Dumpster Estimator
Find the right dumpster size for your project, how much the load will weigh, and what the rental is likely to cost, with every formula and source shown.
Prices are typical U.S. ranges from published cost guides (listed below), not quotes. We are not a dumpster company.
Estimate your dumpster
Pick your project and how you want to measure the debris.
Picture all your debris piled loosely in one heap and estimate its size.
See the breakdown
Standard roll-off dumpster sizes
Roll-off dumpsters are sold by volume in cubic yards. Width is about 8 ft for most sizes; the larger sizes get taller, not longer. Sizes with a full guide are linked.
Volume picks the size. Weight sets the bill.
Most dumpster surprises come from weight, not space. A rental price includes a weight allowance, and anything over it is billed per ton. The allowances we found for a 20-yard run from 1.5–4 tons depending on the company. That's why this estimator works out both numbers:
- Volume decides which size fits. We size so the debris fills about 85% of the container, because haulers won't take a load piled above the rim.
- Weight comes from the U.S. EPA's volume-to-weight factors. A cubic yard of shingles weighs about 731 lb; a cubic yard of mixed household junk weighs 250–300 lb. Two loads that look the same can differ by thousands of pounds.
Heavy materials like concrete, dirt and brick need a dedicated heavy-debris container and their own calculation, so they are left out of this estimator. Use the concrete & dirt dumpster calculator for them: it works from the solid, in-place density of the slab or soil, not the loose weight of rubble.
How we calculate
Every number in the calculator comes from these steps and the data below. The page runs the same numbers you see here.
- Volume (cubic yards) = length × width × height of your debris pile in feet ÷ 27. Or pickup loads × 3.33, or the cubic yards you enter.
- Recommended size = the smallest standard size whose capacity × 0.85 holds that volume. Above 40 yards, we count how many 40-yard containers you need.
- Weight = volume × the EPA pounds-per-cubic-yard factor for your project’s main material, ÷ 2,000 for tons.
- Included weight = the most conservative published allowance for that size (see the table). Overage = (weight − allowance) × the overage rate.
- Cost = the size’s typical price range + overage + extra days past 7 × the daily rate.
The numbers this estimator uses
| Size | Length × height | Pickup loads | Included weight (range found) | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yd | 12–14 × 3.5 ft | 3 | 1–3 tons | $250–$586 |
| 15 yd | 16 × 4.5 ft | — | 2–3 tons | $306–$609 |
| 20 yd | 22 × 4–4.5 ft | 6 | 1.5–4 tons | $275–$679 |
| 30 yd | 22 × 6 ft | 9 | 2.15–5 tons | $300–$809 |
| 40 yd | 22 × 8 ft | 12 | 2.75–6 tons | $350–$906 |
| Fee | Typical range | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Weight overage | $40–$100 per ton (we default to $75) | Fixr, HomeGuide, Discount Dumpster |
| Extra rental days | $5–$15 per day (we default to $10) | Fixr, Thumbtack |
| Street permit | $10–$100, only if the container sits on a public street | Fixr |
Material weights (EPA)
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | EPA table row |
|---|---|---|
| Household junk & furniture (mixed) | 250–300 lb | Mixed MSW, uncompacted: 250–300 lb/yd³ |
| Mixed renovation / construction debris | 417–484 lb | C&D remainder/composite 417; C&D bulk 484 lb/yd³ |
| Asphalt shingles (roofing tear-off) | 731 lb | Composition roofing: 731 lb/yd³ |
| Drywall / gypsum board | 467 lb | Gypsum board: 467 lb/yd³ |
| Lumber & wood (deck boards, framing) | 169 lb | Clean dimensional lumber: 169 lb/yd³ |
| Engineered wood (cabinets, particleboard) | 268 lb | Clean engineered wood: 268 lb/yd³ |
| Yard waste (mixed, loose) | 250 lb | Mixed yard waste, uncompacted: 250 lb/yd³ |
| Branches & stumps | 127 lb | Branches & stumps: 127 lb/yd³ |
| Leaves | 250–500 lb | Leaves: 250–500 lb/yd³ |
| Carpet | 147 lb | Carpet: 147 lb/yd³ |
| Carpet padding | 62 lb | Carpet padding: 62 lb/yd³ |
| Scrap metal (mixed) | 143–225 lb | Composite metal 143; other ferrous 225 lb/yd³ |
Assumptions and limits
- A pickup load is taken as 3.33 cubic yards, from HomeGuide’s equivalents (10 yd ≈ 3 loads, 20 yd ≈ 6, 30 yd ≈ 9, 40 yd ≈ 12).
- The 85% fill target is our planning margin, not a hauler rule; it leaves room for awkward, bulky items.
- EPA factors are averages for loose debris as hauled. Wet material, packed loads or mixed-in heavy debris weigh more.
- Price ranges are national. The low end is the lowest published price we found; the high end is Dumpsters.com’s October 2026 average for that size. Big-city prices can be higher.
- Permit fees are not added to the total, because they depend entirely on your city and placement.
Sources
We opened and checked every source below in October 2026. Prices are typical ranges, not quotes.
- U.S. EPA — Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016)
- Dumpsters.com — Dumpster rental prices (updated October 2026)
- Fixr — Dumpster rental cost (updated Jan 31, 2025)
- Thumbtack — How much does it cost to rent a dumpster? (updated Mar 31, 2026)
- Discount Dumpster — How much does a dumpster rental cost in 2026? (updated Aug 5, 2026)
- HomeGuide — Dumpster rental prices (Apr 5, 2023)
- Custom Truck One Source — Roll-off dumpsters: which size is right for you?
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Full methodology
Go deeper on one number
Rental cost calculator
Price a specific size with your rental length, expected tons, overage rate and permit.
Calculate cost →Size calculator
See how full every size would be for your debris volume.
Find your size →Weight calculator
Mix several materials and check the total against each size’s weight allowance.
Check weight →Concrete & dirt calculator
Turn a slab or an excavation into tons and the number of heavy-debris containers.
Weigh heavy debris →Dumpster estimator FAQ
What size dumpster do I need?
Work out the volume of your debris in cubic yards, then pick a size with some headroom. Most homeowners land on a 20-yard, which holds about 6 pickup loads. Small bathroom jobs often fit a 10-yard; whole-house renovations may need a 30 or 40.
How much does it cost to rent a dumpster?
Published national prices for a 20-yard run from about $275 to $679 for a typical rental period, before overage, extra days or permits. Dumpsters.com’s October 2026 averages range from $586 for a 10-yard to $906 for a 40-yard.
How much weight can a dumpster hold?
It depends on the hauler. The included weight allowances we found run 1–3 tons for a 10-yard, 1.5–4 tons for a 20-yard and 2.75–6 tons for a 40-yard. Going over is billed per ton, usually $40–$100.
How many pickup truck loads fit in a dumpster?
Roughly 3 loads in a 10-yard, 6 in a 20-yard, 9 in a 30-yard and 12 in a 40-yard, based on HomeGuide’s equivalents.
Is this estimate a quote?
No. It is a planning estimate from published price ranges and EPA weight data. Haulers set their own prices, weight allowances and rules, so confirm with the company you rent from.
Can I estimate concrete or dirt here?
Not in this estimator. Those materials are far denser than general debris and usually need a dedicated heavy-debris container, so they have their own concrete & dirt dumpster calculator.