Are Household Goods and Furniture Exempt in Bankruptcy?

Yes, Chapter 7 bankruptcy filers can typically keep all their household goods and furniture because these everyday items are almost always covered by a bankruptcy exemption. An exemption is a state or federal law that lets you protect property from being sold. Whether your goods are fully protected depends on the exemption your state allows or, in some states, whether you choose the federal exemption system instead.

State Exemptions for Household Goods and Furniture

Exemption laws exist because it isn’t in society’s best interest to let creditors take everything you own to satisfy a debt. Creditors can pursue collection techniques against your assets, but the law carves out the property you need to work and live. If that property is exempt, you get to keep it in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

In addition to bankruptcy exemptions that can be applied to household goods and furniture, many states also have a wildcard exemption you can apply to your choice of property, including household goods and furniture, on top of whatever household goods exemption already applies. Not all states have wildcards, and amounts vary significantly (and often have exceptions, such as not allowing use on cash). 

How Trustees Value Household Goods and Furniture

Bankruptcy trustees value your household goods at resale value—what the items would fetch at a garage sale or on a secondhand marketplace—not what you paid for them or what it would cost to replace them new. Used furniture and appliances rarely bring in much at resale, which is exactly why most filers find their household goods fall well within their state's or the federal exemption limits.

Federal Exemptions for Household Goods and Furniture

The federal exemptions let you protect up to $16,850 total in household goods and furniture, clothing, appliances, books, animals, crops, and musical instruments, with an $800 value limit per item. If you and your spouse file jointly, you can double both amounts for goods you own together. (11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(3); valid for cases filed between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2028.)

What Doesn't Count as a "Household Good" Under Federal Law

Federal law defines "household goods" narrowly, so not everything sitting in your home qualifies for this particular exemption. The federal household goods exemption excludes:

• works of art, unless made by you or a relative
• electronic entertainment equipment worth more than $500 total, other than one television, one radio, and one VCR or streaming device
• antiques worth more than $500 total
• jewelry worth more than $500 total, except wedding rings, and
• computers, motor vehicles, boats, and other motorized recreational equipment, aside from one personal computer and related equipment.

If an item doesn't fit this definition, look to a different federal exemption, your state's exemptions, or a wildcard exemption to protect it. But remember, you must choose either the federal exemptions or the state exemptions. You can't use both sets.

Federal Wildcard Exemption for Household Goods

The federal wildcard exemption lets you protect an additional $1,675 in any property, plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead exemption. (11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(5); valid for cases filed between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2028.)

Example. Say you own an antique table worth $1,800, which is $1,000 over the household individual item limit. You could use $1,000 of the federal wildcard exemption to fully protect the table.

Next Steps: When Household Goods Aren't Fully Exempt

Most filers walk away with everything. But you'll want to confirm your state's exemption list, value your property correctly, and know how to fill out Schedule A/B: Your Property, the bankruptcy form where you list your personal property. In the meantime, these articles explain more and provide tips about the bankruptcy process:

• What Can I Do If I Can't Afford a Bankruptcy Lawyer
• Will I Lose All My Property If I File for Bankruptcy?
• How Long Before Filing for Bankruptcy Are You Supposed to Stop Using Credit Cards?

General online information can't address the unique facts of your case. The best way to protect your property is by consulting a bankruptcy lawyer. You can find the forms on the U.S. Courts Bankruptcy Forms webpage.