What size dumpster do I need?

Match the size to the job

These are the pairings we book most often in Orange County.

• 10 yard ($340) — concrete, dirt, brick, tile, small bathroom demo, roof tear-off up to about 15 squares.
• 15 yard ($380) — kitchen remodel, flooring and drywall tear-out, large landscaping job, full garage cleanout.
• 20 yard ($450) — whole-home cleanout, multi-room renovation, deck or fence removal, move-out clear-out.
• 30 yard ($850) — new construction, larger demolition, commercial cleanout, multi-unit turnover.
• 40 yard ($950) — commercial construction, full structure demo, warehouse or retail clear-out.

Why a smaller box is often the right call

A 10 yard lowboy filled with concrete can weigh more than a 40 yard filled with furniture. Ordering a big box for heavy debris does not save money; it just makes it easy to load past the tonnage allowance and pick up overweight charges.

Low walls also change how fast you work. On a lowboy you walk debris in or wheelbarrow it up a short lip instead of lifting every piece overhead.

When to size up

If you are between two sizes and the debris is light, size up. A second haul costs more than the difference between a 15 and a 20 yard, and we would rather deliver one container that finishes the job.

If you are between two sizes and the debris is heavy, stay small and plan on a swap-out. We can pull a full box and drop an empty one on the same visit.

Measure your access, not just your debris

A roll-off truck needs roughly 60 feet of straight clearance to set a container down and about 23 feet of vertical clearance for the hoist. Low branches, power lines, carport roofs and gated alleys are the usual obstacles in Orange County neighborhoods.

Tell us the surface too. We put boards under the rails on concrete, pavers and asphalt so the container does not mark the driveway.