How to Select the Right Dumpster Size for Your Project

Dumpster rental allows homeowners and contractors alike to efficiently remove debris from work sites of all sizes. That said, next time you need to rent a dumpster to get rid of old household items, furniture, or construction materials, you want to be sure you’re choosing the right size. Too large, and space is wasted. Too small, and you can’t fit everything in. 

It might not be possible to be 100% exact about which dumpster is the right size for your project, but in this article, we’re going to help you get a lot closer to answering this question for yourself. But don’t worry–you aren’t left on your own. As always, the skilled team at Pete and Pete Container Service, Inc. is here to help. Let’s get into it.

Choosing a Dumpster Size

Trying to select the just-right dumpster size can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The first step to success is evaluating the scope of your project. If you’re remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, doing a major cleanout of the garage or attic, or disposing of large scale yard waste, Pete & Pete has what you’re looking for. Standard rental units are available in 8, 10, 20, 30, and 40 yard dumpsters. 

But those numbers may not mean much to the average homeowner. Here’s a breakdown of which size is best for the types of projects that customers commonly get into:

• 8 Yards: Ideal size for disposing landscape debris, aggregates (dirt, concrete, asphalt, etc.), and items from a garage clean out, small roofing job, or a general clean up. An 8 yard dumpster can hold as much as 2-3 pickup truckloads of debris, or 56 average size trash bags. It’s compact, easy to fill, and a convenient size for small projects and small spaces.
• 10 Yards: Holding approximately 4 pickup truckloads worth of debris, a 10 yard dumpster is perfect for slightly larger scale cleanup projects around the home and landscape. From spring cleaning to a garage or small basement clear out, new flooring installation, or small deck or roof and gutter replacement, the 10 yard dumpster is just the right size to fully contain the mess without taking up too much room on your property.
• 20 Yards: If your home is large, then any carpet/floor removal project, roofing replacement, or other renovation or demolition project will necessarily require a larger dumpster for the job. A 20 yard dumpster is a great choice for all of these needs, plus junk removal from a large basement or garage and even new construction when space is somewhat limited. This is the most versatile and most commonly ordered dumpster size, holding roughly 8 pickup truck loads of debris.
• 30 Yards: For larger scale projects, a 30 yard dumpster is the way to go. Holding roughly 12 pickup truck loads of debris, this roll off dumpster is large enough to handle most foreclosures, evictions, or estate clean-outs. Medium-scale renovation and demolition projects or whole house clean-outs along with new construction and commercial work are other common reasons to rent a 30 yard dumpster.
• 40 Yards: For a foreclosure, eviction, or estate clean-out that runs larger-scale than average, a 40 yard dumpster is the best choice. The same is true for large renovation, demolition, new construction, commercial roofing work, water and fire remediation, and large whole house clean-out projects. 40 yard dumpsters average a capacity of around 18-20 pickup truck loads.

Things to Consider When Selecting a Dumpster Size

We already mentioned it, but it bears repeating: you want to try and find the dumpster size that will most closely match your project’s needs. Choosing a size that’s too large means you’re leaving space and money on the table. But if you try to cram too much into a smaller dumpster, that can result in fees for additional tonnage. And if the items don’t fit neatly into the dumpster you choose, then you’ll likely need to rent a second dumpster to split the load. It’s always less expensive to rent a slightly larger dumpster from the outset, than to be forced to get a second smaller one. 

With all that in mind, here are some things to remember as you try to decide on the best size of rental dumpster for your next residential or commercial project:

Determine The Debris: Sometimes the items themselves will determine the dumpster size, as bigger and bulkier items may not fit in some models, and will quickly fill even a larger dumpster.

Know Your Location: It’s good to know that Pete & Pete dumpster delivery service will both drop off and pick up your rental dumpster, but remember that this requires enough clearance on your property or jobsite. You also need enough room to move around the dumpster as you haul items for disposal.

Think About Capacity: Dumpster sizes are measured in cubic yards, which references their volume, but isn’t necessarily a unit of measurement that we regularly use. Remember that a yard is three feet, so a cubic yard is 3′ long x 3′ wide x 3′ high. So there are 27 feet in one cubic yard. It can be tough to envision the total size of a dumpster, so we also provide measurements on each product page.

Pin Down the Project: In relation to each other, the various projects that lead to dumpster rental can put the available sizes in context. A whole house renovation or an estate clearout will clearly require a larger container than would a small cleanout prior to a move.

Check Your Materials: Not everything can be disposed of using a dumpster. Some notable no-nos are tires, batteries, refrigerators, hazardous (flammable or toxic) material, and liquids, among other things. You can contact the Pete & Pete team to double check whether the items you’re looking to get rid of are safe to dispose. We can haul general trash, yard waste, construction material, concrete/dirt, organic material, cardboard, and metal.

Ask the Experts: Once you know all the details of your project, as well as the available space on the property to house a dumpster, reach out to Pete & Pete for our professional take and informed suggestions. Having an inventory of items you’re trashing can help here too. You can rely on our team to provide a close estimate.

Work With Cleveland’s Best Junk Hauler and Dumpster Delivery Company

Whether you’re moving, renovating, landscaping, or doing any sort of residential or commercial project that will generate debris, it looks like dumpster rental is in your future. Now that you have some basic guidelines about which dumpster size would work best for your project, you might know just what you need. But if lingering questions have you unsure about whether you need an 8, 10, 20, 30, or 40 yard dumpster, our professional team is always ready to help. Get in touch with us today for a free estimate or to schedule dropoff.

At Pete & Pete Container Service, Inc. we’ve been helping folks in Northeast Ohio clear out and clean up their properties for over 25 years. But our services don’t end there! We also offer debris recycling and specific disposal of construction and landscape products for contractors. Call us today for more information and get started on your next project!