Size guide
What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Most home projects fit a 20-yard dumpster: a kitchen remodel, a whole-house cleanout or a single-layer roof. Pick a 10-yard for a bathroom or heavy debris, a 15-yard for a garage cleanout, and a 30-yard for construction. Each size includes 7 days and 2 to 6 tons.
Dumpster sizes compared side by side
Our roll-off dumpsters come in 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Length runs 12 to 22 ft and each is 7.5 to 8 ft wide. The 20, 30 and 40-yard share a 22-ft length, so the bigger boxes need no more driveway; they add wall height instead, 6 ft on the 30 and 8 ft on the 40.
| Size | Outside L × W × H | Pickup loads* | Tons included | Rental | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 12 × 8 × 3.5 ft | 3 to 4 | 2 tons | 7 days | Concrete, dirt, or a small bathroom remodel |
| 15-yard | 16 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft | 5 to 6 | 2.5 tons | 7 days | Garage cleanouts and small roof replacements |
| 20-yard | 22 × 8 × 4 ft | 7 to 9 | 3 tons | 7 days | Whole-house decluttering or a kitchen remodel |
| 30-yard | 22 × 8 × 6 ft | 10 to 13 | 4 tons | 7 days | Large construction sites or home additions |
| 40-yard | 22 × 7.5 × 8 ft | 12 to 16 | 5 to 6 tons | 7 days | Major demolitions, new construction and large commercial projects |
Dumpster size by project
Match the dumpster size to the project, then check the weight. A bathroom gut fits a 10-yard. A two-car garage cleanout fits a 15-yard. A kitchen remodel or roof up to about 25 squares fits a 20-yard. A home addition or new build fits a 30-yard. These fits are typical, not guaranteed.
| Project | Typical size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel (one room) | 10-yard | Tile, a tub and drywall are heavy for their volume |
| Concrete patio, dirt or brick | 10-yard or 15-yard | Heavy loads are limited to these sizes, half full |
| Garage or attic cleanout | 15-yard | Bulky but light household junk |
| Small roof (under about 15 squares) | 15-yard | Shingle weight stays near 2.5 tons |
| Roof tear-off, about 15 to 25 squares, one layer | 20-yard | Weight, not space, sets the limit |
| Kitchen remodel | 20-yard | Cabinets, counters and drywall fill volume fast |
| Whole-house cleanout or move | 20-yard | Furniture and boxes are bulky, not heavy |
| Home addition, new construction | 30-yard | Lumber, packaging and framing scrap |
| Major demolition, large commercial project | 40-yard | The most volume; 5 to 6 tons |
Project-specific sizing, with weight math, lives on the roofing dumpster, remodeling dumpster and home cleanout dumpster pages.
Why weight matters more than size
Weight sets your bill, size only sets the space. Each dumpster includes 2 to 6 tons, and every ton over that is $75, pro-rated by the pound. Shingles, tile, plaster and wet debris reach the weight limit before the dumpster looks full, so check weight before you go up a size.
The dumpster weight guide has a calculator that turns a scale ticket into a dollar figure.
Should I round up or down when unsure?
Round up one size when the debris is light, such as furniture, boxes, wood or drywall. Round down, or stay put, when the debris is heavy, such as shingles, tile or concrete. A bigger dumpster does not raise its legal weight, and a swap costs a full new rental.
Dumpster size questions
What is the most common dumpster size for a home project?
The 20-yard dumpster is the size most home projects land on, because it fits a kitchen remodel, a whole-house declutter, or most single-layer roof tear-offs, and it includes 3 tons. Pick the 15-yard for a garage and the 10-yard for a bathroom or heavy debris.
Is it cheaper to get a bigger dumpster than two small ones?
One correctly sized dumpster is almost always cheaper than two. A swap counts as a new rental, so a second haul costs a full rental again. Going one size up usually costs less than that second haul, as long as the debris is light.
How many pickup truck loads fit in a dumpster?
A 10-yard dumpster holds about 3 to 4 pickup loads, a 15-yard about 5 to 6, a 20-yard about 7 to 9, and a 30-yard about 10 to 13. These counts assume an 8-ft bed loaded level with the sides, about 2 to 3 cubic yards each.
Which dumpster sizes take concrete and dirt?
Concrete, dirt, brick and sand go only in the 10-yard and 15-yard dumpsters, loaded no higher than halfway up the walls. The limit keeps the loaded truck under highway legal weight. Clean, unmixed loads qualify for clean-fill pricing.
What happens if I pick a dumpster that is too small?
A dumpster that is too small means debris above the rim, and an overfilled container can't legally travel. You either remove the excess before pickup or book a swap, which counts as a new rental. When unsure with light debris, go one size up.
Talk to the dispatcher, not a call center
Not sure between two sizes?
Tell us the project and roughly how much debris. We'll confirm the size before the truck leaves the yard.