Dumpster size guide
What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Most garage cleanouts fit a 15-yard dumpster, most kitchen remodels and single-layer roofs fit a 20-yard, additions and full guts need a 30-yard, and demolition or new construction a 40-yard. Concrete and dirt go in a 10 or 15-yard filled halfway. Use the picker below, or call.
How do the five dumpster sizes compare side by side?
The 10-yard is 12 feet long and 3.5 feet tall; the 15-yard is 16 feet long; the 20, 30 and 40-yard are all about 22 feet long, at 4, 6 and 8 feet tall. So the three largest take the same driveway spot. Included weight runs from 2 tons to 5 tons.
Dumpster dimensions, weight limits and best uses
Every size includes delivery, pickup and 7 days. Included weight is 2 tons for the 10-yard, 2.5 for the 15-yard, 3 for the 20-yard, 4 for the 30-yard and 5 tons for the 40-yard. Weight over that is $75 per ton, billed by the exact pound.
| Size | Outside dimensions | Weight included | Rental | Pickup loads | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 12′ L × 8′ W × 3.5′ H | 2 tons | 7 days | about 3–4 | Concrete, dirt or brick (half full), a bathroom remodel, a one-room cleanout (heavy debris OK) |
| 15-yard | 16′ L × 7.5′ W × 4.5′ H | 2.5 tons | 7 days | about 5–6 | A garage cleanout, a small roof, flooring or a deck tear-out (heavy debris OK) |
| 20-yard | 22′ L × 8′ W × 4′ H | 3 tons | 7 days | about 7–8 | A whole-house declutter, a kitchen remodel, most single-layer roofs |
| 30-yard | 22′ L × 8′ W × 6′ H | 4 tons | 7 days | about 10–12 | Home additions, large construction jobs, estate cleanouts with furniture |
| 40-yard | 22′ L × 7.5′ W × 8′ H | 5 tons | 7 days | about 12–16 | Major demolitions, new construction and large commercial projects |
Every rental includes delivery, pickup, the listed tons and 7 days. Weight over the included tons is billed at $75 per ton by the exact pound from the landfill scale ticket (how weight is billed). Pickup loads assume an 8-ft truck bed filled level, about 2.5 to 3 cubic yards.
Which dumpster size fits my project?
Match the project and its scale. A one-bathroom remodel fits a 10-yard, a kitchen fits a 20-yard, and a roof is sized by squares and layers. Heavy debris changes everything: concrete and dirt use only the 10 or 15-yard, filled halfway, whatever the amount.
| Project | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home or garage cleanout | 10-yard | 15-yard | 20-yard |
| Roof tear-off (one layer) | 15-yard (under 15 squares) | 20-yard (15–25 squares) | 30-yard (25+ squares) |
| Remodel | 10-yard (one bathroom) | 20-yard (kitchen) | 30-yard (full gut) |
| Construction or demolition | 20-yard | 30-yard | 40-yard (5 tons included) |
| Yard or fence work | 10-yard | 15-yard | 20-yard |
| Concrete, dirt, brick, sand | 10-yard, half full | 10 or 15-yard, half full | 15-yard, half full, more than one haul |
How the picker works: it reads this table. Heavy debris always returns a 10 or 15-yard because those are the only sizes we allow for concrete, dirt, brick and sand. Sizes are typical fits, not guarantees.
What happens if I pick the wrong dumpster size?
Too small means a second haul: a swap is billed as a new rental with its own 7 days and included tons. Too big means paying for space you don't use. Between two sizes, the larger dumpster almost always costs less than a second haul.
Weight matters as much as space. A 20-yard full of drywall and tile can pass 3 tons before it looks full, so for dense debris, size by weight. The weight and billing guide has the math.
Pick a size by project
Or go straight to a size
FAQ
Dumpster size questions
What is the most common dumpster size for a house cleanout?
A 15-yard dumpster fits most garage and partial-house cleanouts. Clearing every room of a 3-bedroom house, furniture included, usually takes a 20-yard.
What does "yard" mean in a 20-yard dumpster?
Yard means cubic yards of space. One cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet, so a 20-yard dumpster holds about 540 cubic feet of debris.
Should I get the bigger dumpster if I'm unsure?
Round up when you're between two sizes. A swap for a second haul is billed as a full new rental, while the step up to the next size usually costs less.
Which dumpster sizes take concrete?
Only the 10-yard and 15-yard take concrete, dirt, brick and sand, loaded no higher than halfway up the walls. Highway weight limits make bigger sizes unsafe for heavy debris.
How do I compare dumpster sizes to a pickup truck?
An 8-foot pickup bed filled level holds about 2.5 to 3 cubic yards. That makes a 10-yard about 3 to 4 loads and a 40-yard about 12 to 16 loads.
Still not sure which size?
Describe the job on the phone. We'll size it by space and weight, and tell you the included tons before you book.