Goodwill is not one charity with one rulebook. Goodwill Industries International supports a network of about 150 local Goodwill organizations, each independently run, and each decides what its stores can sell, recycle, or safely handle. Goodwill’s own donation page says as much: what you can bring depends on the Goodwill organization you donate to.
The differences are real. Goodwill of San Francisco says it will sort and sell almost anything except hazardous materials. Goodwill of Northern New England publishes a long list of items it cannot accept. For this guide we read the official donation pages of 22 regional Goodwill organizations across the country in October 2026. The lists below describe what most Goodwill locations do, and they note where local rules split.
What Does Goodwill Accept?
Most Goodwill locations accept the following, provided items are clean, complete, and in a condition someone would buy:
| Category | Most Goodwill locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Accepted | All sizes and seasons; no stains, tears, or odors |
| Shoes | Accepted | Keep pairs together |
| Accessories and jewelry | Accepted | Handbags, belts, scarves, hats, jewelry |
| Housewares and kitchenware | Accepted | Dishes, glassware, cookware, utensils, décor |
| Linens | Accepted | Sheets, towels, blankets, curtains; bed pillows usually refused, decorative pillows often accepted |
| Small appliances | Accepted | Working, with cords and parts |
| Books, music, and movies | Accepted | Some locations decline encyclopedias or textbooks |
| Computers and small electronics | Accepted | Many take computer equipment in any condition through Dell Reconnect |
| Toys and games | Accepted at most | Complete and not recalled; some locations take only new, sealed toys |
| Sporting goods and bicycles | Accepted | Used helmets and large exercise machines are often refused |
| Tools | Accepted at most | Hand tools and small power tools; gas-powered equipment varies |
| Lamps and holiday décor | Accepted | Working; some locations ask you to remove light bulbs |
| Furniture | Varies widely | From full furniture acceptance to none at all; see below |
| Televisions | Varies | Often working flat-screens only; a few collect any TV for recycling |
| Vehicles | Varies | Many Goodwill organizations run car-donation programs, often through a partner |
Smaller household questions come up often. Where regional Goodwill organizations address them, they generally accept stuffed animals, sheets, and lamps that are clean and in good shape, and generally refuse bed pillows. Few publish a rule on socks and underwear; Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, for example, accepts them only new with tags.
What Does Goodwill Not Accept?
These are the items most Goodwill locations refuse. Hazardous materials, weapons, car seats, cribs, and recalled items were refused by every regional Goodwill we reviewed that mentions them.
| Item | Why it is usually refused | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Mattresses and box springs | Hygiene and pest risk | A mattress recycling program or a local furniture bank |
| Car seats | Crash damage can be invisible, and seats expire | Retailer trade-in events or car seat recycling |
| Cribs and most baby furniture | Safety standards; drop-side cribs are banned from sale | Manufacturer or local recycling |
| Recalled products | Selling a recalled product is illegal | Check cpsc.gov and follow the recall remedy |
| Hazardous materials | Paint, solvents, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, propane, fuel | Your county’s household hazardous waste program |
| Weapons and ammunition | Safety and legal restrictions | A local law enforcement buyback or a licensed dealer |
| Tube (CRT) televisions and monitors | No resale market; costly to recycle | Your local e-waste program, or a Goodwill that collects TVs for recycling |
| Large appliances (most locations) | Size, handling, and refrigerant disposal | Call ahead; Habitat for Humanity ReStore often takes working ones |
| Sleeper sofas and bed frames (many) | Weight, handling, and hygiene | Furniture bank or bulk pickup |
| Building materials, auto parts, and tires | Outside a thrift store’s range | Habitat for Humanity ReStore or a recycler |
| Broken, stained, wet, or incomplete items | Cannot be sold, and they create disposal costs | Repair, recycle, or discard |
If you have items Goodwill will not take, our comparison of where to donate at Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Habitat ReStore shows which charity fits each one.
Where Goodwill Rules Vary Most
These are the categories where regional Goodwill organizations disagree, or where a refusal surprises donors:
- Mattresses. Goodwill’s national donation page says many Goodwill organizations do not accept mattresses, and nearly every regional list we read refuses them. The rare exception proves the point: Goodwill of Orange County takes mattresses in good condition, but only at its Santa Ana donation center.
- Car seats. Refused by every regional Goodwill we read that mentions them. Many also refuse strollers and other baby gear. Check car seat expiration and crash history before you look for any other home for one.
- Recalled items. Refused everywhere, but the check is on you. A product can be recalled years after you bought it. Search cpsc.gov or recalls.gov by brand and model before you donate baby gear, toys, or small appliances.
- Large appliances. Most Goodwill organizations refuse refrigerators, washers, dryers, and stoves. A few take them: Goodwill of Orange County at its Santa Ana campus, and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona through home pickup. Air conditioners split too, with some locations taking window or portable units and many refusing them.
- Electronics. Computers are the most widely accepted electronics. Through Dell Reconnect, about 75 Goodwill organizations take computers, monitors, printers, phones and other electronics of any brand, in any condition, for recycling. Televisions are the least consistent. Goodwill of Colorado and Morgan Memorial Goodwill in Boston take no TVs. Others take working flat-screens only. A few collect TVs for recycling whether or not they work: Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region takes non-working TVs at most locations through E-Cycle Washington, and Goodwill of Orange County takes working and non-working TVs. Most other locations refuse old tube (CRT) TVs. Wipe your personal data before donating any device.
- Furniture. Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region and Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey currently take no furniture. Others accept only what one person can carry, or set a size or weight limit. Some take sofas and dining sets in good condition.
The rule of thumb: if an item is big, plugs in, or is made for a baby, check your local Goodwill’s donation page or call before you go. The Goodwill locator finds your nearest store and donation center.
What Can You Donate to Goodwill? A Quick Pre-Drop-Off Check
Before you pack the car, run each item through four questions:
- Would someone buy it as it is? Clean, dry, odor-free, with no major stains, tears, or chips.
- Is it complete? Puzzles with all their pieces, appliances with cords and lids, furniture with its hardware.
- Does it work? Test anything that plugs in or takes batteries.
- Is it on your local list? Especially furniture, TVs, large items, and baby gear.
An item that fails one of the first three checks is likely to be refused. If it is clothing or a household item, it also generally has little or no deductible value, because the IRS allows a deduction for donated clothing and household items only if they are in good used condition or better, apart from a narrow exception for a single item claimed above $500 with a qualified appraisal and Form 8283 Section B. An item that is in good shape but not on your local list is different: another qualified charity may take it, and it stays deductible there.
How Much Is Each Accepted Category Worth for Taxes?
What Goodwill accepts and what you can deduct are linked: the deduction is the item’s fair market value, the price a willing buyer would pay for it in its current condition, as defined in IRS Publication 561. For used goods that is roughly the thrift-store price, not what you paid.
The ranges below come from our category value guides and run from good to excellent condition. Each category links to the guide that prices individual items:
| Accepted category | Example values (good → excellent) | Value guide |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | T-shirt $2–$8 · women’s jeans $5–$16 · winter coat $10–$40 | Clothing donation value guide |
| Shoes | Casual shoes $5–$20 · dress shoes $7–$30 · boots $10–$45 | Clothing donation value guide |
| Accessories | Handbags $5–$50 · belts $2–$8 | Printable donation checklist |
| Housewares and kitchenware | Dish sets $10–$40 · pots and pans (set) $10–$50 | Printable donation checklist |
| Linens | Sheet sets $3–$15 · comforters $10–$40 · towels $1–$4 each | Printable donation checklist |
| Small appliances | Toaster $5–$15 · drip coffee maker $5–$20 · stand mixer $30–$200 | Appliances donation value guide |
| Books, music, and movies | Paperback $1–$5 · hardcover $3–$10 · DVD $1–$4 | Books and media donation value guide |
| Computers and electronics | Laptop (5+ years old) $30–$100 · tablet $30–$200 · 32–50” TV $50–$200 | Electronics donation value guide |
| Toys and games | Board game $3–$15 · complete loose LEGO set $5–$25 · small stuffed animal $1–$4 | Toys and baby items donation value guide |
| Sporting goods, bicycles, and tools | Hand tools $2–$15 each · power tools $15–$75 · bicycles $20–$150 | Printable donation checklist |
| Holiday and seasonal décor | Artificial Christmas tree $10–$50 · ornament sets $3–$15 | Printable donation checklist |
| Furniture (where accepted) | Dining chair $10–$35 · dresser $30–$120 · 3-seat sofa $50–$250 | Furniture donation value guide |
Where your local Goodwill does take large appliances, the appliances guide values a working full-size refrigerator at $75–$400 and a washing machine at $50–$300. If a Goodwill near you accepts baby gear, the toys and baby items guide prices it, and it covers the recall and expiration checks. A used mattress is valued at $0 in the furniture guide, which is one more reason not to haul one to a donation center.
To total a whole drop-off, use the free donation value calculator, which prices each item from the same category guides. For category ranges, why regional value lists differ, and a worked bag-of-clothes example, start with the Goodwill donation value guide.
Tax Paperwork for a Goodwill Donation
The tax rules depend on what you claim, not on which Goodwill you use:
- Receipt. Goodwill gives you a receipt at drop-off, but it does not fill in a dollar value. You list the items and assign their value. For any single donation of $250 or more, you need that written acknowledgment by the date you file your return, or the return’s due date (including extensions) if that comes first. Our Goodwill donation receipt guide covers what a valid receipt must include.
- Form 8283. If your noncash donations for the year total more than $500, you attach Form 8283 to your return. See the Form 8283 instructions.
- Itemizing. Donated goods only lower your federal tax if you itemize deductions. Starting in 2026, itemizers can deduct only the part of their charitable giving that exceeds 0.5% of their AGI. The deduction for people who do not itemize, which starts in 2026, covers cash gifts only. See what changed for charitable deductions in 2026.
- Vehicles. A donated car follows separate rules, usually limited to what the charity sells it for. The car donation tax deduction guide covers them.
Keep a list of what you donated, with each item’s condition and value, and a photo of anything worth more than a few dollars. DeductAble does this as you pack: AI identifies each item and matches it to a fair market value from our catalog that you review and approve, and the record is ready at tax time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Goodwill accept?
Most Goodwill locations accept clean, sellable clothing, shoes and accessories; housewares and kitchenware; linens; small appliances that work; books, music and movies; computers and small electronics; toys and games; sporting goods and bicycles; and small tools. Goodwill is a network of about 150 independently run local organizations, and each one sets its own list. Furniture, TVs and large items vary the most, so check your local Goodwill’s donation page, which the store locator at goodwill.org links to.
What does Goodwill not accept?
Most Goodwill locations do not accept mattresses or box springs, car seats, cribs, recalled products, hazardous materials such as paint, chemicals and propane, weapons and ammunition, old tube (CRT) televisions, building materials, or anything broken, stained or wet. Most also decline large appliances and bed pillows. A few local Goodwill organizations make exceptions, so confirm with yours.
What can you donate to Goodwill?
You can donate most household goods that someone could buy and use again: clothing and shoes, kitchenware, linens, small appliances that work, books and media, computers and phones, toys, sporting goods and small tools. Items should be clean, complete and in working order. Furniture, televisions, large items and baby gear are where local rules differ most, so check with your local Goodwill first.
Does Goodwill accept mattresses?
Usually not. Goodwill’s national site says many Goodwill organizations do not accept mattresses, and nearly every regional Goodwill that publishes a list refuses mattresses and box springs. Exceptions are rare: Goodwill of Orange County, for example, takes mattresses in good condition at one Santa Ana donation center. Our furniture guide values a used mattress at $0, so expect little or no deduction even where one is accepted.
Does Goodwill take car seats?
No. Every regional Goodwill we reviewed that mentions car seats refuses them. A car seat can be damaged in a crash without visible signs, and most expire 6 to 10 years after manufacture. Retailer trade-in events and local recycling programs are the usual alternatives.
Does Goodwill accept furniture?
It depends entirely on your local Goodwill. Some take sofas, tables and dressers in good condition. Others take only small pieces one person can carry, and some, including Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region and Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, take no furniture at all. Sleeper sofas, bed frames and anything broken, stained or worn are commonly refused.
Does Goodwill accept large appliances like refrigerators and washers?
Most Goodwill locations do not. A few do: Goodwill of Orange County takes refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers at its Santa Ana campus, and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona lists large appliances for home pickup. Call before you haul one. Where accepted, our appliance guide values a working full-size refrigerator at $75 to $400 and a washing machine at $50 to $300.
Does Goodwill take electronics, even broken ones?
Often, yes. Through the Dell Reconnect program, about 75 Goodwill organizations take computers and computer equipment of any brand in any condition for recycling. Televisions are less consistent: many locations take only working flat-screen TVs and refuse old tube (CRT) sets; some, such as Goodwill of Colorado, take no TVs at all; and a few, such as Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region through E-Cycle Washington, collect non-working TVs for recycling. A device that does not work generally has little or no deductible value.
Does Goodwill ever reject donations?
Yes. Staff can turn away items that are broken, dirty, wet, recalled, unsafe, or not on the local acceptance list. If an item is refused, do not claim it as a donation. The IRS generally allows a deduction for donated clothing and household items only if they are in good used condition or better, with a narrow exception for a single item claimed above $500 with a qualified appraisal and Form 8283 Section B.
How much is my Goodwill donation worth for taxes?
You can deduct each item’s fair market value, roughly what it would sell for in a thrift store today, not what you paid. Typical ranges from good to excellent condition are $2 to $8 for a T-shirt, $5 to $20 for casual shoes, $30 to $120 for a dresser and $5 to $15 for a toaster. Use the donation value calculator or our category value guides to price each item. Donated goods only lower your federal tax if you itemize, and starting in 2026 only giving above 0.5% of your AGI counts.
Does Goodwill give you a receipt for donations?
Yes, Goodwill donation centers give you a receipt when you drop off goods, but it does not list a dollar value. You list the items and assign their fair market value yourself. For any single donation of $250 or more, you need that written acknowledgment by the date you file your return, or the return’s due date (including extensions) if that comes first.
