How to size it
Mode
Check a roll-off against typical tons, or turn a debris pile into a suggested box.
Debris
Household is light. Dirt, shingles, and concrete are the overweight ones. Mixed C&D sits in between.
Roll-off
How full
Do not heap above the water line. Full means to the rim, not a mountain.
Measure the debris pile, not the empty room. A kitchen’s cubic air is not 40 yards of cabinets.
Size and weight
- Loaded
- —
- Est. tons
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- Typical cap
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- Weight
- —
Pick a roll-off and a debris type.
This is not a hauler quote. Included weight, overage fees, permits, and placement vary by company and city. Typical caps used here: 2 tons on a 10- or 15-yard, 3 on a 20, 4 on a 30, 6 on a 40. Densities are loosely dumped DIY midpoints, not a scale ticket. No hazardous waste — wet paint, solvents, asbestos, batteries, tires, and appliances with refrigerant stay out. Ask the hauler what they will take.
Why weight, not just yards
A “10-yard” is a box of about 10 cubic yards. That is a volume. The truck still has an axle limit, and the rental still has an included tonnage. Light household junk can fill the box. Dirt, soil, concrete, and asphalt shingles hit the typical included weight after a couple of yards — you would be overweight with the box mostly empty.
Densities used here (pounds per cubic yard, loosely dumped): household junk 250, mixed construction debris 450, asphalt shingles 2,000, dirt/soil 2,200, broken concrete 4,000. A 10-yard of dirt is 11 tons versus a typical 2-ton included weight. A 20-yard of household junk is 2.5 tons versus a typical 3-ton cap.
yards_loaded = size × fill
tons = yards_loaded × lbs_per_yard / 2,000
status = tons vs typical included tons
max_yards = included_tons × 2,000 / lbs_per_yard
pile_yards = L × W × H / 27
suggest = smallest box that holds yards and tons
(dirt / concrete / shingles: 10-yard pulls)
Example: 10-yard, dirt, full → 10 × 2,200 / 2,000 = 11 tons vs 2 tons typical — overweight at about 1.8 yards (18% full). 20-yard, household, full → 20 × 250 / 2,000 = 2.5 tons vs 3 tons typical — under a typical cap.
FAQ
What do 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yard dumpsters mean on this page?
A yard here is a cubic yard of volume, not a project nickname. Those five sizes are the common roll-offs people actually order: a 10-yard is about 10 cubic yards of space, a 15 is 15, a 20 is 20, a 30 is 30, a 40 is 40. That is the box. The truck and the rental still have a tonnage cap. This page does not map “kitchen remodel” or “garage cleanout” to a size. Pick the box and the debris; we estimate loaded yards and tons against a typical included weight.
Why does dirt go overweight by tons before the dumpster is full?
Dirt is heavy. Loosely dumped soil on this page is 2,200 pounds per cubic yard. Ten yards of dirt is 11 tons. A typical 10-yard rental includes about 2 tons. You hit that cap near 1.8 yards — about 18% full. Filling a 20-, 30-, or 40-yard with dirt makes the overweight worse, not better. Many haulers will only send a 10-yard for dirt, then pull it. Not a quote.
How is household junk different from concrete at the same yards?
Same roll-off, different mass. Household junk at 250 lb/yd³: a full 20-yard is 2.5 tons versus a typical 3-ton cap — usually you fill the rim first. Broken concrete at 4,000 lb/yd³: a 10-yard is 20 tons versus a typical 2-ton cap — overweight after about half a yard. Dirt sits near 2,200; shingles near 2,000; mixed C&D near 450. Light debris is a volume pick. Concrete, dirt, and shingles are a weight pick, often several 10-yard pulls.
Is this a hauler quote?
No. Typical included tons used here — 2 on a 10- or 15-yard, 3 on a 20, 4 on a 30, 6 on a 40 — are industry midpoints, not your contract. This page does not print a price, book a truck, or take a load. Overage fees, permits, placement, and banned items are between you and the hauler.
Do dumpster weight caps vary by company?
Yes. Included tons, axle limits, and overage rates change by company and city. Some 20-yards include 2 tons; some include 4. The caps on this page are typical DIY midpoints so you can see overweight versus under before you call. Confirm the number on the rental. Weight limits vary.
What cannot go in the dumpster?
Hazardous waste stays out: wet paint, solvents, asbestos, batteries, tires, medical waste, and appliances with refrigerant. Ask the hauler. Densities here are loosely dumped DIY midpoints, not a scale ticket. This page does not take a load.