How to get rid of an old sofa in Cardiff: every option and what it costs

In Cardiff you have four options for an old sofa: book the council’s bulky collection (£20 for one or two items, including the £5 booking fee), take it to Lamby Way or Bessemer Close yourself if it fits in your car, ask the shop delivering your new one to take it, or pay someone to collect it.

Checked 7 October 2026 · Honest HQ, Cardiff and South Wales

Guide prices in Cardiff

Sofa removal	Typical price
Two-seater	£73 – £96
Three-seater	£88 – £115
Corner sofa	£115 – £155
Sofa bed	£100 – £135
Armchair	£44 – £58
Three-piece suite	£145 – £195

Guide prices including VAT, worked out for Cardiff from the same price list our quotes use. Your exact price comes from a few taps.

The council’s bulky collection

Cardiff Council collects sofas and armchairs from your home. It costs a £5 booking fee plus £15 for one or two items, £30 for three or four, or £45 for five or six. You book online, on the Cardiff Council app or with cash at most Hubs, and it must be somewhere easy to collect on the day. Book on the council site.

Taking it to the recycling centre

The recycling centres at Lamby Way and Bessemer Close take sofas, but only if they fit in your car (or a booked van visit, one a month). You have to book a slot, bring proof of address, and unload it yourself: staff can’t help. Recycling centre rules.

Why sofas cost more to get rid of

Most sofas and armchairs contain flame-retardant chemicals known as POPs (persistent organic pollutants). By law they can’t go to landfill, so they have to be incinerated, which is why sofa removal costs more than a pile of bags.

Can a charity take it?

If it’s in good condition and still has its fire-safety label, a furniture reuse charity may collect it for free. Without the label, they can’t legally resell it.

Paying someone to take it

Whoever you pay to take rubbish away, check they are a registered waste carrier first. In Wales you can be fined £300 if your rubbish is fly-tipped by someone you didn’t check, and far more if it goes to court. It takes a minute on the Natural Resources Wales register.

Questions people ask

Will the shop take my old sofa when they deliver a new one?

Many furniture retailers offer it, usually for a fee. Ask when you order, not on delivery day.

How quickly can a sofa be collected?

The council books ahead. A private collection can often be the same week.

Can you take it from upstairs?

Yes. Pick “upstairs” when you price it and two people come.

Sources

Council rules change. We checked these on 7 October 2026.