Dumpster Size by Project
Volume and weight for the project you are demoing, then the smallest dumpster that takes both, with the weight limit that decides the size on roofing and concrete.
Roofing is the weight job: 220 lb per square of shingles plus decking, so a 20 square roof often lands on a 20 yard box for the weight, not the volume.
How the math works
- Volume rates (loose, before the air-gap factor): asphalt roof 0.27 cu yd per square (100 sq ft), drywall 0.003 per sq ft, flooring with pad 0.0025, wood deck 0.012, 4 in concrete 0.0123, siding 0.004, tile with thinset 0.004, dirt 1 cu yd per cu yd.
- Weight rates: shingles with decking 2.4 lb per sq ft, drywall 1.7, flooring 1.2, framing lumber 3.5, 4 in slab 50, siding 0.6, tile 12, dirt 2,400.
- Air gap: demo does not stack, so add 20 to 30% for voids. Flat material stacked tight is 15%; mixed demo with voids is 30%; a roof with decking stacked is 25%.
- Size table (volume, ton allowance, 2026 base rental): 10 yard = 2 tons, $300. 12 yard = 3 tons, $360. 20 yard = 5 tons, $450. 30 yard = 7 tons, $520. 40 yard = 9 tons, $620. Overages run $75 to $125 per ton at the transfer station.
- Which limit binds: compute both. Roof, tile, and concrete bind on weight, and framing, drywall, and flooring bind on volume. Renting a 30 yard box for a roof is the classic way to pay an overage on the tip.
What size dumpster for a 2,000 sq ft roof?
20 squares of shingles with decking: 7.3 loose cubic yards with the air gap, 4.8 tons with decking. A 12 yard box takes the volume, a 20 yard box takes the weight comfortably, and a 30 yard box is overkill.
What size dumpster for a drywall gut?
1,000 sq ft of drywall and plaster is 3.8 loose cubic yards and 1.4 tons, so a 10 yard box handles a full-house gut. Plaster is 4x the weight of drywall and a 3,000 sq ft plaster gut needs a 20 yard box for the tonnage.
How many tons can a 20 yard dumpster take?
The working limit is 5 tons for mixed demo, and the contract spells out what is in the tonnage. Roofing, tile, and concrete push a 20 to the limit; framing lumber and drywall never get close, which is why they bind on volume.