Dumpster Size Calculator
Match a roll-off to your debris — checked against the box volume and the tonnage limit.
Recommended size
30 yd³
- Debris volume
- 14.2 yd³
- Space needed (+15% slack)
- 16.4 yd³
- Estimated weight
- 3.56 tons
- Box dimensions
- 22 × 8 × 6 ft
- Tonnage included
- 4.0 tons
- Weight is the constraint
- 20 yd³ holds the volume but is 0.56 tons over
Box dimensions and included tonnage vary by hauler — confirm both when booking, and ask what the overage rate per ton is.
Every size against your load
| Size | Dimensions | Tonnage | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yd³ | 12 × 8 × 3.5 ft | 2.0 tons | Too small for the volume |
| 15 yd³ | 16 × 8 × 4 ft | 2.5 tons | Too small for the volume |
| 20 yd³ | 22 × 8 × 4.5 ft | 3.0 tons | Over weight by 0.56 tons |
| 30 yd³ | 22 × 8 × 6 ft | 4.0 tons | Fits |
| 40 yd³ | 22 × 8 × 8 ft | 5.0 tons | Fits |
Clearing a lot instead? Price the haul-off with the land clearing calculator →
How this is calculated
debris yd³ = (L × W × H) / 27
space needed = debris yd³ × (1 + slack%)
weight = debris yd³ × density / 2,000
recommended = smallest box where
box yd³ ≥ space needed
AND box tonnage ≥ weightWeight is calculated from the debris volume rather than the padded volume, because air gaps do not weigh anything — padding the volume for slack but not for weight is what keeps the two checks honest. Both conditions must pass for a size to be recommended, which is why dense material like concrete or soil returns a small box: the tonnage runs out while the box still looks half empty.
Typical debris weight
| Material | Density | Weight of 10 yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Household cleanout, junk | 150 lb/yd³ | 0.8 tons |
| Yard waste, branches | 250 lb/yd³ | 1.3 tons |
| Furniture, carpet, mattresses | 200 lb/yd³ | 1.0 tons |
| Mixed construction debris | 500 lb/yd³ | 2.5 tons |
| Lumber, drywall, framing | 400 lb/yd³ | 2.0 tons |
| Roofing shingles | 1,400 lb/yd³ | 7.0 tons |
| Dirt, soil, sand | 2,200 lb/yd³ | 11.0 tons |
| Concrete, brick, asphalt | 2,700 lb/yd³ | 13.5 tons |
Densities are for loose, as-thrown material and are the figures this calculator uses. Wet debris weighs materially more than the same load dry — soil and yard waste after rain can run 20 to 30% heavier.
Frequently asked questions
What size dumpster do I need?
For a single room cleanout or a small bathroom remodel a 10 yard box is usually enough, a whole-house declutter or kitchen remodel tends to want 20 yards, and a full gut or new construction runs 30 to 40. The honest answer depends on both how much space the debris takes and how much it weighs, which is why this calculator checks each size against volume and tonnage separately.
Why does weight matter more than size for concrete?
Because heavy material hits the tonnage limit long before the box looks full. Broken concrete runs around 2,700 lb per cubic yard, so four yards of it already weighs more than a 10 yard box typically includes. Haulers often refuse to lift an overloaded box at all, and many restrict concrete and dirt to 10 yard containers for exactly this reason.
How much does going over the weight limit cost?
Overage is normally billed per ton above the included tonnage, commonly $50 to $150 per ton depending on local landfill rates. It is charged on the scale ticket, so it appears after the haul rather than at booking. Estimating the weight up front is the only way to avoid the surprise.
How many cubic yards is a pickup truck load?
A standard full-size pickup bed holds roughly 2 to 2.5 cubic yards heaped. A 10 yard dumpster is therefore about four pickup loads, and a 20 yard is about eight — a useful sanity check when you have already been hauling loads yourself.
Should I round up to the next size?
Usually yes, when volume is the constraint. The price difference between adjacent sizes is typically far smaller than the cost of a second haul, and debris estimates run low more often than high. When weight is the constraint the logic reverses — a bigger box does not raise the tonnage allowance much, so splitting heavy material across two hauls can be cheaper.
What cannot go in a dumpster?
Paint, solvents, oil, batteries, tyres, appliances containing refrigerant, asbestos and most electronics are excluded almost everywhere, and mattresses often carry a surcharge. Rules vary by hauler and by state, so confirm the prohibited list before loading rather than after, since a contaminated load can be rejected whole.
Results are planning estimates. Box dimensions, included tonnage, overage rates and prohibited materials vary by hauler and by jurisdiction, and placing a container on a street usually needs a permit. Confirm the details with your hauler before booking.