The short answer
Start with what still has value and sell or give it away. Put what is left into a single free City of San José Junk Pickup, which takes up to 12 items at the curb on your garbage day. Anything that cannot get to the curb, or has to go on a deadline, can be picked up from inside at flat prices: a standard dresser is $126, a small dining table $103 and a bookshelf $72.
Sort it first: keep, sell, give, dispose
Old furniture usually leaves in a burst. A relocation, a downsize from a family home in Almaden Valley or Cambrian, a new partner moving in, or a garage being emptied for an ADU. When it happens all at once, the instinct is to treat everything the same. Do not.
Walk the house with tape in two colors. One color for things worth selling: solid wood dressers, mid-century pieces, anything a buyer would recognize by brand. Another for things nobody will pay for: particleboard bookcases, worn upholstery, broken chairs. Everything untaped stays.
Mid-century furniture deserves a second look in this area. Eichler neighborhoods in Willow Glen, Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto have plenty of buyers who want period pieces to match the house. A teak credenza that looks dated to you may be exactly what someone two streets over is searching for. Price it fairly and give it a week.
Selling and giving away
Local listings work well in the South Bay because so many people arrive here with a suitcase and an apartment lease. Good photos in daylight, measurements and a clear pickup window do most of the work.
Make pickup easy and you sell faster. Have the item in the garage or by the door rather than on the second floor. Say whether the buyer needs to bring help. Say whether there is parking, because a buyer who cannot find a space near a downtown tower will give up.
Free listings move even faster, but they attract no-shows. Set a deadline. If an item has not gone in five days, it is telling you something.
Donation is another path for clean, working pieces. Call ahead, because many donation centers turn away upholstered furniture with stains or wear and anything particleboard. If you book a pickup with us, mention which items are in good shape. We try to donate usable items when local charities accept them.
The City's Junk Pickup: 12 items, free
Inside San José city limits, Junk Pickup is the default for what does not sell. It is free for single-family homes and multi-family complexes, and both owners and renters can request it. Each request covers up to 12 items, and furniture and mattresses are accepted.
Plan around three rules. You request through 311, and the City confirms within two business days. The pickup happens on your regular garbage and recycling day. And the items can be set out no more than 24 hours before the appointment, on the street by the curb, away from red zones, hydrants and parked cars.
Twelve items goes further than it sounds for a single room, and not far at all for a whole house. A dining set with six chairs is seven items before you touch the bedroom. Do the counting before you book, and if you are over, split the job or plan for a second request.
Flat prices for common furniture
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Dresser (Standard) | $126 |
| Chest of Drawers | $126 |
| Nightstand | $57 |
| Dining Table (2-4 Seat) | $103 |
| Dining Table (6-8 Seat) | $163 |
| Dining Chair | $45 |
| Bookshelf | $72 |
| Desk (Standard) | $83 |
| Armchair / Accent Chair | $77 |
| Cabinet / China Hutch | $160 |
A bedroom set with a dresser and two nightstands is $126 + $57 + $57 = $240. A small dining set with four chairs is $103 + $45 + $45 + $45 + $45 = $283.
When the list gets long, a truck-fill tier is usually simpler. A quarter truck is $241 and a half truck is $431.
When to skip the curb entirely
Some San José homes make the curb route impractical, and it helps to recognize yours early.
- Upstairs units without elevators. Many 1970s and 80s garden complexes have exterior stairs. Getting a solid hutch down safely takes two strong people.
- High-rise rentals. Downtown and North San José buildings often require a booked elevator and a certificate of insurance before movers or haulers can work. JunkRabbit emails a COI within one hour.
- HOA neighborhoods. Many Evergreen, Silver Creek and Almaden subdivisions dislike curb piles even overnight.
- A deadline. A lease end, a closing or a contractor arriving Monday does not wait for your garbage day.
In any of these cases, a pickup from inside is the cleaner answer. Nothing sits outside, and the crew handles the stairs, the elevator and the loading.
Getting a price
Snap a photo of each piece, or a wide shot of the room, and get a price on the instant quote page. You can also pick items from the list yourself. The total is shown before you book, and it only changes if you approve a change.
The order minimum is $100. A single nightstand at $57 bills at $100, so pair it with something else on the list. A nightstand and a bookshelf, for example, come to $57 + $72 = $129.
Vetted, insured local haulers work seven days a week from 8am to midnight in two-hour arrival windows. Book by 4 PM and same-day pickup is usually possible. Old furniture from an apartment in Santa Clara and a garage in Morgan Hill costs the same, item for item. Disposal is included in every price, and we recycle whatever we can.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put old furniture out for pickup in San Jose?
Yes, through the City's free Junk Pickup. Request it through 311, wait for confirmation within two business days, and set the items out no more than 24 hours before your garbage-day appointment.
How many items does the City's Junk Pickup take?
Up to 12 items per request. Count carefully, because a dining table and six chairs is already seven items.
What does furniture removal cost in San Jose?
A standard dresser is $126, a nightstand $57, a small dining table $103 and a bookshelf $72. Larger jobs use truck tiers, from $241 for a quarter truck to $732 for a full truck.
Will you donate my old furniture?
We try to donate usable items when local charities accept them, and we recycle whatever we can. Tell us which pieces are in good condition when you book.
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes, the order minimum is $100. Small items like a nightstand or an end table bill at the minimum on their own, so it pays to combine them.