What Size Dumpster Do I Need? How to Judge 15 Yards

For most home jobs, the answer to what size dumpster you need is 15 yards. Garage cleanouts, move-outs, and single-room remodels usually fit. The can holds 405 cubic feet. Whether your job fits comes down to two limits: space and the 2 tons weight allowance. Light junk runs out of space first. Heavy debris runs out of weight first.

That is the only size we rent. $499 flat covers delivery, 7 days, up to 2 tons of disposal, and pickup. Check your job against both limits before you book.

How to figure out what size dumpster you need

15 cubic yards is 405 cubic feet. Debris loads up to the top rail and no higher.

Break the junk down before you measure. Take furniture apart. Flatten boxes. Cut long boards and pipe down. Stack flat pieces flat. Air in the load is space you are paying for.

Then size the pile:

Measure it in feet: length, width, and height.
Multiply the three. A pile 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet high is 240 cubic feet.
Compare it to 405. That pile uses a little over half the can. Two piles that size come to 480 cubic feet, more than one can holds.
Divide by 27 for yards. 240 cubic feet is about 9 yards.

The 15-yard dumpster rental page covers what fits and what costs more.

Space or weight: what you toss decides

Your $499 covers 2 tons of disposal. That is 4,000 pounds on the landfill scale. Past that, it is $85 per ton, billed off the certified scale ticket. One ton over adds $85.

Light and bulky. Furniture, carpet and pad, cardboard, household junk, limbs and brush. These fill the space before they get near 2 tons.

Dense and heavy. Concrete, brick, block, dirt, tile, plaster, and shingles. These hit the weight limit long before the can looks full. Heavy materials may require a lower fill level, so a can of concrete may be done well below the rail. Tell us about heavy debris up front so we can confirm a safe fill level.

Every load is weighed at the disposal facility. The bill comes off the certified scale, not off how full the can looks. The disposal weight allowance policy lays it out.

If your job mixes light and heavy debris, run it through the dumpster rental cost estimator before you book. It gives a rough weight and cost. It is an estimate, not a quote. The scale ticket is the final word.

Jobs that usually fit 15 yards

Garage, attic, and basement cleanouts. Bulky and light. Space runs out before weight.
Move-out junk. Old furniture, boxes, and the stuff nobody wants to pack.
Single-room remodels. A kitchen or bathroom tear-out: cabinets, counters, drywall, flooring. Tile, plaster, and stone counters add weight fast, so mention them.
Carpet and pad from a whole floor. Lots of volume, little weight.
A small deck or a run of fence. Cut it down and it stacks tight.

Roof tear-offs are a weight call. Shingles are heavy. A big roof, or more than one layer, can pass 2 tons before the can looks full. Tell us the square count and the number of layers before you book.

If you run out of space, weight, or time

Some jobs outgrow one can. The fix depends on what ran out.

Space. A whole-house cleanout or a full gut can run past 15 yards. Each additional haul is $300. If you know up front the job is that big, say so when you book and we plan for it.

Weight. More space does not help here. Heavy debris hits the limit before it fills the can. Past 2 tons, you pay $85 per ton off the scale ticket.

Time. Your rental starts on the confirmed delivery date and time and runs 7 days. Extra days are $10 per day. Extensions depend on scheduling, so ask early. The can is your responsibility until it is physically removed.

Every rate is on one page: dumpster rental prices.

What cannot go in at any size

Size does not change the rules. No hazardous waste. No liquids, oils, fuels, chemicals, or solvents. No paint, stain, or sealant that is liquid or partly liquid. No asbestos. No medical or biohazard waste. No propane tanks, aerosols, or gas cylinders. No tires, batteries, or automotive fluids. No refrigerators, freezers, or appliances that hold refrigerant. Electronics only with approval first.

A load with prohibited material can be refused. Fines, cleanup, and special disposal charges land on you. The full list is in what you can put in a dumpster.

Text a photo of the pile

If you are still not sure, show us. Snap a photo of the pile, the room, or the roof and text it to (843) 284-3707. Say what is in it. You get a straight answer: one can, one can with weight to watch, or an additional haul.

Next step

Call or text (843) 284-3707 with three things:

The address
What you are tossing
The day you need it

Or request a quote online. We deliver across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties from our yard in Goose Creek.

Questions we get

Is a 15-yard dumpster big enough for a garage cleanout?

Usually, yes. Garage, attic, and basement junk is bulky and light, so space runs out before weight does. If the pile includes concrete, brick, or tile, tell us up front so we can confirm a safe fill level.

Can a 15-yard dumpster handle a roof tear-off?

It depends on how big the roof is and how many layers come off. Shingles hit the weight limit before they fill the space. Anything over 2 tons is $85 per ton off the certified scale ticket.

What if my debris does not fit in one dumpster?

Book an additional haul for $300. If you know up front the job runs past 15 yards, say so when you book and we plan for it.

How do I know if my load will be too heavy?

Watch for dense material: concrete, brick, block, dirt, tile, plaster, and shingles. Nobody can weigh a load by eye, and the bill comes off the certified landfill scale ticket. If heavy debris is in the mix, text a photo of the pile to (843) 284-3707 and ask.

Why does RO RO Rentals rent only one dumpster size?

One size means one flat price you can see before you call. You do not have to guess between boxes. If a job outgrows 15 yards, add a haul for $300.

What size dumpster do I need?