Which dumpster size do I 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.
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.
Debris weights behind the estimate (US EPA)
| Material (loose) | Lbs per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Leaves | 250-500 |
| Branches and stumps | 127 |
| Mixed MSW, uncompacted (residential/commercial) | 250-300 |
| Major appliances | 145 |
| Carpet | 147 |
Assumptions (ours, not EPA's)
- Roof: 0.34 cu yd of torn-off shingles per roofing square (100 sq ft) per layer, weighed at EPA’s 731 lbs/cu yd for composition roofing.
- Interior demo: 0.05 cu yd per sq ft of floor area gutted (a 200 sq ft kitchen ~ 10 cu yd), at 417 lbs/cu yd mixed C&D.
- Cleanout: 3 cu yd per furnished room, at 275 lbs/cu yd (mid-point of EPA’s 250-300 for loose mixed MSW).
- Pickup-truck load: about 3 cu yd (Dumpsters.com equates a 20-yard to about 6 pickup loads).
- Allowances: 2 tons (10-15 yd), 3 (20), 4 (30), 5 (40) - typical, not universal.
Related
Operators: embed this calculator on your site
Run a roll-off company? Put the 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
Frequently asked questions
What size dumpster do I need for a roof?
By volume, one layer of shingles on a 25-30 square roof is about 9-11 cubic yards, but at our estimate of about 250 lbs per square per layer (0.34 cu yd at the EPA factor of 731 lbs/cu yd for roofing) it weighs roughly 3-4 tons. Many haulers put roofs in a 10- or 15-yard with a higher tonnage allowance.
What size dumpster for a kitchen remodel?
A typical 150-250 sq ft kitchen gut is about 8-13 cubic yards of debris - a 10- or 15-yard dumpster.
How many tons can a 20-yard dumpster hold?
It depends on the hauler’s allowance and road-weight limits, not just the box. Published allowances run 2-4 tons for a 20-yard.
Can I put this calculator on my website?
Yes, free. Fill in the embed form above and the copy-paste code appears instantly; paste it into any page builder that accepts HTML.
Sources
- US EPA - Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors for Solid Waste (April 2016) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Dumpsters.com - Roll-off dumpster sizes (accessed 2026-09-23)
- Sourgum - Dumpster sizes (accessed 2026-09-23)