How dumpster sizes work
Roll-off dumpsters are measured in cubic yards – the volume they hold. One cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side. A 20 yard dumpster therefore holds about 20 of those cubes, or 540 cubic feet of debris. Exact dimensions vary by manufacturer, but the size classes are the same everywhere: 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Porta potty and small 2 to 8 yard front-load bins are a different product and are usually rented for ongoing trash, not for projects.
Every container also has a weight allowance, usually stated in tons. The provider pays the landfill or recycling facility by weight, so the allowance is built into your price and anything above it is billed extra. That is why the right size depends on what you throw away, not only on how much.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Typical projects | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | Garage or attic cleanout, small bathroom remodel, small roof, concrete, brick or dirt | The go-to size for heavy material. Fits in most driveways. |
| 15 yard | Larger cleanouts, deck removal, smaller kitchen remodel | Not every provider offers it. |
| 20 yard | Kitchen remodel, flooring throughout a house, most single-family roofs, whole-house cleanout | The most popular all-rounder for homeowners. |
| 30 yard | Major renovation, large estate cleanout, new home framing | Needs a long driveway or a street spot. |
| 40 yard | New construction, commercial cleanouts, large demolition of light material | Too big for most residential lots; not for heavy debris. |
Weight allowances differ by provider and region. As a rough orientation from industry sources, 10 yard containers are often rated for about 2 to 3 tons, 20 yard containers for about 3 to 4 tons and 30 yard containers for about 4.5 to 6 tons. Road-weight limits on the truck cap how much any container can carry, no matter how much room is left. Always confirm the allowance in your quote.
Why weight matters as much as volume
Materials differ enormously in weight per cubic yard. Old furniture, cardboard and yard trimmings are bulky and light. Shingles, tile, plaster, concrete, brick and soil are dense and heavy. Two examples:
- Roofing: asphalt shingles weigh roughly 230 to 250 pounds per square (100 square feet) for 3-tab and about 400 to 430 pounds per square for architectural shingles, according to Dumpsters.com. A 25-square roof of architectural shingles comes to about 5 tons – before nails, underlayment and a second layer.
- Concrete and dirt: these fill the weight allowance of a container long before they fill its volume. That is why providers put them in small containers and often ask you to fill only partway. See dumpsters for concrete and dirt.
Going over the allowance is the most common reason a final bill is higher than the quote. In Houston, for example, Angi lists $100 to $200 per ton over the limit.
Picking a size by project
Cleanouts
A one-car garage or an attic usually fits in a 10 yard container. A whole house with furniture, a basement and a garage usually needs a 20 yard dumpster, and a large estate cleanout may need a 30. Household junk is light, so volume decides here. See home cleanout dumpsters.
Remodels
A small bathroom remodel fits in a 10 yard container. A kitchen remodel with cabinets, countertops and flooring is typically a 20 yard job. If you are tearing out tile, plaster or mortar beds, remember that these are heavy and tell the provider.
Roofs
Most single-family roofs go into a 10 to 20 yard container with a suitable weight allowance. More squares, more layers, architectural shingles or tile all push the weight up. Measure your roof in squares (or ask your roofer) before you call. See roofing dumpsters.
Yard and storm cleanups
Branches and brush are bulky but light, so a 20 or 30 yard container often works. Stumps, soil and sod are heavy. Some providers want yard waste kept separate from other debris, so mention it when you call.
Construction
New home framing and larger renovations commonly use 30 or 40 yard containers, sometimes several hauls. Contractors often order separate containers for clean concrete, metal or wood where local recycling rules or better pricing make that worthwhile – in California, for example, CALGreen requires many projects to recycle or salvage at least 65% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. See construction dumpsters.
A worked example: kitchen remodel
Say you are gutting a mid-size kitchen: upper and lower cabinets, a laminate countertop, a vinyl floor over plywood, a section of drywall and the old appliances. The cabinets and drywall are bulky but moderately light. The countertop and flooring add some weight. The appliances may not be allowed at all, or only with a surcharge – especially the refrigerator, because of its refrigerant (see what you can’t put in a dumpster).
For a job like that, most providers suggest a 20 yard container. If the same kitchen had a tile floor on a mortar bed and a stone countertop, the weight would jump, and a provider might recommend keeping the 20 yard size but checking that the weight allowance is high enough – or putting the tile and mortar into a small separate container.
Measure before you call
A few numbers make the phone call much faster and the size recommendation more accurate:
- Roof: size in squares (100 square feet each), number of layers and type of shingle or tile.
- Flooring: square footage and material (carpet, vinyl, hardwood, tile).
- Demolition: which walls, decks or structures come down, and what they are made of.
- Cleanouts: how many rooms, and whether the garage, basement or attic is included.
- Concrete or soil: area and approximate thickness or depth.
- Placement: driveway length and width, slope, and any overhead lines or low branches.
Space and placement
Bigger containers need more room: length for the container and space for the truck to set it down and pick it up. Measure your driveway, look up for power lines and branches, and think about where the truck will turn. Tight intown streets and hillside lots often mean a smaller container, even if the job is big – two hauls of a 20 yard container can be easier than one 40.
If the only spot is the street, you may need a permit. See Do I need a permit for a dumpster?
Still unsure? Size up, except for heavy debris
For light debris, one size larger is usually cheaper than a second haul. For heavy debris, the opposite is true: a bigger container does not raise the weight limit enough, and a partly filled small container is the safer choice. When you call, the provider will ask what you are working on and recommend a size. You decide whether to book.