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How Much Can Your Dumpster Actually Hold?
The amount of weight you can put in your dumpster rental depends on the total capacity of your container, as well as the weight limit you agree to when you rent the dumpster.
What type of materials you are getting rid of plays a big part in how much you’ll be able to fit into each roll off dumpster size.
Volume Capacity vs. Weight Limit
What is a dumpster’s volume capacity?
The volume, or amount of space in your dumpster is measured in cubic yards (e.g., 10 cubic yards). Cubic yards are a measure of volume, not a measure of weight. Depending on what you’re throwing away, a completely full 10 yard dumpster could have drastically different weights. For example, one cubic yard of mulch weighs about 1,000 pounds, while one cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds.
What is a dumpster’s weight limit?
Your weight limit, measured by tonnage, is the boundary we set when scheduling a dumpster rental. Landfills charge for disposal by the ton, so to keep your costs low, we’ll try to match the correct weight limit to your project.
Remember, your weight limit may not be the full capacity of your dumpster, depending on what you’re throwing away. For example, two cubic yards of concrete in a 20 yard dumpster is only 10% of the volume capacity, but likely over 100% of your weight limit.
How Your Weight Limit Impacts Your Price
Rather than charge you for the maximum capacity that your dumpster can hold right from the start, we will provide a low rate based on your scope of work that ensures you aren’t overpaying.
For example, you’re cleaning out your garage and aren’t sure if you have 1 or 2 tons of trash. A 10 yard dumpster with a weight limit of 1 ton costs $350 in your area, while a 10 yard dumpster with a 2-ton weight limit costs $450. We will recommend the 1 ton weight limit and let you know that if you exceed that limit, it’s a prorated charge of $100 per ton.
You’ll pay the lower cost upfront for 1 ton and complete your garage cleanout. Our driver picks up your dumpster and takes it to the landfill where your debris is weighed. It was close, but you ended up weighing in at 1.1 tons.
We’ll charge you the extra $10 for the additional weight. You will see this charge reflected on your final invoice a week or two after pickup. Our goal is to always keep your cost as low as possible, so we avoid overcharging you if you don’t think you’re going to need a full 2 ton-disposal. You still end up paying a little bit over your original rate, but you saved $90 by going with the lower tonnage upfront.
Average Dumpster Weight Limits
10 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 10 yard dumpster is between 1 and 2 tons. We’ll also recommend a 10 yard dumpster if you’re getting rid of heavy debris, like concrete or bricks, with a weight limit of up to 10 tons. Since these items weigh so much, we limit them to smaller-volume dumpsters to ensure our trucks can still pick them up.
1 - 2 tons of material can look like:
2,500 - 3,500 square feet of carpeting
Up to 250 square feet of hardwood flooring
270 - 405 square feet of household junk
12 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 12 yard dumpster is between 1 and 2 tons. Similar to our 10 yard dumpster, we’ll recommend a 12 yard dumpster if you’re getting rid of heavy debris, like concrete or bricks, with a weight limit of up to 10 tons. This size also works great for small to mid-size residential jobs.
1 - 2 tons of material can look like:
2,500 - 3,500 square feet of carpeting
Up to 250 square feet of hardwood flooring
270 - 405 square feet of household junk
15 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 15 yard dumpster is between 1 and 2 tons. The 15 yard is 2 feet longer and slightly taller than a 10 yard, so it’s a good option for larger volume items with a lower weight.
1 - 2 tons of material can look like:
2,500 - 3,500 square feet of carpeting
Up to 250 square feet of hardwood flooring
270 - 405 square feet of household junk
20 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 20 yard dumpster is between 2 and 3 tons. A 20 yard bin is one of our most popular sizes because it can handle a large volume of debris without taking up much room in your driveway.
2 - 3 tons of material can look like:
3,500-4,200 square feet of carpeting
Up to 1,500 square feet of hardwood flooring
335-475 square feet of household junk
30 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 30 yard dumpster is between 3 and 4 tons. A 30 yard roll off container is great for small-scale commercial projects or a full-home cleanout.
3 - 4 tons of material can look like:
4,200-6,000 square feet of carpeting
1,750-2,500 square feet of hardwood flooring
475-680 square feet of household junk
40 Cubic Yard Dumpster Weight Limit
Our typical weight limit for a 40 yard dumpster is between 4 and 5 tons. A 40 yard bin is usually the largest roll off dumpster size we offer and would be sufficient for almost any residential or commercial cleanup.
4 - 5 tons of material can look like:
7,200-9,600 square feet of carpeting
2,500-3,000 square feet of hardwood flooring
810-1,1085 square feet of household junk
Get the Right Size Dumpster for Your Job
Understanding how many tons each dumpster size can hold is helpful to ensure you order the right size container for your project. With the right size dumpster on-site, you’ll not only save money, but it will also simplify your debris and junk removal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dumpster Weight Limits
How much does a dumpster weigh when it’s empty?
Depending on the size, an empty roll off container can weigh between 3,500 pounds for a 10 yard dumpster and up to 6,500 pounds for a 40 yard bin. However, the weight of the dumpster itself doesn’t matter and is not factored into your weight limit.
Does my dumpster rental have a maximum weight limit?
The max weight limit for each roll off container is 10 tons or else our driver will be unable to safely haul it away. If your dumpster rental is overloaded, we may ask you to remove contents or our driver will leave without taking the container which will result in additional fees. Keep in mind, heavy debris such as rock, brick or concrete can quickly exceed your dumpster’s weight limit even if your container does not look that full.
How is dumpster weight calculated?
Your roll off dumpster will be weighed when it enters the landfill and again after it is emptied. The difference between the two numbers is used to determine the total weight of the debris and cost of disposal.
How can I estimate what my debris weighs?
When you order your dumpster, we’ll ask questions about what you’re disposing of to help gauge the weight of your debris. This information helps us suggest a suitable roll off container size for your project. You can also use our dumpster weight calculators to estimate the tonnage of your materials.
How can I avoid extra fees during my dumpster rental?
The best way to avoid additional fees during your dumpster rental period is to make sure you do not overfill your dumpster and that nothing is above the dumpster walls or hanging over the edges. You should also be careful not to dispose of any prohibited items that the landfills cannot process.
What should I do if I have over 10 tons of debris to dispose of?
When you rent a dumpster with us, there is no limit to the number of bins you can rent at one time, so we can provide you with as many as you need to dispose of your debris, delivered together or staggered. If you’re short on space but still need multiple containers, we can set up an empty-and-return service so you have an empty roll off dumpster on-site when you need it.
How We Simplify Roll Off Dumpster Rentals
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