You’re about to rent a dumpster. But which size? Get it too small and you’ll need a second one. That costs double. Get it too big and you waste money on space you don’t use. Let’s figure out the right size so your dumpster rental service in Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale doesn’t cost more than it should.
What Dumpster Sizes Are Available?
Most companies offer four standard sizes. Here’s the breakdown:
- 10 yard dumpster measures 14 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 3 feet high. Holds 10 cubic yards of debris. Best for small cleanouts and minor remodels. Costs $300 to $450 typically.
- 20 yard dumpster is 22 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet high. Holds 20 cubic yards. Perfect for medium renovations and flooring removal. Runs $400 to $550.
- 30 yard dumpster measures 22 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Holds 30 cubic yards. Great for large remodels and new construction. Costs $500 to $650.
- 40 yard dumpster is 22 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet high. Holds 40 cubic yards. Used for major demolition and commercial projects. Typically $600 to $800.
About 60% of homeowners choose either a 20 or 30-yard dumpster. These sizes handle most residential projects.
Also Read: How Dumpster Rentals in Fort Lauderdale Handle Waste Disposal
How Do You Calculate How Much Waste You Have?
This part confuses people. What even is a cubic yard?
What Is a Cubic Yard of Debris?
One cubic yard is a box that measures 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. Picture a washing machine. That’s roughly one cubic yard.
A pickup truck bed holds about 2 cubic yards when loaded level. So a 10-yard dumpster holds about 5 pickup truck loads.
How Do You Estimate Your Project’s Waste?
A room full of furniture is a lot of cubic yards, even though it’s not super heavy. A small pile of concrete is fewer cubic yards but very heavy.
Most dumpster rental service companies have calculators online. But here’s a quick method: multiply the length, width, and height of your debris pile in feet. Divide by 27. That gives you cubic yards.
What Size Dumpster Do You Need for Different Projects?
Let’s match sizes to common jobs.
What Size for Home Cleanouts?
Cleaning out a garage, basement, or single room? A 10-yard dumpster works for most small cleanouts. This handles about 3 to 4 rooms of junk and old furniture.
Whole house cleanout before moving? Go with a 20-yard. This gives you space for furniture, boxes, old appliances, and miscellaneous junk from an entire home.
What Size for Renovation Projects?
Kitchen or bathroom remodel? A 20-yard dumpster handles cabinets, countertops, fixtures, drywall, and flooring from these spaces.
Whole house renovation or addition? You need a 30-yard. This covers demolition debris, old materials, and construction waste for major projects.
Tearing down walls or gutting multiple rooms? Go with 30 or 40 yard, depending on how much you’re removing.
What Size for Roofing Jobs?
Roof replacements create a lot of waste. Shingles are heavy and bulky.
For a small roof under 2,000 square feet, a 20-yard roll works. Medium roofs from 2,000 to 3,500 square feet need a 30-yard. Large roofs over 3,500 square feet require a 40-yard dumpster.
Most roofing projects use either 20 or 30-yard dumpsters.
What Happens If You Choose the Wrong Size?
Too small means you’ll overflow. Then you need to rent a second dumpster. That doubles your cost. A 20-yard costs $450. Two 20-yard dumpsters cost $900. A single 30-yard costs $550. See the problem?
About 25% of first-time renters underestimate and need a second dumpster. That’s expensive.
Too big? You pay for space you don’t use. The difference between a 20 and a 30 yard is $100 to $150. Not horrible, but why waste money?
Read More: How Does Dumpster Rental Work? Easy Guide for First-Timers
How Can You Avoid Overpaying for Dumpster Rental?
Talk to the dumpster rental company before ordering. Describe your project in detail. They deal with this every day and can recommend the right size.
Take photos of what you’re throwing away. Send them to the rental company. Visual help them estimate better than descriptions.
Round up, not down. If you’re between sizes, go bigger. The cost difference is way less than renting twice.
Don’t pack it too full. You need to leave room for the tarp. Overfilled dumpsters can’t be picked up safely.
Stop Guessing and Get the Right Size
You’re standing in your garage, looking at years of accumulated junk. Or staring at a kitchen full of old cabinets you just ripped out. You need a dumpster, but you’re terrified of ordering the wrong size. Too small means scrambling for another rental mid-project. Too big means wasting money you could use somewhere else.
98 Dumpster Rental helps you pick the perfect size for your project. Call us and describe what you’re doing. We’ll ask the right questions and recommend the exact size you need. We’ve done thousands of projects and know exactly how much space different jobs require. No guessing, no paying twice, no wasted money.
