Free tool · for homeowners
Short answer: Add what you're throwing out and the calculator totals the weight and volume, then picks the dumpster size that holds it without going far over the weight included in the price. Weights come from EPA, state agency, and manufacturer data.
Drywall 1/2 in. regular
51 lb per sheet
Mixed construction & demolition debris
417 lb per cu yd
| Size | Hauls needed | Tons per haul | Included (low end) | Over per haul |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 1 | 1.3 | 1 t | 0.3 t |
| 15-yard | 1 | 1.3 | 1 t | 0.3 t |
| 20-yard | 1 | 1.3 | 2 t | — |
| 30-yard | 1 | 1.3 | 3 t | — |
| 40-yard | 1 | 1.3 | 4 t | — |
Typical weight per unit, with the published low and high. Loose volumes are what the material takes up tossed into a container.
| Material | Per | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles, 3-tab (per layer) | roofing square (100 sq ft), one layer | 205 lb | 200–205 lb |
| Asphalt shingles, architectural/laminated (per layer) | roofing square (100 sq ft), one layer | 223 lb | 217–240 lb |
| Asphalt shingles, heavy designer/premium (per layer) | roofing square (100 sq ft), one layer | 300 lb | — |
| Asphalt roof tear-off, EPA planning assumption (per layer) | roofing square (100 sq ft), one layer | 240 lb | — |
| Roofing underlayment, asphalt felt | roofing square (100 sq ft), one layer | 11.5 lb | 8–26 lb |
| Drywall 1/2 in. regular | 4x8 sheet (32 sq ft) | 51 lb | — |
| Drywall 1/2 in. lightweight | 4x8 sheet (32 sq ft) | 40 lb | 38–45 lb |
| Drywall 5/8 in. Type X | 4x8 sheet (32 sq ft) | 70 lb | 58–74 lb |
| Drywall/gypsum scrap, loose | cubic yard loose | 467 lb | 394–620 lb |
| Concrete slab, 4 in. thick (solid, before breaking) | sq ft of slab at 4 in. thick | 48 lb | 47–50 lb |
| Concrete, solid in place | cubic yard in place (solid) | 3,915 lb | 3,780–4,050 lb |
| Concrete, broken (loose in container) | cubic yard loose | 1,400 lb | 860–1,855 lb |
| Brick, 4 in. wythe (wall or veneer) | sq ft of wall face | 39 lb | 33–45 lb |
| Brick / masonry / ceramic rubble (loose) | cubic yard loose | 1,400 lb | 780–3,024 lb |
| Asphalt paving, broken (loose) | cubic yard loose | 1,380 lb | 773–1,380 lb |
| Dirt / soil | cubic yard loose | 2,052 lb | 929–2,052 lb |
| Sand | cubic yard loose | 2,441 lb | 929–2,441 lb |
| Gravel / rock | cubic yard loose | 2,565 lb | 999–2,570 lb |
| Lumber / wood scrap | cubic yard loose | 300 lb | 169–330 lb |
| Mixed construction & demolition debris | cubic yard loose | 417 lb | 400–484 lb |
| Ceramic / porcelain tile (tile only) | sq ft of tile | 4.7 lb | 3.1–12 lb |
| Ceramic/quarry tile on mortar bed (tile + bed) | sq ft of floor | 16 lb | 16–23 lb |
| Carpet + pad | sq ft of floor | 2 lb | 1.3–2 lb |
| Carpet (loose, rolled/torn out) | cubic yard loose | 147 lb | — |
| Carpet padding (loose) | cubic yard loose | 62 lb | — |
| Hardwood flooring (solid strip) | sq ft of floor | 4 lb | 3.4–4 lb |
| Furniture / bulky items | cubic yard loose | 80 lb | — |
| Mattress (each) | each | 100 lb | 54–115 lb |
| Refrigerator (each) | each | 250 lb | — |
| Clothes washer (each) | each | 150 lb | — |
| Range / stove (each) | each | 150 lb | — |
| Clothes dryer (each) | each | 125 lb | — |
| Dishwasher (each) | each | 125 lb | — |
| Mixed household junk / cleanout trash (uncompacted) | cubic yard loose | 275 lb | 95–300 lb |
| Yard waste, mixed (uncompacted) | cubic yard loose | 250 lb | 100–416 lb |
| Brush / branches / prunings | cubic yard loose | 127 lb | 127–429 lb |
| Leaves (loose) | cubic yard loose | 375 lb | 250–500 lb |
| Grass clippings | cubic yard loose | 400 lb | 350–1,500 lb |
Haulers price a dumpster with a set weight allowance because the landfill charges them by the ton. Go over and you pay the overage rate on every extra ton. Dense materials such as concrete, brick, and dirt hit the limit long before the container looks full, which is why they usually go in a small container on their own.
Where values disagree, we show the range. For heavy materials the sources disagree by two to three times: the U.S. EPA table, based on mixed loads measured at disposal sites, sits at the low end. The typical figure for dirt and gravel comes from San Francisco's conversion table for clean loads, and the typical figure for broken concrete is a rubble value published by Washington's Department of Ecology.
Pricing your load? See dumpster sizes and included weight or the roofing dumpster calculator.
About 51.2 lb for 1/2-inch regular board, 38.4–44.8 lb for 1/2-inch lightweight, and 57.6–73.6 lb for 5/8-inch Type X, per manufacturer data sheets.
Loose dirt runs about 929–2,052 lb per cubic yard and broken concrete about 860–1,855 lb, depending on moisture and how it's loaded. That's why heavy debris goes in a small container: a 10-yard of dirt can top 10 tons.
Large national booking sites list 1–2 tons for a 10- or 15-yard, 2–3 for a 20, 3–4 for a 30, and 4–5 for a 40. Anything over is billed per ton, and major national providers cap a container at 10 tons.
Weights come from EPA conversion factors, state agency tables, and manufacturer data sheets, and the result shows a low-to-high range. Moisture, how tightly you pack, and mixed materials all move the real number, so treat it as a planning estimate and confirm the weight allowance with your hauler.