Sizing
How to choose a dumpster size
Most people guess too small, then pay for a second haul. Ten minutes with a tape measure gets you closer.
Answered Mon–Sat 8am–8pm, Sun 8am–1pm (Eastern)
Four steps
Picture the pile
Imagine everything leaving the house heaped in the driveway. Pace out its length and width and guess the height. Multiply and divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Add air
Furniture, branches and boxes don't pack flat. Add a third to your number for bulky loads.
Sort by weight
If more than a small share is shingles, tile, plaster, soil or concrete, the weight limit sets the size. Tell the company what the heavy part is.
Check the space
Measure the driveway. A 20 and a 40 often have the same footprint, but you still need room for the truck to back in and tip it off.
Caught between two sizes
For light, bulky debris, the larger size usually costs less than a second container. For heavy debris it's the reverse: a bigger box just means more weight over the allowance.
If you really can't tell, describe the job room by room on the call. The company sees these loads every week and will tell you what usually fits.
Signs you've sized too small
- Debris stacked above the top rail. Most companies won't haul an overfilled container.
- Tarp straining over the load.
- More than a third of the job still in the house when the box is full.
If that happens, ask about a swap: they take the full one and leave an empty. See the sizes chart for typical dimensions.
Talk to a local dumpster company
Have your address, the project and a rough start date handy. The company will suggest a size and tell you the price, the weight allowance and when it can bring the container.
Answered Mon–Sat 8am–8pm, Sun 8am–1pm (Eastern)
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