When renting a dumpster for your residential or commercial project, choosing the right 
dumpster size is challenging. It’s probably the most difficult part of the whole process. But don’t panic. We’re here to help!
Understanding Measurements
Choosing the correct dumpster size may be difficult if you don’t know or understand the measurements for each container.
In the waste management industry, dumpsters are measured by volume, or how much waste the container can hold or transport. This number is expressed in cubic yards. For example, a 10-yard dumpster can only hold 10 cubic yards of waste at a maximum. The same applies to 20-, 30-, and 40-yard dumpsters.
When debating which dumpster is best suited for your project, it’s important to ask yourself:
- How much debris will I produce?
- What’s the estimated weight of all the waste?
- What’s the estimated height of all the waste?
You want everything to fit snugly inside the dumpster with a little bit of room to spare on top, just to ensure that nothing sticks out from the top of the container. A dumpster with debris sticking out is considered a road hazard and illegal to transport. If all of your waste is not contained within the dumpster, our drivers will not pick up your rental, and you will be charged extra.
Take a look at the infographic below to view the dimensions of each dumpster we offer and approximately how much waste they can hold.
Choosing Too Small — A Costly Mistake
Without having some sort of idea of the amount of waste you need to dispose of, you may end up renting the wrong dumpster size. Here is our tip if you’re stuck between two sizes.
When in doubt, size up!
You can’t overstuff your dumpster with debris; we already covered that our drivers will not transport a dumpster that is overflowing due to safety reasons. So if you do order a dumpster that’s too small, we’ll have to empty and return it. You can avoid this extra cost by getting a dumpster that’s a little bit larger and fits everything inside.
When in Doubt, Ask an Expert
Our team has gained a lot of experience and knowledge in helping renters choose the correct dumpster size for their projects. Give us a call today and walk us through your work, and we’ll give you our professional opinion. At Roll-Off Dumpster Direct, we’re always happy to help!