Frequently Asked Questions

CurbSofa is a free app that connects people who have items to give away ("Givers") with people who want to find them ("Finders"). When a Giver leaves something on the curb, they post it on CurbSofa with a photo and location. Finders nearby can see it on a map and go pick it up — no money, no coordination, just a first-come, first-served system.

Our mission: give it a new home, not a landfill.

Yes, completely. Every item listed on CurbSofa must be free — no selling, no trades, no "suggested donations." This is a hard rule we enforce because the moment money enters the picture, it changes the nature of the exchange and introduces friction, disputes, and safety concerns.

The app itself is also free to use. We're supported by non-intrusive advertising from local businesses.

Yes, curbside giveaways are legal and are a long-standing community practice in the US. The key distinction from illegal dumping is intent and accessibility: you are placing usable items in a publicly accessible area with the clear intent that anyone can take them for free.

Illegal dumping involves leaving items in locations where they are not accessible or intended to be taken (vacant lots, back alleys, etc.), or leaving items that are hazardous waste, broken, or unsanitary.

CurbSofa requires all Givers to confirm they are not illegally dumping. We ask that items be placed on the sidewalk in front of your own property, be in usable condition, and not be hazardous materials.

Items listed on CurbSofa are automatically marked as expired after 72 hours. If your item doesn't get taken, please bring it back inside and consider donating it to a local thrift store or arranging a bulky item pickup with your city's waste management service.

For rain: if you're posting something weather-sensitive, you can cover it with a plastic sheet and note in the description that it should be picked up before rain. Popular items (furniture, electronics) usually get claimed within hours, long before weather becomes an issue.

Karma is CurbSofa's community reputation system. You earn Karma points when you contribute to the community:

• +10 points — Post a free item
• +20 points — Your item gets found by a Finder
• +5 points — Someone likes your listing
• +3 points — Add a photo to your post

High-Karma users earn badges like "Top Giver" and appear on the local leaderboard. Karma doesn't have monetary value — it's purely community recognition.

You can post any free, usable item in good enough condition that someone else would want it. Popular categories include:

• Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables, shelves, dressers)
• Electronics (TVs, monitors, speakers, lamps)
• Kitchen items (appliances, cookware, dishes)
• Books and media
• Clothing and shoes (clean and folded)
• Outdoor items (plants, garden tools, furniture)
• Toys and games
• Art and décor

Do not post: hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, batteries), mattresses (unless in excellent condition and covered), broken items, or anything that is not safe to handle.

Listings are active for 72 hours from the time you post them. After that, they automatically expire and are removed from the map. This keeps the app current and prevents Finders from showing up for items that have already been taken.

If your item gets taken before the 72 hours is up, you can mark it as "Gone" yourself from your My Listings page. You'll also earn Karma for it!

Go to the "Me" tab → "My Listings" → tap "Mark as Gone" on the item. This removes it from the map immediately and awards you your +20 Karma.

It's always a good habit to mark your own listings as gone as soon as you know they've been taken, rather than waiting for the 72-hour expiry.

CurbSofa is designed for items placed on a public sidewalk or curb for immediate pickup. Items must be physically accessible to anyone passing by. Posting items that require an appointment, a code, or access to a private property is not allowed.

If you have a large volume of items (moving, estate cleanout), consider posting in batches over several days rather than all at once.

CurbSofa uses a community-based system to keep listings current:

• Givers can mark their own item as "Gone" at any time
• Finders who are physically near the item (within 150 meters) can tap "Already Gone?" to report it — two reports automatically remove the listing
• All listings auto-expire after 72 hours

Popular items move fast — sometimes within 30 minutes. Check the "posted X ago" timestamp and act quickly if something looks good.

No. CurbSofa operates on a strict First Come, First Served (FCFS) basis. There are no reservations, no "I'm on my way" holds, and no messaging between users. The item goes to whoever gets there first.

This is intentional. Reservations create no-shows, disputes, and awkward interactions. FCFS is simple, fair, and friction-free.

That's part of the FCFS experience! If you arrive and the item is gone, please tap "Already Gone?" on the listing (you need to be within 150m of the posted location). This immediately alerts other Finders who might be heading that way, saving them the trip.

Two "Already Gone?" reports from nearby users will automatically remove the listing from the map.

CurbSofa is designed so that no in-person interaction with the Giver is required or expected. Items are left on a public sidewalk — you pick them up without ever meeting the poster. This makes the exchange inherently safe.

Use common sense when picking up items: inspect for pest damage, structural problems, or anything that doesn't look right. If something seems off, leave it.