Junk removal How to get rid of a mattress in Charleston

Curbside pickup, town by town

Some towns name mattresses in their bulk rules. Others don't mention them at all, and in those towns the safest move is to call before you set one out.

Towns that say they take mattresses

Pro tip in Hanahan, put a mattress out for Monday's brown trash pickup. Tuesday's citywide pickup is for metals and appliances.

In Folly Beach, a mattress set out without an appointment will still be picked up, but the City says the owner can be cited for improper disposal.

The City of Charleston

The City ran a free mattress recycling pilot with BedShred in 2021, funded by the state environmental agency. That funding has ended. The City's mattress page now refers residents to BedShred's private curbside service, which you book online and pay for.

The City's general bulk page says junk, furniture and other bulk items can go out in their own pile on your regular collection day, but it doesn't name mattresses. Call Environmental Services at 843-720-3891 to ask whether yours can go out with bulk items.

Towns that don't say

These towns pick up furniture and other bulk items, but their pages don't mention mattresses. Call before you put one out.

If you live in an unincorporated area, curbside bulk service depends on your county and your hauler. The county drop-off sites below are the sure option.

Drop it off yourself

If you can fit it in a pickup or on a trailer, two of the three counties say they take mattresses.

• Charleston County: mattresses go in Zone 2, with other bulky items, at the full-service convenience centers. It's free for residents with a photo ID showing a Charleston County address. The Signal Point Road center on James Island doesn't take bulky items. See Charleston County convenience centers.
• Berkeley County: all 10 convenience centers take mattresses and box springs. They're for Berkeley County residents only, and staff check a valid photo ID. See Berkeley County convenience centers.
• Dorchester County: the county's list of accepted items doesn't mention mattresses. Call the Solid Waste office at (843) 832-0070, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, before you load one up. See Dorchester County convenience sites.

Can you donate a mattress?

It's harder than donating other furniture.

• Dorchester Habitat ReStore in Summerville doesn't accept mattresses or box springs.
• Berkeley County Habitat ReStore in Goose Creek doesn't accept used mattresses.
• Charleston Habitat ReStore takes items in good, sellable condition, with nothing broken, stained or damaged. Its mattress rules are in a separate donation guidelines document, so call the store at 843-579-0777 first.
• The Salvation Army's national pickup service lists unbroken furniture "including mattresses" among what it takes, and says accepted items vary by location. We couldn't confirm that it serves Charleston-area ZIP codes, so enter yours on its pickup site or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK before you count on it.

Hire someone to haul it

A crew makes sense when the mattress is upstairs, your town doesn't take it, or your next pickup day is weeks away. National cost guides put mattress removal at $75 to $150 (Angi, 2024 data; Fixr, January 2025) or $70 to $130 (LawnStarter, December 2025). LoadUp's national cost guide lists a starting price from $85 (October 2026). These are national figures, not Charleston quotes. Our junk removal cost guide has more on how Charleston companies price jobs.

Before you put it out

• Keep it in its own pile, away from yard debris and household trash. North Charleston and Summerville say they leave mixed piles behind.
• Mind the bulk limits. James Island PSD takes 2 bulk items a week, and a mattress and box spring may count as two.
• Getting rid of a couch too? Our guide to getting rid of a couch in Charleston covers each town's furniture day.

Frequently asked questions