Dumpster Sizes and Dimensions: Chart From 2 to 40 Yards
Dumpster sizes run from 2 to 40 yards, but most home and contractor projects need a 10, 20 or 30 yard, the three sizes Yard Works Plus rents: $449 for a 10 yard and $649 for a 20 and $699 for a 30, delivery and pickup included. Find your project in the chart below, then book online or call us.
Last checked and updated October 2026 by Yard Works Plus, Easton, MD.
Dumpster size chart
| Size | Dimensions (L × W × H) | Capacity | Typical Weight Limit | Best For | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Yard | 6' × 3' × 3' | Under 1 pickup load | About 400 lbs | Small-business trash service, not projects | For a project, our 10 yard is the smallest practical roll-off. |
| 4 Yard | 6' × 4.5' × 4' | About 1 pickup load | About 800 lbs | Ongoing commercial bin service | Our 10 yard replaces it for one-time cleanouts. |
| 6 Yard | 8' × 5' × 5' | About 2 pickup loads | About 1,200 lbs | Restaurant and retail waste bins | Our 10 yard is the closest roll-off size. |
| 8 Yard | 8' × 6' × 6' | About 2 to 3 pickup loads | About 1,600 lbs | Apartment and office trash service | Our 10 yard holds a comparable project load. |
| 10 Yard | 12' × 8' × 3.5' | About 3 pickup loads | 1 ton included | Garage sort-outs, single-bath remodels, small tear-outs | |
| 15 Yard | 16' × 8' × 4.5' | About 4 to 5 pickup loads | Typically 2 tons | Mid-size single-room projects | Our 20 yard is the closest match and gives you more room. |
| 20 Yard | 16' × 8' × 6' | About 6 pickup loads | 3 tons included | Roofing, kitchens, estate transitions | |
| 30 Yard | 22' × 8' × 6' | About 9 pickup loads | 3 tons included | Whole-home renovations, new construction, demolition | |
| 40 Yard | 22' × 8' × 8' | About 12 pickup loads | Typically 4 to 6 tons | Large commercial and industrial jobs | Our 30 yard, swapped as needed, covers the same volume. |
Dimensions are typical industry figures, length by width by height. Haulers build to slightly different specs, so confirm the exact box when you book.
What the "yard" in a dumpster size means
The number is the box's capacity in cubic yards. One cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, or 27 cubic feet (NIST's US customary conversion table) lists it). Our 10 yard measures 12 by 8 by 3.5 feet, which is 336 cubic feet, a little over 12 cubic yards of raw space. The rating sits slightly under the box because nothing loads perfectly flat.
The pickup-load column in the chart is the rough version of the same idea. If you've been hauling to the dump in your own truck, count the trips you'd still need and you have a decent first guess at size.
If you were quoted a size we don't run
Other companies rent 12, 14, 15, 16 and 25 yard containers. Here is how they line up with ours:
| Size you were quoted | Closest Yard Works Plus size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 12 or 14 yard | 10 yard ($449) if the load is heavy, 20 yard ($649) if it's bulky | Our 10 includes 1 ton; our 20 includes 3 tons and twice the volume |
| 15 or 16 yard | 20 yard ($649) | Same 16-foot footprint, taller walls |
| 25 yard | 30 yard ($699) | $50 more than our 20, same 3 tons, more room |
The 20 yard is $649 and the 30 yard is $699, so weigh the $50 difference against the room you need between those two.
Dumpster size comparisons
10 vs 20 yard
The 10 yard is 12 feet long with 3.5-foot walls; the 20 yard is 16 feet long with 6-foot walls and holds twice the volume. Pick the 10 yard for one room, one garage, or one small tear-out, and the 20 yard as soon as a second room, a roof, or a full kitchen is involved. The 20 yard also includes 3 tons instead of 1, which matters more than volume on dense material.
15 vs 20 yard
A 15 yard is normally the same 16-foot footprint as a 20 yard with shorter walls. We do not run a 15 yard, so if you were quoted one elsewhere our 20 yard is the direct replacement: same driveway space, more capacity, and a 3-ton allowance at $649.
20 vs 30 yard
The 20 yard costs $649 and the 30 yard costs $699; both include 3 tons, so consider volume, space, and the $50 price difference. Choose the 20 yard for dense material — shingles, plaster, tile, dirt — the material types the EPA tracks in its construction and demolition materials data. Choose the 30 yard for bulky but light material such as framing lumber, cabinetry, siding, or furniture. See the roofing dumpster guide for shingle weight math.
Smallest dumpster size available
The 2, 4, 6, and 8 yard containers you see advertised are front-load bins for ongoing commercial trash service — they are not delivered for a one-time project. The smallest true roll-off is a 10 yard, which is the smallest size we rent, and it still holds about three pickup loads for $449.
Weight matters as much as size
Volume is only half of it. Every flat rate includes a weight allowance: 1 ton (2,000 lbs) in the 10 yard and 3 tons (6,000 lbs) in the 20 and 30. Anything over the allowance is $115 per additional ton, and that's the only way a dense load gets more expensive.
Shingles, tile, plaster, brick, concrete and wet soil reach the weight limit long before the box looks full. Furniture, cabinets, framing scrap and household clutter do the opposite. So a "1 ton dumpster" search usually means someone wants a small box for heavy material, and our 10 yard is exactly that. For a roof, read the roofing dumpster guide before you pick: a single-layer tear-off on a medium-size home produces roughly 3 to 5 tons.
Roll-off, front-load, commercial and residential sizes
The 2, 4, 6 and 8 yard containers you see behind restaurants and apartment buildings are front-load bins. A garbage truck empties them on a schedule with forks, and they stay put for months or years. That's what most "commercial dumpster sizes" lists are describing.
A roll-off is different. A truck slides it off at your address, you fill it, and the whole container leaves when you're done. The smallest roll-off we deliver is the 10 yard, and it's the right starting point for residential cleanouts. Bigger construction jobs use the 20 or 30, and when one load isn't enough we swap a full 30 for an empty one.
Space you'll need on the property
The truck needs a straight approach and the container needs a level spot:
- 10 yard: about 14 by 10 feet of driveway, plus roughly 22 feet of straight approach
- 20 yard: about 18 by 10 feet, plus roughly 30 feet of approach
- 30 yard: about 24 by 10 feet, plus roughly 40 feet of approach
Keep low branches and wires out of the way. We set the container down on wood planks to protect your driveway surface. A dumpster on your own driveway or yard doesn't need a permit. If it has to sit on a town street, check the rules before delivery day in our Maryland dumpster permit guide.
Your flat rate covers 14 days. If the project runs long, extra days are $10 each, so there's no pressure to rush the last room.
Which size, in one line
One room or one garage: 10 yard. A roof, a kitchen or two to four rooms: 20 yard. A whole house, an addition or a building's worth of bulky debris: 30 yard. For project-by-project picks with the reasoning behind each, see how to choose a dumpster size. Before loading, check what can't go in a dumpster, since paint, chemicals, batteries and tires are handled separately.
Dumpster size FAQs
Ready to book? Pick your size and date, or call 410-820-6414 Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.