Furniture Donor FAQs
Find quick answers about furniture pickup, what we accept, pickup fees, tax receipts, and what happens to your donated items.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is ready to help.
Scheduling & Logistics
Will you come inside my home to remove furniture?
Yes! Our professional team will come right into your home and safely remove the items from wherever they sit—whether that is the basement or the third floor. We just ask that you clear the path of obstacles before we arrive.
How should I prepare my furniture for pickup?
Please clear a safe, accessible path to the furniture before our team arrives. Let us know in advance about stairs, elevators, parking restrictions, or other access considerations.
What exact areas do you service for pickups?
We service the entire Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond. Our boundaries extend West to Hamilton, East to Whitby, and North to Newmarket. If you are outside this zone, check out the Furniture Bank Network to find a partner near you.
Do I need to be home for my pickup?
Yes, someone should be available at the scheduled pickup time to provide access to the furniture and answer any quick questions from our team. Before we arrive, please clear a safe path to the items and let us know about stairs, elevators, parking restrictions, or other access considerations.
Fees & Tax Receipts
Why does Furniture Bank charge a pickup fee?
We’re a charity, and we operate a furniture removal service similar to a traditional junk removal company. The difference is that it’s a social enterprise (which is a business with a not- for-profit goal instead of a for-profit one). The fee you pay helps cover the cost of running our trucks and employing a professional team. Just like any business, we need to cover our expenses, but every dollar supports our charitable mission of furnishing homes for families in need. Learn more about why we charge for pickups.
How do you calculate 'Fair Market Value' for my tax receipt?
Our values are based on what similar gently used items are currently selling for in local resale markets. For example, a standard coffee table might be valued at $100, while a loveseat could be $200. Only items in good, reusable condition qualify.
Do you charge HST on the removal fee?
No. Because we are a registered charitable service, we do not charge HST on our pickup fees.
When do I actually get my tax receipt?
Your official charitable tax receipt will be emailed to you the day after the pickup is completed or the drop-off is processed. You can use this when filing your next tax return.
What does the pickup fee cover?
Your fee is calculated by load size and covers the real, tangible costs of the pickup itself: our crew’s time and wages, vehicle maintenance and fuel, and the labor involved in sorting, cleaning, and prepping items once they reach our warehouse. It does not cover profit — Furniture Bank is a registered charity, and any surplus goes back into expanding our pickup capacity and serving more families.
Your Furniture's Impact
What actually happens to my donated furniture?
Once your furniture arrives at our warehouse, our team inspects it for condition and safety, then prepares it for re-homing. Most items are selected by a family within 72 hours. We never sell donated furniture — everything that meets our standards goes directly toward furnishing a home for someone transitioning out of crisis.
What happens if one of my items can't be re-homed?
We assess donated items for safety, condition, and whether they can be used in a family’s home. If an item cannot be re-homed, our team will handle it responsibly and work to keep as much as possible out of landfill. Please review What We Accept before booking to help make sure your donation is a good fit.
Will my furniture go directly to a family in need?
Yes. Furniture Bank works exclusively with case workers and social service agencies to match donated items with marginalized and displaced families rebuilding their lives — we’re not a retail operation, so nothing you donate is resold or put up for sale.
Still Have Questions?
Our donor support team is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM to help you plan your donation.
Donate Your Furniture Today
Continue exploring our donor guidelines:
Free Warehouse Drop-Off
Willing to do the heavy lifting yourself? Learn about our strict drop-off hours (Mon-Fri, 9 AM – 2 PM), walk-in rules for small items, and how to reserve a dock time for larger loads.
Pricing & Fees
We operate a social enterprise, not just a charity. Understand exactly how our volume-based removal fees (starting at $150) fund our trucks, our staff, and our year-round mission.
What We Accept
We only accept items that are safe, non-hazardous, and ready to be re-homed. Check our comprehensive list of what we can take and the dealbreakers that will result in a rejected donation.
