Guide · Reviewed October 21, 2026
Dumpster Weight Limit: How Weight Is Billed
Every dumpster has a weight limit, and weight is billed from the landfill scale. The truck is weighed full, then empty; the difference is your debris. If it is over the tons included with your size, you pay $75 per ton for the extra, by the exact pound, and the scale ticket comes with your invoice.
Next-daybook by 3 PMScale ticketwith every final billHow do I read a dumpster scale ticket?
A scale ticket shows three weights. Gross is the truck with your full dumpster. Tare is the same truck empty. Net is gross minus tare: the weight of your debris. Your net weight is compared with the tons included for your dumpster size.
Example: a 20-yard dumpster includes 3 tons. The ticket shows 3.40 tons net. You pay for 0.40 tons: 0.40 × $75 = $30.00.
We do not round up to the next ton or half ton. The charge is pro-rata, to the pound, from the certified digital ticket printed by the landfill scale. A copy is attached to your final invoice.
Read more: how to read a dumpster scale ticket.
Example scale ticket · 20-yard
- Gross (truck + full dumpster)
- 31.20 t
- Tare (same truck, empty)
- 27.80 t
- Net debris weight
- 3.40 t
- Included with rental
- 3.00 t
- Over by
- 0.40 t
- Overage at $75/ton
- $30.00
What is the dumpster weight limit for each size?
Each Blaine Bros dumpster includes a set weight: 2 tons with the 10-yard, 2.5 tons with the 15-yard, 3 tons with the 20-yard and 4 tons with the 30-yard. One ton is 2,000 pounds. Weight beyond the included tons is $75 per ton, billed by the exact pound.
| Size | Included | Included in pounds | Cost per extra ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 2 tons | 4,000 lb | $75, by the pound |
| 15-yard | 2.5 tons | 5,000 lb | $75, by the pound |
| 20-yard | 3 tons | 6,000 lb | $75, by the pound |
| 30-yard | 4 tons | 8,000 lb | $75, by the pound |
Which materials go over the weight limit?
Shingles, drywall, plaster, tile and mixed construction debris are the materials most likely to go over. EPA averages put asphalt shingles at 731 pounds per cubic yard and mixed construction debris at 417. Household junk averages 250 to 300, and brush is lighter still.
| Material | EPA average (lb per cubic yard) | Full 20-yard would weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste, uncompacted | 250 | 2.5 t |
| Household junk, uncompacted | 250–300 | 2.5–3.0 t |
| Lumber | 169 | 1.7 t |
| Mixed construction & demolition | 417 | 4.2 t |
| Drywall | 467 | 4.7 t |
| Asphalt shingles | 731 | 7.3 t |
| Broken concrete | 860 | Not allowed in a 20-yard |
| Dirt and sand | 929 | Not allowed in a 20-yard |
Method: cubic yards × how full × the EPA average weight per cubic yard for that material ÷ 2,000 lb. EPA averages used (lb per cubic yard): household junk 250–300, mixed construction and demolition debris 417, drywall 467, lumber 169, asphalt shingles 731, yard waste 250, dirt and sand 929, broken concrete 860. Source: EPA Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors, April 2016. Real loads vary with moisture and how tightly you pack.
How do I avoid an overweight dumpster?
To avoid an overweight dumpster, choose the size by weight for heavy debris, keep concrete and dirt in a 10 or 15-yard filled halfway, and cover the load before rain. Wet debris weighs more. Keep neighbors from adding to it, since everything in the dumpster goes on your ticket.
- Roofs: count squares and layers, then use 240 lb per square per layer with 80 lb bundles.
- Concrete: about 50 lb per square foot at 4 inches thick.
- Separate heavy materials. A clean load of only concrete or only dirt qualifies for clean-fill pricing.
- Tarp the dumpster overnight and before storms.
When will I see the weight charge?
You see any weight charge on your final invoice, emailed 3 to 5 business days after pickup. The delay is the landfill: it processes our disposal logs before the ticket is final. The certified scale ticket is attached, so you can check the gross, tare and net yourself.
Read our rental terms for the billing and dispute process.
More weight & overage questions
Does the weight include the dumpster itself?
The empty truck and dumpster are weighed as the tare and subtracted. You only pay for the debris.
Can I see the scale ticket before I pay?
The certified scale ticket is attached to your final invoice, so you see the printout and the charge together.
Do you round up overage to a full ton?
Overage is charged by the exact pound. 400 lb over is 0.2 tons, or $15.
Does rain make my dumpster heavier?
Wet debris weighs more, so an open load left in a Gulf Coast downpour can gain weight. Cover it with a tarp.
Want help sizing by weight?
Call with your materials. We'll check the tons before you book.