What Size Dumpster Do You Need? A Project-by-Project Guide
10, 20 or 30 yards? Match the container to the job, not the guess. A project-by-project breakdown from a New Orleans roll-off crew.
Order a dumpster that's too small and you pay for a second haul. Order one that's too big and you're paying to rent air. The right size comes down to two things: how much debris the job makes, and how heavy it is.
The number on a roll-off is its volume in cubic yards. One cubic yard is a 3 x 3 x 3 foot cube, about the size of a washing machine. Here's how each size lines up with real jobs.
10-yard roll-off: small jobs and heavy material
- Single-room cleanouts
- A small bathroom or kitchen demo
- Concrete, brick, tile, dirt and rock
That last line matters most. Heavy material fills a container's weight limit long before it fills the box. A 10-yard keeps a load of concrete or dirt legal and safe on the road, which is why it's the go-to for driveway tear-outs and patio removals.
20-yard roll-off: the workhorse
This is the size we deliver most, and for good reason. It handles:
- Whole-house renovations
- Roofing tear-offs on most single-family homes
- Garage, attic and yard cleanouts
- Flooring replacement across several rooms
If you're a remodeler running two or three jobs a month, the 20-yard is the one to know.
30-yard roll-off: big volume, lighter debris
- New construction
- Large demolition jobs
- Full-property or estate cleanouts
- Additions where framing lumber, drywall and packaging pile up fast
A 30-yard shines when the debris is bulky but not dense: furniture, framing scraps, cardboard, cabinets.
Three questions that settle it
- What's going in? Heavy (concrete, dirt, shingles) or bulky (furniture, drywall, lumber)?
- How much of the house is involved? One room, one floor or the whole property?
- Is it one load or a run of loads? On longer builds, two swaps of a 20-yard often beat one oversized container sitting half-empty.
When in doubt, describe the job
You don't need to calculate cubic yards. Tell us what you're tearing out and how big the space is, and we'll name the size. See all three side by side on our dumpster sizes page.
Planning a job in Greater New Orleans? Call (504) 287-2348 or get a quote. We confirm the size, the placement and the price before anything is scheduled.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common dumpster size for a renovation?
A 20-yard roll-off. It fits most whole-house renovations, roofing tear-offs and garage or attic cleanouts.
What size dumpster do I need for concrete or dirt?
A 10-yard. Concrete, brick, dirt and rock are heavy, so a smaller container keeps the load within its weight limit.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall, roughly the size of a washing machine.