Dimensions and weight limits by size
| Size | WastePlace L x W x H | Sourgum L x W x H | Dumpsters.com weight limit | Sourgum weight limit | Pickup loads (Dumpsters.com) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | 14' x 7.5' x 3.5' | 13' x 8' x 3.5' | 1-2 tons | 2-3 tons | 3 |
| 15 yard | 16' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 16' x 8' x 3.5' | 1-2 tons | 2-3 tons | 4-5 |
| 20 yard | 22' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 22' x 8' x 3.5' | 2-3 tons | 3-4 tons | 6 |
| 30 yard | 22' x 7.5' x 6' | 22' x 8' x 5' | 2-4 tons | 4-5 tons | 9 |
| 40 yard | 22' x 7.5' x 8' | 22' x 8' x 7' | 4-5 tons | 5-6 tons | 12 |
- Founding price: $99/mo flat, up to 3 trucks
- Your $49 deposit counts toward your first month
- Confirmation emailed to you after purchase
Your founding-member confirmation is emailed to you after purchase. Your $49 counts toward your first month and is fully refundable any time before you start. Refund policy
Which size for which project
| Size | Typical use (per Dumpsters.com) |
|---|---|
| 10 yard | Heavy debris, light renovation |
| 15 yard | Medium cleanouts, kitchen remodels |
| 20 yard | Whole-house cleanouts, home renovation |
| 30 yard | Estate cleanouts, major construction |
| 40 yard | Commercial renovations |
Not sure? The dumpster size calculator estimates volume and tons from your project.
Weight, not volume, is usually the real limit
A 20-yard full of shingles weighs far more than a 20-yard full of furniture. US EPA conversion factors: composition roofing ~731 lbs per loose cubic yard, concrete ~860, dirt and sand ~929, mixed C&D ~417, loose household waste 250-300. Ten yards of dirt is about 4.6 tons - more than most 20-yard allowances - which is why haulers often limit dirt and concrete to 10-yard containers.
Debris weight per cubic yard (US EPA)
| Material (loose) | Lbs / cu yd |
|---|---|
| Mixed construction & demolition (C&D) | 417 |
| C&D bulk | 484 |
| Composition / asphalt roofing | 731 |
| Gypsum board (clean or demo) | 467 |
| Dimensional lumber / painted or treated wood | 169 |
| Engineered wood | 268 |
| Concrete (large or small, with or without rebar) | 860 |
| Asphalt paving | 773 |
| Dirt and sand | 929 |
| Rock / gravel | 999 |
| Mixed yard waste, uncompacted | 250 |
Which size do you need?
Pick the project, enter its size, and get a container size plus an estimated weight. Weights use US EPA volume-to-weight factors for loose debris.
- Founding price: $99/mo flat, up to 3 trucks
- Your $49 deposit counts toward your first month
- Confirmation emailed to you after purchase
Your founding-member confirmation is emailed to you after purchase. Your $49 counts toward your first month and is fully refundable any time before you start. Refund policy
Estimate only. Heavy debris (dirt, concrete, shingles) usually hits the weight limit before the container is full, and many haulers restrict heavy loads to 10-yard containers. Confirm with your hauler.
Operators: embed this calculator on your site
Run a roll-off company? Put the dumpster size calculator on your own website so customers can work it out before they call. Free: enter your details and the copy-paste embed code appears right here. It works in WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or plain HTML. (Branded, book-it-now ordering is what RollOffDesk online ordering is being built to do.)
Software for roll-off operators
- Founding price: $99/mo flat, up to 3 trucks
- Your $49 deposit counts toward your first month
- Confirmation emailed to you after purchase
Your founding-member confirmation is emailed to you after purchase. Your $49 counts toward your first month and is fully refundable any time before you start. Refund policy
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 20-yard dumpster?
Typically about 22 ft long, 7.5-8 ft wide and 3.5-4.5 ft high. Dumpsters.com lists 22 x 7.5 x 4.5 ft; Sourgum lists 22 x 8 x 3.5 ft.
What are the dimensions of a 30-yard dumpster?
About 22 ft long, 7.5-8 ft wide and 5-6 ft high (WastePlace: 22 x 7.5 x 6 ft; Sourgum: 22 x 8 x 5 ft).
What is the weight limit on a dumpster?
Set by the hauler. Published allowances: 10-yard 1-3 tons, 20-yard 2-4 tons, 30-yard 2-5 tons, 40-yard 4-6 tons, depending on the company.
What size dumpster is most common?
The 20-yard is the usual residential choice for whole-house cleanouts and renovations.
How many pickup-truck loads fit in a dumpster?
Dumpsters.com: about 3 (10-yard), 4-5 (15), 6 (20), 9 (30) and 12 (40).
Sources
- WastePlace - Roll-off dumpster sizes guide (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Sourgum - Dumpster sizes (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Dumpsters.com - Roll-off dumpster sizes (accessed 2026-09-23)
- US EPA - Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors for Solid Waste (April 2016) (accessed 2026-09-23)