Updated 2026-10-01
Yes. Most landfills and transfer stations accept mattresses from residents, charged by the item or by weight at the gate. You will need a vehicle that can carry it safely, and it pays to know the rules before you drive out.
What to expect at the transfer station
Call ahead or check the facility site for resident hours, accepted loads, and the mattress fee, which is usually charged per piece. Bring ID, since many facilities serve only their own county’s residents. Secure the load properly: a mattress on a roof rack is a highway hazard and an unsecured load ticket waiting to happen. Some facilities route mattresses to a dedicated recycling pile rather than the working face, so follow the attendant’s direction.
The states where drop off is free
California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island run statewide mattress recycling programs funded by a fee collected when new mattresses are sold, and they operate free drop off sites for residents. If you live in one of those states, search the program’s site locator before paying a gate fee anywhere. Our guide to dumping a mattress for free covers the options state by state.
When the math favors a pickup instead
Count the real cost of the trip: the gate fee, the fuel, the borrowed truck, and the two people it takes to load a king. Mattress removal starts at $85 with the exact price guaranteed before you book, your Loader does the lifting from inside the home, and a donation attempt comes first when condition allows, which no landfill offers.
Price your pickup and keep your Saturday.