Roll-off dumpsters are available in a wide variety of sizes — and getting the size right is crucial. If the dumpster you rent for your construction size is too small, you may suffer delays as you wait for the dumpster to be hauled and replaced frequently. If it’s too big, you’ll end up overpaying for a dumpster that takes up an excessive amount of space. 

LDR Site Services can always help you choose the right size dumpster for your construction project when you ask for a quote. Meanwhile, here’s a handy guide to help you get started. 

10 Cubic Yard Roll-Off Dumpsters

These dumpsters are the smallest standard dumpsters; 10 cubic yard roll-off dumpsters can, as their name suggests, hold 10 cubic yards of junk or debris, and they:

• Are typically 12 feet long x 8 feet wide x 4 feet high, although the precise dimensions do vary.
• Can hold up to two tons of waste materials.
• Can hold three pickup loads’ worth of debris.
• Can hold approximately 50 to 60 garbage bags’ worth of materials.

These small dumpsters are an appropriate choice for modestly-sized construction projects. Renovating a kitchen or small bathroom, constructing a smaller garage or shed and performing cleanup afterward, or evacuating old flooring are all good examples.

15 Cubic Yard Roll-Off Dumpsters

These dumpsters represent a slight upgrade, and:

• Measure 16 feet long x 7.5 feet wide x 4.5 feet high.
• Can hold two to three tons of waste materials.
• Accommodate around five pickup loads. 
• Hold 70 to 90 33-gallon garbage bags’ worth of trash.

These dumpsters are, like their slightly smaller “cousins”, used for smaller residential construction projects. Repairing or replacing a driveway, remodeling a larger kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom, and hauling old flooring off are examples of projects that a 15-yard roll-off dumpster can help you with.

20 Cubic Yard Roll-Off Dumpsters

A 20-yard roll-off dumpster can be considered a medium-sized dumpster. These dumpsters can hold a lot of trash!

• A  20 yard roll-off dumpster measures 22 feet long x 8 feet wide x 4.5 feet high.
• These dumpsters hold an impressive four tons of garbage and debris.
• You can load around seven pickup truck loads into 20 yard roll-off dumpsters.
• That translates to 120 garbage bags!

You can do a lot with a 20-yard roll-off dumpster — while a 10-yard dumpster will suffice if you’re only remodeling a small kitchen or a small bathroom, you can do both with a dumpster double the size. These dumpsters can also be used to dispose of old shingles when you’re having your roof replaced, and are perfect if you are going to remove a garden path or do a heavy landscaping job, too.

30 Cubic Yard Roll-Off Dumpsters

Do you have a bigger job to do? A 30-yard roll-off dumpster might meet your needs. These large dumpsters:

• Have dimensions of 22 feet long x 8 feet wide x 6 feet high.
• Hold up to six tons of junk materials.
• Hold 10 pickup loads’ worth of debris.
• Can hold the equivalent of approximately 180 trash bags.

What kind of construction project might you need a 30-yard roll-off dumpster for? The sky is almost the limit. If you’re building an addition to your home, replacing your property’s siding, doing a roofing job, replacing windows throughout a house, or cutting down multiple large trees, a 30-yard roll-off dumpster will meet your needs.

40 Cubic Yard Roll-Off Dumpsters

Welcome to the big leagues! Forty cubic yard roll-off dumpsters are the largest commercially available dumpsters. You can’t go any bigger — and if your needs still exceed the capacity of a 40-yard roll-off dumpster, you’ll have to have your dumpster replaced more frequently or opt to have multiple dumpsters delivered. 

These big dumpsters:

• Measure 22 feet long x 8 feet wide x 8 feet high.
• Accommodate a grand total of eight tons of garbage or construction waste.
• Hold up to 14 pickup loads!
• That’s around 240 large garbage bags.

If you’re running a large-scale construction site, the 40 yard roll-off dumpster will unquestionably be your dumpster of choice. These big boys are also suitable for large residential construction projects, however. Think flipping a home or doing a complete remodel.

Choosing The Right Dumpster Size: Some Tips

As you choose the right dumpster for your needs, it’s vital to consider not just its dimensions and the volume it can hold, but also the dumpster’s weight limit. Concrete, asphalt, soil, and old electrical appliances such as washing machines are indeed among the items you can dispose of in a dumpster, but make sure that you don’t exceed the weight limit!