Sizes guide
Dumpster sizes: 10 to 40 yard roll-offs
Roll-off dumpsters are sold by volume. A 20 yard box holds about 20 cubic yards of debris. Below is what each size often measures and what it usually suits. Sizes and weight allowances vary by company, and the company confirms both on the call.
Phones answered Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm, Sun 8 am–1 pm (Eastern)
The five common sizes
| Size | Often about (L x W x H) | A rough picture | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | 12 ft x 8 ft x 3.5 ft | 3 to 4 pickup-bed loads | Concrete, dirt or brick; one bathroom; a small garage |
| 15 yard | 16 ft x 8 ft x 4 ft | About 5 pickup-bed loads | A kitchen remodel; an attic plus a basement |
| 20 yard | 22 ft x 8 ft x 4 ft | 6 to 8 pickup-bed loads | A one-layer roof tear-off; flooring throughout a floor; a packed two-car garage |
| 30 yard | 22 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft | 9 to 12 pickup-bed loads | Clearing a whole house; a large remodel with demolition |
| 40 yard | 22 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft | 12 or more pickup-bed loads | Large amounts of light, bulky material |
Dimensions are typical, not exact. Two companies' 20 yard boxes can differ by a foot or two in length or height.
Volume and weight are two different limits
Every rental comes with a weight allowance as well as a size. Light, bulky things such as furniture and cardboard fill the box long before they get heavy. Dense debris works the other way: shingles, plaster, tile, wet soil and concrete reach the weight allowance while the container still looks half empty.
That is why heavy jobs use the small sizes. A 10 yard roll-off loaded with broken concrete can weigh as much as a 30 yard full of household junk. Going over the allowance usually means an extra charge, and some companies won't move a container that is overloaded.
Size by size
10 yard
Low walls, so it is easy to lift things over the side. The usual choice for heavy material and small single-room projects.
15 yard
A step up for one large room. Fits on most single-car driveways with some room to walk past.
20 yard
Often the default for homeowner roofs and serious garage or basement clearing.
30 yard
Taller walls, so a walk-in rear door helps. Suits clearing a full house before a sale or move.
40 yard
Big enough that loading the top half is awkward without steps. Few house projects need it.
Not sure?
Read choosing a size for a quick way to estimate your pile.
Rail length and the driveway
The longer sizes need about the same footprint, roughly 22 feet, so a 20, 30 and 40 yard box take up a similar slice of driveway. What changes is the height. A 10 or 15 yard box is shorter, which helps on short Grand Rapids driveways that end at a detached garage. Tell the company how long your driveway is and whether anything overhangs it.
Ready to book a roll-off?
Have the address, the project and a rough idea of how much is going in. The company on the phone quotes the size, the drop-off date and the price.
Phones answered Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm, Sun 8 am–1 pm (Eastern)