★ CONSTRUCTION · WASTE · DUMPSTER SIZES
A 20-yard dumpster — 5.00 pickup loads, 4,500 lb. Fifteen cubic yards of debris needs the 20-yard box: the 10-yard box is too small, and the weight is inside the 3-ton limit. Enter your debris to find the smallest box that fits — and whether the weight is a problem.
Dumpsters are sized by their struck volume in cubic yards, and one pickup-truck load is 3 cubic yards. This calculator finds the smallest dumpster that fits your debris, the pickup loads it replaces, and the estimated weight against the size’s limit — with the full standard dumpster size table. Reference table #213.
A dumpster is sized by its struck volume — the box filled level, in cubic yards. The smallest box that fits is the one whose capacity is at least as big as the debris: 10 cubic yards holds up to 10, 20 holds up to 20, and so on. One pickup-truck load is 3 cubic yards, so the loads are the volume divided by 3. The weight is a planning estimate at 300 lb per cubic yard: the volume times 300, in pounds, divided by 2,000 for tons. Dimensions are typical roll-off sizes and vary by hauler — rated capacity is the struck volume, and the box’s geometric volume is larger. Heavy materials like concrete, brick, and dirt weigh far more per yard and may hit the weight limit before the box is full; light bulky waste weighs less.
At the default — 15 cubic yards of debris — the smallest box that fits is the 20-yard dumpster, because 15 is more than 10 and no more than 20. It is 15 ÷ 3 = 5.00 pickup loads, and it weighs 15 × 300 = 4,500 lb, which is 2.25 tons — inside the 20-yard box’s 3-ton (6,000 lb) limit.
| Size | Length (ft) | Width (ft) | Height (ft) | Pickup loads | Weight limit | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cubic yards | 12 | 8 | 4 | ~3 | ~2 tons (4,000 lb) | Small cleanout, bathroom remodel, single-room flooring. |
| 20 cubic yards | 22 | 8 | 4.5 | ~6 | ~3 tons (6,000 lb) | Flooring throughout, roof tear-off, deck removal. |
| 30 cubic yards | 22 | 8 | 6 | ~9 | ~4 tons (8,000 lb) | Whole-home cleanout, large remodel, siding replacement. |
| 40 cubic yards | 22 | 8 | 8 | ~12 | ~5 tons (10,000 lb) | New construction, commercial cleanout, major demolition. |
| Case | Recommended | Loads | Weight | Tons | Weight check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default (15 yd³) | 20-yard | 5.00 | 4,500 lb | 2.25 tons | Inside the limit |
| 8 yd³ | 10-yard | 2.67 | 2,400 lb | 1.20 tons | Inside the limit |
| 25 yd³ | 30-yard | 8.33 | 7,500 lb | 3.75 tons | Inside the limit |
| 35 yd³ | 40-yard | 11.67 | 10,500 lb | 5.25 tons | OVER the limit |
| 45 yd³ | ABOVE CHART | 15.00 | 13,500 lb | 6.75 tons | OVER the limit |
| 10 yd³ exactly | 10-yard | 3.33 | 3,000 lb | 1.50 tons | Inside the limit |
| 20 yd³ exactly | 20-yard | 6.67 | 6,000 lb | 3.00 tons | Inside the limit |
| 3 yd³ | 10-yard | 1.00 | 900 lb | 0.45 tons | Inside the limit |
| 30 yd³ exactly | 30-yard | 10.00 | 9,000 lb | 4.50 tons | OVER the limit |
| 40 yd³ exactly | 40-yard | 13.33 | 12,000 lb | 6.00 tons | OVER the limit |
| 5 yd³ | 10-yard | 1.67 | 1,500 lb | 0.75 tons | Inside the limit |
| 12 yd³ | 20-yard | 4.00 | 3,600 lb | 1.80 tons | Inside the limit |
Setup: debris volume 15 yd³.
Line 1 — the smallest box that fits. 15 is more than 10 and no more than 20, so the 20-yard dumpster.
Line 2 — the pickup loads. 15 ÷ 3 = 5.00 loads.
Line 3 — the weight. 15 × 300 = 4,500 lb, which is 4,500 ÷ 2,000 = 2.25 tons.
Line 4 — the limit. The 20-yard box is rated for 3 tons (6,000 lb), and 4,500 lb is inside it.
Reverse: the maximum volume for a 10-yard dumpster is 10 yd³, for a 20-yard 20 yd³, for a 30-yard 30 yd³, for a 40-yard 40 yd³; a 30-yard dumpster replaces 10.00 pickup loads, a 10-yard 3.33 (exact 3.3333), a 40-yard 13.33 (exact 13.3333); a full 20-yard dumpster weighs about 6,000 lb (3.00 tons), a full 10-yard 3,000 lb (1.50 tons); 6 pickup loads is 18 yd³, which needs a 20-yard dumpster.
8 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 10-yard dumpster. It is 2.67 loads and 2,400 lb (1.20 tons), inside the 2-ton limit. Eight yards is a small cleanout, and the smallest box is the right one.
25 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 30-yard dumpster. It is 8.33 loads and 7,500 lb (3.75 tons), inside the 4-ton limit. Twenty-five yards is five yards too much for a 20-yard box.
35 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 40-yard dumpster. It is 11.67 loads and 10,500 lb (5.25 tons) — over the 40-yard box’s 5-ton limit, so it is flagged. The box fits the volume, but the weight is a problem.
45 yd³: ABOVE CHART — no single dumpster fits. A 40-yard box holds 40 yd³, leaving 5 yd³ over. It is 15.00 loads and 13,500 lb (6.75 tons). Use two dumpsters, or a 40-yard plus a 10-yard.
10 yd³ exactly: the 10-yard dumpster fits exactly. It is 3.33 loads and 3,000 lb (1.50 tons), inside the 2-ton limit. Exactly full is still a fit.
20 yd³ exactly: the 20-yard dumpster fits exactly. It is 6.67 loads and 6,000 lb (3.00 tons) — exactly at the limit, so it is not flagged. Exactly at the limit is inside it.
3 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 10-yard dumpster. It is 1.00 load and 900 lb (0.45 tons). Three yards is one pickup load, and the smallest box is the only choice.
30 yd³ exactly: the 30-yard dumpster fits exactly. It is 10.00 loads and 9,000 lb (4.50 tons) — over the 30-yard box’s 4-ton limit, so it is flagged. The box fits the volume, but the weight is half a ton over.
40 yd³ exactly: the 40-yard dumpster fits exactly. It is 13.33 loads and 12,000 lb (6.00 tons) — over the 40-yard box’s 5-ton limit, so it is flagged. A full 40-yard box of mixed debris is a ton over its limit.
5 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 10-yard dumpster. It is 1.67 loads and 1,500 lb (0.75 tons), inside the 2-ton limit. Five yards is half a 10-yard box.
12 yd³: the smallest box that fits is the 20-yard dumpster. It is 4.00 loads and 3,600 lb (1.80 tons), inside the 3-ton limit. Twelve yards is two yards too much for a 10-yard box.
Reverse — the other way round: the maximum volume for a 10-yard dumpster is 10 yd³, for a 20-yard 20 yd³, for a 30-yard 30 yd³, for a 40-yard 40 yd³; a 30-yard dumpster replaces 10.00 pickup loads, a 10-yard 3.33, a 40-yard 13.33; a full 20-yard dumpster weighs about 6,000 lb (3.00 tons), a full 10-yard 3,000 lb (1.50 tons); 6 pickup loads is 18 yd³, which needs a 20-yard dumpster.
The model assumes the debris volume you enter, one pickup-truck load of 3 cubic yards, and a mixed-debris weight of 300 lb per cubic yard. It assumes the sizes in the table — typical roll-off sizes — and that the rated capacity is the struck volume, filled level; the box’s geometric volume is larger, so a heaped box holds more than its rating. It assumes the debris is mixed: check the weight, because heavy materials like concrete, brick, and dirt weigh far more per yard and may hit the weight limit before the box is full, and light bulky waste weighs less. It leaves out the hauler’s own limits and fees, which vary by hauler. Rounding convention: loads and tons are shown to two decimals, pounds are whole numbers, and all figures are computed from unrounded values, rounded only for display.
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended dumpster | smallest size whose capacity is at least the debris volume | 20-yard dumpster. |
| Pickup-truck loads | debris volume ÷ 3 | 5.00 loads. |
| Estimated weight (lb) | debris volume × 300 lb | 4,500 lb. |
| Estimated weight (tons) | estimated weight ÷ 2,000 | 2.25 tons. |
| Weight limit | rated limit of the recommended size | 3 tons (6,000 lb). |
| Weight check | estimated weight vs the limit | Inside the limit. |
| Flag | what to do when it does not fit or is over the limit | none. |
| Volume left over | debris volume − 40, when above the chart | 0 yd³. |
| Max volume: 10-yard | rated capacity of the 10-yard size | 10 yd³. |
| Max volume: 20-yard | rated capacity of the 20-yard size | 20 yd³. |
| Max volume: 30-yard | rated capacity of the 30-yard size | 30 yd³. |
| Max volume: 40-yard | rated capacity of the 40-yard size | 40 yd³. |
| Loads a 10-yard replaces | 10 ÷ 3 | 3.33 loads (exact 3.3333). |
| Loads a 20-yard replaces | 20 ÷ 3 | 6.67 loads (exact 6.6667). |
| Loads a 30-yard replaces | 30 ÷ 3 | 10.00 loads (exact 10.0000). |
| Loads a 40-yard replaces | 40 ÷ 3 | 13.33 loads (exact 13.3333). |
| Weight of a full 10-yard | 10 × 300 lb | 3,000 lb (1.50 tons). |
| Weight of a full 20-yard | 20 × 300 lb | 6,000 lb (3.00 tons). |
| Volume of 6 pickup loads | 6 × 3 | 18 yd³, which needs a 20-yard dumpster. |
| 8 yd³ | same model, 8 yd³ | 10-yard dumpster, 2.67 loads, 2,400 lb (1.20 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 25 yd³ | same model, 25 yd³ | 30-yard dumpster, 8.33 loads, 7,500 lb (3.75 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 35 yd³ | same model, 35 yd³ | 40-yard dumpster, 11.67 loads, 10,500 lb (5.25 tons), OVER the limit. |
| 45 yd³ | same model, 45 yd³ | ABOVE CHART — 40-yard + 5 yd³ left over, 15.00 loads, 13,500 lb (6.75 tons), OVER the limit. |
| 10 yd³ exactly | same model, 10 yd³ | 10-yard dumpster, 3.33 loads, 3,000 lb (1.50 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 20 yd³ exactly | same model, 20 yd³ | 20-yard dumpster, 6.67 loads, 6,000 lb (3.00 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 3 yd³ | same model, 3 yd³ | 10-yard dumpster, 1.00 loads, 900 lb (0.45 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 30 yd³ exactly | same model, 30 yd³ | 30-yard dumpster, 10.00 loads, 9,000 lb (4.50 tons), OVER the limit. |
| 40 yd³ exactly | same model, 40 yd³ | 40-yard dumpster, 13.33 loads, 12,000 lb (6.00 tons), OVER the limit. |
| 5 yd³ | same model, 5 yd³ | 10-yard dumpster, 1.67 loads, 1,500 lb (0.75 tons), Inside the limit. |
| 12 yd³ | same model, 12 yd³ | 20-yard dumpster, 4.00 loads, 3,600 lb (1.80 tons), Inside the limit. |
The math is exact for the numbers you enter: the smallest box that fits is the first size whose capacity is at least the volume, the loads are the volume divided by 3, and the weight is the volume times 300 lb a yard. What the model cannot do is weigh your debris: check the material, because heavy materials like concrete, brick, and dirt weigh far more per yard and may hit the weight limit before the box is full, and light bulky waste weighs less. It assumes typical roll-off sizes — check the hauler’s own sheet, because dimensions vary by hauler. It leaves out the hauler’s overage fees and the driveway space the box needs. For the fence the dumpster sits behind, see fence post size chart; for the deck you are tearing out, see deck board size chart.
Bright Side Kit. "Dumpster Size Chart: 10, 20, 30 & 40 Yard Guide 2026." https://brightoolbox.com/dumpster-size-chart/ Accessed October 25, 2026.A 20-yard dumpster. Fifteen cubic yards is more than the 10-yard box holds, so the smallest box that fits is the 20-yard one. It is 5.00 pickup-truck loads and about 4,500 lb at 300 lb a yard, which is 2.25 tons — inside the 20-yard box’s 3-ton limit. A 10-yard box would leave 5 cubic yards with nowhere to go.
About 6–7 pickup loads. One pickup-truck load is 3 cubic yards, so a 20-yard dumpster replaces 20 ÷ 3 = 6.67 loads — about 6 to 7 loads, depending on how the truck is loaded. A 10-yard dumpster replaces 3.33 loads, a 30-yard replaces 10.00 loads, and a 40-yard replaces 13.33 loads.
Three tons rated. The 20-yard box is rated for about 3 tons, which is 6,000 lb. Mixed debris at 15 yards weighs about 4,500 lb, so it is inside the limit. A full 20-yard box of mixed debris weighs about 6,000 lb at 300 lb a yard — exactly at the limit. Heavy material is different: concrete, brick and dirt weigh far more per yard, and a box of those can hit the weight limit long before it is full.
Overage fees, or the hauler refuses the load. The weight limit is a hard limit: the truck cannot legally haul a box over its rated weight, so the hauler charges an overage fee per extra ton, or refuses to pick the box up at all. Heavy material needs a smaller box: a 10-yard box of concrete is still heavy, but it is a smaller pile of it, and the hauler can load it. If your debris is heavy, tell the hauler before you order — a 40-yard box full of brick is a problem, not a bargain.
No — these are typical sizes, so confirm with the hauler. Dimensions are typical roll-off sizes and vary by hauler: a 20-yard box is usually 22 ft long, 8 ft wide and 4.5 ft high, but another hauler’s 20-yard box may be a foot shorter or taller. The rated capacity is the struck volume — the box filled level — and the box’s geometric volume is larger, so a heaped box holds more than its rating. Check the length, width, height and weight limit on the hauler’s own sheet before you order, and measure your driveway before the truck arrives.
About 12,000 lb at 300 lb a yard — over the 5-ton limit. A full 40-yard box of mixed debris weighs 40 × 300 = 12,000 lb, which is 6.00 tons against the box’s 5-ton (10,000 lb) limit. That is why the big boxes are for bulky, light waste — construction debris, furniture, roofing — and not for dirt or concrete. If the load is heavy, the hauler will want a smaller box, or two of them.