The single most common question we get on the phone is "what size do I need." It's also the one most people get wrong, and it almost always goes the same direction: they pick too small, fill it up faster than they thought, and end up needing a swap-out or a second container.
Here's how to think through it without overthinking it.
The four sizes, in plain English
We run four sizes out of the Fremont yard. They're meaningfully different by both volume and weight allowance.
10-yard tier. Entry-level pricing, 1-ton weight allowance, generous footprint. Good for projects where you need volume but the load is light: single-room cleanouts, bathroom remodels, small roof jobs, deck demos.
15-yard. Same footprint as the 10-yard tier, 1.5-ton weight allowance. The most-booked size for homeowner projects. Sweet spot for medium renovations, multi-room cleanouts, garage and basement combos, mid-size roofing.
20-yard. Bigger container (14' × 8' × 6'), 2-ton allowance. The workhorse for full-house cleanouts, full-house roof tear-offs, big renovation jobs. Most contractors rent this size for a typical reno.
30-yard. The biggest we run (18' × 8' × 6.5'), 3-ton allowance. Built for demo work, additions, multi-day commercial projects, larger or multi-layer roof tear-offs.
The pick-by-project shortcut
These are starting points. The phone call should refine them based on what you're actually putting in.
- Single bathroom remodel → 10 or 15
- Kitchen reno with cabinets out → 15 or 20
- Whole-house cleanout (furniture and appliances) → 20
- Garage cleanout, one bay → 10
- Garage cleanout, multi-bay or with attached shed → 15 or 20
- Roof tear-off, average single-family → 20
- Roof tear-off, larger home or double-layer → 30
- Deck demo, small → 10 or 15
- Shed or above-ground pool demo → 15 or 20
- Interior demo down to studs → 20 or 30
- Estate cleanout, full property → 20 (often paired with a truckload visit)
The thing people miss: weight vs. volume
Volume runs out when stuff is bulky and light. Weight runs out when stuff is dense, even if the dumpster looks half full. The materials that eat weight fastest:
- Asphalt roofing shingles
- Wet drywall
- Plaster and lath
- Tile with mortar attached
- Concrete and brick
- Dirt, sod, stone
A 20-yard packed with shingles can be over its 2-ton allowance at about a third full. If your job leans heavy on any of the above, tell us on the call and we'll size for weight, not just volume.
When in doubt, go up one
If you're between two sizes, the bigger one is almost always the cheaper move. The price difference between sizes is much smaller than the cost of a swap-out, and overage fees only kick in if you go over the weight allowance. They don't kick in if you fill the container short. Empty space at the top isn't billable. Hitting the weight ceiling is.
What to mention when you call
Three things speed up the sizing conversation:
- The project type and rough scope (a kitchen reno, a garage cleanout, etc.)
- What materials are going in (light household, dense demo debris, roofing, etc.)
- The address (some towns are tighter on access than others, and the 30-yard in particular has access requirements)
Send a photo of the spot where the dumpster would sit if you can. Helps with placement and access planning before delivery.
Call us at 603-634-9947 with those three things and we'll size it for you.