Sizing Up Your Junk: A Guide to Dumpster Sizes

Common Sizes

You’ve probably heard of dumpster rentals as a good option for junk removal , but do you know what size is right for you?

Before your next home renovation or remodeling, check out this guide to dumpster sizes.

Dumpsters for rent are measured in cubic yards, which are exactly:

3ft in height x 3ft. In width x 3ft. in length

Typical dumpster sizes are:

• 10 yard
• 20 yard
• 30 yard
• 40 yard

Choosing the right size

Renting a dumpster is a great option for home construction, demolition projects, cleanouts, and more.

So choosing the right size dumpster is important for everything to go smoothly. There are a few ways to go about this.

For those who like numbers, there is actually a formula. If you know the dimensions of the dumpster in feet, you can figure out the number of cubic yards of debris the dumpster can hold by:

1. Multiplying the length x  width x height in feet to get total cubic feet
2. Then divide total cubic feet by 27 to get the number of cubic yards ((LxWxH)/27 = Cu. Yd.)

But for everyone else, you can always call the pros at your local dumpster rental company. Just let them know the details of your project, the type of waste material and size of your space, and they will be able to quickly help you determine the right size for you.

Which size makes sense for my project?

It’s important to remember that every project is different, so the size that may have worked for your neighbors project, may not work for yours. The amount and type of debris you wish to unload is a big factor to consider. Below are some examples of which sizes makes sense for certain projects.

10 YARD

• CAPACITY
  • 10 cubic yards of debris/materials
  • About 8ft wide and 12 ft long on average
  • About 3 – 5 standard pick up trucks worth of waste
• BENEFITS
  • Easy loading from any side due to low sides (a.k.a. “Lowboys”)
  • Designed for heavier materials like dirt, sand, concrete
  • Economical for small jobs
• GOOD FOR PROJECTS LIKE
• Small kitchen or bathroom remodel
  • Small deck removal (250 sq. ft.)
  • Attic cleanout
  • Shed cleanout
  • One car garage cleanout
  • Concrete or dirt removal
  • 20-25 square of single-layer roofing shingles (2,000 – 2,500 square feet)
  • Junk cleanout during a move

20 yard

• CAPACITY
  • 20 cubic yards of debris/materials
  • About 8ft wide and 22 ft long on average
  • About 10 pickup truck loads of debris
• BENEFITS
  • Ideal for home, garage and yard cleanouts
  • Great for home renovations and remodels
  • Includes hinged door for easier side loading

• GOOD FOR PROJECTS LIKE
  • Kitchen renovation
  • Bathroom renovation
  • 40-50 square of double-layer shingles (2,000 square ft. roof)
  • Garage demolition
  • Two-stall garage cleanout
  • Whole-home cleanouts (hoarding, foreclosure, estate)
  • 400-500 square foot deck removal
  • 40-50 square of roofing shingles
  • Offloading junk when moving in/out
  • Shed demolition
  • Inground swimming pool removal/demolition
  • New construction of a smaller barn or cabin
  • Yard waste removal

30 yard

• CAPACITY
  • 30 cubic yards of debris/materials
  • Typically 22 ft. L x 8ft. W x 6 ft. H
  • About 9 – 15 standard pick up trucks worth of waste
• BENEFITS
  • Ideal for medium/large projects
  • Ideal for bulky items
  • Hinged door for easy loading of larger items
• GOOD FOR PROJECTS LIKE
  • Clean up jobs as mentioned for 20-yard containers, but on a larger scale
  • Including new construction of a house or cottage
  • Two-car garage + shed+barn cleanouts
  • Moving in/out of a large residence
  • Whole-home cleanouts- including large appliances and furniture

40 yard

CAPACITY

• 40 cubic yards of debris/materials
• Typically 22 ft. L x 8ft. W x 8 ft. H

• BENEFITS
  • Used at commercial facilities and businesses
  • Not typically rented for home or small demolition projects
• GOOD FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL JOBS LIKE
  • Whole-home renovation
  • House demolition
  • New construction of a house
  • Commercial cleanouts
  • Commercial roofing replacements
  • Large deck removals (over 750 sq. ft.)

Pro Tips

Your local rental company will apprise you of some Do’s and Don’ts of dumpster rentals, especially if it’s your first go at it. Here are a few pro-tips to remember:

1. Be very detailed with the rental company. The more information they have about your projects and plans, the better they can give suggestions.
2. Measure, then measure again. Before you agree to a dumpster delivery, make sure you have measured the space for drop off. Make sure there are at least 6-8 ft of space ahead of the container where the hinged door will swing open. Allow for at least 3 feet on either side of the container and make sure it does not block pathways, driveways, sidewalks or roads.
3. Keep the container covered with a tarp when not in use. Dumpsters go off of weight, so you want to make sure anyone else is secretly dumping trash in your container when you’re not around. This is also to keep rain or branches from falling in as well, which adds to the weight as well.
4. Don’t overfill! To avoid overfilling fees or trip charges, make sure there is no debris or junk protruding over the edge of the top. This is also for safety reasons. You could receive a heavy fine if debris flies out from an overfilled container during transport.

Ready to get started? Our guys at Junk Pros are ready to answer any questions you have about dumpster rentals, junk removal and more.

Call us today (425) 320-5865