Ordering a dumpster that's too small means paying for a second haul. Ordering one that's too big means paying for air. Here's how to size it right the first time.
The standard roll-off sizes
- 10 yard (11' L x 8' W x 4' H) — small cleanouts, bathroom or kitchen remodels, concrete and heavy debris in small volumes
- 20 yard (22' L x 8' W x 4' H) — roofing jobs, mid-size renovations, garage and estate cleanouts
- 30 yard (22' L x 8' W x 6' H) — construction and demolition, whole-home cleanouts, commercial renovations
- 40 yard (22' L x 8' W x 8' H) — large-scale construction, commercial demolition, major cleanouts
Three questions that decide your size
First: what's the material? Heavy debris like concrete, dirt, or shingles hits weight limits before it fills the box — heavy material usually belongs in a smaller container, even for big jobs. Bulky, light material (furniture, framing lumber, packaging) fills space before weight and wants a bigger box.
Second: how much space do you have? A 22-foot container needs roughly 60 feet of clearance to place and pick up. Tight urban sites sometimes force a smaller box with more frequent swaps.
Third: is this one-time or ongoing? For a project, a temporary roll-off with flexible scheduling works. If you generate debris continuously, permanent placement or a compactor may cost less per ton.
When it's not a roll-off at all
Ongoing commercial trash belongs in a front-end loader (FEL) container — 2 to 8 yards, picked up on a schedule up to 6 times a week. And high-volume operations often save money with a compactor, which cuts haul frequency dramatically.
Not sure? Tell us what you're throwing away and where — we'll recommend the size honestly, and if a smaller box does the job, that's the one we'll quote. Call (888) 894-7901 or request a free quote online.
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