Most people who call us ask the same thing first. How big a dumpster do I need?
It’s a fair question, and a wrong answer costs money either way. Go too small, and you pay for a second haul. Go too big, and you pay for space you never fill. We’ve been setting and hauling containers around Isabella County for more than 30 years. This is how we size a job.
Key Takeaways
- A 5- or 10-yard box handles small jobs: a garage purge, one bathroom or kitchen, a small roof.
- A 20-yard box is the usual pick for a whole-home cleanout or a mid-size remodel.
- A 30- or 40-yard box is for new builds, estate cleanouts, and demolition.
- The 5- and 10-yard sizes arrive on a 1-ton pickup. The 20-, 30-, and 40-yard sizes arrive on a semi and need 100 feet to unload.
- Weight limits apply: 4 tons for the 20-yard, 5 for the 30-yard, and 6 for the 40-yard.
- Tires, hazardous liquid, concrete, chemicals, asbestos and liquid paint can’t go in any container.
Start With the Job, Not the Box
Picture what you’re about to throw away. A garage full of old shelves is one thing. The contents of a three-bedroom house is another. Be honest about the pile.
Then look at the table below. Every container we rent is a roll-off, and each size has fixed dimensions.
| Size | Length × Width × Height | Holds about | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5 yard
|
8 ft × 6 ft × 3 ft
|
2 truck beds
|
Small cleanouts, single-room remodels, garage purges
|
|
10 yard
|
9 ft × 7 ft × 4 ft
|
4 truck beds
|
Roof tear-offs, bathroom or kitchen remodels, basement cleanouts
|
|
20 yard
|
22 ft × 7 ft × 4 ft
|
8 truck beds
|
Whole-home cleanouts, flooring removal, mid-size remodels
|
|
30 yard
|
22 ft × 7 ft × 6 ft
|
12 truck beds
|
New construction, estate cleanouts, large remodels
|
|
40 yard
|
22 ft × 7 ft × 8 ft
|
16 truck beds
|
Big commercial builds, demolition debris
|
You can see every size on our dumpster sizes page.
Small Jobs: 5 and 10 Yard
The 5-yard is the one for a weekend project. Clear out the garage. Rip out one room of carpet. It holds about two pickup loads, so don’t ask it to do more.
The 10-yard steps up from there. It fits a bathroom or kitchen gut job, a basement cleanout, or a roof tear-off.
Roofers, note this one. Both of these sizes cap out at 15 squares of shingles. A square covers 100 square feet of roof, so 15 squares is 1,500 square feet. Bigger roof? Call us and we’ll talk it through.
Mid-Size Jobs: 20 Yard
When the project moves from a room to a whole house, step up to the 20-yard. People rent it for flooring removal, big remodels, and full-home cleanouts. It’s about eight truck beds long and 4 feet tall, with a 4-ton limit.
Big Jobs: 30 and 40 Yard
The 30-yard is common on new construction and estate cleanouts. The 40 yard is built for commercial work and demolition debris. Both are long, tall, and heavy when full. The 30-yard has a 5-ton limit, and the 40-yard has a 6-ton limit.
One practical note. The 40-yard has 8-foot sides. That’s a tall wall to toss things over by hand. Think through how you’ll load it before it arrives.
Check Your Space Before You Order
Size isn’t only about how much you’re throwing out. It’s also about where the box goes.
The 5- and 10-yard containers come on a 1-ton pickup. They fit most driveways and tight spots.
The 20-, 30-, and 40-yard containers come on a semi. The driver needs overhead clearance, with no low wires or branches, and at least 100 feet of room to unload. Walk your site and look up. Then call us if you’re not sure.
Know What Stays Out
The landfill bans a short list of materials, so we can’t take them either:
- Tires
- Hazardous liquid
- Concrete
- Chemicals
- Asbestos
- Liquid paint
Michigan law also keeps most yard clippings, like grass, leaves, and brush, out of landfills. The state’s list of landfill-prohibited materials explains the rules. If your cleanup includes any of it, ask us before you load.
You do have options for the banned items. The Isabella County Recycling Center at 4208 E. River Rd. takes tires for a fee. Call them at (989) 773-9631 for current details. For old paint and chemicals, the Isabella Conservation District runs household hazardous waste collections.
Not Sure? Call Us
We’ll size it for you in about a minute. Tell us what you’re clearing and where the box will sit.
Delivery is free within 15 miles of our yard at 4491 E River Rd in Mt Pleasant. That covers Mt Pleasant, Clare, Shepherd, Lake Isabella, and Alma. Call (989) 772-1277 or send us the details, and we’ll confirm your size, drop-off date, and price.
FAQ
What size dumpster do I need for a roof?
A 5- or 10-yard container works for up to 15 squares of shingles. That’s about 1,500 square feet of roof. For a larger roof, call us and we’ll size it.
What size is best for cleaning out a whole house?
Most whole-home cleanouts fit a 20-yard container. For a large estate with a lot of furniture, a 30 yard gives you more room and a higher weight limit.
Will a dumpster fit in my driveway?
The 5- and 10-yard containers fit most residential driveways. The 20-, 30-, and 40-yard containers come on a semi and need overhead clearance and at least 100 feet of room to unload.
Can I put concrete in the dumpster?
No. Concrete is on the landfill’s banned list, along with tires, hazardous liquid, chemicals, asbestos, and liquid paint.
Do you deliver to Clare, Shepherd, Lake Isabella and Alma?
Yes. Delivery is free within 15 miles of our Mt Pleasant yard, and those towns are inside that radius.
How do I order?
Fill out the inquiry form or call (989) 772-1277. We’ll confirm your size, drop-off date, and price.
What if I’m not sure an item is allowed?
Call us before pickup day. We’ll tell you if it can go in or where to take it.