Short answer: Yes, Mattress Firm will take your old mattress - but only on a one-for-one basis with a new mattress purchase, and most customers pay a haul-away fee unless they live in a state where free removal is required by law. Below is the current 2026 policy, what disqualifies a mattress from pickup, and the free alternatives worth using when haul-away isn't an option.
How Mattress Firm's Haul-Away Service Works
When you buy a new mattress from Mattress Firm and choose in-home delivery, you can add mattress removal at checkout. The delivery team brings the new mattress in, takes the old one out, and loads it onto the truck - all in the same scheduled appointment.
Three rules govern the service:
- One-for-one removal. If you buy one mattress, they take one. Buy a mattress and a box spring, they'll take both. They will not haul a second mattress that wasn't replaced by a new purchase.
- New purchase required. Mattress Firm does not offer standalone disposal - the haul-away is a delivery add-on, not a service you can book on its own.
- An adult must be home. Someone 18 or older has to be present during the 2-hour delivery window to authorize removal and confirm the items.
How Much Does Mattress Firm Charge to Haul Away an Old Mattress?
As of 2026, Mattress Firm charges a haul-away fee in most states. Pricing varies by region and is shown at checkout, but published rates from the company and reseller pages typically fall in this range:
- Standard mattress removal: around $99.99 in most metro markets.
- Mattress + box spring: may be bundled into a single haul-away charge or priced per piece, depending on the location.
- Stairs or adjustable base disassembly: an additional fee is common; expect $149+ for difficult removals.
- Free in California: California's mattress recycling law (administered by the Mattress Recycling Council) requires retailers to offer free pickup of one used mattress per new mattress sold, when delivery is included. Connecticut and Rhode Island have similar programs.
Always confirm the exact charge during checkout - the delivery team will not waive a fee that wasn't paid up front, and rescheduling once a delivery is booked can trigger an additional service charge.
What Mattress Firm Won't Take
Even with the haul-away fee paid, the delivery crew can refuse a mattress at the door. The most common rejection reasons:
Will be hauled away
- Standard mattress in clean, dry condition
- Box spring matched to a new box-spring purchase
- Mattress with normal wear, light surface marks, or sagging
- Items in a clear pathway from bedroom to truck
Will be refused
- Wet, moldy, or moisture-damaged mattresses
- Mattresses with heavy stains, odor, or biohazard contamination
- Bed bug infestations or any visible pests
- Mattresses stored outdoors or in non-climate-controlled garages
- Torn, burned, or structurally collapsed mattresses
- Bed frames, headboards, or other furniture (not in scope)
Pro tip: Strip the bed before delivery, vacuum the mattress, and zip it into a disposal bag (most home stores carry them for under $20). A clean presentation reduces the chance of an at-the-door refusal - and the disposal bag is required in some municipalities for curbside transit anyway.
Free Alternatives When Mattress Firm Haul-Away Doesn't Fit
If you're not buying from Mattress Firm - or if your mattress is in a condition they'll refuse - these are the legitimately free or low-cost options most U.S. residents have:
1. Bye Bye Mattress (CA, CT, RI)
If you live in California, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council runs Bye Bye Mattress - a state-funded program that accepts used mattresses for free at participating drop-off sites and collection events. Find the nearest location at byebyemattress.com.
2. Municipal bulk pickup
Most U.S. cities offer scheduled bulk-item curbside pickup either free or for a small fee ($10-$40). Check your sanitation department's website or 311 line - you usually need to book a pickup date and follow tagging or bagging rules.
3. Donation (only if it's actually clean)
Most Goodwill and Salvation Army locations stopped accepting mattresses years ago due to bed-bug liability. Some Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations still take like-new mattresses; call ahead - it's location-by-location, not a national policy. Furniture banks (search the National Furniture Bank Association directory) are often more receptive for clean, lightly-used mattresses going to families furnishing first homes.
4. Junk-removal services
If the mattress is in rough shape and the city won't take it, a junk-removal company (1-800-Got-Junk, LoadUp, College Hunks, Mattress Disposal Plus) will pick it up for $75-$150 depending on region and stairs. They route as much as possible to recycling partners rather than landfill.
5. Other retailers' haul-away programs
If you're shopping around, most major retailers - including Costco, IKEA, Macy's, and several online brands - offer haul-away as a delivery add-on with similar one-for-one rules. Costco's white-glove delivery includes free mattress removal in many regions, which is unusual and worth checking when comparing total cost.
Why Recycling Beats the Curb
The Mattress Recycling Council reports that more than 75% of a mattress's components - steel springs, foam, fiber, and wood - are recyclable. Recovered steel goes to scrap metal mills, foam becomes carpet underlayment, and the fiber is reused in industrial filters and oil absorbents. A single mattress in a landfill can take decades to break down and takes up roughly 23 cubic feet of space, which is why a growing number of states are following California's lead with retailer-funded recycling programs.
Mattress Firm Haul-Away FAQ
Does Mattress Firm take old mattresses for free?
Only in states with mandatory recycling laws (California, Connecticut, Rhode Island). In every other state, Mattress Firm charges a haul-away fee - typically around $99.99 - bundled with a new mattress purchase.
Does Mattress Firm take old mattresses without a purchase?
No. Mattress Firm's haul-away is a delivery add-on, not a standalone disposal service. If you're not buying a new mattress from them, use municipal bulk pickup, the Bye Bye Mattress program (in eligible states), or a junk-removal service.
Does Mattress Firm take stained mattresses?
Heavy stains, odor, moisture damage, or any sign of bed bugs will get the mattress refused at the door even if you've paid the haul-away fee. Strip the bed, vacuum it, and seal it in a disposal bag before delivery to avoid an awkward refusal.
Will Mattress Firm take just a box spring?
Only if you're buying a new box spring. The one-for-one rule applies to each piece - a new mattress purchase doesn't authorize removal of a box spring you're not replacing.
How long do I have to schedule the haul-away?
Removal happens during your scheduled delivery window - typically a 2-hour slot. If no adult is home, the delivery team will leave the new mattress (if accessible) but cannot take the old one, and you'll need to book a separate appointment.
Bottom Line
Mattress Firm will take your old mattress when you buy a new one from them - for a fee in most states, free in CA, CT, and RI. The service is convenient if your mattress is in reasonable shape and you're already buying delivery. If it's stained, infested, or you're not buying from Mattress Firm, the better path is municipal bulk pickup or a recycling drop-off through the Mattress Recycling Council. Either way, don't put it on the curb without confirming local rules - illegal dumping fines in most cities run several hundred dollars.
