When you purchase a good couch, it should last you about 7-15 years, but sometimes our home calls for a décor refresh which involves parting with furniture.

You may be wondering, how do you get rid of an old sofa? Good news is that there are several ways to dispose of one, and the best option may depend on its condition and local regulations.

Before starting, make sure to protect yourself from getting injured when moving your old sofa. Check out our 1-800-GOT-JUNK? guide on how to carry heavy items safely to prevent any accidents.

Here are some ideas that will benefit the environment and reduce waste when you’re wondering what to do with your old couch.

12 ways to dispose of an old couch

1. Understand your city’s pickup guidelines

Depending on where you live, your local government may have specific guidelines or programs for disposing of large items. You can try contacting your city or county offices to see if they have any recommendations. Your municipality may have an option to schedule a pickup or a dedicated day to dispose of large items like appliances and furniture.

2. Check with your local waste management facility

Some waste management facilities will accept furniture for disposal, but you may need to pay a fee or arrange for a special pickup. You may be able to drop it off at a waste site but may be required to prove residency, so take your ID and a utility bill to identify yourself.

3. Contact a furniture recycling center

Some furniture recycling centers will accept old couches for recycling, which can be a responsible way to reduce waste and benefit the environment. They may not be able to pick up your furniture so you will most likely need to take it to them. Other recycling center may  pay for the scrap metal they can get out of it.

If you want to recycle but cannot move your couch yourself, call us and we are happy to do the hard work for you. Learn more about how we recycle here.

4. Donate your old couch

Many organizations will accept gently used furniture as a donation. You can try contacting charities and non-profit organizations such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity to see if they accept couch donations. And remember,  not all locations will accept larger pieces of furniture.

5. Give your sofa away

You can also try giving away your couch for free through online forums, your community management app, or social media. Some websites such as Freecycle and Craigslist have a “free” section availale, as well as the app Nextdoor.

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6. Hire a professional upholstery cleaner

If your couch is in good condition but just needs a deep cleaning, you can contact a professional upholstery cleaner. They can clean and sanitize your couch, making it look and feel like new again. You can also have it cleaned before you sell it, which might bring in some more cash.

7. Hold a yard or garage sale

If you have other items you want to get rid of, you can hold a garage or yard sale to sell your old couch. This can be a fun way to declutter your home and make some extra cash. You can also consider getting a couple of neighbors together for a larger sale, which will draw more buyers.

Check our guide on how to declutter your home room by room. This will help you find other items to add to your yard sale!

8. Rent a dumpster

If you have a lot of large items to dispose of, like your couch, you can rent a dumpster and have it delivered to your property. They can range from a large bag that you can arrange to be picked up later to a rolling bin that fits in your driveway and will have a set pickup date. This can be a convenient way to get rid of multiple items at once, but it can also be costly.

9. Repurpose or upcycle it

If you are feeling creative, you can repurpose your old couch into something new and useful. For example, you could disassemble it and use the materials to make a new piece of furniture or create a unique art project.

10. Sell your couch online

If your couch is still in good condition, you can try selling it through online marketplaces such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay. Post good pictures and have your buyer pick it up (or offer to deliver for an additional amount).

11. Trade it in

Some furniture sellers will take your old sofa if you are buying a new one from them. This may be a dollar credit you can use to purchase new furniture, or they may offer to take away your old couch as an incentive to buy a new one. Be sure to check!

12. Hire a junk removal service

If your couch is in poor condition or is no longer usable, you can hire a junk removal service to haul it away. They will dispose of it properly and may recycle some of the materials.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? offers furniture removal services that will safely and reliably take care of your old sofa, loveseat, ottoman, futon, and more.  

Get rid of your old sofa with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Disposing of furniture like a sofa doesn’t have to be hard. You can haul it yourself to recycle or donate but remember to be careful when carrying it. You can also sell it or give it away. Or you can hire a pro to take it away safely. Book on the app or call 1-866-995-5865 with code TOWNSQ to get $40 off jun removal.