Dumpster weight limits and tonnage, explained

What common debris weighs

Use these rough figures to sanity-check your load before you order a size.

• Concrete or asphalt: about 1.2 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard — a few yards hits the limit fast
• Dirt, soil and sod: roughly 1 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard when dry, more when wet
• Roofing shingles: about 250 lbs per square (100 sq ft) for a single layer
• Drywall and plaster: heavy and dusty — a full kitchen tear-out adds up quickly
• Furniture, cardboard, framing scrap, insulation: light and bulky, volume is the limit

Why heavy debris goes in a small box

A 10 yard lowboy loaded with concrete can outweigh a 40 yard loaded with furniture. Trucks have a legal road weight, so an over-filled heavy box cannot legally be hauled and has to be partially unloaded on site — the slowest, most expensive outcome.

That is why we steer concrete, dirt, brick, tile and roofing to the 10 yard lowboy at $650 or a 15 yard lowboy, which carry a higher tonnage allowance built for dense material.

How to stay under your allowance

Keep heavy and light material in separate loads instead of mixing dirt into a household cleanout. Break concrete into manageable pieces and load it flat rather than piled.

Keep the load level with the top rail — an over-height load cannot be tarped and cannot be hauled. If you fill early, call for a swap-out and we pull the full box and set an empty one on the same visit.

What is never accepted at any weight

Hazardous waste, liquid paint, motor oil, solvents, tires, batteries, refrigerant appliances and e-waste are prohibited regardless of how much room is left in the container. These are billed separately if they turn up in a load.