Before you start
- Empty the shed and set aside paint, fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, pool chemicals and batteries – they need special disposal.
- Check for utilities: sheds often have electrical lines or water lines. Have power disconnected by an electrician before demolition.
- Call 811 before digging out fence posts or footings, so underground lines are marked.
- Check the property line: for fences, make sure the fence is yours to remove. Shared fences need the neighbor’s agreement.
- Permits: small sheds and fences often don’t need a demolition permit, but rules differ. Check your city or HOA, especially if you plan to build a new fence, which usually has height and placement rules.
- Old materials: old sheds can have asbestos-cement siding or roofing, and older painted wood may contain lead. Test suspect materials first.
How much debris?
Sheds
- Small wood or metal shed (about 8 by 10 feet): usually fits in a 10 yard container.
- Larger wood shed (about 10 by 16 feet or more) with a shingle roof: 10 to 20 yards.
- Shed on a concrete slab: the slab is heavy and belongs in a small separate container – see concrete and dirt disposal.
- Metal sheds: light and bulky; often worth taking to a scrap metal recycler instead.
Fences
- Wood privacy fence: panels are bulky but fairly light; providers often suggest a 20 yard container for a typical backyard privacy fence. Cutting panels into sections and stacking them flat lets you fit much more.
- Chain-link fence: the fabric rolls up tightly and is scrap metal; posts are often set in concrete.
- Vinyl fence: light but bulky.
- Concrete post footings: each footing is a small, heavy block of concrete. Many footings together add real weight – keep them separate if the provider asks.
Treated wood
Fence posts, rails and shed floors are often pressure-treated wood. Older treated wood may contain chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which manufacturers stopped using for most residential products at the end of 2003. The EPA says CCA-treated wood can usually be disposed of with ordinary trash, but local rules may differ, and it should never be burned at home or reused as mulch. Wear gloves and a dust mask when cutting it. See also deck removal.
Step by step: removing a wood fence
- Remove gates and hardware.
- Unscrew or cut the panels or boards from the rails.
- Cut the rails from the posts.
- Pull posts: dig around concrete footings and lever them out, or cut posts at ground level if you are not reinstalling in the same spots.
- Stack boards flat and load them into the container in layers.
- Fill post holes and sweep for nails and screws.
Step by step: removing a wood shed
- Empty the shed and disconnect utilities.
- Remove doors, windows and anything salvageable.
- Remove roofing material, then the roof sheathing and rafters.
- Take down the walls, one at a time, keeping clear of falling sections.
- Remove the floor and floor frame or break up the slab.
- Load the container as you go and clean the site.
Larger sheds, sheds with heavy roofs and anything with structural damage can collapse unexpectedly. When in doubt, hire a professional.
Where to put the container
Backyard projects are easier when the container is close to the work, but the truck needs firm ground and space. Driveways are usually best; containers on lawns can sink after rain. Plan a clear carrying path from the backyard to the container, and protect the driveway with boards – see how to protect your driveway.
Metal and vinyl sheds
Metal sheds come apart with a drill-driver and a nut driver in a few hours: roof panels first, then walls, then the frame. The panels have sharp edges, so wear cut-resistant gloves. Steel and aluminum are worth taking to a scrap metal recycler rather than filling a container with them. Plastic and vinyl sheds usually unbolt too; the panels are bulky but light and go in the container. If the shed sits on a wooden base or a gravel pad, plan what you will do with the base – wood goes in the container, gravel can often stay or be reused.
Cost overview
For a DIY removal, the main cost is the container – Angi’s national average for a dumpster rental is about $384, with most people paying $294 to $480 – plus any tool rental. If you hire a handyman or fence company to remove a fence or shed, ask whether haul-away is included; many fence installers include removal of the old fence in the price of a new one.
Fence replacement: planning the new fence
If you are replacing the fence rather than just removing it, check the rules for the new one before you tear the old one down. Cities typically limit fence height in front and back yards, and HOAs often specify materials and colors. Some cities require a permit for new fences over a certain height. Plan the removal and the installation together so your yard isn’t open longer than necessary – especially if you have pets or a pool, where a barrier may be required.
Common mistakes
- Removing a shared fence without asking: talk to your neighbor first; the fence may be jointly owned.
- Hitting underground lines: call 811 before digging out posts.
- Burning old wood: treated wood must never be burned.
- Overloading with concrete: many post footings together are heavy; keep them separate if asked.
- Forgetting the shed contents: chemicals and fuel stored in sheds need special disposal.
Time and tools
A small shed or a short run of fence is often a one-day job for two people. Useful tools include a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, a pry bar, a drill-driver, a sledgehammer, a digging bar and a wheelbarrow. Wear gloves, eye protection and sturdy boots, and keep children and pets away from the work area.
Reuse and recycling
- Metal sheds and chain-link fences: scrap metal recyclers.
- Sound fence panels and gates: neighbors, reuse stores or online marketplaces.
- Untreated wood: firewood or wood recycling where available – never treated wood.
How our service fits in
Local Dumpster Network is a free referral service. When you call, you are connected with an independent, local dumpster provider that serves your ZIP code. Tell them the shed size or the fence length and material, and they will recommend a container.