03 May, 2026

Goodwill vs Salvation Army vs Habitat ReStore: What to Donate Where

TL;DR: For clothing and household items, Goodwill and the Salvation Army are both solid choices — the Salvation Army also accepts large appliances and offers free pickup. For building materials, tools, and working appliances, Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the only option. Car seats, mattresses, recalled items, and hazardous materials are refused by all three.

Best Charity by Item Type

Item	Best Option	Notes
Clothing & shoes	Goodwill or Salvation Army	Both accept; Goodwill typically has more drop-off locations
Furniture (small pieces)	Goodwill or Salvation Army	Must be free of major tears or stains
Furniture (large pieces)	Salvation Army	Free pickup in many areas via 1-800-SA-TRUCK
Large appliances (working)	Salvation Army or Habitat ReStore	Call ahead; Salvation Army can pick up
Small appliances	Goodwill or Salvation Army	Must be in working condition at most locations
Building materials & lumber	Habitat ReStore only	No other major charity accepts these
Tools (hand and power)	Habitat ReStore or Salvation Army	ReStore preferred for larger tool collections
Electronics (computers, phones)	Goodwill (most locations)	Flat-screen TVs accepted; older tube TVs typically not
Books	Goodwill	Salvation Army also accepts; no encyclopedias
Musical instruments	Salvation Army or Goodwill	Salvation Army music programs actively use instruments
Vehicles (cars, trucks)	Salvation Army	Issues IRS Form 1098-C required for deductions over $500
Toys and games	Goodwill or Salvation Army	No recalled items; check CPSC list at cpsc.gov
Jewelry and accessories	Goodwill or Salvation Army	High-value items may qualify for a professional appraisal
Sporting goods	Goodwill	Salvation Army also accepts most items
Mattresses	None (major charities)	Try local furniture banks or mattress recycling programs
Car seats	None	Safety concern; no major charity accepts these
Paint and chemicals	None	Hazardous materials; use local HHW disposal programs

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill operates more than 3,300 retail stores across the United States and Canada through a network of independent local chapters. Because each chapter is independently operated, acceptance policies can vary by location — the list below reflects the most common nationwide policies, but always call your local store to confirm.

What Goodwill Accepts

Clothing, shoes, and accessories (all sizes and seasons)
Furniture — sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bookshelves (must be structurally sound and free of major tears, stains, or odors)
Household items — dishes, cookware, linens, lamps, small appliances in working condition
Electronics — flat-screen TVs, computers, phones, gaming consoles, audio equipment
Books (excluding encyclopedias and outdated reference sets)
Toys and games (no recalled items; must have all major pieces)
Sporting goods
Jewelry and accessories
Musical instruments
Seasonal items and holiday décor

What Goodwill Does NOT Accept

Large appliances — refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers (most locations)
Mattresses and box springs — refused at all locations due to hygiene concerns
Car seats and booster seats — safety concern; may have been in an accident
Drop-side cribs — banned by CPSC since 2011; not accepted anywhere
Hazardous materials — paint, solvents, chemicals, pesticides, propane tanks
Recalled items — any product on the CPSC recall list
Tube televisions — CRT and projection TVs not accepted at most locations
Encyclopedias — no market demand; typically not accepted
VHS and cassette tapes — most locations no longer accept these
Exercise equipment with moving parts — treadmills, ellipticals (varies by location; call first)
Upholstered furniture with visible tears, stains, or structural damage

Goodwill Tax Documentation

Goodwill is a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible at fair market value. Goodwill staff will provide a written receipt at the time of donation listing a general description of items. The receipt does not assign dollar values — that is the donor’s responsibility. For any single donation of $250 or more, this written acknowledgment is required by IRS rules. Bring a detailed inventory of your items for your own records.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States, operating thrift stores and social service programs in thousands of communities. The Salvation Army generally has a broader acceptance policy than Goodwill and is often the better choice for large, heavy items because of its free pickup service.

What the Salvation Army Accepts

Clothing, shoes, and accessories
Furniture — including large sectional sofas, dining sets, bedroom furniture
Large appliances — refrigerators, washing machines, dryers (call first to confirm working condition requirement)
Small appliances in working condition
Electronics — televisions, stereos, computers
Tools — both hand tools and power tools
Musical instruments
Household items — dishes, cookware, linens, décor
Books and media
Vehicles — cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs (issues IRS Form 1098-C)
Sporting goods

What the Salvation Army Does NOT Accept

Mattresses and box springs — most locations do not accept
Car seats — safety concern; not accepted
Drop-side cribs — CPSC-banned; not accepted
Recalled items — check cpsc.gov before donating
Hazardous materials — paint, chemicals, propane tanks, pesticides
Items in poor condition — heavily damaged, broken, or non-functional items

Free Pickup Service

The Salvation Army offers free large-item pickup in many U.S. communities. Schedule a pickup at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825). Pickup is subject to availability in your area and typically requires 2–5 days advance notice. Items must be accessible (ground floor or items that can be carried to a truck) and in good, usable condition.

Salvation Army Tax Documentation

The Salvation Army is a 501(c)(3) organization. Staff provide itemized receipts at drop-off. For vehicle donations, the Salvation Army issues IRS Form 1098-C, which is required to claim a deduction over $500 for a vehicle. Your deduction for a donated vehicle is generally limited to the gross proceeds from the sale of the vehicle by the charity.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations are nonprofit home improvement stores that sell donated building materials, appliances, and furniture to the public at discounted prices. Proceeds fund Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing construction programs. ReStore is the only major national charity that accepts building materials and home-improvement supplies — making it the correct destination for items that Goodwill and the Salvation Army will not take.

What Habitat ReStore Accepts

Building materials — lumber, drywall, flooring (hardwood, tile, laminate), roofing materials
Cabinets and countertops — kitchen and bathroom cabinets, countertops in good condition
Doors and windows — interior and exterior doors, windows, sliding glass doors
Plumbing fixtures — sinks, faucets, toilets, bathtubs (in good condition)
Lighting fixtures
Working appliances — refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves (must be in working order)
Furniture — sofas, chairs, tables, dressers (in good condition)
Tools — hand tools, power tools, garden tools
Home décor — artwork, mirrors, rugs, curtains

What Habitat ReStore Does NOT Accept

Clothing and shoes — not accepted at any ReStore location
Mattresses — not accepted
Consumer electronics — most locations do not accept TVs, computers, or phones
Hazardous materials — paint, stains, chemicals (check for local paint recycling programs)
Items not in working or usable condition — ReStore’s working-condition requirement is more strictly enforced than at Goodwill or the Salvation Army; a broken appliance or water-damaged lumber will be declined
Car seats and cribs

Working Condition Requirement

ReStore’s standard is stricter than most thrift charities. All donated items must be in working order or otherwise immediately usable. A non-functional appliance, a broken cabinet, or lumber with significant rot will not be accepted. Test appliances before bringing them. ReStore staff may inspect items at drop-off and decline donations that don’t meet the condition standard.

Habitat ReStore Tax Documentation

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donors receive a receipt documenting the donation for tax purposes. As with other non-cash donations, the donor is responsible for determining and documenting fair market value. Items with a claimed value over $500 require IRS Form 8283; items over $5,000 require a qualified appraisal.

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) operates thrift stores and social service programs primarily in the Midwest, South, and West. SVdP accepts clothing, furniture, household items, electronics, and vehicles — with an acceptance policy similar to the Salvation Army. Free furniture pickup is available in many SVdP service areas. SVdP is particularly strong in cities where Salvation Army coverage is limited. Find a local conference at svdpusa.org.

What No Major Charity Will Accept

Regardless of which charity you choose, the following categories are universally rejected by Goodwill, the Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, and virtually every other donation organization:

Item	Reason
Recalled products	Safety liability; check cpsc.gov before donating anything
Car seats and booster seats	May have been in an accident; internal damage is invisible
Drop-side cribs	CPSC banned drop-side crib manufacture and sale in 2011
Mattresses and box springs	Bedbug risk and hygiene concerns
Hazardous materials	Paint, solvents, pesticides, propane, pool chemicals
Broken or non-functional items	Creates disposal cost for the charity
Items without resale value	Encyclopedias (pre-2000), VHS tapes, obsolete media

For hazardous household materials (paint, chemicals), use your municipality’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program — most counties offer free drop-off days. For car seats, check for manufacturer take-back programs or retailer recycling events (Target and Walmart have periodically run car seat trade-in events).

How to Document Donations for Taxes

Donating to any of these charities can reduce your tax liability — but only if you document properly.

The $250 rule: For any single donation of $250 or more (cash or non-cash), the IRS requires a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity before you file your return. The receipt must include the charity’s name, the date, a description of items donated, and a statement that you received no goods or services in return (or the value of any benefit you did receive). See IRS Publication 526 for the full requirements.

Fair market value: The charity’s receipt does not assign a dollar value to donated goods — that’s your responsibility. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay for the item in its current condition at a thrift store. Condition matters: a good-condition shirt and a worn-condition shirt have different values. The IRS requires items to be in good used condition or better to be deductible.

Form 8283: If your total non-cash charitable donations for the year exceed $500, you must file IRS Form 8283 with your tax return. Items or groups of similar items valued over $5,000 require a qualified appraisal.

Keeping records: Photograph your donations before drop-off and keep a detailed inventory with item descriptions, conditions, and estimated values. A dedicated donation tracking app makes this significantly easier — DeductAble lets you photograph items, log donations to specific charities, auto-suggests IRS-consistent fair market values, and generates a complete report at tax time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between donating to Goodwill vs the Salvation Army?

Goodwill and the Salvation Army both accept clothing, shoes, furniture, and household items, but the Salvation Army has a broader acceptance policy — it accepts large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers) at most locations and offers free large-item pickup in many areas by calling 1-800-SA-TRUCK. Goodwill typically declines large appliances and upholstered furniture with visible tears or stains. For vehicles, the Salvation Army issues IRS Form 1098-C directly; Goodwill store locations do not accept vehicle drop-offs, though Goodwill operates a separate vehicle donation program (Goodwill Car Donations) that functions independently from its retail stores. Both are 501(c)(3) organizations that provide written receipts for tax purposes.

Does Goodwill accept large appliances?

Most Goodwill locations do not accept large appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, or dishwashers. Policies vary by local chapter, so it is worth calling your nearest Goodwill store before bringing large items. For large appliances in working condition, the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity ReStore are generally better options — the Salvation Army can pick them up for free in many areas, and Habitat ReStore sells working appliances to fund affordable housing construction.

Does the Salvation Army pick up furniture for free?

Yes — the Salvation Army offers free large-item pickup in many areas of the United States. You can schedule a pickup online at satruck.org or by calling 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825). Pickup availability depends on your location and the current demand in your area. Items must be in good, usable condition; the Salvation Army may decline items that are broken, heavily stained, or structurally unsound. Schedule pickups at least a few days in advance, as slots fill quickly in urban areas.

What does Habitat for Humanity ReStore accept?

Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations accept furniture, working appliances, building materials (lumber, drywall, flooring, cabinets, doors, windows), plumbing fixtures, lighting, tools, and home décor. ReStore is the only major donation charity that accepts building materials and home-improvement supplies. All items must be in working or usable condition — this requirement is more strictly enforced than at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. ReStore does not accept clothing, shoes, mattresses, or most consumer electronics. Find your nearest location at habitat.org/restores.

Where should I donate building materials and lumber?

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the only major nationwide charity that accepts building materials including lumber, drywall, flooring, cabinets, doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, and lighting. Goodwill and the Salvation Army do not accept building materials. ReStore sells these items at steep discounts to the public, with proceeds funding Habitat for Humanity affordable housing construction. All donated materials must be in usable condition. Find a ReStore drop-off location at habitat.org/restores.

Will any charity accept a mattress donation?

Most major charities — including Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore — do not accept mattress donations due to hygiene concerns and bedbug risk. A small number of local charities and furniture banks may accept mattresses that are clean, stain-free, and free of any signs of infestation, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Check with local homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, or organizations like the Furniture Bank Network in your area. If no charity will take your mattress, look for a mattress recycling program — many states have retailer take-back requirements when delivering a new mattress.

Where should I donate a car?

The Salvation Army is one of the most straightforward options for vehicle donations — they accept cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and RVs, and issue IRS Form 1098-C, which you must have to claim a deduction over $500. Other well-known vehicle donation programs include Goodwill Car Donations (separate from Goodwill store donations) and Cars for Homes (Habitat for Humanity). Your deduction is generally limited to the gross proceeds the charity receives when the vehicle is sold, unless the charity uses or significantly improves the vehicle. For any vehicle donation deduction over $500, Form 1098-C is required; for deductions over $5,000, a qualified appraisal is also required.

Do I need a receipt for Goodwill or Salvation Army donations for taxes?

Yes — you need a written receipt from the charity for any non-cash donation you plan to deduct. For any single contribution of $250 or more, IRS rules require a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity stating the date, a description of the items donated, and whether you received anything in return. Both Goodwill and the Salvation Army provide itemized donation receipts at drop-off. The receipt does not assign a dollar value to your items — you are responsible for determining the fair market value of each donated item. For total non-cash donations exceeding $500 in a year, IRS Form 8283 must be filed with your tax return.

What items will no charity accept?

Several categories of items are universally rejected by major donation charities: recalled products (any item on the CPSC recall list), car seats and booster seats (due to safety concerns after accidents), drop-side cribs (banned by CPSC since 2011), mattresses (hygiene and bedbug risk), hazardous materials including paint, chemicals, and pesticides, and items with no apparent functional or resale value. Most charities also reject encyclopedias and VHS tapes due to lack of demand, and televisions that are not flat-screen models. If an item is broken, heavily stained, or missing key components, assume no charity will accept it — donating damaged goods creates disposal costs for the charity.