Dumpster Size Calculator

What dumpster size do I need?

Dumpster size depends primarily on two things: how much space your debris takes up (volume, in cubic yards) and how much it weighs (tons). Roll-off dumpsters come in five common sizes — 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 cubic yards — and each rental includes a set weight allowance, with overages billed per ton.³²³⁴³⁵ Pick the smallest size that holds your debris with a little room to spare, and check that the weight stays under the included tonnage. Dense materials such as concrete, brick, dirt and roof shingles often reach the weight limit long before the container is full.

10-yard: single-room cleanouts, small bathroom remodels, and heavy debris like concrete or dirt where weight, not space, is the limit.
15-yard: small remodels, deck boards, a garage that’s half full. Not stocked by every provider.
20-yard: the most common choice: whole-house cleanouts, one-layer roof tear-offs up to about 2,500 sq ft, kitchen guts.
30-yard: estate cleanouts, major remodels, two-layer roofs.
40-yard: large construction and demolition, where volume is the constraint and the debris is light.

These are starting points. The calculator above estimates volume and weight from your project’s actual inputs.

Common dumpster sizes

Roll-off dumpster sizes with typical dimensions, pickup-load equivalents, included weight and typical projects
Size	Typical dimensions (L × W × H)	Approx. pickup loads	Typical included weight	Typical projects
10 yard	14 × 7.5 × 3.5 ft	3–4	1–2 tons	Small cleanouts, single rooms, heavy debris like concrete and dirt
15 yard	16 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft	5–6	1–2 tons	Small remodels, bathrooms, decks, garage cleanouts (not carried by every provider)
20 yard	22 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft	7–8	2–3 tons	Medium remodels, roofing, whole-house cleanouts
30 yard	22 × 7.5 × 6 ft	10–14	3–4 tons	Major remodels, estate cleanouts, additions
40 yard	22 × 7.5 × 8 ft	14–16	4–5 tons	Large construction, major demolition, commercial cleanouts

Dimensions are typical and vary by provider; a 10-yard can be a low 15 × 8 × 2 ft box or a 14 × 7.5 × 3.5 ft one.³²³³³⁴ Pickup loads assume a level full-size bed of about 2.3–2.9 cubic yards³⁰ at the low end and the equivalents haulers publish at the high end.³²³⁴ Included weight is market-specific; the ranges shown are typical.³⁵ Whatever the size, a single roll-off load is capped near 10 tons (20,000 lb) because of road weight limits.³³³⁴

Volume vs. weight

Choosing a dumpster isn’t only about fitting everything inside. Dense materials — concrete, brick, dirt, roof shingles and stone — can reach the weight limit while the container is still mostly empty. A cubic yard of household junk weighs roughly 250–300 lb¹; a cubic yard of broken concrete weighs about 2,344–2,425 lb, more than a ton.⁶⁷

Furniture & household junk

Volume

Weight

Fills up by volume first.

Concrete, brick, shingles, dirt

Volume

Weight

Hits the weight limit first.

Illustrative proportions, not to scale.

How much does construction debris weigh?

Debris weight comes from published conversion factors. These are the figures the calculator uses; the full list with sources is under “How we calculated this”.

Weight of common demolition materials per unit
Material	Weight	Loose debris density
Asphalt shingles	200–230 lb per square (100 sq ft) per layer¹¹¹⁰	500–731 lb/yd³⁵¹
Concrete slab	48–50 lb per sq ft at 4 in thick⁷⁸	2,344–2,425 lb/yd³ broken⁶
Brick & masonry	145–150 lb per cubic foot in place⁶	2,347–2,425 lb/yd³ broken
Drywall, ½ in	1.6–2.2 lb per sq ft (about 51–70 lb per 4×8 sheet)¹⁷⁹	467–500 lb/yd³¹⁴
Carpet & pad	1.25–2 lb per sq ft⁴⁹	100–147 lb/yd³⁵¹
Hardwood flooring	3.25–4 lb per sq ft²⁰⁹	169–330 lb/yd³¹³
Ceramic tile	3.5–7.7 lb per sq ft (with backer board at the high end)⁴⁹	1,200 lb/yd³⁵
Stone countertop (3 cm)	32–37 lb per lineal foot²¹²²	—
Mixed remodeling debris	—	400–484 lb/yd³¹²³
Household junk & furniture	—	250–300 lb/yd³¹
Dirt & soil, loose	—	1,620–2,052 lb/yd³⁶³⁵
Leaves, grass & brush	—	250–500 lb/yd³¹
Logs & stumps	—	1,080 lb/yd³³⁵

What size dumpster do I need for a roof?

Roofing is usually weight-limited, not volume-limited. A square (100 sq ft) of architectural asphalt shingles weighs about 200–230 lb per layer¹¹¹⁰, plus roughly 10 lb of underlayment and nails¹⁵, so a single-layer 2,000 sq ft tear-off produces about 2.1–2.4 tons of debris. That volume would fit a 15-yard container, but the weight is above a 15-yard’s usual 1–2 ton allowance, which is why a 20-yard is the common recommendation. A second layer roughly doubles the weight. Concrete and clay tile weigh 880–1,200 and 1,300–1,900 lb per square¹²¹³⁹, so tile roofs almost always exceed included tonnage and may need more than one load.

Dumpster size by roof area and layers
Project	Debris volume	Estimated weight	Recommended
1,500 sq ft roof · 1 layer · architectural asphalt shingles	5–8 yd³	1.6–1.8 tons	10 yard
2,000 sq ft roof · 1 layer · architectural asphalt shingles	7–11 yd³	2.1–2.4 tons	20 yard
2,000 sq ft roof · 2 layers · architectural asphalt shingles	13–22 yd³	4.2–4.8 tons	30 yard + weight fees
3,000 sq ft roof · 1 layer · architectural asphalt shingles	10–17 yd³	3.2–3.6 tons	20 yard + weight fees
2,000 sq ft roof · 1 layer · concrete tile	17–23 yd³	8.9–12.1 tons	20 yard × 2 + weight fees

Not sure of your roof area? Use the home’s footprint plus about 10–20% for pitch and overhangs; a 6/12 pitch adds 12%, a 9/12 pitch adds 25%.

What size dumpster for a kitchen remodel?

A kitchen gut produces cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall and often appliances. Cabinets are bulky but light (about 300 lb per cubic yard⁴); stone countertops are the opposite at 32–37 lb per lineal foot²¹²². For the average U.S. kitchen of about 161 sq ft²⁵, a full gut lands on a 15- or 20-yard container.

Dumpster size by kitchen remodel scope
Project	Debris volume	Estimated weight	Recommended
120 sq ft kitchen · cabinets & counters · laminate counters	6–7 yd³	0.7–0.9 tons	10 yard
160 sq ft kitchen · full gut · laminate counters · appliances	12–16 yd³	1.4–1.9 tons	20 yard
250 sq ft kitchen · full gut · stone counters · appliances	14–19 yd³	1.8–2.6 tons	20 yard

What size dumpster for a garage cleanout?

Garage cleanouts are volume problems: household junk weighs only 250–300 lb per cubic yard¹, so even a 20-yard full of it stays under 3 tons. A two-car garage is about 400 sq ft²⁷; half-covered with items piled 2–2.5 ft high is roughly 9–13 yd³ of debris, a 15-yard job. A packed garage with furniture and appliances moves up to a 20.

Dumpster size by garage size and fullness
Project	Debris volume	Estimated weight	Recommended
1-car garage · 50% full · no large items	5–8 yd³	0.6–1 tons	10 yard
2-car garage · 50% full · a few large items	9–13 yd³	1.1–2 tons	20 yard
2-car garage · packed · several large items	14–22 yd³	1.8–3.6 tons	30 yard

What size dumpster for concrete?

Concrete is the clearest case of weight over volume. Normal-weight concrete is 145–150 lb per cubic foot⁷⁸, so a 4-inch slab weighs about 48–50 lb per square foot and a 10 × 10 ft patio is already 2.4–2.5 tons. Broken concrete takes up about 67% more space than it did in place⁶. Haulers steer concrete, brick and dirt to 10- and 20-yard containers³²³³³⁴ and cap any load near 10 tons³⁴³⁶, so a bigger slab means more loads and per-ton fees, not a bigger box. Many providers also require concrete to be loaded alone, with no other debris mixed in; confirm before loading.

Dumpster size by concrete slab area
Project	Debris volume	Estimated weight	Recommended
100 sq ft of concrete · 4 in thick	2.4 yd³	2.4–2.5 tons	10 yard + weight fees
250 sq ft of concrete · 4 in thick	6 yd³	6–6.3 tons	10 yard + weight fees
400 sq ft of concrete · 6 in thick	14 yd³	14.5–15 tons	10 yard × 2 + weight fees

How big is a 20-yard dumpster and how much does it hold?

A 20-yard dumpster holds 20 cubic yards (540 cubic feet) of debris. Typical exterior dimensions are about 22 ft long, 7.5 ft wide and 4.5 ft high, though some providers use a shorter 16 ft box with higher walls.³²³³³⁴ By volume it holds roughly 7–8 level pickup-truck loads.³⁰³² By weight it’s limited by the tonnage included in the rental, commonly 2–3 tons³⁵, with a hard cap near 10 tons per load.³³³⁴ In practice that’s a whole-house cleanout, a one-layer asphalt roof up to about 2,500 sq ft, or a full kitchen gut.

How we calculated this

We estimate how much space your debris will occupy, add room for loose loading, estimate its weight from published material densities, and recommend the smallest dumpster likely to accommodate both.

Calculated estimate

Debris volume (as a range)
Debris weight (as a range)
Recommended container size
Pickup-load comparison

Confirm with your provider

Included weight allowance
Exact container dimensions
Prohibited materials
Pricing and overage fees

See formula & assumptions

1 · Volume Σ (quantity × loose volume per unit) × 1.15

2 · Weight Σ (quantity × weight per unit), or volume × density

3 · Fit smallest container whose capacity ≥ volume

4 · Haul loads = ⌈weight ÷ 10 tons⌉, the legal cap per truck

5 · Tonnage weight vs. the included allowance: a light load over a 10/15’s allowance moves to a 20; dense debris (≥ 1,000 lb/yd³) stays in a 10- or 20-yard heavy-debris container and pays per ton

Three limits apply to every dumpster: how much fits (volume), how much the truck may legally haul (about 10 tons per load), and how much your flat rate includes (the allowance). Volume picks the container; the hauling limit splits heavy jobs into loads; the allowance decides whether to expect per-ton fees. A bigger container never raises the hauling limit, which is why dense debris such as concrete is sized by weight and loads rather than by moving to a larger box.

Material densities: Asphalt shingles 500–731 · broken concrete ≈2,344–2,425 · mixed remodeling debris 400–484 lb/yd³
Loading margin: 15% added to volume for loose loading and odd shapes (CalcBrite assumption).
Ranges: Low and high ends reflect the spread between published sources for each material.
Limitations: Doesn’t account for local disposal rules, banned materials, provider tonnage or how tightly you load.

Every assumption and where it comes from (67 values in 8 groups)

Rows marked “CalcBrite assumption” are modelling choices with no published figure; everything else is a published value. Source numbers refer to the list at the bottom of the page.

Loose debris densities (lb per cubic yard)

Loose debris densities (lb per cubic yard)
Assumption	Value	Basis
Household junk, furniture and bagged trash	250–300	EPA mixed MSW, uncompacted (250–300 lb/yd³). No agency publishes a furniture-specific figure; this is the closest primary proxy.¹
Mixed remodeling debris	400–484	San Francisco 400; EPA 417; EPA/Florida DEP 484 lb/yd³ (measured on 171 loads).³¹²
Cabinets, doors and other building fixtures	300	CalRecycle-cited 0.15 tons per cubic yard.⁴
Asphalt shingle tear-off	500–731	Seattle 500; EPA 'composition roofing' 731 lb/yd³.⁵¹
Wood shake and shingle tear-off	435	⁵
Tile and slate pieces, loose	1,200	Seattle 'ceramic tile, loose' 1,200 lb/yd³. Used as a proxy for roof tile and slate debris, which is probably looser, so volume may run higher.⁵
Drywall / gypsum board	467–500	EPA 467; CalRecycle-cited 500 lb/yd³.¹⁴
Demolition lumber	169–330	EPA dimensional lumber 169; San Francisco wood scrap 329.5 lb/yd³.¹³
Laminate, vinyl plank and composite boards	268–330	EPA engineered wood 268; San Francisco wood scrap 329.5 lb/yd³. Proxy for flooring and composite decking debris.¹³
Carpet and pad	100–147	Seattle carpet and pad 100; EPA carpet 147 lb/yd³ (pad 62).⁵¹
Major appliances	145	¹
Leaves, grass and small brush	250–500	EPA leaves 250–500; mixed yard waste uncompacted 250 lb/yd³.¹
Branches and brush	127–350	EPA prunings and branches 127; Seattle branches 350 lb/yd³.¹⁵
Logs and stumps	1,080	San Francisco and Seattle both 1,080 lb/yd³.³⁵
Dirt, sod and soil, loose	1,620–2,052	FHWA loose topsoil 1,620; San Francisco dirt 2,052; Seattle dry soil 2,025 lb/yd³.⁶³⁵
Mixed heavy debris (tile, brick, concrete, dirt)	1,200–2,425	From loose tile (1,200) to loose broken concrete (≈2,400 lb/yd³).⁵⁶

Dense materials in place, and how much they swell when broken

Dense materials in place, and how much they swell when broken
Assumption	Value	Basis
Concrete slab, in place	3,915–4,050	Normal-weight concrete 145–150 lb per cubic foot.⁷⁸
Brick and masonry, in place	3,920–4,050	FHWA masonry rubble 3,920; brick 4,050 lb/yd³ in place. Hollow block will weigh less.⁶
Asphalt pavement, in place	3,078–3,402	FHWA 3,240 lb/yd³ ±5%.⁶
Swell factor for broken concrete, brick and asphalt	1.67	FHWA: 67% swell from in place to loose.⁶

Roofing (lb per square per layer)

Roofing (lb per square per layer)
Assumption	Value	Basis
3-tab asphalt shingles	190–210	Boise 2 lb/sq ft (200/square); IKO up to 190; Roof Observations 195 citing CertainTeed.⁹¹⁵¹⁶
Architectural asphalt shingles	200–230	GAF Timberline HDZ ≈201; CertainTeed Landmark 217–229 lb/square.¹¹¹⁰
Wood shakes	300–400	Boise wood shingles 3 lb/sq ft (300/square); shakes 400/square citing BC Shake & Shingle Association.⁹¹⁶
Concrete tile	880–1,200	Eagle standard-weight profiles 880–970; Boise 12 lb/sq ft (1,200/square).¹²⁹
Clay tile	1,300–1,900	Ludowici 1,300–2,160 by profile; Boise Spanish clay tile 19 lb/sq ft (1,900/square).¹³⁹
Slate (standard thickness)	700–1,000	Boise 3/16 in slate 7 lb/sq ft; Greenstone standard grade 900–1,000 lb/square. Heavier grades run to 3,000.⁹¹⁴
Underlayment, nails and flashing per square per layer	10	IKO adds 10 lb per square for underlayment and debris.¹⁵

Drywall and flooring (lb per square foot)

Drywall and flooring (lb per square foot)
Assumption	Value	Basis
½ in drywall	1.6–2.2	National Gypsum 1.6; CalRecycle-cited 1.6; Boise 2.2 lb/sq ft.¹⁷⁴⁹
⅝ in drywall	2.1–2.75	CalRecycle-cited 2.1; USG 2.2; Boise 2.75 lb/sq ft.⁴¹⁸⁹
Carpet and pad	1.25–2	CalRecycle-cited carpet 1.0 + pad 0.25; Boise 2.0 lb/sq ft installed.⁴⁹
Hardwood	3.25–4	¾ in solid 3.25; Boise ⅞ in 4 lb/sq ft.²⁰⁹
Laminate or vinyl plank	1–1.7	Boise ¼ in linoleum 1.0; laminate 1.7, vinyl plank 1.6 lb/sq ft.⁹²⁰
Ceramic or stone tile (with backer board at the high end)	3.5–7.7	CalRecycle-cited tile 3.5; Boise ⅜ in tile 4.7 plus 7/16 in backer board 3 lb/sq ft.⁴⁹

Decks and countertops

Decks and countertops
Assumption	Value	Basis
Pressure-treated deck boards	3.4–5.1	5/4×6 at 1.59 lb/ft dry (≈3.5/sq ft) to 2×6 at 2.36 lb/ft dry (≈5.1/sq ft).¹⁶
Composite deck boards	5.2	Trex Transcend 2.4 lb per lineal foot of 5.5 in board = 5.24 lb/sq ft.¹⁹
Joists at 16 in on center	2.2–2.9	Boise 2×8 2.2; 2×10 2.9 lb/sq ft.⁹
Beams, posts and railings	1.2	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONCalcBrite assumption: adds 20% to joist weight.
Laminate on particleboard	6–9	¾ in, 45-lb-density particleboard core: about 6 lb/ft of counter; finished postform tops with backsplash list near 9 lb/ft.²³
Granite, quartz or concrete (3 cm)	32–37	Cambria 15 lb/sq ft; granite ≈16.5–17.6 lb/sq ft; × 2.125 sq ft per lineal foot.²¹²²
Tile on backer board	14–16	Tile 3.5–4.7 plus backer board 3 lb/sq ft, × 2.125 sq ft per lineal foot.⁴⁹

Fixtures and appliances (lb each)

Fixtures and appliances (lb each)
Assumption	Value	Basis
Refrigerator	250	¹
Stove / range	150	¹
Dishwasher	125	¹
A large piece of furniture or an appliance	125–250	EPA major appliances 125–250 lb each; used for furniture too.¹
Toilet	57–62	Retail listings for a two-piece toilet.²⁸
Cast-iron bathtub	316–352	²⁹
Acrylic or fiberglass bathtub	60–80	Sterling Vikrell 60×32 lists 68 lb.²⁹

Project geometry and typical counts

Project geometry and typical counts
Assumption	Value	Basis
Cabinet cross-section per lineal foot of run (base 24×34.5 in + wall 12×30 in)	8.25	= 8.25 cubic feet of cabinet per lineal foot of base-plus-wall run.²⁴
Lineal feet of cabinet run ≈ factor × √(kitchen area)	1.4–1.8	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONGives 18–23 ft for the 161 sq ft average kitchen.²⁵
Share of kitchen wall area that is removed in a full gut	0.6	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONWalls = perimeter (4√area) × 8 ft; 60% comes down.
Kitchen flooring removed in a full gut	1–3.5	Vinyl (1.0) to tile (3.5) lb/sq ft.⁹⁴
Bathroom floor area by type	half: 20 · full: 40 · primary: 100	²⁶
Wall tile area ≈ 1.5 × floor area in a full bath gut	1.5	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONTub surround plus wainscot.
Share of bathroom wall area removed in a full gut	0.85	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONWalls = perimeter × 8 ft, less the door.
Vanity cabinet volume (36 in wide base cabinet)	0.64	3 ft × 24 in × 34.5 in = 17 cubic feet.²⁴
Bathtub bulk volume (60 × 30 × 14 in)	0.54	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONGeometry of a standard alcove tub.
Garage floor area by size (1-car 12×20; 2-car 20×20; 3-car ≈700)	1: 240 · 2: 400 · 3: 700	²⁷
Average depth of stored items spread over the covered part of the floor	1–1.5	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONCalcBrite assumption: 1–1.5 ft, since piles are lumpy with gaps. Large items are counted in this volume; they add weight only.
Share of floor covered by items	25: 0.25 · 50: 0.5 · 75: 0.75 · 100: 0.85	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTION'Packed' is modelled as 85% so there is still a path through.
Rooms with disposable contents by home size (bedrooms plus living areas, kitchen, basement)	small: 4 · medium: 6 · large: 8	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTION1–2 bedroom ≈4 rooms; 3 bedroom ≈6; 4+ ≈8.
Loose debris per room when a room is cleared out	1.5–2	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONRoughly two-thirds of a pickup load per room; large items are counted separately.
How much of the home is going	some: rooms: 2–3 · half: share: 0.5 · all: share: 1	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONA few rooms = 2–3 rooms.
Count of large furniture pieces or appliances	none: 0 · few: 2–3 · several: 4–6	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTION'A few' = 2–3; 'Several' = 4–6.
Bulk volume per large item	1–1.5	Consistent with EPA 125–250 lb each at 145 lb/yd³.¹
One level full-size pickup load	2.3–2.9	Ford F-150 6.5 ft box 62.3 cu ft (2.3 yd³) to 8 ft box 77.4 cu ft (2.9 yd³).³⁰
Loading margin added to all volumes	0.15	CALCBRITE ASSUMPTIONCalcBrite assumption: +15% for loose loading, air gaps and odd shapes.

Units

Units
Assumption	Value	Basis
Unit conversions	ft3PerYd3: 27 · lbPerTon: 2000	³¹

Example calculations

2,000 sq ft roof · 2 layers · architectural asphalt shingles

Debris volume13–22 yd³Estimated weight4.2–4.8 tonsRecommended30 yard

Weight likely exceeds the included allowance; expect per-ton fees.

2-car garage · 50% full · a few large items

Debris volume9–13 yd³Estimated weight1.1–2 tonsRecommended20 yard

Full bath · full gut · cast-iron tub

Debris volume2.5–3.2 yd³Estimated weight0.6–0.9 tonsRecommended10 yard

Questions

What size dumpster do I need?

It depends on how much debris you have and how heavy it is. Most home cleanouts and mid-size remodels land on a 15- or 20-yard container; heavy materials like concrete go in a 10- or 20-yard sized by weight. Use the calculator above for an estimate based on your project.

How big is a 20-yard dumpster?

A 20-yard dumpster holds 20 cubic yards. Exterior dimensions vary by provider but are typically about 22 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft (length × width × height)³²³³³⁴. Ask your provider for exact measurements if driveway space is tight.

How much can a 20-yard dumpster hold?

By volume, about 7–8 level pickup-truck loads³⁰³². By weight, it is limited by the tonnage included in your rental, commonly 2–3 tons³⁵, and in any case by the roughly 10-ton legal cap on a single load³³³⁴.

What size dumpster do I need for a roof?

Roofing is weight-limited. A one-layer asphalt tear-off up to about 2,500 sq ft fits a 20-yard; two layers or larger roofs move to a 30-yard or a second load. Choose Roof replacement in the calculator for a specific estimate from your roof area, layers and material.

How many cubic yards of debris does my project make?

Convert weight to volume with the material’s loose density: pounds ÷ (lb per cubic yard) = cubic yards. Mixed remodeling debris is 400–484 lb per cubic yard¹², so a ton of it fills about 4.1–5 cubic yards. The calculator does this for each material in your project and adds a 15% loading margin.

Can concrete go in a dumpster?

Usually, but many providers require a dedicated 10- or 20-yard container for concrete, brick and dirt because of weight³²³³³⁴, and some require it to be loaded alone. A full-depth 10-yard of broken concrete already approaches the 10-ton load cap. Confirm before loading.

What happens if my dumpster is overweight?

Providers typically charge an overage fee per ton above the included weight, commonly quoted in the $50–$250 per ton range³⁶, and a severely overloaded container may not be hauled until material is removed. Overfilling above the rim is a separate volume fee.

What are dumpster weight limits?

Two different limits apply. The included allowance is what your flat rate covers: typically 1–2 tons for a 10- or 15-yard, 2–3 for a 20, 3–4 for a 30 and 4–5 for a 40³⁵, varying by market. The hard limit is what the truck can legally carry: haulers cap a single load at about 9–10 tons regardless of container size³³³⁴.

What size dumpster for shingles?

Count your squares (roof area ÷ 100) and layers. Architectural asphalt shingles weigh about 200–230 lb per square per layer¹¹¹⁰, so 20 squares of one layer is roughly 2–2.5 tons: a 20-yard. Forty squares (two layers, or a 4,000 sq ft roof) is 4–5 tons: a 30-yard with likely overage, or two loads.

Sources & assumptions

Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery — April 2016; Construction & Demolition, Appliances, Carpet and Yard Trimmings rows.
Converting C&D Debris from Volume to Weight, Florida Department of Environmental Protection — 484 lb/yd³ measured across 171 loads at 10 facilities (Townsend, University of Florida, 2000).
Form E: C&D Debris Material Conversion Rates (Cubic Yards to Tons), City and County of San Francisco — CalRecycle-referenced table.
Materials Conversion Worksheet (Construction Waste Management Plan), City of Carpinteria, California — CalRecycle-cited tons per cubic yard and per square foot.
Volume and Weight Conversion Factors for Recyclables, Seattle Public Utilities — roofing, tile, soil, stumps and white-goods rows.
Shrink/Swell Factors for Common Materials (FHWA 1988 Design Manual table), Reproduced in Ohio DOT Technical Memo GE-65, Earthwork Factors (2008) — in-place and loose weights; 67% swell for concrete, brick and asphalt pavement.
Unit weight of normal-weight concrete (145 + 0.001·f′c pcf), Federal Highway Administration, FHWA-HRT-05-057 Appendix C.
Materials I.M. 340: normal-weight concrete 140–150 lb/ft³, Iowa Department of Transportation.
Technical Note GE-1: Weights of Building Materials (psf), Boise Cascade Engineered Wood Products — roofing, flooring, gypsum, framing and backer-board dead loads.
Landmark Shingles Technical Data Sheet: 217–229 lb per square, CertainTeed.
Timberline HDZ Environmental Product Declaration: 9.83 kg/m² (≈201 lb per square), GAF / NSF.
Concrete Roof Tile Technical Specifications: 550–970 lb per 100 sq ft, Eagle Roofing Products.
Shingle Tile Installation Manual: clay tile 1,300–2,160 lb per square, Ludowici Roof Tile.
Vermont slate weights by grade: 900–3,000 lb per square, Greenstone Slate.
What size dumpster do you need for roofing?, IKO (manufacturer blog) — shingle weights by grade and +10 lb per square for underlayment and debris (industry source, used for corroboration).
Weight of Roofing Materials; Pressure-Treated Lumber Weight, Roof Observations — cedar shakes 400 lb/square (citing BC Shake & Shingle Association); 5/4×6 and 2×6 PT decking lb per lineal foot (industry source, used for corroboration).
Gold Bond Gypsum Board submittal: ½ in regular 1.6 lb/sq ft, National Gypsum.
Sheetrock ⅝ in Firecode X submittal: 2.2 lb/sq ft, USG.
Transcend Decking Cut Sheet: 2.4 lb per lineal foot (1 in × 5.5 in board), Trex.
How much does a box of flooring weigh?, Flooring Clarity — solid hardwood 3.25, laminate 1.7, vinyl plank 1.6 lb/sq ft (industry source, used for corroboration).
Slab Size & Product Information: approx. slab weight 10 lb/ft² (2 cm), 15 lb/ft² (3 cm), Cambria.
How to calculate the weight of a stone countertop, SlabWise — granite 160–170 lb/ft³ (citing USGS), ≈16.5–17.6 lb/sq ft at 3 cm (industry source, used for corroboration).
HPDL Countertops Guide Specification: ¾ in, 45-lb-density particleboard core, VT Industries.
How deep are kitchen cabinets? (base 24 in deep × 34.5 in high; wall 12 in deep, 30–36 in high), Wholesale Cabinet Supply (industry source, used for corroboration).
NKBA study: U.S. kitchens average 161 sq ft, Pro Builder, reporting a National Kitchen & Bath Association study (industry source, used for corroboration).
Average bathroom size: half bath 12–30, full bath ≈40, primary ≈100 sq ft, Bob Vila (industry source, used for corroboration).
Standard garage sizes: 1-car 12×20 ft, 2-car 20×20 ft, 3-car 600–864 sq ft, Reolink (industry source, used for corroboration).
TOTO Drake two-piece toilet retail listing: box weight 62 lb, The Sink Boutique (retail listing) (industry source, used for corroboration).
Retail listings: Kohler Villager cast-iron bath 316–352 lb; Sterling Ensemble Vikrell bath 68 lb, Ferguson / Home Depot Canada / Lowe's product listings — listing weights seen in search results; pages blocked automated fetching (industry source, used for corroboration).
2020 F-150 Technical Specifications: cargo box volume 52.8 / 62.3 / 77.4 cu ft, Ford Motor Company.
Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: cubic yard, cubic foot and short ton factors, NIST Special Publication 811.
Dumpster rental sizes and pickup-load equivalents, WM (Waste Management) — 10/20/30/40 yd; 4/8/14/16 pickup loads; 10 yd 'ideal for heavy materials'.
Roll-Off Dumpster Guide: dimensions; 'Weight limit is 9 tons on all sizes', Republic Services.
Dumpster sizes and weight limits (2–10 tons; 10 tons per load per DOT regulations), Waste Connections.
Dumpster weight limits by size: 10 yd 1–2 t, 20 yd 2–3 t, 30 yd 3–4 t, 40 yd 4–5 t, Budget Dumpster (industry source, used for corroboration).
Concrete disposal: 10-yard heavy-debris dumpsters limited to 10 tons; overage fees $50–$250 per ton, Dumpsters.com (industry source, used for corroboration).

Last reviewed:: October 2026
Calculator version:: 1.0

Spot something wrong? Report it →

What are you getting rid of?

What dumpster size do I need?

Common dumpster sizes

Volume vs. weight

How much does construction debris weigh?

What size dumpster do I need for a roof?

What size dumpster for a kitchen remodel?

What size dumpster for a garage cleanout?

What size dumpster for concrete?

How big is a 20-yard dumpster and how much does it hold?

How we calculated this

Loose debris densities (lb per cubic yard)

Dense materials in place, and how much they swell when broken

Roofing (lb per square per layer)

Drywall and flooring (lb per square foot)

Decks and countertops

Fixtures and appliances (lb each)

Project geometry and typical counts

Units

Example calculations

Questions

Sources & assumptions