Denver Ranks Second Nationally for Curbside Furniture Finds

The Mile High City's high renter turnover makes it a prime spot for free furniture during college move-out season.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:09pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph showing a pile of discarded furniture on a Denver sidewalk, with the city skyline visible in the background, conceptually representing the abundance of free curbside finds in the Mile High City.Denver's high turnover of young residents and remote workers means the city's sidewalks are regularly lined with discarded furniture during college move-out season.Denver Today

According to new research from lighting brand Pooky, Denver ranks second in the nation among the best cities to score free curbside furniture, trailing only Las Vegas. The study found that Denver's high residential turnover, driven by rapid population growth and remote work trends, leads to an abundance of discarded sofas, bed frames, tables, and other bulky items on the city's sidewalks during the peak college move-out season of May and June.

Why it matters

The rise of resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Freecycle has made it easier for scavengers to monetize secondhand furniture, with $0 listings surging during the late-spring window when college students and young professionals are moving out of rentals. Denver's high ranking reflects the city's ongoing transformation as a hub for remote workers and young professionals.

The details

Pooky's researchers analyzed 25 of the most populated U.S. cities using landfill tonnage data, renter population percentages, and search volumes for terms like 'cheap furniture,' 'furniture disposal,' and 'bulk trash pickup.' Cities with higher levels of furniture disposal and residential turnover were identified as the richest hunting grounds for free finds. Nationally, an estimated 12 million tons of home goods are thrown away each year, with Las Vegas, the top-ranked city, discarding more than 547,000 tons of furniture per 100,000 residents annually.

  • College move-out season typically peaks in May and June each year.
  • The Pooky study was published on April 15, 2026.

The players

Pooky

A lighting brand that conducted the research on the best cities for curbside furniture finds.

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The takeaway

Denver's high ranking as a top destination for free curbside furniture reflects the city's ongoing transformation as a hub for remote workers and young professionals, with high residential turnover leading to an abundance of discarded furnishings during college move-out season.