Furniture Donation Pickup in Houston: Who Comes to You
Date Published
Three Houston charities offer free home pickup for furniture and household goods: Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore in the South Loop, the Salvation Army (schedule online by zip code via SA Truck), and Vietnam Veterans of America via ClothingDonations.org. A fourth option, Goodwill Houston, accepts furniture at more than 80 drop-off locations but does not offer free home pickup. All four programs are 501(c)(3) nonprofits and issue tax receipts.
The piece of this that surprises most people: when you donate a sofa to Houston Habitat ReStore, proceeds from its resale fund construction of affordable homes in Houston. Every couch sold at the ReStore goes directly toward Habitat construction costs. You are not just decluttering — you are buying lumber.
How we chose
We looked for organizations that publish pickup scheduling on their own official website, explicitly accept furniture, and offer pickup at no charge to the donor. We excluded fee-based services — Goodwill Houston's home pickup via the ReSupply platform costs money and is not free. We noted when service area needed a phone call to confirm. Every organization on this list was verified as operating as of October 2026.
Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore
South Loop · 6161 S. Loop East, Houston, TX 77087 · 713-643-1100 · Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm
The Houston Habitat ReStore is a home improvement and donation center that resells donated furniture, appliances, and building materials at a fraction of retail. Proceeds go directly to Houston Habitat's affordable housing programs, which have helped build and repair homes across greater Houston for decades.
What to do: Request a pickup at houstonhabitat.org/restore/donate using their online form (routes through the ReSupply platform). Select a date, then stage your items outside your home or in an accessible garage. Drivers cannot enter your residence.
What they accept: Clean, undamaged furniture with no pet hair, stains, or tears. Full beds accepted with headboard, footboard, and side rails. Electric appliances under 10 years old and in working condition (minimum of 3 units for a pickup). Hand and power tools in working condition. Computers and TVs under 5 years old. Building materials, cabinets, and flooring (see their website for quantity minimums on flooring).
What they do not accept: Rugs, used carpet, gas appliances, items from flooded structures (mold risk — especially relevant post-Harvey), granite countertops, or any item that requires in-home retrieval.
Tax receipt: Request at time of pickup or drop-off. Contact restore@houstonhabitat.org with questions.
Salvation Army
Multiple Houston-area locations · Free pickup: [satruck.org](https://satruck.org) or 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825)
The Salvation Army's SA Truck program is the most widely available free furniture pickup service in Houston. Enter your zip code at satruck.org, select an available pickup date from the calendar, add your address and item list, and a truck comes to your door. The program covers the greater Houston metro area.
The Salvation Army accepts more furniture categories than most other programs on this list — including mattresses, which many charities decline.
What to do: Go to satruck.org, enter your Houston zip code, choose a date, confirm your address and items. You can track, modify, or cancel at dss.satruck.org/MyPickups or by calling 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
What they accept: Unbroken furniture: sofas, loveseats, beds (full, queen, and king), mattresses, chairs, coffee tables, end tables, desks, dining room sets, cabinets. Household goods: lamps, bedding, bakeware, dishes, pots and pans.
What they do not accept: Built-in appliances (ovens, stoves, dishwashers, microwaves), items with mechanical damage, paint or chemicals of any kind. Policies vary slightly by local area — call 1-800-SA-TRUCK to confirm specific items before scheduling.
Tax receipt: Left at your door on pickup day.
Vietnam Veterans of America — ClothingDonations.org
Texas-wide pickup · [clothingdonations.org](https://clothingdonations.org) · 888-518-VETS (8387)
ClothingDonations.org is a service of Vietnam Veterans of America, a national veterans organization. The program runs in Texas and accepts a wide range of household goods, including furniture. The process is straightforward: schedule online or by phone, set items outside your home in a visible location, and the truck collects them rain or shine and leaves a tax receipt.
Important: Texas is not currently listed on the ClothingDonations.org state directory. Call 888-518-VETS before scheduling to confirm Houston-area service.
What to do: Visit clothingdonations.org and schedule online, or call 888-518-VETS. Place items outside in a clearly visible spot on the scheduled pickup day.
What they accept: Small furniture, clothing, shoes, baby items, small appliances, kitchenware, and electronics. VVA describes their acceptance as covering almost any household item. For very large or heavy pieces — sectionals, bedroom sets — the Salvation Army is a better fit.
Tax receipt: Left with your pickup. Donations support VVA's veteran programs and are tax-deductible.
Goodwill Houston — drop-off alternative
80+ locations in greater Houston · goodwillhouston.org · 713-692-6221 · HQ: 1140 West Loop North, Houston, TX 77055
Goodwill Houston has more drop-off locations than any other organization on this list. If you can move items yourself and want the most convenient option by proximity, a Goodwill donation center is likely within a few miles of you.
Home pickup is available through Goodwill Houston, but it is handled by a third-party service for a fee — it is not free. For free removal, use the Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore instead.
What they accept at drop-off: Furniture, clothing, books, electronics, housewares, sporting goods. Find the nearest location using the store locator at goodwillhouston.org.
What they do not accept: Mattresses and box springs, large appliances (air conditioners, water heaters), infant cribs and car seats, tube televisions, hazardous materials.
What furniture will Houston charities not take
Certain categories come up repeatedly across all programs:
- Items with pet hair, stains, tears, or structural damage (all programs)
- Gas appliances (all programs)
- Items from flooded structures — mold risk; especially important in Houston post-Harvey (Habitat ReStore explicitly)
- Mattresses and box springs (Habitat ReStore and Goodwill; Salvation Army does accept them)
- Rugs and used carpet (Habitat ReStore and Goodwill)
- Built-in kitchen appliances (Salvation Army)
- Infant cribs and car seats (Goodwill; safety-recall risk)
If items are too worn for donation, the City of Houston's heavy trash pickup program handles large items curbside. Schedule at houstontx.gov. No tax receipt is issued for that route.
Tax receipt basics
All four programs are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, so your donation is tax-deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A.
- You deduct fair market value, not original cost. A sofa you paid $1,200 for may have a current fair market value of $100-$250. The Salvation Army publishes a donation value guide on its website as a general reference.
- Single items over $500: Attach IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions) to your return.
- Single items over $5,000: A qualified appraisal is generally required.
- Keep every receipt. It should include the organization name, date, and item description.
- The authoritative guide is IRS Publication 526, free at irs.gov.
How to prepare items for pickup
- Clean thoroughly. Wipe down surfaces, remove pet hair, and vacuum upholstered pieces. An item that looks neglected may be refused even if the structure is sound.
- Test moving parts. Drawer slides, recliner mechanisms, cabinet hinges. Non-functional items are typically declined.
- Stage everything outside — at the curb or in an accessible garage — before the truck arrives. No program sends drivers into your home.
- Take photos of each item before pickup. Useful for tax documentation.
- Note the items if you live on a shared driveway or in a complex, so the driver picks up the right pile.
Save this: pickup-day checklist
- Confirmed pickup date and time
- Items cleaned (pet hair removed, surfaces wiped)
- Everything staged outside or in the garage
- Photographed items for personal records
- Estimated fair market value noted for each piece
- Tax receipt confirmed for pickup day
- Form 8283 set aside if any single item is likely worth more than $500
Finding more Houston-area programs
For specialty items, very large volumes, or a short timeline these three pickup programs cannot cover:
- 2-1-1 Texas (dial 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org): A free statewide referral line run by Texas Health and Human Services. Search for "furniture donation" or "household goods" with your Houston address to find smaller community programs active in your area.
- Pick Up My Donation (pickupmydonation.com): Connects donors with local nonprofits for free furniture pickup. Enter your Houston zip code to see which charities are currently active in your neighborhood.
If you are in the middle of a move, our moving to Houston guide covers logistics by neighborhood and budget. For understanding the overall cost of living in Houston, that guide covers utilities, housing, and typical household expenses. If you want to give your time rather than furniture, see our volunteer opportunities in Houston guide.
Last verified: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I schedule a free furniture pickup in Houston?
The two most straightforward options are the Salvation Army (go to satruck.org, enter your Houston zip code, and select an available date) and Houston Habitat for Humanity ReStore (houstonhabitat.org/restore/donate, then the Request a Pickup link). Vietnam Veterans of America also offers pickup in Texas through clothingdonations.org or 888-518-VETS; call to confirm Houston-area service in your specific zip code.
Does the Salvation Army pick up furniture in Houston?
Yes. The Salvation Army's SA Truck program offers free furniture pickup in the Houston metro area. Schedule at satruck.org by entering your zip code, or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825). They accept sofas, beds, mattresses, chairs, dining sets, and most unbroken household furniture.
Do I need to be home for the furniture pickup?
No. All three free-pickup programs — Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, and Vietnam Veterans of America via ClothingDonations.org — ask only that items be staged outside your home or in an accessible garage before the truck arrives. You do not need to be present.
How do I get a tax receipt for donated furniture in Houston?
All four organizations listed here are 501(c)(3) nonprofits and issue tax receipts. The Salvation Army and VVA/ClothingDonations.org leave a receipt with the pickup. Houston Habitat ReStore provides one upon request. You deduct the fair market value of items, not their original cost. If any single donated item is worth more than $500, attach IRS Form 8283 to your return.
What furniture won't Houston charities accept for pickup?
Common refusals across all programs: items with pet hair, stains, or structural damage; gas appliances; items from flooded structures; and rugs or used carpet. Habitat ReStore and Goodwill do not accept mattresses; the Salvation Army does. For items that don't qualify, the City of Houston's heavy trash program (schedule at houstontx.gov) handles large items curbside at no charge, though no tax receipt is issued.