How to Know What Dumpster Rental Sizes You Need

Dumpsters come in all different sizes, but not all of them are going to be right for your purposes. So how do you find the right dumpster rental size? At redbox+ Dumpsters^®, it’s a question we’re frequently asked by customers—so let’s take a look at the answer!

Without a dumpster, waste management can quickly get unwieldy for all kinds of projects. That’s not just true for construction companies, contractors, and other professionals—it’s also true for homeowners who are tackling cleanouts, landscaping, and other big tasks.

Having a bin means that all your waste materials have a place where they can be contained and mostly out of sight, allowing for a cleaner and more usable workspace. Plus, it means you don’t have to deal with logistics like taking your trash to the dump—we’ll handle the emptying of your dumpster whenever it’s needed.

But the wrong dumpster rental size can be a headache. A too-small dumpster means you need your bin emptied regularly, and it can reduce the efficiency of your project. A too-large dumpster may take over your site, making it impossible to navigate with ease.

Fortunately, you can always get help finding the right dumpster rental size with redbox+ Dumpsters! Let’s dive deeper into how it works.

How To Get Started with Dumpster Rental Sizes

5 Questions to Consider for Dumpster Rental Size

Before you start looking at dumpster rental sizes, you’ll want to ask yourself a few key questions.

How much waste do you anticipate?
This can be a tricky question, especially if it’s your first dumpster rental. If that’s the case, it might help to think in trash bags. If you had to guess, would you expect to be using 50 trash bags? 200 trash bags? Or more?
What materials are you dealing with?
The type of materials can also play a crucial factor in the size and scale of the dumpster you’ll need. Dumpsters typically come with a maximum capacity when it comes to weight. And some materials are heavier than others. If you’re dealing with large amounts of concrete, for example, you may need a dumpster that can withstand that heavy load.
What’s your available space?
The size of your workspace can often dictate what options of dumpster rental size are available to you. It’s not just about the space you can set aside for a container. You also need enough space for a delivery vehicle to safely drop off and pick up your bin, too. Fortunately, bins come in all sizes, to better suit your needs.
What’s your project timeline?
Are you looking at a short-term project or a job that will take several months? For shorter timelines, you may be further constrained in your options, but that will depend on your dumpster rental service. Plus, with longer-term projects, you can often expect your bin to be emptied regularly—allowing you to get more use out of your dumpster.
What’s your budget?
For many people, their budget will also inform what rental size options are available. Different bins will have different rental fees, and you want to maximize your dollar wherever you can. A smaller bin may be more affordable upfront, but if you have larger waste management requirements, a larger bin may be more cost-effective in the long run.

With all of these details in mind, let’s review some of the common projects that require a bin, as well as what dumpster rental size might be suitable in each case.

DIY Projects for Homeowners

Here’s a good rule of thumb to begin with: the smaller the size of your home and the smaller the size of your project, the smaller you’ll want to go with your dumpster rental size. This isn’t always the case, but it can be a helpful place to start.

Beyond that, here’s when you might want a larger or smaller bin:

10-yard dumpster. This handy container is a great choice for smaller-scale DIY or cleanout projects in smaller homes. For example, if you’re doing a cleanout of a large garage or a small condo, this might be the right dumpster rental size for you. For reference, our 10-yard containers can typically carry up to 70 trash bags’ worth of waste materials.
15 or 20-yard bin. If you’re tackling a larger project, you may want to opt for a bigger container, too. Our 15-yard and 20-yard dumpsters can be great for hauling off lots of junk and old furniture, as well as for medium-scale renovations and landscaping jobs. For homeowners doing DIY, these bins carry substantially more waste: as much as 9 pickup truck loads of materials.
30-yard bin. By the time you’re in need of a 30-yard dumpster, you may also be working with professionals to ensure the job is done correctly. These bins are a much more rare choice for homeowners, but can still be useful for large-scale projects in large homes. These dumpsters can handle approximately 4 tons, giving you lots of room when you need it.

Residential Projects for Contractors

At redbox+ Dumpsters, we frequently work with all kinds of residential contractors, including roofing professionals, home renovation companies, landscaping businesses, and more. Depending on the scale and type of your project, you’ll need versatile options that make waste disposal a cinch. So what dumpster rental size is right for you?

Our workhorse. When it comes to residential projects, our most commonly requested dumpster is the 20-yard container. This workhorse is suitable for a range of purposes, including a kitchen or bathroom reno, most landscaping projects, roofing jobs, and more. It’s capable of carrying as much as 6,000 pounds of material, making it well-suited to handle concrete, shingles, drywall, and other materials. We typically recommend it for medium and small projects.
Large-scale projects. For larger projects, you may want to opt for a larger bin, too, like a 30-yard or 40-yard dumpster. These can be necessary for a whole-house siding replacement, a large-home remodel, or a job that requires significant demolition. Capable of handling as much as 12 pickup truck loads’ worth of waste, larger dumpsters can handle substantial amounts of construction materials.

With redbox+ Dumpsters, you’ll also have the unique option of our Elite bins, available in 20-yard and 30-yard options. These innovative dumpsters combine the roll-off bin with portable toilet units, maximizing the usability of your worksite and offering greater efficiency for your team.

Dumpster Rental Sizes for Commercial Projects

While this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, most commercial projects demand more space for waste disposal. That includes demolition and construction projects, large-scale renovations, landscaping, and more. Whether you work with commercial customers or you manage a business and require a dumpster for a project, you’ll likely want to opt for a larger dumpster rental size.

30-yard or 40-yard dumpster. Depending on the space available for parking your dumpster, you’ll likely want to consider 30-yard or 40-yard bins to get your commercial project completed. These options give you tons of space as well as plenty of weight allowance—as much as 10,000 pounds. With a waste management partner like redbox+ Dumpsters, you can also expect your containers to be emptied on a regular basis, helping to ensure that work continues smoothly and with fewer delays.
Upgrading to Elite dumpsters. To enhance your worksite, you can also consider Elite containers from redbox+ Dumpsters. These are proprietary to our business and give you enhanced convenience without compromising on the available space for waste. Our 2-in-1 bins, which combine portable toilet units with a roll-off container, are available in a range of sizes to meet your needs.

Versatile Dumpster Rental Sizes

For Businesses, Contractors, and Homeowners

No matter what dumpster rental size you need, redbox+ Dumpsters can provide incredibly prompt, reliable waste management solutions in as little as 24 hours after your initial request. We serve businesses, contractors, and homeowners—including restoration companies, home improvement contractors, landscaping and roofing professionals, construction companies, and so many others. With a range of bins in different dimensions, we furnish you with the versatile options you need to help keep your project going.

Want help finding the right dumpster rental size for your project? Just contact redbox+ Dumpsters today, and we’ll be happy to help.