What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Most garage cleanouts fit a 15-yard dumpster and most kitchen remodels fit a 20-yard dumpster. Concrete and dirt go in a 10- or 15-yard dumpster, filled halfway. Large construction jobs need a 30-yard dumpster. All four sizes include 7 days and 2 to 4 tons.
Dumpster size chart: dimensions and weight
Cade Bros rents four roll-off dumpster sizes. The 10-yard is 12 feet long and includes 2 tons. The 15-yard is 16 feet long and includes 2.5 tons. The 20-yard and 30-yard are both 22 feet long and include 3 and 4 tons. Every rental runs 7 days.
| Size | Dimensions | About | Weight included | Rental | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 12′ × 8′ × 3.5′ | 3 to 5 pickup loads | 2 tons (4,000 lb) | 7 days | Concrete, dirt and small bathroom remodels |
| 15-yard | 16′ × 7.5′ × 4.5′ | 5 to 7 pickup loads | 2.5 tons (5,000 lb) | 7 days | Garage cleanouts and small roof replacements |
| 20-yard | 22′ × 8′ × 4′ | 7 to 10 pickup loads | 3 tons (6,000 lb) | 7 days | Whole-house decluttering and kitchen remodels. No heavy debris |
| 30-yard | 22′ × 8′ × 6′ | 10 to 15 pickup loads | 4 tons (8,000 lb) | 7 days | Large construction sites and home additions. No heavy debris |
Find your size in two questions
Choose your project and how big the job is, and the picker suggests a dumpster size. It starts from the size we recommend for each project and moves one size up or down for bigger or smaller jobs. Heavy debris always stays in a 10- or 15-yard dumpster.
| Project | Small job | Medium job | Large job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete, dirt, brick or sand | 10-yard | 10-yard | 15-yard |
| Bathroom remodel | 10-yard | 10-yard | 15-yard |
| Garage cleanout | 10-yard | 15-yard | 20-yard |
| Roof replacement (shingles) | 15-yard | 20-yard | 30-yard |
| Kitchen remodel | 15-yard | 20-yard | 20-yard |
| Whole-house cleanout or move | 15-yard | 20-yard | 30-yard |
| Construction or home addition | 20-yard | 30-yard | 30-yard |
What if I pick the wrong dumpster size?
A dumpster that's too small costs you a second rental, because a swap for an empty dumpster is billed as a new flat-rate rental. A dumpster that's too big means paying for space you don't use. For light debris, round up. For heavy debris, round down and fill only halfway.
Weight matters as much as space. A dumpster can look half empty and still go over its included tons if it holds tile, plaster or wet debris. Any weight over the limit is $75 per ton, charged by the exact pound. How dumpster weight is billed
Will a dumpster fit in my driveway?
The 10-yard dumpster needs a spot about 12 feet long, the 15-yard about 16 feet, and the 20- and 30-yard dumpsters about 22 feet. All are about 8 feet wide. The truck also needs a clear, straight path to back in, with no low wires or branches above it.
Dumpster size questions
Is it better to go bigger if I'm between two dumpster sizes?
For light debris like furniture, boxes and remodel waste, the bigger size is usually cheaper than a second haul, because a swap is billed as a full new rental. For concrete, dirt or other heavy debris, stay small: those loads are limited to the 10- and 15-yard dumpsters and can only fill halfway.
Why do the 20-yard and 30-yard dumpsters have the same length?
Both are 22 feet long and 8 feet wide. The 30-yard dumpster has 6-foot walls instead of 4-foot walls, so it holds more without taking up more driveway. It also includes 4 tons instead of 3.
What does "yard" mean in dumpster sizes?
A yard is a cubic yard of space: 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. A 20-yard dumpster holds about 20 cubic yards of debris, or roughly 7 to 10 level pickup-truck loads.
Can I put heavy debris in a 20-yard or 30-yard dumpster?
No. Concrete, dirt, brick and sand go only in our 10- and 15-yard dumpsters, filled no higher than halfway up the walls. Highway weight limits make a bigger dumpster full of heavy debris unsafe and illegal to haul.
Which dumpster size do most homeowners rent?
It depends on the job. A garage cleanout usually fits a 15-yard dumpster, a kitchen remodel or whole-house cleanout usually fits a 20-yard dumpster, and a small bathroom remodel fits a 10-yard dumpster. Call us and describe the job if you want a second opinion.
Still not sure which size?
Describe your project on the phone and we'll match the size before anything is delivered.