most are available for donation pickups.

To schedule a furniture donation pickup, fill out the online form on the AMVETS website. If your items are eligible for pickup, it’s recommended to put everything in boxes, mark them for AMVETS, and leave them outside your door by 7:30 AM on the selected pickup day.

Your AMVETS donation may go toward:

• Community outreach programs
• Job training courses
• U.S. veterans, as well as active-duty servicemen and women

Frequently Asked Questions About Donating Used Furniture

Who will pick up furniture donations for free?

In many cases, charities such as The Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity offer furniture pick-up donations free of charge. If none of these non-profit organizations are in your area, you can check with your local civic or church groups as they may have furniture bank services.

How do I schedule a donation pick-up?

All of the organizations above have websites where you can enter your zip or postal code to find your local charity donation center or phone number to use to schedule your pick-up donation service.

What condition do my items need to be in for donations?

Typically, charities will accept new and “gently used” items. This means furniture that’s in good condition, presentable, and clean will be used for resale. It is not recommended to donate items that are missing parts, not working properly, or ripped.

Pack, Donate, and Move Out With Ease

Decluttering and packing take up a ton of time and energy. Fortunately, many charities will happily take unwanted furniture and other large items off your hands. You can make an appointment for free pickup donations through the non-profit organizations mentioned above. This is especially helpful if you wish to have a fresh start in your new home.

To best simplify your move-out process, you can also schedule move-out or move-in cleaning ahead of time through Moveout.com.