A Guide to Dumpster Dimensions- How to Determine the Perfect Dumpster Size for Your Needs

SUMMARY

Suppose you are planning an upcoming project, whether it is for construction, home renovation, or landscaping. However, you have hit a roadblock when choosing the right dumpster size for your project. You want to make sure that the project is as cost-efficient, safe, and smooth as possible without any hiccups or hitches. Yet, you don’t know what to do when choosing the size you need for your dumpster. This article hopes to provide clarity by providing helpful tips when it comes to choosing the right dumpster dimensions for your project, determining the size of the dumpsters to help form a mental picture, and determining what each size is usually used for to help you decide to base the similarity of other projects to yours. So, read this guide before you rent your dumpster.

Small Dumpster Dimensions and Uses

How Small is a Small Dumpster?

One example of a small dumpster is a 10-yard dumpster. These dumpsters are approximately 14’ long x 7;5’ wide x 3.5’ high. They can usually hold 4,000-6,000 lbs. Which is roughly the size of four pickup truck loads or about 60 standard trash bags. For a helpful comparison, it can be the size of 10 standard-sized refrigerators stacked together. A 12-yard dumpster is the second option for a common small dumpster size besides the 10-yard dumpster. It is 14’ x 7.5’ x 4’. Slightly higher than the 10-yard dumpster. It can hold 1-2 tons (about 2,000 – 4,000 lbs) and is equivalent to 3-4 pickup truckloads of debris. To help visualize how big it is, it is about the size of 12 standard kitchen ovens placed side by side.

What are Small Dumpsters Used For?

Small dumpsters are excellent when it comes to providing a convenient and cost-effective solution for waste disposal. Just keep in mind that just because they are the cheapest option, it is a one-size-fit all for every project. If you use small dumpsters and they get overfilled, it will cost you more than renting a large dumpster. Small dumpsters are the ideal option when it comes to small home renovation projects, like upgrading your kitchen or bathroom. Other small projects great for dumpsters are garage and basement cleanouts, yard clean-ups, decluttering your home, or event clean-ups. What makes them great for these projects is that they are space-efficient (due to their small size), cost-effective, and convenient to load.

Medium Dumpster Dimensions and Its Uses

How Big is a Medium Dumpster?

Medium dumpsters typically come in two sizes, a 15-yard or a 20-yard. A 15-yard medium dumpster is bigger than a smaller dumpster and is about 11’ x 8’ x 4.5’. It can hold 15 cubic yards of waste, equivalent to 60-90 trash bags. To help you picture how big it is, 15-yard dumpsters are about the size of a small car or a minivan. This same metric can roughly apply to the 20-yard dumpster, which can hold about 120-130 trash bags and is about the size of 20 standard kitchen overs staked together.

What are Medium Dumpsters Used for?

Medium dumpsters are extremely versatile, especially for home renovation projects like remodeling bathrooms or kitchens, large garage cleanouts, estate cleanouts, small construction projects, and roofing jobs. They are slightly larger than smaller dumpsters, and you can decide whether or not you want to go with a medium dumpster than a smaller dumpster. For example, you might want a medium dumpster if the bathroom you are renovating is a main bathroom rather than a standard small-sized bathroom.

Large Dumpster Dimensions and its Uses

How Large is a Large Dumpster?

Last (but not least), You can usually rent large dumpsters between 30-yard and 40-yard. 30-yard dumpsters can hold quite a lot, about 12 pickup truck loads of debris. A 30-yard dumpster is huge, roughly about the size of a small garage. It can hold the same volume as a medium-sized above-ground swimming pool. These dumpsters are larger, but the largest size is the 40-yard dumpster.
The 40-yard dumpster is usually the biggest size when it comes to dumpster dimensions. It is approximately 22’ x 7.5 x 6’. To help give you an idea, it can carry 230-350 trash bags and 16 pickup truck loads of debris. A 40-yard dumpster is about the length of a school bus and can hold the volume of about 3-4 adult African elephants. There is a good reason why it is this size, however, as you will soon read. You certainly won’t have to worry about overfilling with this dumpster size.

What Large Dumpsters Are Used for?

Large dumpsters are often used for construction sites to dispose of materials like wood, metal, drywall, and concrete. They keep the work area organized and safe. They can be used for major cleanouts, downsizing moves, disaster recovery, large event clean-ups, industrial management, demolition projects, and commercial renovations. They are the most commonly used for huge construction projects and commercial renovations. Their substantial size allows for efficient waste disposal, even if they are the most expensive sizes to rent for dumpster rentals. This dumpster is the best option if you are managing a large construction project. It is better to rent a large dumpster for a few trips than to rent small or medium-sized dumpsters that will be easily overfilled, and you’ll have to pay additional pickup fees.