8 Pieces of Furniture Thrift Stores Won't Accept, According to the Pros

Donating unwanted furniture to a thrift store is a more eco-friendly way to declutter items in your home, instead of throwing them away. But even thrift stores, which typically accept a wide range of items, have a limit on the types of furniture they will take. Remember, if you’re considering donating something, it’s always good to call your local thrift store first to see if they will accept it. To save you some time, we spoke with vintage and thrift shop owners and volunteers to learn the types of furniture a thrift store will generally pass on.

Oversized Furniture

The most important factor thrift stores consider when deciding what to accept is the size of the item. “A shop can make far more money for their cause from 10 square feet of clothing on a rack than from 10 square feet of sofa or even a huge wooden vintage hutch,” says Cynthia Traxler, a thrift store volunteer and founder of the site Review-Reuse-Repair.com.

Traxler notes that in her shop, she accepts smaller wooden furniture or taller furniture that’s not too wide and doesn’t take up too much floor space. “We do carry some furniture because our shoppers want to pick up nice accessory furniture, but we have to limit donations to what we can fit in the furniture area,” she says.

Mattresses

Most thrift stores will not take mattresses, says Jennifer Prince, owner of its FOUND vintage. Besides being difficult to move and taking up too much floor space, used mattresses can be stained and may harbor unwanted guests, such as critters and bugs. “Unless you have something brand new, such as a sealed bed-in-a-box, it's best to list it on Facebook Marketplace or give it away for free,” says Prince.

Furniture With Glass

It’s not uncommon to inherit furniture with glass—think glass curio cabinets, glass-top tables, or even a dining room hutch. But you’ll want to call your local thrift store first before bringing it over. “There is significant liability in moving these pieces around, and your store may not have the capacity, space, or staff to do so,” Prince says.

Stained Upholstery Pieces

Of course, many stains can be cleaned, but most people won’t purchase stained upholstered furniture. If it’s lightly stained or scuffed, Prince notes that it may be accepted, but heavier stains will be passed over.  “Stains are a bit tricky, and if you have a couch or wingback chair that is badly stained, it's best to give it away rather than make a questionable piece the thrift store's problem,” Prince says.

Pianos

Do you have a piano taking up space in your home? Your local thrift store probably doesn’t want it either. They’re large, heavy, and there isn’t much demand for something like a piano, so they may sit in the store for a bit, says Prince. “While some stores may want a piano, I would say it's rare, as I see them listed for free on Facebook Marketplace quite often,” she says.

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Armoires

Armoires, also known as wardrobes, were fairly common in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries to store clothes before closets became a mainstream feature in homes. They were also used for storing linens or tools, and later on, could even be used to house a TV. But with the advent of modern storage systems (and wall-mounted TVs), armoires have gone by the wayside — and thrift stores don’t want them, either.

​“We can’t even give them away,” says Jennifer Johnson, owner of True Fashionistas. “No one uses them anymore. They are too large to fit anywhere. Most people hang their TVs on walls nowadays and store their clothing in their closet, so there is no need for the large clunky armoire anymore.”

Entertainment Centers

When was the last time you saw a TV snugly fit inside an entertainment center, surrounded by picture frames or knick-knacks? With flat-screen TVs that can be mounted on a wall, these entertainment centers have fallen out of favor, and there are other ways to display your photo collection, such as on shelving or on console tables. Your local thrift will likely not take these clunky relics of the past. “Basically, they are obsolete,” says Johnson.

Damaged Furniture

If a piece of furniture is damaged—say, an outdoor wooden rocking chair with termite damage—or is just downright dirty, a store will not accept it. “A thrift customer is generally not going to purchase an item that they have to alter or clean,” says Johnson. “They also have no idea as to whether or not the item can be repaired, so they would not purchase it.”