Direct answer
A mattress-only collection in London typically costs about £40 to £55 for a single and £60 to £85 for a double or king, including the disposal charge. Those are indicative ranges, not a fixed rate card: houseclearance.co publishes the disposal surcharge on /prices/ (£25–£40 single, £45–£65 double or king), and a licensed carrier quotes the real price against your access, the number of mattresses and anything else being removed. Councils and retailers also offer routes, covered below.
Contents
- What mattress removal costs in London
- Why mattresses carry a disposal charge
- Council, retailer, charity or private carrier
- Preparing a mattress for collection
- Licences and your duty of care
- A mattress on its own or part of a bigger job
- How the process works, start to finish
- Frequently asked questions
What mattress removal costs in London
Indicative ranges, not a rate card: the final figure is always a carrier quote.
A mattress on its own is one of the cheapest bulky items to have collected, but it is also one that carries a disposal charge, because mattresses are bulky, awkward to recycle and charged for at disposal sites. The ranges below are indicative for a mattress-only collection in London. They include the disposal charge, and they are the sort of figures you can expect to see when you post a job and compare quotes.
Our prices page lists the disposal surcharge separately. It is the part of the collection figure that pays for disposal.
| Mattress | Typical mattress-only collection | Disposal surcharge within that (from /prices/) |
|---|---|---|
| Single (about 90 × 190 cm) | £40 – £55 | £25 – £40 |
| Double / king (about 135 to 150 cm wide) | £60 – £85 | £45 – £65 |
These are indicative ranges for planning, not a promise of a price. Several things move the quote up or down:
- Number of mattresses. A second mattress in the same visit usually costs less than a separate trip, because the travel and loading time is shared.
- Size. Double, king and super-king mattresses are heavier and harder to turn on stairs than a single.
- Access. A ground-floor flat with parking outside is quicker than a fourth-floor walk-up with no lift. Say how many flights and how far the vehicle will be.
- Condition. A wet, mouldy or infested mattress is heavier and harder to handle. Tell the carrier in advance so the quote is realistic.
- What else is going. A mattress added to a larger collection is often cheaper per item than a mattress-only trip. See house clearance pricing by volume for how van loads are priced.
- Timing. Same-day or short-notice collection can cost more than booking a few days ahead.
Why mattresses carry a disposal charge
Bulk, recycling effort and the sites that take them.
A mattress takes up a lot of room in a van for its weight, and it is made of foam, springs, fabric and sometimes several other materials stitched together. Separating those for recycling takes time, and disposal sites charge for accepting mattresses. Our pricing page explains that environmental surcharges apply to mattresses, to upholstered furniture and to refrigeration equipment, and that carriers factor them into their quotes.
That is why a free-looking collection can still end up costing something, and why a very low quote for a mattress deserves a question about where it is going. A responsible carrier should be able to tell you which licensed site takes the waste and give you a waste transfer note if you ask. The waste transfer notes guide explains what that paperwork is.
Council, retailer, charity or private carrier
Four routes for an old mattress and what each usually involves.
- Council bulky waste collection. Many London councils collect mattresses as bulky items for a fee, often with a booking window of a week or more and the item left outside at an agreed time. Fees and rules are set by each council, so check yours. The council bulky waste vs private clearance guide compares the two.
- Retailer take-back. When you buy a new mattress, many retailers offer to take the old one away when they deliver. Ask when you order, because it is often cheaper or included, but terms vary and some charge.
- Charities. Charity shops generally do not accept used mattresses for hygiene reasons, so do not assume a donation will work. Some furniture reuse schemes may take a mattress in very good condition, so ask first. See our furniture donation guide.
- Private carrier. A licensed waste carrier collects from inside the property and often on a day you choose, which matters if the mattress is upstairs or you have a deadline. This is usually the most convenient route and the one this guide prices.
If you are trying to avoid paying at all, our guide to disposing of a mattress for free covers the realistic options and their limits.
Preparing a mattress for collection
A few small steps make the visit quicker and the quote accurate.
Before you post the job
- Measure or state the size: single, double, king or super-king.
- Say how many mattresses, and whether there are bed bases or frames as well. A divan base is a separate bulky item, and our bed frame removal guide covers frames.
- Note the floor, whether there is a lift, and how close the vehicle can stop.
- Be honest about condition. If the mattress is wet or has had a pest problem, say so.
On the day
- Wrapping a mattress in a plastic mattress bag or covering keeps it clean on the stairs and is sensible if there has been a pest problem. Ask the carrier whether they supply one.
- Move it to the hallway or ground floor if you can do so safely, which can shorten the visit.
- Do not leave a mattress on the pavement unless a council has told you to for a booked collection. Leaving it out is fly-tipping, and the householder can be held responsible. See our fly-tipping penalties guide.
Our guide to preparing bulky items for collection has a fuller checklist that applies to mattresses too.
Licences and your duty of care
Why it matters who takes the mattress away.
In England, anyone who arranges for household waste to be taken away has a duty of care to check that the person collecting it is a registered waste carrier. If an unlicensed person dumps your mattress, the legal comeback can reach you as the householder. Before you accept a quote, ask for the carrier's waste carrier registration details and check them on the government register.
Our waste carrier licence page explains what the platform checks and what you can ask yourself, and the householder duty of care guide covers the law in plain English. For what happens to waste afterwards, see responsible disposal.
A mattress on its own or part of a bigger job
When it pays to bundle.
If the mattress is part of a wider clear-out, such as a bedroom, a rented flat at the end of a tenancy or a few bulky items, a single collection is usually better value than separate trips. Furniture such as a wardrobe or sofa can go in the same load, and our furniture and bulky item removal cost guide explains how those items are priced.
For a larger job, compare a man and van against a clearance quote, and see the furniture and bulky item removal service or the full house clearance service if you are emptying the whole property. If it is a tenancy ending, the end of tenancy clearance cost guide is the better starting point.
How the process works, start to finish
Three steps from description to collection.
Describe the job
List the mattress sizes and anything else going, with your postcode and floor.
Add access and timing
Mention parking, lifts and your preferred day.
Get a carrier quote
Licensed carriers quote against the real scope. Compare the offers and choose, with no obligation to accept. Ask what is included, including the disposal charge.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have a mattress removed in London?
Indicatively, around £40 to £55 for a single and £60 to £85 for a double or king when collected on its own, including the disposal charge. The real price is the quote you receive for your address and access.
Why do I have to pay to get rid of a mattress?
Mattresses are bulky and hard to recycle, and disposal sites charge for them. Collectors pass that on, which is why our prices page lists a mattress disposal surcharge.
Can I put a mattress out for the council?
Many London councils collect mattresses as bulky waste for a fee, usually by booking. Fees, limits and collection rules differ, so check your own council's website.
Will a charity take my old mattress?
Generally not. Charity shops usually refuse used mattresses for hygiene reasons. A reuse scheme may take one in very good condition, so ask before you travel.
What if my mattress has bed bugs?
Tell the carrier when you post the job, and wrap the mattress in a sealed cover if you can. It lets them plan and price properly rather than finding out on the day.
Is it cheaper to collect several mattresses at once?
Usually per mattress, yes, because travel and loading time is shared. Post all the items together so the quote covers the full scope.
Ready to see your price?
Post your mattress removal job for licensed carriers to quote on.
