Dumpster Size Calculator
The dumpster size to rent from your debris pile's dimensions.
Input sheet
DIY at your own risk. Calcora's calculators and guides are general estimates and information only — not professional, engineering, legal, or safety advice. Always verify local building codes and permit requirements, and hire a licensed pro for electrical, gas, plumbing, structural, or any work you're not fully comfortable doing yourself.
Renting a dumpster one size too small means a second haul fee that erases everything you saved. This calculator converts a debris pile's dimensions into cubic yards and matches it to the smallest standard container that holds it.
How it works
Debris volume in cubic yards = pile length × width × height ÷ 27, matched to the smallest standard dumpster (10, 15, 20, 30, 40 yd) that holds it.
Dumpsters are sized in cubic yards — 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 are the standard rentals. The calculator measures your debris as a rough rectangular pile, converts to cubic yards (÷ 27), and picks the smallest size at or above that volume.
Volume is only half the constraint. Every rental carries a weight limit (often 2–4 tons), and dense debris — concrete, dirt, brick, roofing shingles — hits the ton cap long before the container looks full. Haulers typically restrict heavy material to 10 yd boxes filled partway.
Debris volume = pile length × width × height ÷ 27 cubic yards, matched to the smallest of 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 / 40 yd that fits.
Worked examples
A 10 × 10 ft debris pile 5 ft high from a kitchen gut. → 18.5 cu yd — rent the 20 yd dumpster.
10 × 10 × 5 = 500 cu ft ÷ 27 = 18.5 yd; the 15 falls short, the 20 fits.
A 12 × 8 ft pile 4 ft high from a deck teardown. → 14.2 cu yd — a 15 yd box covers it.
12 × 8 × 4 = 384 cu ft ÷ 27 ≈ 14.2 yd.
Tips & gotchas
- Debris piles fluff — demolished material occupies 2–3× its built volume, so size from the pile you'll actually make, not the room you're gutting.
- When the estimate straddles two sizes, take the bigger one; the price step up is small next to a second rental.
- Tell the hauler what's going in — mattresses, appliances, tires, and paint often carry per-item fees or aren't allowed at all.
FAQ
What size for a kitchen remodel?
A 20 yd dumpster covers most single-room remodels. Whole-house cleanouts and roof tear-offs push into 30–40 yd.
What size do common projects need?
Garage cleanout: 10–15 yd. Single-room remodel or roof tear-off: 20 yd. Whole-home cleanout or addition: 30–40 yd.
How full can I load it?
Level with the top rail — anything mounded above the rim can't legally be hauled, and the driver will make you off-load it.
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