What to do with unwanted furniture in Australia

Check the safety rules first

Some second-hand items cannot legally be resold or donated in Australia unless they meet a mandatory safety standard. Cots and portable cots, prams, bunk beds and children's furniture all have standards, and older items often fail them. Chests of drawers and tall bookcases now come with anti-tip requirements, and an op shop may refuse one without its restraint.

Recalled items must not be passed on at all. If you are unsure, check the item and model against the Product Safety Australia recalls list before you list or donate it.

1. Sell it

Solid timber, mid-century, brand-name outdoor settings, nursery furniture and anything currently expensive new all sell well locally. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree suit pick-up-only items: measure it in centimetres, photograph it in good light, and say clearly that the buyer collects and whether help loading is available.

Price for a quick local sale rather than a national market — most furniture buyers are comparing against something they can pick up this weekend.

2. Donate it

Vinnies, Salvos, Red Cross, Habitat ReStore and local reuse and homelessness services take usable furniture, and several offer free pick-up in metro areas. Ring first: they will ask about condition, safety labels, stains and access, and pick-up runs are often booked weeks ahead.

Never leave furniture outside a closed op shop. Rain ruins it and the charity pays the tip fee.

3. Give it away locally

Free listings, Buy Nothing and giveaway groups move usable-but-plain furniture within days, which beats paying to have it removed. Ask collectors to bring straps and a second pair of hands.

4. Recycle or dispose

• Council hard rubbish collection — many councils include one or two a year, booked online, with limits on volume and what they accept.
• Transfer station or tip — charged by weight, and some councils issue free tip vouchers to residents.
• Mattresses are recycled separately at many sites, usually for a fee — springs, foam and timber are all recovered.
• Fridges, freezers and air conditioners need degassing, so they go through a specific drop-off, not hard rubbish.
• Anything with a plug or battery is e-waste; several states ban it from landfill entirely.
• Paint, gas bottles and chemicals go to a household chemical drop-off, never in a bin.

If you are clearing a whole house

Sell or give away the good pieces before a removal company quotes. Fewer cubic metres means a lower quote, and usable furniture reaching someone who needs it is a better outcome than the tip.

Common questions

Will a charity collect my couch for free?

Many will in metro areas, if it is clean, undamaged and resellable. Call to check and book early, as pick-up runs fill up.

How do I get rid of a mattress in Australia?

Most councils accept mattresses on hard rubbish or at a transfer station, often for a fee, and dedicated mattress recyclers operate in most cities. Some retailers remove the old one on delivery.

Can I sell a second-hand cot?

Only if it meets the current Australian safety standard and has not been recalled. Many older cots do not, and should not be passed on.

Is it worth selling old furniture?

Solid timber, mid-century, outdoor and nursery pieces usually are. Flat-pack in average condition is generally better given away.

Try it on one of your own items

Photograph a single item and KindSort suggests a rough price range, the best place to sell it and a title and description you can paste straight in. No account needed for one item.