Guide · Reviewed October 21, 2026
What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Most home projects need a 15-yard or 20-yard dumpster. Pick by your project: a 10-yard for concrete, dirt or one bathroom; a 15-yard for a garage or a small roof; a 20-yard for a kitchen or a whole house; a 30-yard for construction and additions.
Next-daybook by 3 PMScale ticketwith every final billWhat size dumpster do I need for my project?
Pick your project and how much you are clearing. The size picker gives you a starting dumpster size in seconds. The rules behind every answer, from roof squares to slab square footage, are printed underneath so you can check the logic yourself.
How the picker decides: cleanouts and remodels by room count; roofs by weight (80 lb bundles, 3 per square, so 240 lb per square against each size's included tons); concrete by a 4-inch slab at about 50 lb per square foot. Heavy debris only goes in 10 and 15-yard dumpsters. When you are between two sizes, call and we will talk it through before the truck leaves.
How do dumpster sizes compare?
Blaine Bros rents five roll-off dumpster sizes. The 10-yard is 12 feet long with 2 tons included. The 15-yard is 16 feet long with 2.5 tons. The 20-yard and 30-yard are both 22 feet long; the 30-yard is 2 feet taller and includes 4 tons instead of 3. The 40-yard holds 5 to 6 tons for the biggest jobs.
| Size | Outside L × W × H | Pickup loads | Weight included | Rental | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 12 × 8 × 3.5 ft | 3–5 | 2 tons (4,000 lb) | 7 days | Concrete, dirt, or a small bathroom remodel |
| 15-yard | 16 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft | 5–7 | 2.5 tons (5,000 lb) | 7 days | Garage cleanouts and small roof replacements |
| 20-yard | 22 × 8 × 4 ft | 7–10 | 3 tons (6,000 lb) | 7 days | Whole-house decluttering or a kitchen remodel |
| 30-yard | 22 × 8 × 6 ft | 10–15 | 4 tons (8,000 lb) | 7 days | Large construction sites or home additions |
| 40-yard | 22 × 7.5 × 8 ft | 12–16 | Holds 5–6 tons; included tons on your quote | Call | Major demolitions, new construction and large commercial projects |
Should I pick by space or by weight?
Pick by weight when the debris is heavy and by space when it is light. Shingles, concrete, dirt, tile and plaster hit the weight limit before the dumpster looks full. Furniture, boxes, brush and lumber fill the space first. The weight estimator below shows which limit you will reach.
Estimate from EPA average material weights. Your scale ticket sets the real number.
Should I round up or down if I'm between sizes?
Round up if your debris is light and you are between sizes, because a second haul costs a full new rental. Round down only for heavy debris, since a bigger dumpster does not raise the weight limit enough to matter and concrete is capped at the 15-yard anyway. When in doubt, call before the truck leaves.
The cost of guessing wrong runs both ways. Too small means a swap, billed as a new flat-rate rental. Too big means paying for space you leave empty. A 2-minute call with your project details usually settles it.
More dumpster sizes questions
What is the most common dumpster size?
For home projects, the 20-yard is the size most guides start with because it fits kitchens, whole-house cleanouts and many roofs. Your own project decides, so use the picker.
What does 'yard' mean in a dumpster size?
Yard means cubic yards of space. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. A 20-yard dumpster holds 20 of them.
Do you rent 40-yard dumpsters?
Our 40-yard is about 22 × 7.5 × 8 ft and holds 5–6 tons, for major demolitions and new construction.
Which dumpster fits a small driveway?
The 10-yard (12 × 8 ft) and the 15-yard (16 × 7.5 ft) fit tighter driveways. The truck still needs about 60 ft of straight approach.
Still between two sizes?
Call with your project and we'll pick the size with you before the truck leaves.