Need to get rid of furniture in Austin? You have more options than the curb — and a few of them pay you. A solid dresser in the garage, a sectional in the spare room, or a dining set you never use can go to a nonprofit, a free city pickup, a same-day hauler, or straight to cash. The right path depends on what you have, its condition, and how fast you need it gone. Before you load the truck, know that Fresh Start Furniture Co's buyback program pays Austin residents directly for quality used furniture instead of taking it as a donation. Here's the full picture.
The fast answer: five ways to move furniture in Austin
| Option | What you get | Timeline | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Start Furniture Co buyback | Cash (or 25% more as store credit) | Offer by email in 24 hours | Name-brand, good-condition pieces only |
| Donate (Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, etc.) | A tax receipt | Same day at drop-off | No mattresses; nothing torn, stained, or broken |
| Free city bulk pickup | Free removal | Scheduled, can be weeks out | Curbside residents only, up to 3 a year |
| Paid hauler | It's gone fast | Same day | You pay $99–$700; much of it goes to a landfill |
| Consignment shop | 40–70% of the sale price | Weeks to months | Selective, and you wait for it to sell |
Furniture donation drop-off in Austin: who takes what
Austin has a strong network of nonprofits that accept furniture, but not every piece qualifies and policies differ. A quick call before you drive across town saves a wasted trip. Hours change often, so confirm the same day.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore — two locations, free drop-off
The ReStore is one of Austin's most reliable furniture donation spots. The South Austin location is at 500 W Ben White Blvd, (512) 478-2165; the Northwest location is at 13804 US-183, (512) 367-5795. Both accept drop-offs during store hours seven days a week — call ahead for current times. Note: the ReStore does not take used mattresses or box springs, and won't accept broken or soiled furniture.
Other Austin nonprofits worth a call
Goodwill Central Texas runs several donation centers across the city and accepts furniture in good condition. The Salvation Army books ZIP-code-based pickups through its Austin Area Command at (512) 416-0607. St. Vincent de Paul Austin, Casa Marianella, and Hope Family Thrift Store also accept furniture, and some offer pickup by appointment. Policies and hours shift, so call before you commit.
What most donation centers refuse
The rejection rules are consistent across Austin charities. Used mattresses are widely declined; when accepted at all, they usually must be under five years old and completely clean, stain-free, rip-free, and odor-free. Torn or stained upholstery, broken frames, and any sign of pest damage are standard rejections. St. Vincent de Paul, for example, states no mattresses and nothing with rips, tears, or stains. Knowing these limits keeps you from hauling a piece across town only to bring it home again.
Free city furniture pickup in Austin
If your furniture doesn't meet charity standards, or you'd rather skip the drive, the City of Austin runs two no-cost programs — if you're eligible.
Austin Resource Recovery on-demand bulk pickup
Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) offers curbside bulk pickup for residential customers who have City of Austin curbside service, up to three collections per address per calendar year. Schedule it through the Austin Recycles app, the city's online portal, or by calling 3-1-1 at (512) 974-2000. Set items at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on your day, at least five feet from carts, cars, fences, and utility boxes. Furniture is on the accepted list. Need more than three pickups a year? Extra collections are available for a weight-based fee.
MoveOutATX — the student move-out program
MoveOutATX is a seasonal city program aimed at UT students clearing their apartments, useful for anyone near campus. It runs each summer — the 2026 window was July 25–31, with a Free Furniture Market on July 26–27 (two pieces per person). That window has passed for 2026, so watch for the 2027 dates if your timing lines up next summer.
Same-day furniture haulers in Austin
When the charity timeline doesn't work and city pickup is too far out, paid haulers move furniture the same day you call.
What it costs
Prices vary with volume. As a general reference, We Haul Junk and Stuff starts around $149, JT Junk Solutions around $199, and College HUNKS Hauling Junk runs roughly $99 to $699 depending on load. For a single item, Taskrabbit connects you with local haulers averaging about $54 an hour. Most same-day services want you booked before noon for afternoon slots, and prices change — confirm current rates when you call.
Which haulers donate instead of dumping
Not every hauler sends usable furniture to the landfill. The Haul Team partners with Austin Pets Alive!, Habitat ReStore, and Goodwill; Duke's Junk Recycling donates pieces in good shape and recycles metal; We Haul Junk and Stuff sorts and diverts usable items to Austin nonprofits. If you're paying for removal anyway, choosing a service that donates keeps your furniture in circulation.
Consignment: when a piece is worth more than a receipt
A donation receipt has real value, but furniture in excellent condition may be worth actual money. Standard consignment means a shop sells your piece for you and pays you a percentage — commonly 40% to 70% of the final price. The catch is timing: it can take weeks or months to sell before you see a dollar, the shop is selective, and you haul it back if they pass.
What's worth selling vs. just donating
Not every piece has resale value. The ones that do tend to share a few traits:
- Recognizable brand names like West Elm, Ashley Furniture, or Living Spaces
- Solid construction with no structural damage
- Clean upholstery or wood surfaces, no staining
- Age under about ten years
Office furniture from Herman Miller, Knoll, or Steelcase holds strong resale demand too. If your piece checks those boxes, giving it away for free may leave real money on the table.
Fresh Start Furniture Co buyback: drop off furniture in Austin and actually get paid
This is the option most Austin residents don't know about before they schedule a donation. Fresh Start Furniture Co, in North Austin near The Domain at 1915 Kramer Lane, runs a buyback program that pays you directly for quality used furniture — no donation, no waiting on a consignment sale.
How the buyback works
It's simple: fill out the buyback form with a few photos and details, and you get an offer by email within 24 hours. Take the deal and you can drop the piece off at the Kramer Lane showroom or schedule a pickup — no waiting on a sale to close. Payment is cash, or 25% more if you take it as store credit toward something from the showroom. For a quality dresser, sectional, or dining set you were about to donate, that's a real difference.
What Fresh Start buys
Fresh Start buys name-brand furniture in good condition across every room — living room, bedroom, dining, and home office. Recognizable makers like West Elm, Ashley Furniture, and Living Spaces are a strong fit, as are office pieces from Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Knoll. Condition standards are what any quality used-furniture buyer looks for: structurally sound, clean, and free of major damage. Anything resellable is then professionally cleaned and refurbished and sold in the Austin showroom, backed by a 30-day warranty — which is why it can pay you instead of charging you. (Have a whole office to clear? See our office furniture removal service.)
Why this beats a standard drop-off
Line up the options: a donation center gives you a receipt, a consignment shop takes a cut and makes you wait, a hauler charges you. The buyback flips that — you can get paid upfront, the piece stays in Austin, and it goes to another local buyer at a fraction of retail. Fresh Start buys from sellers across Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, and Manor.
FAQ: dropping off furniture in Austin
Where can I drop off furniture in Austin and get paid?
Fresh Start Furniture Co at 1915 Kramer Lane runs a buyback that pays cash (or 25% more in store credit) for quality name-brand used furniture. Submit the form for an emailed offer in 24 hours, then drop off or schedule a pickup.
Where can I donate furniture in Austin for free?
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (two locations), Goodwill Central Texas, the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and Hope Family Thrift accept furniture in good condition. Most refuse mattresses and anything torn, stained, or broken — call ahead.
Does the city of Austin pick up furniture for free?
Yes, if you have City of Austin curbside service. Austin Resource Recovery offers up to three on-demand bulk pickups a year — schedule through the Austin Recycles app or 3-1-1.
Is it better to sell or donate my furniture?
If it's a recognizable brand, structurally sound, clean, and under about ten years old, it likely has resale value — so selling or a buyback can beat a free donation. Older or damaged pieces are better donated or hauled.
The bottom line
Austin gives you real choices — free city pickup, donation drop-offs, same-day haulers, and cash back through a buyback. Each fits a different situation. But if your furniture is clean, structurally sound, and carries a recognizable brand name, defaulting to a free donation before checking what it's worth is a choice worth reconsidering.
Submit the Fresh Start Furniture Co buyback form or stop by 1915 Kramer Lane. It takes a few minutes and could put real money back in your pocket instead of just clearing space in the garage.
Sell Your Furniture for Cash · How Consignment Works in Austin · Shop the Showroom
Fresh Start Furniture Co
1915 Kramer Lane, Austin, TX 78758
(737) 406-4097 · hello@freshstartfurniture.co
Monday–Friday 11am–7pm · Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm
We buy quality used and name-brand furniture across Austin. Cash or 25% more in store credit, with an offer by email in 24 hours.