The main places to donate clothes in the US are Goodwill and the Salvation Army (drop-off, and pickup in many areas), Vietnam Veterans of America (curbside pickup), St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, and work-clothing charities such as Dress for Success and Career Gear. Each sets rules locally, so check the specific location before you go.
Choosing where to donate clothes comes down to three questions: what condition your clothes are in, whether you can drive them somewhere, and what you want the donation to support. A bag of everyday jeans and T-shirts suits almost any thrift-store charity. A pressed interview suit does more good at a work-clothing nonprofit. Worn-out items belong in recycling, not donation. This guide compares the major options and what each publishes about accepted items, as of November 2026. Rules vary by local organization and change over time, so confirm with yours. For how these charities’ stores compare as places to shop, see the thrift store chains hub.
Best places to donate clothes, compared
| Where | Clothing accepted | How to give | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill | Clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry; condition rules vary by region | Drop-off; some offer pickup for large items | Everyday clothing, quick drop-off |
| Salvation Army | “Gently used” children’s, men’s and women’s clothing | Drop-off or scheduled pickup (1-800-SA-TRUCK) | Large clear-outs, pickup |
| Vietnam Veterans of America | Clothing is its stated top need, plus shoes, bedding, small appliances, tools | Curbside pickup booked online | No car, bagged clothing |
| St. Vincent de Paul | Varies by local council | Local thrift stores; some local pickup | Supporting a parish-based charity |
| Dress for Success | Women’s work clothing; affiliate rules apply | By appointment at many affiliates | Current women’s workwear |
| Career Gear (NYC) | Men’s suits, dress shirts, dress shoes, ties, overcoats | Drop-off by appointment, or mail | Men’s interview clothing |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters (some affiliates) | Clothing, shoes, coats, linens | Bins and home pickup where offered | Long Island, Central Arizona |
Goodwill
Goodwill’s national site lists clothing “from formal wear to everyday outfits,” shoes, handbags and jewelry, but it heads the list with “Donation Rules Vary by Location.” That’s because Goodwill is about 150 independent local organizations. One may take clothing in any condition and recycle what doesn’t sell, while another declines stained items. Find a donation site with the locator at goodwill.org/locator. The Goodwill donation drop-off guide covers what to expect at the door, and the Goodwill hours guide explains why donation hours differ from store hours.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army accepts “gently used” children’s, men’s and women’s clothing, including outerwear, shirts, shoes, pants, jeans, sweaters and suits. Thrift-store proceeds “are used to fund our Adult Rehabilitation Centers.” Accepted items vary by location, and the Salvation Army itself suggests calling first. The donated-goods line is 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825), which handles questions about accepted items and pickup scheduling. More contact routes are in the Salvation Army phone number guide, and the store finder is at satruck.org/ThriftStore. Each store sets its own hours.
Vietnam Veterans of America
VVA’s pickup page says plainly, in capital letters, that it especially needs clothing. It also takes shoes, bedding, small appliances and tools. Pickups are scheduled online through ClothingDonations.org, and receipt questions go to [email protected]. Service areas are listed by state on the scheduling page, so check whether your area is covered. Separately, Pickup Please, a for-profit company and registered fundraiser, lists VVA among its partner charities. The clothes donation pickup guide explains how both services work.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul’s national site directs donors to thrift-store contacts by state. If you can’t find one, it suggests asking a local Catholic parish whether it has an SVdP Conference. Local stores may be run by separate councils with their own rules, so not every SVdP location handles clothing the same way. As one local example, St. Vincent de Paul Dayton offers free pickup of “large or bulky items, or large quantities.”
Work-clothing charities
Dress for Success (women’s workwear)
Dress for Success runs through local affiliates, and each has “its own hours of operation, specific drop-off days and times and policies.” The national guidelines on file date from 2019, so go by your affiliate’s page instead. Two affiliate examples show how specific the rules can be:
- Greater Chicago: by appointment only, a maximum of 20 items per donor, “Clothes must be 5 years old or less,” and no men’s clothing or suits.
- Worcester: by appointment, a 25-piece maximum, and the affiliate “cannot provide a value of donated goods to donors.”
For context only, the 2019 national guidelines asked for items that were laundered or dry-cleaned and needed no repairs, and they excluded sweatshirts, sweatpants, running shoes, jeans, formal wear, menswear and children’s clothing. Your affiliate’s current page overrides that.
Career Gear (men’s workwear, NYC)
Career Gear accepts suits (“especially size 36 and below and size 44 and up”), dress pants, solid blazers, dress shirts (“size 17 and up”), dress shoes, belts, overcoats and ties, plus some business-casual items. Everything must be “new or gently used,” clean, and free of stains or odors. Drop-off is at 125 Maiden Lane, 3B, New York, NY 10038, Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 4:45 pm, “by appointment ONLY.” Career Gear “cannot offer a pick-up service or pay for shipping,” but it accepts mail and courier deliveries. Email receipts can take up to 30 days.
Shelters, clothing closets and local options
Shelter needs vary widely, and there’s no national source for what shelters accept. Call before you bring anything. Career Gear suggests that donors outside NYC look for a “clothing closet” at a local nonprofit or religious organization, using GuideStar or Charity Navigator to find one.
Some charities run local programs that national sites don’t mention. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island has drop-off bins and scheduled pickups, and sells the donated goods to Savers. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona books home pickups through donateaz.org. Neither is a national BBBS program.
Cities can be an option too. New York City points residents to nonprofit and retail drop-off locations and to DSNY textile drop-off sites, though donations to DSNY sites aren’t tax-deductible. Many bins in parking lots are run by for-profit companies; the clothing donation bins guide explains how to check who’s behind one.
How to donate clothes: a checklist
- Sort first. Pull out anything worth selling, anything worn out, and anything suited to a specialist charity such as work suits.
- Check the charity. The FTC suggests confirming status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and checking state registration through nasconet.org.
- Check the local rules. Accepted items, condition standards and hours are set by the local store, affiliate or council.
- Wash and pack. Clean, folded clothing in tied bags or boxes. A Fabric Shaver on Amazon can tidy a pilled sweater before it goes in the bag.
- Get a receipt if you plan to itemize, and record what you gave.
Sell first, then donate
Donation isn’t the only answer to what to do with old clothes. Brand-name pieces, designer bags and good shoes can be worth real money, and selling them first leaves a smaller, plainer pile for the charity. Children’s clothing in good shape can also go to a kids’ resale store; the Once Upon a Child guide explains how that buying process works. Whatever doesn’t sell within a few weeks can still be donated.
What to do with old clothes that can’t be donated
Stained, torn or stretched-out clothing often isn’t accepted by thrift-store charities, though rules vary. Some Goodwills say they recycle clothing not suitable for resale. Otherwise, try a retail take-back program or a textile recycler; the clothing recycling guide lists the options.
The verdict
For most people, the best place to donate clothes is the one closest to where the clothes are going to be useful. Everyday clothing in good shape goes to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, whichever has the nearest staffed donation door, or to VVA if you’d rather leave bags at the curb. Professional clothing in current styles is worth the extra step of booking a Dress for Success or Career Gear appointment, because those pieces go straight to someone heading into an interview. Worn-out items go to recycling. Before any trip, check the local rules, since none of these organizations runs one national policy, and confirm the charity’s registration if you don’t recognize the name.
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FAQ
Where is the best place to donate clothes?
It depends on the clothes. Everyday items suit Goodwill, the Salvation Army or VVA pickup. Women’s workwear suits a Dress for Success affiliate, and men’s suits suit Career Gear in NYC. No official source ranks charities, so pick by fit and convenience.
How do I donate clothes near me?
Use goodwill.org/locator or satruck.org/ThriftStore for staffed drop-offs, or schedule a pickup through the Salvation Army or VVA where available. Check the local location’s rules first.
Do shelters take clothing donations?
Some do, but needs vary by shelter and there’s no national standard. Call first, or look for a clothing closet at a local nonprofit or religious organization.
What should I do with old clothes that are too worn to donate?
Recycle them. Some Goodwills recycle unsellable clothing, H&M takes textiles of any brand, and some cities run textile drop-off sites.
Which charities pick up clothes for free?
The Salvation Army advertises free donation pickup, availability depending on ZIP code. VVA schedules curbside pickups online, and some local charities offer pickup too.
