If you are planning to rent a roll-off dumpster for yard cleanup or home renovation, you would need to consider how big a dumpster you would need. The most common dumpster sizes are 10 yard, 15 yard, 20 yard and 30 yard dumpsters. The volume is calculated by multiplying the length, width and height of the container in feet and then divide by 27 to arrive at the number of cubic yards. For example, a 20 yard dumpster is 14ft x 8ft x 5ft. 14 x 8 x 5 is 560. Divide by 27 is 20.7, thus about 20 cubic yards.
In this article, we’ll describe these four sizes of trash containers and how you can estimate which size you will need.
What size is a 10-yard dumpster?
A 10 yard dumpster measures 14ft x 8ft x 3ft. The volume is roughly the equivalent of 50-70 trash bags, or 4 pickup trucks. (A standard pickup truck has a volume of 2.5 cubic yards.) When you rent a dumpster, you may have a weight limit as well. For example, at Zoom Disposal, a dumpster rental company in Framingham, MA, the weight limit for a 10 yard bin is about 1 ton (2000lbs) of garbage. If you have different types of waste, some much heavier than others, it may be worthwhile or necessary to rent separate bins for each type of waste. A 10 yard dumpster is considered a small dumpster and is perfect for a cleanup of a small attic or 2 rooms, small renovations like small rooms and sheds, or heavy debris removal.
What are the dimensions of a 15-yard dumpster?
The dimensions of a 15 yard dumpster are 14ft x 8ft x 4ft. It can hold approximately 80-100 trash bags and a general weight limit would be 2 tons (4000lbs). This is also considered a small roll-off dumpster rental.
What can fit in a 20 yard dumpster?
You can fit 110-130 33-gallon trash bags of waste in a 20-yard dumpster, or roughly 6-7 pickup truckloads. This dumpster size is suitable for residential decluttering, small home remodeling and roofing projects, or seasonal yard waste.
What does a 30 yard dumpster look like?
30 yard dumpsters are quite big, measuring 22ft x 8ft x 6ft. For this size, you can dispose of roughly 170+ trash bags of debris, up to about 4 tons (8000lbs). These containers are large enough for big residential or commercial renovation projects.
Estimating trash volume
Now that we have understood the capacity of different dumpster sizes, we need to know how much waste we are likely to produce for different kinds of projects. Below is a short list of common projects:
What size dumpster do I need for a residential cleanout?
For basement, garage and attic cleanout, you may need a 10 or 15 yard dumpster. For larger cleanouts involving apartments/condos or single-family homes, you can rent a 20 yard dumpster, which are large enough to hold furniture.
What size dumpster do I need for a kitchen remodel?
For most kitchen renovations, a 10 yard or 20 yard roll-off dumpster is sufficient. A 20 yard dumpster can hold countertop, kitchen cabinets, appliances, drywall, and flooring.
What dumpster size for home remodeling?
A 30 yard dumpster is the safest choice for most home remodeling projects. The sides are tall enough to accommodate larger debris, and they are available for rent at most dumpster rental companies.
What is the dumpster size for bathroom remodeling?
You can rent a 10 yard container for remodeling a small bathroom or half baths. If you are remodeling a large bathroom or your project involves disposing of bathtubs, you may need a 15 or 20 yard roll off dumpster.
What size dumpster do I need for roofing?
Roofing projects often involve asphalt, slate, metal roofing or shingles which can be quite heavy. A 10 or 20 cubic yard dumpster rental would be necessary to avoid exceeding weight limits, which can cost you more.
What dumpster size do I need for landscaping projects?
Landscaping projects generally do not produce much debris, so a 10-yard dumpster rental is likely to be sufficient, unless your project involves minor construction, then you may wish to estimate the need as a construction project.
What is the dumpster size for residential construction?
Most residential construction projects require a 30 yard dumpster. For projects that involve demolition or large residential complexes, you may need a 40 yard dumpster. These dumpsters have larger footprints than the small 10 or 20 yard dumpsters, and the 40 yard dumpster is also 8 foot tall which is likely to be too big for the typical single family house.
Bear in mind that construction debris such as cement and other heavy materials may exceed weight limits, so you should consider renting a 10 yard dumpster for these types of heavy construction waste.
What size dumpster to use for commercial construction?
Commercial construction projects are usually bigger and involve larger sites, so a 40 yard construction dumpster rental can most fittingly sit on those sites and handle the larger volume of construction and demolition waste.
How do I choose a dumpster size?
Choosing a dumpster size depends on several factors:
- Volume and weight of trash – this one is obvious. You need to estimate how much junk you have got for removal. The estimates above can serve as a guideline.
- Space available – the roll-off dumpster must be small enough to fit on your property safely and is still readily accessible by a dumpster truck for delivery and pickup. If you have a lot of trash but not enough space for a large trash container, one possible solution is to rent a small dumpster and have the company come to pick it up whenever it is full.
- Cost – renting a bigger dumpster may cost more, but it reduces the number of trips to the disposal facility. Sometimes it is a better option than renting a smaller dumpster.
Still not sure about which dumpster size you need? Call Zoom Disposal and our knowledgeable and friendly staff will gladly help you figure it out!
About Zoom Disposal Services
Based in Framingham, MA, Zoom Disposal Services offer dumpster rentals in Southborough, Framingham, Southborough, Natick, Wayland, Sherborn and surrounding areas. We're committed to providing an easy, smooth, and reliable service. Call us with any questions at (508) 740-8053.
