Where Can I Donate or Haul Away My Stuff When Moving in the Bay Area?

One of the most common questions I get from clients preparing to sell or move is some version of: “What do I do with all this stuff?” After 25 years of helping families through real estate transitions across Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, San Jose, and the rest of Silicon Valley, I’ve seen it play out many times. You’ve lived in a home for years. Things accumulate. And when it’s finally time to move, figuring out what to keep, what to give away, and what just needs to go can feel like its own full-time job.

I put this guide together to make that part easier. Below you’ll find local donation centers — many of which will come to you — and hauling companies for the items that aren’t in good enough shape to donate. I hope it saves you some time.

Part 1: Donation Centers

If your items are in decent condition, start here. These organizations serve the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, and most offer pickup directly from your home. Donating is worth the extra step — your things go to people who need them, and many pickups come with a tax receipt.

1. The Salvation Army Silicon Valley

The Salvation Army is a strong first call for full-house cleanouts. They handle furniture, appliances, clothing, and household goods — the full range of what most people are moving out of. Items do need to be in resellable condition, and mattresses must be clean and pest-free. Pickup is free in many areas. For those in zip codes 94022, 94024, and 95120, there's a fee, but it's well worth it. Schedule online, and keep in mind it can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks from booking to pickup — so the sooner you call, the better.

Phone: 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825)

Visit satruck.org to schedule a pickup or find a drop-off location

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

FAQs

2. Habitat for Humanity ReStore (East Bay / Silicon Valley)

If you’re coming out of a remodel or have higher-quality pieces — cabinetry, lighting, appliances, building materials — ReStore is a great fit. They’re selective about condition (items need to be gently used and resale quality), but if your things qualify, this is one of the most impactful places to donate. Your items help fund affordable housing projects in the community.

They offer two pickup options, which I appreciate:

• Standard pickup: Items collected within 3–7 days for a $50 flat fee. That fee is tax-deductible, and items must meet their donation criteria.

• Priority pickup: Available as soon as 24 hours for a fee starting at $99. They’ll take all-condition items with this option, which is helpful when you’re in a pinch.

Phone: (800) 746-7090

Visit restore.habitatebsv.org to learn more

Schedule a pickup

Drop-off locations

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

3. Goodwill of Silicon Valley

Goodwill is the most flexible option on this list. For clothing, smaller furniture, kitchenware, and decor, they’re hard to beat — and their scheduling is genuinely fast. If you have up to five bags or boxes and can bring them to the driver, pickup can sometimes happen same-day or within an hour. Larger loads are usually scheduled within a day or two. Pickup is affordable and even free.

They don’t accept batteries, weapons, liquids, or hazardous chemicals. For most household moves, though, that’s rarely an issue.

Phone: (408) 998-5774

Visit goodwillsv.org to learn more

Schedule a pickup

Drop-off locations

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

4. Cancer Federation

The Cancer Federation offers free pickup for clothing, furniture, tools, housewares, and equipment. Their service runs on a scheduled route, so expect a few days to a week for pickup. Furniture needs to be in good, resellable condition, and one thing to know: they don’t pick up furniture from apartments or condominiums — only from houses.

Phone: 1-888-875-4066 | Email: [email protected]

Visit cftruck.com to schedule a pickup

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

5. American Cancer Society — Discovery Shops

The American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shops accept a broader range of items than you might expect — clothing, jewelry, artwork, antiques, furniture, and collectibles. Most locations take walk-in donations during store hours, which makes drop-offs easy. Pickup availability varies by location, so it’s worth calling your nearest shop directly.

There are five Discovery Shop locations close to the areas I serve:

• Los Altos — 243 Main Street | (650) 949-0505 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm

• Los Gatos — 150 W. Main Street | (408) 354-5917 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 9am–4pm

• Menlo Park — 748 Santa Cruz Ave. | (650) 325-8939 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm

• San Jose — 1103 Branham Lane | (408) 265-5535 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm

• Sunnyvale — 1659 Hollenbeck Road | (408) 737-7707 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm

National phone: 1-800-227-2345

Visit cancer.org/donate for more information

6. Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

The DAV offers free pickup for clothing, large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators), kitchen items, dishes, couches, and patio furniture. What I like about them is that you can choose your own pickup date when you schedule — they’re usually available within two to a few days. That kind of flexibility matters when you’re coordinating a move.

Phone: 800-238-8387

Visit davpickupservice.org to schedule a pickup

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

7. Bay Area Furniture Bank + Abode Services

This one is close to my heart. Bay Area Furniture Bank has partnered with Abode Services — one of the Bay Area’s leading homeless housing organizations — so the furniture you donate goes directly to families transitioning out of homelessness and into permanent housing. If your pieces are in good shape and you want to know exactly where they’re going, this is a meaningful choice.

They accept gently used furniture: dressers, tables, chairs, sofas up to seven feet, lamps, and similar items. They don’t take oversized pieces, entertainment centers, office furniture, or bedroom items. Pickup covers Santa Clara and San Mateo counties — specifically south of Highway 92 and north of Highway 152. The minimum service fee is $145.

Phone: (650) 969-2100 | Email: [email protected]

Visit bayareafurniturebank.org to learn more

Schedule a pickup

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

Part 2: Hauling Companies

Not everything is in good enough shape to donate, and that’s fine. These four companies will load up whatever’s left and haul it away. All of them offer free estimates — often over the phone or by sending a photo. The final price is confirmed on-site once they see the actual volume, and there’s no obligation to move forward after the estimate.

1. 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is the most well-known name in the business, and for good reason. If you want the fastest, most hassle-free experience, this is your call. They offer same-day service and handle furniture, appliances, renovation debris, televisions, and general household items. They won’t take chemicals, solvents, asbestos, or waste tanks.

Pricing is volume-based:

• Small load (up to ¼ truck): $107–$396

• Medium load (¼–½ truck): $396–$600

• Large load (½–full truck): $600–$1,099

Phone: (800) 468-5865

Visit 1800gotjunk.com to learn more

Pricing details

Full list of accepted and non-accepted items

2. Junk King

Junk King is a strong local choice, particularly if you care about where your items end up. They have a genuine focus on recycling and donating before anything goes to a landfill. They handle furniture, appliances, e-waste, mattresses, hot tubs, yard waste, and full space cleanouts. They won’t take hazardous waste, chemicals, flammable materials, asbestos, or biohazard waste. Pricing is volume-based and typically runs $200–$600+, often slightly lower than national brands.

Junk King Peninsula (zip codes 94022, 94024): (650) 356-8103 | Junk King San Jose: (408) 580-0685

Visit junk-king.com to learn more

Full list of residential services

3. Stars Junk Removal

Stars Junk Removal is a locally owned San Jose company with a strong reputation for responsiveness. Same-day service is available, and they’ve built a following for being easy to work with. They handle furniture, appliances, mattresses, yard waste, e-waste, and office cleanouts, and they have a green disposal commitment. They won’t take paint, solvents, chemicals, asbestos, or biohazard materials. Small jobs run around $150–$200; larger cleanouts are typically $300–$600+.

Phone: (408) 620-4250 or (408) 823-2302 | Email: [email protected]

Visit starsjunk.com to learn more

Full list of services

4. Atlas Hauling Service

Atlas is a family-owned local business serving the Peninsula and South Bay, and they’re often the most affordable option on this list. Beyond the standard furniture and appliances, they also handle carpet, tile, old tires, above-ground pools, hot tubs, and old lawn equipment — the kind of stuff that’s hard to get rid of otherwise. They won’t take paint, chemicals, oils, asbestos, or biohazard waste. Small loads run $100–$200; medium to large jobs are typically $250–$600+.

Phone: (408) 888-0445

Visit atlashaulingservice.com to learn more

Full list of services

A Note on Hazardous Materials

None of the organizations above — donation or hauling — accept hazardous materials. That means paint, chemicals, oils, solvents, and similar items need to go somewhere else. Santa Clara County runs Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) programs with drop-off locations and scheduled collection events. A quick search for “household hazardous waste” plus your county name will point you to the right place.

I hope this list takes one thing off your plate during what can be a hectic time. Getting a home ready to sell involves a lot of moving pieces, and the logistics of clearing out are real. If you’re thinking about selling and want to talk through the process, I’d love to connect.