Key points
- All four common sizes are about 8 feet wide; length and wall height change.
- A 20 yard is the most common choice for household remodels and cleanouts.
- Heavy debris (concrete, brick, tile, dirt, shingles) belongs in a smaller container, filled partway.
- Bigger is often cheaper than a second haul for light, bulky debris.
How dumpster sizes work
Roll-off containers are measured in cubic yards of volume. One cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, so a 10 yard container holds ten of those. The four common sizes are 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Every one is about 8 feet wide, because that is what fits on the truck and through most driveways. What changes is the length and the height of the walls.
Exact dimensions vary between manufacturers and haulers, so treat the figures below as typical, and confirm with the hauler if your space is tight.
| Size | Typical length | Typical wall height | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | 12–14 ft | about 3–4 ft | Bathroom, garage, small cleanout, heavy debris |
| 20 yard | 20–22 ft | about 4 ft | Kitchen, flooring, whole-house cleanout, most roofs |
| 30 yard | 20–22 ft | about 6 ft | Additions, large renovations, big roofs |
| 40 yard | 20–22 ft | about 8 ft | New construction, commercial, bulky light debris |
10 yard container
The smallest common size, and the most underrated. It fits short and narrow driveways, including many intown bungalow drives in Atlanta, Durham and Birmingham. It suits a bathroom gut, a garage or attic cleanout, a small deck, or a single room of flooring.
It is also the right box for heavy material. Concrete, brick, block, tile, dirt and roofing shingles are dense, and a 10 yard filled partway can already reach the weight limit. Typical market range: $250–$400 per week, according to Fixr cost data (2025), checked October 2026. Call for an exact quote.
20 yard container
The everyday size for home projects. It holds a kitchen remodel, a whole-house cleanout of a three-bedroom home, carpet and pad throughout, or the shingles from an average roof. It still fits a two-car driveway in most Southeast suburbs.
If you are between a 10 and a 20 and your debris is mostly light and bulky, the 20 is usually better value than ordering a second 10. Typical market range: $275–$450 per week (Fixr cost data, 2025, checked October 2026).
30 yard container
Taller walls, same footprint as many 20s. A 30 yard suits large renovations, additions, interior strip-outs before a second-story build, big estate cleanouts, and larger roofs. The higher walls make loading harder by hand; plan a ramp or a door-end loading routine. Typical market range: $300–$750 per week (Fixr cost data, 2025, checked October 2026).
40 yard container
The largest common size. It is built for volume: new construction framing waste, commercial build-outs, warehouse cleanouts, and bulky light debris such as packaging, insulation and furniture. It is not for heavy material. Typical market range: $350–$900 per week (Fixr cost data, 2025, checked October 2026).
Weight: the hidden size limit
Every container comes with a weight allowance in tons, set by the hauler and capped by road weight limits on the truck. When your load is heavy, you hit the weight limit long before the container looks full. The overage is charged per ton.
Rough guide to density, from lightest to heaviest:
- Light: furniture, cardboard, packaging, insulation, yard brush.
- Medium: drywall, lumber, cabinets, carpet.
- Heavy: wet plaster, roofing shingles, tile.
- Very heavy: concrete, brick, block, dirt, rock.
For heavy jobs, order a smaller container, fill it partway, and swap it if needed. Many haulers want clean concrete or dirt kept separate. The pricing page shows typical overage and landfill ranges.
Will it fit?
Measure before you order. You need:
- Width: about 8 feet for the container, more for the truck's approach.
- Length: the container's length plus room for the truck to back in straight, often around 60 feet in total.
- Height: clear overhead space, because the truck bed tilts up as the container slides off. Watch for tree limbs and utility lines.
- Level ground: a loaded container on a slope can shift.
Our city pages cover local quirks: Birmingham's hills, Chattanooga's mountain roads, Savannah's lanes, Charlotte's side drives.
Matching the size to the job
- Bathroom remodel: 10 yard.
- Kitchen remodel: 20 yard.
- Garage or attic cleanout: 10 yard; 20 if it is packed.
- Whole-house cleanout: 20 yard; 30 for a large home with a basement.
- Roof tear-off: 10 or 20 yard depending on squares and layers; shingles are heavy.
- Deck removal: 10 or 20 yard.
- Concrete patio or driveway: 10 yard, filled partway.
- New home construction: 30 or 40 yard, swapped as needed.
- Office or retail fit-out: 20 to 40 yard.
Common sizing mistakes
- Ordering by guesswork. Walk the space and picture it piled 4 feet high. If it looks like more than two pickup loads, a 10 yard will be tight.
- Forgetting the weight. A roof with two layers of shingles can fill a 20 yard's weight allowance before it fills the volume.
- Ignoring the walls. A 30 or 40 yard has tall sides. Lifting debris over them by hand is slow. Use the swing door and walk heavy items in.
- Not leaving room for surprises. Renovations uncover more than expected: rotten subfloor, a second layer of flooring, old ductwork. A little headroom avoids a second haul.
When in doubt
Call (678) 916-9637 and describe the job, the material and the space. A local hauler will recommend a size. For what can and cannot go in, see what can go in a dumpster.
General information for planning a rental. Rules and prices vary by city and change over time; confirm locally and get an exact quote by phone.