Does Koala Take Your Old Mattress?

Yes, Koala may take your old mattress when it delivers a new one, but removal is an optional service that depends on your address and order. It does not come with every mattress purchase. You’ll need to check whether removal appears during checkout and add it before you pay.

Don’t assume the delivery team will take your old mattress just because there’s space in the truck. Standard delivery and old mattress removal are two separate services. If removal isn’t shown on your order confirmation, the driver will usually leave the old mattress behind.

Koala’s delivery zones, fees, and removal terms can change. The checkout result for your postcode is the best guide for your order.

When will Koala remove an old mattress?

Koala can remove an old mattress when the service is offered at your delivery address and added to the same order as an eligible new mattress. It often comes down to which delivery partner covers your area.

Removal is more likely in major city delivery zones. Some regional or remote addresses may get standard delivery without a collection option. Just because a product can be delivered there doesn’t mean an old item can be taken away.

The size and number of items matter too. A service linked to one new mattress will generally cover one old mattress, not every unwanted sleep item in your home. An old ensemble base, bed frame, mattress topper, cot mattress, or second mattress may need its own booking.

Enter your delivery postcode and go far enough through checkout to see which services are offered at your address. If old mattress removal appears, select it and make sure the fee or service line shows in the order summary.

Is mattress removal included in Koala’s standard delivery?

No. Standard delivery usually means bringing the boxed product to your address. It does not promise to take away the mattress you’re replacing.

This catches people out because removal can feel like a normal part of replacing a mattress. But delivery crews follow the services listed on their job sheet. They may not have the truck space, handling time, or disposal booking needed to take an item that isn’t listed.

So asking at the door is often too late. Offering the driver cash won’t turn standard delivery into an approved collection. The team may have no right to take the mattress, even if loading it looks easy.

Read the order summary before you pay. Look for terms such as old mattress removal, mattress collection, premium delivery, or room-of-choice delivery with removal. Then check your confirmation email after ordering. If the service isn’t listed, contact Koala before delivery day instead of waiting for the truck.

How do you add old mattress collection to an order?

First, put the new mattress in your cart and enter the exact delivery postcode. The site can then show which options the local delivery network supports.

1. Select the new mattress and correct size.
2. Enter the full delivery address or postcode when prompted.
3. Review the available delivery upgrades and removal services.
4. Add old mattress removal if it appears.
5. Check the quantity and item type covered by the service.
6. Make sure removal remains in the final order summary before paying.

Take a screenshot or save the confirmation email. That gives you a clear record if the delivery booking later shows standard service only.

If you’ve already ordered, contact Koala support as soon as you can. Removal may be added before dispatch if the service is offered at your address. Once the delivery route is set, changing the job gets harder because truck space and collection room have already been planned.

How much does Koala charge to take an old mattress?

Expect to pay extra for mattress removal unless checkout clearly says it’s included in a delivery package or promotion. Koala can change the fee based on location, service level, or delivery partner, so the live checkout price is more useful than an old price from a review or forum.

The fee covers more than someone lifting the mattress. A used mattress takes up a big chunk of a truck, needs separate handling, and must go into a disposal or recycling stream. The crew also needs extra time at your home.

Compare the price shown with a local council collection, mattress recycler, or private rubbish service. Cheapest isn’t always easiest. A council pickup may cost less but leave you without a bed if it happens days before the new mattress comes. Same-visit removal avoids that problem when it’s available.

Will the driver collect the mattress during the new delivery?

Booked removal will normally happen during the delivery visit, but check the timing and handover rules in your booking details. Some delivery partners may want the old mattress ready before they arrive. Others may take it from a chosen room only if you bought a higher service level.

Don’t throw out the old mattress until you’ve checked the new delivery for clear damage and made sure the right product arrived. But don’t start opening a compressed mattress while the crew waits unless your booking instructions tell you to.

The safest setup is simple. Strip the old bed, clear the path to the exit, and leave the mattress in the agreed pickup spot. Keep enough room for the new boxed mattress to come inside. This saves time and reduces the risk of damage to walls or furniture.

What condition must the old mattress be in?

The mattress should be dry, clear of loose rubbish, and safe for the crew to lift. A collection service can refuse anything that poses a health or safety risk.

Take off all sheets, protectors, blankets, electric blankets, and toppers. Look under the bed for cords or storage boxes that could get in the way. Tell the delivery provider before the visit if the mattress has mould, bodily fluid contamination, pests, sharp springs, or major fire damage.

Don’t wrap the mattress unless the collection instructions tell you to. Plastic can make a heavy mattress slick and tough to hold. If wrapping is required, use a proper mattress bag and seal it without leaving loose plastic near the carrying edges.

A stain doesn’t always mean refusal, but contamination is different from everyday wear. Crews shouldn’t have to handle an item that may expose them to bed bugs, chemicals, or infectious material. In that case, book a waste service that accepts contaminated mattresses and explain the condition upfront.

Does Koala remove the bed base as well?

Don’t assume mattress removal covers a base or frame. A mattress, ensemble base, timber frame, and adjustable base are separate items for moving and disposal.

An ensemble may look like one bed, but the delivery crew can treat it as several pieces. A queen ensemble often includes one mattress and one or two base sections. If your order lists one old mattress removal, it may cover only the mattress.

Read the service details before buying. If bases aren’t named, ask Koala support whether your exact items will be accepted. Give them the item count, size, and type. Mention stairs, lifts, tight doors, or a long walk from your home to the truck.

If the base isn’t covered, book another service to collect it. Don’t pull apart a frame on delivery day unless you already know who will take the pieces.

What should you do before the delivery team arrives?

Get your home ready before the delivery window starts. A mattress is bulky and awkward, and a cluttered hallway makes it far harder to carry.

• Strip all bedding from the old mattress.
• Remove bedside tables and breakable objects from the route.
• Secure pets away from doors and carrying paths.
• Measure tight corners, stairways, and lift doors.
• Reserve lift access or loading space if your building requires it.
• Keep your phone nearby in case the driver calls.

If the service only includes ground-floor pickup, move the mattress yourself only when it’s safe. Large mattresses bend, snag on railings, and can knock someone off balance. Get another adult to help, or pick a service that includes removal from the room.

If you live in an apartment, tell building management about the delivery. Some buildings need lift padding, a loading-bay booking, or a fixed access time. Missing a lift booking can stop the collection even when you’ve paid for mattress removal.

What happens to the old mattress after collection?

Collection doesn’t always mean the mattress will be used again. What happens next depends on the delivery partner, nearby facilities, and the item’s condition.

A specialist recycler may pull apart the steel springs, foam, timber, and fabric where suitable facilities exist. Parts that can’t be processed may go into the local waste stream. Recycling access changes by region, so collection isn’t proof that every part will be recycled.

If recycling matters most to you, ask what happens to collected mattresses in your postcode. Booking a local mattress recycler directly may give you a clearer trail. Some councils also list approved recycling partners in their bulky-waste guides.

Never leave a mattress beside a charity shop or donation bin. Many charities won’t take used mattresses due to hygiene rules, limited storage, and fire-safety standards. Leaving an unwanted item without permission is illegal dumping, not a donation.

What can you do if Koala removal is unavailable?

Arrange another collection before your new mattress arrives. Good options include a council bulky-waste service, specialist mattress recycler, licensed rubbish collector, or approved retailer take-back program.

Council services often have firm booking dates and placement rules. Some collect at the kerb, while others won’t take mattresses put outside too early. Check for a fee and find out whether apartment buildings need a shared booking.

A mattress recycler may cost more than a council service but offer a narrower pickup window. Ask whether the quote covers stairs, indoor removal, and your mattress size. A cheap kerbside price may jump when the crew finds a king mattress upstairs.

Private collectors should tell you where the item goes and give you a clear total price. Stay away from anyone who tells you to leave the mattress in a public lane or on empty land.

Giving it away may work if the mattress is clean, supportive, and accepted by the recipient before pickup. Be honest about its age, size, stains, sagging, and contact with pets. Don’t call a worn-out mattress fit for sleep just to dodge a disposal fee.

Can you return the new Koala mattress and have the old one brought back?

No. Once your old mattress has been collected, treat the handover as final. The removal service is separate from any trial or return policy for the new mattress.

This matters with mattress-in-a-box products because comfort can take a while to judge. If you want a backup bed during the trial, same-day removal takes that option away. Keeping the old mattress briefly may make sense if you have dry storage and can arrange disposal later.

Don’t store the old mattress in a damp garage, on an open balcony, or in a shared hallway. Damp can cause mould, while shared areas may break building rules or block an exit.

Read the current trial terms before opening your new mattress. Check the minimum use period, return steps, product condition rules, and whether pickup is offered at your address. Returning the new mattress won’t undo the disposal of your old one.

How can you avoid a failed collection?

Most failed collections start with a gap between what the buyer expects and what the order really includes. Sort that out before delivery day.

Get the service confirmed in writing. List every item that needs to leave your home. Record the mattress size and any access limits. Prepare it under the stated condition rules. If support sends extra instructions, keep that message with your order details.

Check the booking again when your delivery notice arrives. Delivery companies sometimes send a link with the service type and time window. If it says doorstep delivery but you paid for room delivery or removal, contact support before the truck is loaded.

Keep a backup plan for the old mattress. A temporary indoor storage spot is better than leaving it on the kerb without a council booking. Koala’s driver may be unable to take it due to unsafe access, contamination, an unlisted item, or a service error.

Action: enter your postcode at Koala checkout today and add old mattress removal only after the final order summary confirms the service for your address.