What Size Dumpster Do I Need?

What size do I need? What can I put in the dumpster rental?

Dumpsters are great for getting rid of unwanted clutter, but they can be a lot to take in all at once. Not only do you have to worry about the size of the dumpster that’s right for your needs, but also what can go into it and where you’ll put it when you get it.  Here are some tips on how to pick the right size and plan ahead so you can make sure your rental is as easy as possible.

tag dumpster yellow

What size dumpster do I need?

Measure

If you're not sure which dumpster size would be best for your needs, take some measurements of what you're trying to get rid of and where it will go.  Think about the types of things that you want to get rid of; some items will need more area than others.  Then, once you know how much space you'll need, you can start looking for a dumpster rental company near you.

When you're shopping around for dumpster rentals, make sure the company  rents the size you need for your project.  This is important because most dumpster rental companies have different pricing depending on what size you need.

For example, if you are getting rid of old furniture that's in pretty bad condition, would only take up about half a parking space.  However, if you are getting rid of wood or drywall that will need more room when it's being dropped off.  So in this case, a 10-yard dumpster would be the best size to go with.

When renting a dumpster, make sure you get one big enough for your job but not too large.  A few extra inches or square feet can be useful, but if you go too big it can make your dumpster rental more expensive.  It's also important to make sure the dumpster is big enough for all of your stuff because you don't want to rent another one.

Before you do anything else, make sure the company only rents out the size you need and rental period. Then, start planning your rental and make sure it stays within your budget and fits in with all of your other plans. Once you know how much space you'll need and what size is best for the project you're working on, renting a dumpster will be simple and stress-free.

Ask us about our monthly rentals for waste services, recycling services, help with your dumpster sizes, and more to make sure you get the right dumpster!


What can go into the dumpster?

You can put pretty much anything in a dumpster that you don't want anymore, including furniture, appliances, electronics, construction debris, demolition debris, junk removal, and yard waste.  Just make sure it's not hazardous or toxic (paint cans, car gas tanks, chemicals, etc.) or too large (furniture pieces or other items greater that stick out and clearly not fitting inside). Don't worry, we don't have any hidden fees for our roll-off containers.

It's also important to make sure you know how much weight your residential dumpster rental can hold!  A 10-yard dumpster for example, can hold about 3 tons of waste.  This means there are approximately 32,000 pounds in a single 10-yard dumpster.


3 Factors to Select the Right Size

Type of Debris

The first factor to consider when renting a dumpster is the type of debris you are dealing with.  Different waste requires different sizes, so it's important to be honest with yourself about how much waste you'll have for each project. A lot of our customers request construction dumpsters to haul all of the construction materials and construction debris!

Over-sized Waste

If your plan calls for dumping over-sized materials, like furniture or appliances, you'll need one dumpster size larger than what you'd normally select.  Keep in mind, though, that if your project requires a few dumpsters over the course of the process it might be cheaper to rent them separately instead of all at once.

Quantity of Debris

The other factor to consider when choosing a dumpster is how much waste you'll be generating. You can select a dumpster size to handle the specific debris produced by your project, but keep in mind that if you end up needing two or more dumpsters throughout the course of your project it might be cheaper to rent them separately instead of all at once.

Total Volume of Debris

The fourth factor to consider when choosing a dumpster is the total volume of debris your project will produce.  If you are trying to estimate how much waste you'll have, keep in mind that cubic footage is usually used for this calculation.

Total Volume = Length x Width x Depth

For example, if you have 100 square feet of roof to remove from a single-story building, that would be 100 cubic feet of debris.  You can use this formula to calculate the volume for any type of debris you might have.

When estimating your total volume, keep in mind that you will want to leave some space in your dumpster for overhanging and protruding materials which take up additional space.

How Big Is a Yard?

The other element you'll want to consider when estimating your total volume is the size of a yard, which is how most dumpster measurements are given.  A standard dumpster's length and width is 3 or 4 yards (they can also be 5-yard or 8-yard).  So if you're estimating your dumpster size and the dimensions come out to be 3 yards x 3 yards, you'll actually need a 4-yard dumpster.

How To Estimate Yardage

To estimate how much yardage you might have after your project is complete, take all of the measurements and multiply them together:

LxWxH = Yardage

If you have a 10x10x12 building, the total volume will be 120 cubic yards.  Keep in mind that this calculation is only an approximation and will not be exact, regardless of how precise your measurements are.

How Big Is a Cubic Yard?

To summarize: To estimate your dumpster size, think about the type of debris you'll be dealing with and how much waste you expect to generate.  If your project will produce a lot of over-sized or protruding materials, consider renting one dumpster size larger than you'd normally select.  Finally, keep in mind that your total volume will determine what size dumpster you need - if your estimate comes out to be 3 yards x 3 yards, you'll actually need a 4-yard dumpster.

Delivery/Drop-off Location


The final element to consider when choosing a dumpster during the rental process is where you will be dropping it off.  If you are working on a large project with multiple locations, your dumpster company can drop off multiple dumpsters at once.  However, if the location of your dumping needs to be limited this might increase the cost of your rental. Some tight spaces require smaller containers, but we deliver to them every day - especially for our Orlando dumpster rentals. Ask us more about our commercial dumpster rental services if needed to go to a specific job site.  central Florida


The key factors to consider when choosing to rent a dumpster are the quantity of debris, total volume, and delivery/drop-off location.  Remember that you probably won't be exact with your waste estimate so you should plan some extra space in your dumpster for overhanging or protruding materials.  Finally, keep in mind that cubic yards are used for dumpster measurements and not square feet.

yellow dumpster sizes

15-yard dumpster

For a 15-yard roll off dumpster, that number goes up to about 4 tons, or 48,000 pounds.  Keep this in mind when you're getting rid of certain materials and make sure you choose a roll off dumpster rental that can hold all of your waste or unwanted junk!

20-yard dumpster

A 20-yard roll off dumpster can hold about 5 tons or 60,000 pounds.  This is a good size for a medium project that will generate a decent sized pile of waste like demolitions, renovations or commercial cleanouts, this is a great size to go with.

25-yard dumpster

A 25-yard roll off dumpster can hold about 6 tons or 72,000 pounds, making it a great option for larger projects.  This is similar in size to a 20-yard dumpster, but with the added space to accommodate for more waste.

30-yard dumpster

A 30-yard roll off dumpster can hold about 7 tons or 84,000 pounds.  For large projects that produce lots of waste like demolitions, renovations or commercial cleanouts, this is a great size to go with.

35-yard dumpster

For bigger projects, the 35-yard roll off dumpster can hold about 9 tons or 108,000 pounds of waste.  This is by far the largest option and should only be used for the biggest jobs that produce a lot of debris.

If you're looking for a dumpster rental service that can provide you with quality dumpster rental in Orlando, call us today!

TAG can provide you with 15-yard and 20-yard size dumpster. Same-day delivery within the Orlando area!  For more information on renting a dumpster in general or if your project is large enough to require one of our larger sizes, contact us today. We're always happy to answer your questions. Give us a call at 407-420-7900.

tagdumpsters.com

Hope this article was helpful to you.  Please consider sharing it on social media!

TAG offers a wide range of waste management services, including: Debris removal, roll off dumpsters, concrete dumpster rental.


Get Your Dumpster, Today!
We can start right away on your project; we have roll off a dumpster rental for you!
call now