Where to Donate Vinyl Records in Toronto

Places That Accept Vinyl Record Donations in Toronto

Toronto has several ongoing options for donating vinyl records, including scheduled pickup, library fundraising bookstores and thrift-store donation centres.

The best option depends on how many records you have, their condition and whether you want pickup or prefer to transport the collection yourself.

This guide covers practical Toronto options for donating LPs, 45s, singles, EPs, box sets, soundtracks, classical records and larger vinyl collections.

Toronto Vinyl Record Donation Options

#1 DonateYourStuff.ca

DonateYourStuff.ca provides free scheduled donation pickup for qualifying vinyl records and larger record collections throughout Toronto.

Donation method: Free scheduled pickup.

Accepts: Qualifying LPs, 45s, singles, EPs, multi-record sets, picture discs, soundtracks and larger vinyl collections.

Locations and hours:

• Toronto: Pickup is available throughout Toronto rather than through a public drop-off location. Pickup dates and arrival windows are arranged for qualifying requests.

Important details: Records should be clean, usable and protected in sleeves or covers. Vinyl with cracks, severe warping, major surface damage, mould or serious moisture damage should not be included.

Pickup is intended for donations that reasonably justify sending a vehicle. A few individual records will usually not qualify on their own. Several boxes, a larger record collection or vinyl combined with other accepted donations is more likely to qualify.

Submit your location, approximate number of records, boxes or crates and a general description of the collection. For larger collections, an exact record count is not required. You can estimate the quantity using boxes, shelves, crates or storage units.

Official Information:

Vinyl Record Donation Pickup

Request a Donation Pickup

#2 Friends of Toronto Public Library BOOKEnds

Friends of Toronto Public Library accepts vinyl LPs at both of its BOOKEnds used bookstores.

Donation method: Drop-off.

Accepts: Gently used vinyl LPs in good condition. BOOKEnds also accepts selected books, CDs, DVDs and other materials. Vinyl records are specifically listed among its accepted donations.

Toronto locations:

BOOKEnds South

• Toronto Reference Library
• 789 Yonge Street, Toronto

BOOKEnds North

• North York Central Library, Concourse Level
• 5120 Yonge Street, North York

Important details: Smaller donations can be brought directly to the appropriate BOOKEnds location. Larger donations should be arranged in advance.

Records should be in good enough condition to resell and should be free from mould, water damage and smoke damage. Donated materials are sold through BOOKEnds, with proceeds supporting Toronto Public Library programs.

Official Information:

Friends of Toronto Public Library Donation Guidelines

BOOKEnds South

BOOKEnds North

#3 Double Take

Double Take is a Toronto thrift store operated by Yonge Street Mission and specifically accepts original vinyl records in playable condition.

Donation method: Drop-off.

Accepts: Genuine original vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games that remain playable.

Location:

• 310 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 2G7

Important details: Double Take does not accept bootleg, pirated, burned, scratched or otherwise damaged media.

Donations must be handed directly to staff rather than left outside. Double Take does not provide donation pickup.

Official Information:

Double Take Donation Guidelines

Double Take Contact Information

#4 The Salvation Army Thrift Store

Salvation Army Donor Welcome Centres provide another Toronto drop-off option for reusable vinyl records and other physical media.

Donation method: Drop-off at Donor Welcome Centres.

Accepts: New and gently used books and media. The Salvation Army lists Media & Books among its current accepted donation categories.

Toronto locations include:

• 665 St. Clair Avenue West
• 1219 Bloor Street West
• 1447 Queen Street West
• 3711 Keele Street
• 20 Leslie Street, Unit 101
• 60 Overlea Boulevard
• 2291 Kipling Avenue
• 1921 Eglinton Avenue East, Unit 7
• 1225 Kennedy Road, Unit D1

Important details: Records should be clean and suitable for continued use.

If you have several boxes or an unusually large collection, contact the location before transporting everything at once.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store states that it does not provide donation pickup.

Official Information:

Salvation Army Accepted Donations

Salvation Army Location Finder

#5 Value Village

Value Village Community Donation Centres provide another Toronto drop-off option for reusable records and other physical media.

Donation method: Drop-off at participating Community Donation Centres.

Accepts: Books and media are among the accepted donation categories at participating Toronto locations.

Toronto donation locations include:

• 18 Edward Street, Units 3 and 5
• 772 Dovercourt Road, Unit 100
• 2119 Danforth Avenue
• 3701 Lawrence Avenue East, Unit 1
• 1525 Victoria Park Avenue
• 1030 Wilson Avenue
• 2549 Weston Road
• 605 Rogers Road

Important details: Not every Value Village storefront accepts donations. Check that the location is identified as a Community Donation Centre before taking records there.

Value Village is a for-profit thrift retailer. Its donation centres accept reusable goods on behalf of nonprofit partners.

Official Information:

Value Village Toronto Locations

How to Choose Where to Donate Vinyl Records

The main decision comes down to how many records you have, whether they are still playable and whether pickup or drop-off is more practical.

Pickup or Drop-Off?

If you have several boxes, multiple record crates or an entire collection, scheduled pickup may be easier than carrying the records yourself.

For a small number of LPs or one manageable box, a Toronto drop-off option may be more convenient.

A Few Records or a Large Collection?

Vinyl becomes heavy quickly.

For a larger collection, estimate the number of:

• Records
• Boxes
• Milk crates
• Record cases
• Shelves
• Storage units

You do not need to count hundreds of records individually. An approximate quantity is enough when describing a larger collection.

What Condition Should Donated Vinyl Records Be In?

Used records do not need to look new, but they should remain playable, identifiable and reasonably protected.

Check for Cracks

A cracked record should not be donated for normal reuse.

Pay particular attention to:

• The outer edge
• Centre hole
• Hairline cracks
• Damage caused by drops or impact

Check for Warping

Place the record on a flat surface or turntable and look at it from the side.

Minor movement may not prevent playback, but severe warping can cause the stylus to jump or prevent the record from playing normally.

Check the Playing Surface

Look for:

• Deep scratches
• Gouges
• Heavy scuffing
• Embedded dirt
• Sticky residue
• Paint or chemicals
• Serious surface deterioration

Light surface marks do not automatically make a record unusable.

Check for Mould and Moisture Damage

Collections stored in basements, garages and storage lockers should be checked carefully.

Inspect the records and jackets for:

• Mould
• Mildew
• Musty odours
• Water staining
• Damp cardboard
• Stuck inner sleeves

Records affected by active mould or serious contamination should not be mixed into a reusable collection.

Jackets Can Show Normal Wear

An album cover does not need to be perfect.

Normal signs of age can include:

• Shelf wear
• Small seam splits
• Writing
• Old price stickers
• Ring wear
• Scuffed corners

The important issue is whether the jacket still identifies and protects the correct record.

Keep Multi-Record Sets Together

Double albums, box sets, opera sets and other multi-record releases should remain together.

Keep any available:

• Inner sleeves
• Booklets
• Lyric sheets
• Posters
• Inserts
• Outer boxes

with the matching records.

How to Prepare Vinyl Records for Donation

Match Records With Their Jackets

Check that the record inside each cover matches the artist, title and disc number shown on the jacket.

Collections that have been stored for years can easily end up with records in the wrong covers.

Use Inner Sleeves

Keep each record in an individual inner sleeve whenever possible.

If the original sleeve is missing, use a clean replacement rather than placing bare vinyl directly inside a rough cardboard jacket.

Protect Records Without Covers

Records without original jackets may still be reusable if they can be identified and properly protected.

Use:

• Individual inner sleeves
• Replacement jackets
• Record sleeves
• Other protective covers

Do not stack loose, unprotected records together.

Pack Records Upright

Pack vinyl vertically, the same way records sit on a shelf.

Do not create large flat stacks.

Use Record-Sized Boxes

Records become extremely heavy in oversized containers.

Use:

• Record boxes
• Strong banker-sized boxes
• Clean milk crates
• Other sturdy containers sized appropriately for LPs

Do Not Overpack

Every container should remain safe for one person to lift.

Use another box instead of filling one until it becomes dangerously heavy.

Prevent Leaning

Records should stand upright without leaning sharply.

Use clean cardboard or packing paper to fill extra space without crushing the jackets.

Protect Special Packaging

Keep picture sleeves, gatefold jackets, box sets and other delicate packaging away from rough edges and excessive pressure.

Keep the Collection Dry

Store packed records indoors or in another dry, protected location until they are donated.

Avoid:

• Rain
• Snow
• Damp garages
• Wet basement floors
• Direct heat
• Hot vehicles for extended periods

For complete packing and pickup staging information, review How to Prepare Your Donations.

Toronto Vinyl Record Donation Questions

Can I donate a record player or turntable with my records?

Possibly, but a turntable is an electronic device rather than part of the vinyl collection itself.

If it works, keep the power cord, platter, dust cover and other important parts with it. Check whether the receiving organization accepts electronics before bringing it along with your records.

Can I donate an inherited record collection if I do not know what is in it?

Yes.

You do not need to identify every artist, album, pressing or genre before donating an inherited collection.

Keep records with their existing jackets, keep box sets together and avoid separating inserts or booklets from the albums they belong to.

Can I donate records that are missing their original covers?

Sometimes.

A missing original jacket does not automatically make a playable record unusable, but the record should still be identifiable and protected.

Put loose records into clean sleeves or replacement jackets rather than stacking the bare vinyl together.

Do I need to clean every record before donating a large collection?

No.

You do not need to professionally clean or play-test hundreds of records before donating them.

Remove obvious dust and debris when practical, and separate anything affected by mould, sticky contamination, severe dirt or other problems that could damage the rest of the collection.

Can I donate 78 RPM records with LPs and 45s?

Sometimes, but check first.

Many older 78 RPM records are made from shellac rather than vinyl. They are heavier and much more brittle than ordinary LPs and 45s.

Mention 78s specifically when contacting an organization about a larger record collection so they can confirm whether they accept them.

Donation Pickup Available Throughout Toronto

DonateYourStuff.ca vinyl record donation pickup is available throughout Toronto for qualifying record collections, including downtown Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York and neighbourhoods across the east and west ends of the city.

A–D

Agincourt North, Agincourt South-Malvern West, Alderwood, Annex, Avondale, Banbury-Don Mills, Bathurst Manor, Bay-Cloverhill, Bayview Village, Bayview Woods-Steeles, Bedford Park-Nortown, Beechborough-Greenbrook, Bendale South, Bendale-Glen Andrew, Birchcliffe-Cliffside, Black Creek, Blake-Jones, Briar Hill-Belgravia, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, Broadview North, Brookhaven-Amesbury, Cabbagetown-South St. James Town, Caledonia-Fairbank, Casa Loma, Centennial Scarborough, Church-Wellesley, Clairlea-Birchmount, Clanton Park, Cliffcrest, Corso Italia-Davenport, Danforth, Danforth-East York, Don Valley Village, Dorset Park, Dovercourt Village, Downsview, Downtown Yonge East and Dufferin Grove.

E–H

East End Danforth, East L’Amoreaux, East Willowdale, Edenbridge-Humber Valley, Eglinton East, Elms-Old Rexdale, Englemount-Lawrence, Eringate-Centennial-West Deane, Etobicoke City Centre, Etobicoke West Mall, Fenside-Parkwoods, Flemingdon Park, Forest Hill North, Forest Hill South, Fort York-Liberty Village, Glenfield-Jane Heights, Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Greenwood-Coxwell, Guildwood, Harbourfront-CityPlace, Henry Farm, High Park North, High Park-Swansea, Highland Creek, Hillcrest Village, Humber Bay Shores, Humber Heights-Westmount, Humber Summit, Humbermede and Humewood-Cedarvale.

I–L

Ionview, Islington, Junction Area, Junction-Wallace Emerson, Keelesdale-Eglinton West, Kennedy Park, Kensington-Chinatown, Kingsview Village-The Westway, Kingsway South, L’Amoreaux West, Lambton Baby Point, Lansing-Westgate, Lawrence Park North, Lawrence Park South, Leaside-Bennington, Little Portugal and Long Branch.

M–P

Malvern East, Malvern West, Maple Leaf, Markland Wood, Milliken, Mimico-Queensway, Morningside, Morningside Heights, Moss Park, Mount Dennis, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Mount Pleasant East, New Toronto, Newtonbrook East, Newtonbrook West, North Riverdale, North St. James Town, North Toronto, O’Connor-Parkview, Oakdale-Beverley Heights, Oakridge, Oakwood Village, Old East York, Palmerston-Little Italy, Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills, Pelmo Park-Humberlea, Playter Estates-Danforth, Pleasant View and Princess-Rosethorn.

R–T

Regent Park, Rexdale-Kipling, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Roncesvalles, Rosedale-Moore Park, Runnymede-Bloor West Village, Rustic, Scarborough Village, South Eglinton-Davisville, South Parkdale, South Riverdale, St. Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands, St. Andrew-Windfields, Steeles, Stonegate-Queensway, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan, Taylor-Massey, The Beaches, Thistletown-Beaumond Heights, Thorncliffe Park and Trinity-Bellwoods.

U–Y

University, Victoria Village, Wellington Place, West Hill, West Humber-Clairville, West Queen West, West Rouge, Westminster-Branson, Weston, Weston-Pelham Park, Wexford/Maryvale, Willowdale West, Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview, Woburn North, Woodbine Corridor, Woodbine-Lumsden, Wychwood, Yonge-Bay Corridor, Yonge-Doris, Yonge-Eglinton, Yonge-St. Clair, York University Heights and Yorkdale-Glen Park.