Know Your Dumpster Weight Limits

When you’re choosing what size dumpster you’ll need for your next project, one of the first questions you should ask yourself is, “How much does all my stuff weigh?” This answer is important because each dumpster provider has different weight limits, and the specific types of debris you’re throwing away also plays a huge role.

What Determines my Dumpster's Weight Limit?

Each size dumpster will have a different weight limit that the dumpster company will assign to each size. This weight limit could reference the limit that the dumpster truck can hold. The hoists on the trucks that are picking up and dropping off dumpsters are designed for certain amounts of weight, so the weight could be limited to the hoist’s abilities to lift.

The weight limit could be the amount the dumpster company assigns. If you go over this weight, the truck may still be able to be lifted, but you will be overcharged because you exceeded the agreed-upon weight limit. For example, if your dumpster weighs in at three tons but you only paid for two tons of debris, you will be charged an overage fee. The fee could range from $25 to $100.

What is my Dumpster's Weight Limit?

Though the weight limits could differ by each company, each dumpster has a common weight limit:

10-yard dumpster: 8 ft. wide x 10 ft. long x 3.5 ft. tall
- 2-3 tons (4,000-6,000 pounds)
20-yard dumpster: 8 ft. wide x 22 ft. long x 4 ft. tall
- 2.5-3.5 tons (5,000-7,000 pounds)
30-yard dumpster: 8 ft. wide x 22 ft. long x 6 ft. tall
- 4.5-5 tons (7,000-10,000 pounds)
40-yard dumpster: 8 ft. wide x 22 ft. long x 8 ft. tall
- 6-8 tons (12,000-16,000 pounds)

What Does my Debris Weigh?

So you don’t under- or overestimate your debris weight and risk getting charged a fee or stuck with a dumpster that is too big, here’s a chart of various debris types and their weights:

Material	Lbs./Cubic Yard	Notes
Burned debris/ash	800-1,000 1,500-1800 2,300	Loose/dry Wet for dust suppression Wet mixed with soil
Concrete	4,050
Asphalt	3,960
Wood, un-compacted	400	Increase up to 100% if compacted
Metals, un-compacted	600	Appliances, metal siding, etc.
Earth	2,100 3,000	Loose/dry Excavated/wet
Gravel/crushed stone	2,600	Increase 20% if wet
Standard red clay bricks	3,400
Asphalt shingles	2,500	1,000 sq. ft. (10 squares, 30 bundles)
Slate shingles	9,500	1,000 sq. ft. (10 squares, 30 bundles)
General household junk	300-350 400-800	Un-compacted Compacted
Yard Waste	670 400 500 1,500 1,350	Grass clippings Leaves Brush Unfinished compost Finished compost
Drywall	340 420	½-inch thick drywall 5/8-inch thick drywall

How is my Debris Weighed?

The dumpster company takes the dumpster from your site to the landfill. The truck with the dumpster will drive onto a scale at the landfill and the total weight of the truck, dumpster and debris is measured. The truck will empty the dumpster and weigh again before leaving the landfill to see how much the truck and dumpster weigh without the debris. Then the dumpster company will know how much your debris weighed and you will be billed for that weight.