Free Stuff for New Homeowners
Boxes, paint chips, workshops, energy audits, furniture and more, with what each one takes
A new house eats money fast. Some of it doesn’t have to: moving boxes, paint chips, repair classes and even an energy audit are free if you know who gives them out.
Below is what’s actually free, grouped by what you’re dealing with first. Where something only looks free (a donation, a fee), we say so.
⚡ Free for your home right now
- Free Kids Holiday Train Workshop at Lowe's, Nov. 14Get it →
- Free Holiday Trolley Car Kids Workshop at Lowe'sGet it →
- Free Kids Workshop: Christmas Car Ornament at Home DepotGet it →
- Free Holiday Train Kids Workshop at Home Depot, Dec. 5Get it →
- Free Birthday Treat at Alamo Drafthouse (Victory Members)Get it →
Free moving boxes and change-of-address help
Boxes are the easiest win. Most people moving out are happy to hand theirs over.
- USPS Mover's Guide: The paper change-of-address packet is free at any post office (filing online costs $1.10 for the ID check). Get it →
- U-Haul take-a-box shelves: Many U-Haul stores have a leave-a-box, take-a-box shelf, plus an online Box Exchange board. Get it →
- Neighbors who just moved: Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups have boxes up for grabs most weeks. Read the guide →
- Grocery and hardware stores: Ask at the service desk; some stores hand over empty boxes, though it varies store by store.
Free paint color samples and chips
Paper color chips are free nearly everywhere. Peel-and-stick samples and sample pots usually cost a few dollars.
- Sherwin-Williams: Free chips in store, or up to 10 mailed free from the website. Get it →
- Behr: Free swatches at the Home Depot paint desk. Get it →
- Benjamin Moore: Free paper color cards at retailers (the peel-and-stick samples run about $6 each). Get it →
- PPG / Pittsburgh Paints: Free chips at the company paint stores. Get it →
- ColorSnap app: Sherwin-Williams’ free app shows a color on a photo of your own walls.
Free DIY workshops at Home Depot and Lowe's
Both stores run free classes, no purchase needed. Adult sessions aren’t offered everywhere, so check your store’s schedule and register ahead.
- Lowe's workshops: Free kids workshops, livestreams and in-store sessions on fixes like faucets, drywall and outlets. Get it →
- Home Depot workshops: Free monthly kids workshops in store, plus live and on-demand how-to videos for adults. Get it →
- Ace Hardware: Some locally owned stores host free classes, and staff will talk you through a repair. Get it →
- Free video tutorials: This Old House and other pros post step-by-step repair videos on YouTube.
Free home energy audits, LED bulbs and thermostats
Call your utility first. Many offer a free energy assessment, and some add free bulbs, showerheads or a smart thermostat.
- Energy audit: A free walk-through that finds drafts and wasted energy; ask your electric or gas company.
- Smart thermostat: Some utilities give eligible customers a free or discounted Nest or Ecobee.
- LED bulbs: Efficiency programs often include free LEDs, usually with the assessment.
- Low-flow showerheads: Some gas and water utilities mail free showerhead and faucet aerator kits.
Free furniture for a new house
Couches, tables and dressers turn up free every day from neighbors who are moving or upgrading. Search often and pick up fast.
- Facebook Marketplace: Filter the price to “Free” for couches, tables and chairs near you.
- Buy Nothing groups: Hyperlocal gifting groups where you can also ask for exactly what you need.
- Freecycle: Local groups where people post furniture they want gone. Get it →
- Craigslist free section: The classic curb-alert board; the best pieces go within the hour.
Free trees, seeds and plants for your yard
Many cities give away free trees each spring or fall, and a lot of libraries now lend seeds.
- City tree giveaways: Programs like TreePhilly hand out free young trees to residents.
- Arbor Day Foundation: 10 young trees with a membership donation (the minimum has run $10 to $20), so not quite free. Get it →
- Seed libraries: Free seed packets at many public libraries.
- Plant swaps: Garden clubs and local Facebook groups trade cuttings and starts.
Borrow tools free instead of buying them
A tool library lends tools like a library lends books. It’s the cheapest way through your first round of repairs.
- Tool libraries: Find one near you on the Local Tools map. Get it →
- Nextdoor: Neighbors often lend a ladder or power tool they rarely use.
- Buy Nothing requests: Post what you need; someone usually has it in a garage.
When to grab each freebie: a move-in checklist
Timing matters. Boxes and the utility call come before the move; workshops and trees can wait.
- Before you move: pick up the USPS Mover’s Guide, join your new area’s Buy Nothing group, and book the utility energy audit.
- First week: collect paint chips, sign up for Lowe’s or Home Depot workshop alerts, and look up a tool library.
- First month: have the energy audit done, go to a free workshop, and check your city’s tree giveaway dates.
- First year: join a plant swap, keep an eye on free furniture for upgrades, and pass along what you don’t need.
Ways to get more free stuff after you move in
- Tell people you moved: friends and coworkers often have furniture or tools they’d rather give than store.
- Ask the utility about new-customer programs: some include efficiency kits or smart devices when you open an account.
- Use the library card: many libraries lend tools, seeds, museum passes and even projectors.
- Give first in Buy Nothing: passing on things from your old place makes neighbors quicker to help when you ask.
New homeowner freebies: common questions
What free stuff can new homeowners get?
Moving boxes, paint color chips, DIY workshops, utility energy audits, trees and furniture. Boxes come from U-Haul’s take-a-box shelves and neighbors, workshops from Lowe’s and Home Depot, audits (sometimes with free LEDs or a thermostat) from your utility, and furniture from Freecycle and Buy Nothing groups.
How do I get free paint samples?
Paper color chips are free at Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore retailers and the Home Depot and Lowe’s paint desks. Sherwin-Williams also mails up to 10 chips free from its website. Peel-and-stick samples and sample pots usually cost a few dollars.
Are Home Depot and Lowe's workshops really free?
Yes, and no purchase is required. Both run free kids workshops and free how-to sessions or videos for adults. Register ahead and check your store’s schedule, since adult classes aren’t offered everywhere.
How do I get free moving boxes?
Check a U-Haul take-a-box shelf, ask neighbors, or ask a local store. Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups have boxes most weeks. The USPS Mover’s Guide packet is free at the post office; filing the address change online costs $1.10.
What is a tool library?
A place that lends tools for free, the way a library lends books. Many cities have one. The Local Tools map at localtools.org lists them.
