Madison's August Student Move-Out: 2026 Dates and Rules
Updated
Short answer
In 2026 the city ran its move-out operation from Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 21, in the area from the Yahara River to N Allen St, over to Grant St and down to Haywood Dr. Free large items went without a work order from August 2; appliances and tires needed one, and all properties in the area could file from July 26 to August 14.
Scale
The city puts it at well over 30,000 residents moving out on roughly the same day around August 15, clustered on the isthmus and near campus: about the population of Sun Prairie.
The rules in 2026
- Carts at the curb by 6:30am; crews empty them every work day, August 3 to 21.
- Couches, chairs, box springs, mattresses, bookshelves, tables and rugs collected by roving crews without a work order.
- Appliances (microwaves, ACs, dehumidifiers, fridges), tires and mowers need a work order; the last set-out Sunday was August 16.
- Furniture, wood, rugs and mattresses in one pile; appliances, metal and tires in another; 5 feet from hydrants, poles and signs.
- Don't pile bagged trash or recycling on top of large items.
- Electronics never go to the curb.
After the window
The city lists drop-off sites, the dumpster provider at your new home, a private junk hauling service, and donation. Mooveapalooza, a one-day donation and recycling event, ran at the Alliant Energy Center on August 14, 2026.
Quick answers
Where is the Madison move-out area?
The city describes it as running from the Yahara River to N Allen Street, over to Grant Street and down to Haywood Drive, and publishes a map.
Rather not haul it yourself?
Tell us what needs to go and where. A local crew sorts the recycling, donation and landfill streams for you and replies with a price first.