Does Goodwill Take Mattresses?

I run a mattress recycling company. We've removed over 1.15 million mattresses since 2011. And if I had a dollar for every person who told me they loaded a mattress into their car, drove to Goodwill, and got turned away at the donation door — I'd be rich.

It happens constantly. Someone upgrades their mattress, assumes Goodwill will take the old one like they take everything else, and shows up only to be told no. Then they're stuck with a mattress in their trunk and no plan.

This article will save you that trip.

Goodwill's Official Policy on Mattresses

Goodwill locations across the country list mattresses on their "items we cannot accept" list. You'll find nearly identical language whether you check:

• Goodwill San Francisco Bay Area
• Goodwill Southern Arizona
• Goodwill Greater Washington DC
• MERS Goodwill (St. Louis)
• Goodwill San Diego

The language is consistent:

"Mattresses, box-springs, bed rails, sleeper-sofas, air-mattresses, mattress toppers, bed pillows and bean bag chairs."

This isn't a suggestion or a case-by-case decision. It's a hard no across all regions.

The policy extends to:

• All mattress types (innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, latex)
• All mattress sizes (twin through California king)
• Box springs and foundations
• Sleeper sofa mattresses
• Futon mattresses
• Air mattresses
• Mattress toppers and pads
• Bed pillows

Even if your mattress is brand new, still in the plastic wrap, with all the tags attached — Goodwill won't take it.

Why Goodwill Stopped Accepting Mattresses

Goodwill cites "safety, legal, and environmental concerns" as their reasons. Let me translate what that actually means from someone who handles mattresses every day:

Bed Bugs Are a Dealbreaker

Bed bugs are the number one reason donation centers have stepped back from mattresses. These things can survive for a year without feeding, they're nearly impossible to detect visually, and one infested mattress can contaminate an entire warehouse of donated furniture.

From Goodwill's perspective, the risk isn't worth it. One bad mattress could cost them thousands in pest control and lost inventory.

Sanitization Is Expensive

Most states have laws about used mattress sales. If Goodwill wanted to resell donated mattresses, they'd need to professionally sanitize each one, apply new tags indicating the mattress contains used materials, and document the whole process.

That costs money. More money than most mattresses would sell for in their thrift stores.

Storage and Handling

Mattresses are bulky. They take up floor space, they're awkward to move, and they can't be stacked efficiently. For a retail operation that depends on inventory turnover, mattresses are a logistical headache.

Liability Concerns

If someone buys a donated mattress and gets bed bugs, or has an allergic reaction, or the mattress fails and causes an injury — who's responsible? Goodwill has decided the liability exposure isn't worth the potential revenue from mattress sales.

What People Get Wrong About "Good Condition"

Here's something I've learned after processing over a million mattresses: people dramatically overestimate the condition of their old mattress.

I hear it constantly. "My mattress is in great condition, but they still wouldn't take it."

Here's the reality: by the time someone is replacing their mattress, that mattress has typically been slept on for 7-10 years. It has body impressions. It has stains — even if you can't see them without a blacklight. The foam has compressed. The support has degraded.

What feels "fine" to you looks very different to a donation center evaluating whether they can sell it.

My company picks up mattresses every day. Less than 5% of the mattresses we see would meet the condition standards for donation — and even those pristine 5% still get rejected by most donation centers simply because they don't accept mattresses at all.

The mattress you think is "perfectly good" probably isn't. And even if it is, that doesn't matter because Goodwill won't take it anyway.

The California Exception

There's one notable exception to Goodwill's no-mattress policy, and it only applies if you live in California.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley operates a mattress recycling program — not donation, but recycling — at their San Jose headquarters. They accept mattresses for free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through the state's Bye Bye Mattress program.

Some other California Goodwill locations partner with the Bye Bye Mattress program to accept mattresses for recycling as well.

If you're in California, use the Bye Bye Mattress locator to find your nearest drop-off site. Many are free for residents.

If you're not in California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Oregon (the four states with mattress recycling programs), the Goodwill route is completely closed to you.

What Goodwill Actually Accepts From Your Bedroom

Goodwill will take other bedroom items, just not mattresses:

Usually accepted:

• Bed sheets (clean, no stains)
• Blankets and comforters (clean)
• Bed frames (some locations, must be under weight limits)
• Headboards (some locations)
• Nightstands and dressers
• Lamps
• Curtains

Never accepted:

• Mattresses
• Box springs
• Bed pillows
• Mattress toppers

If you're doing a full bedroom cleanout, Goodwill can help with some of it. Just leave the mattress out.

What To Do Instead

So Goodwill won't take your mattress. Now what? I've written a full guide on how to get rid of a mattress with 7 nationwide options. Here they are:

1. Mattress Recycling Pickup Service — Professional recycling pickup available nationwide.
2. Municipal Bulk Pickup Service — Many cities offer bulk pickup that includes mattresses. Check with your local waste management.
3. Drop Off at Landfill or Recycling Facility — If you have a truck, you can haul it yourself. In EPR states (CA, CT, RI, OR), use Bye Bye Mattress for free recycling drop-off.
4. DIY Mattress Breakdown — Disassemble it yourself and recycle the components (steel to scrap, wood to yard waste, etc.).
5. Sell or Give Away — Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Nextdoor if it's in genuinely good condition.
6. Junk Removal Companies — 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Junk King, LoadUp, etc. Convenient but pricier ($75-$200).
7. Donation — Local charities or furniture banks may accept mattresses in excellent condition, but most have strict requirements.

Stop Trying to Donate Your Mattress

I know this sounds harsh, but I'm going to be direct: the donation route for mattresses is largely a dead end.

Major charities have stepped back from mattresses for legitimate reasons. The bed bug risk is real. The sanitization requirements are expensive. The liability exposure is significant.

Even if your mattress is genuinely in excellent condition — and statistically, it probably isn't — you're going to have a very hard time finding anyone who will take it.

My company works with donation centers across the country. We see this play out constantly. People spend hours trying to donate, calling around, loading and unloading mattresses, only to end up exactly where they started.

Save yourself the frustration. Accept that donation probably isn't happening, and move directly to recycling or disposal options.

Your time is worth more than the runaround.