Guide
Roll-off dumpster sizes
Roll-off containers are sold by volume in cubic yards. Here is what each common size usually measures, the jobs it tends to suit, and the questions worth asking before you pick one.
Booking hours: Monday to Saturday 8 to 8, Sunday 8 to 1 (Eastern time)
Size by size
Dimensions are typical outside measurements. Two companies' 20-yard boxes can differ by a foot or two in length or height.
- 10-yardOften about 12–14 ft long, 7–8 ft wide and 3–4 ft high. Sized for dense material: broken concrete, brick, soil, or the tile and plaster from one bathroom.
- 15-yardOften about 14–16 ft long with sides around 4–5 ft. Fits a one-car garage purge, a small kitchen gut, or a deck of modest size.
- 20-yardOften about 20–22 ft long and 4–5 ft high. The usual pick for an asphalt-shingle roof on a typical house, or a basement packed with years of storage.
- 30-yardOften about 22 ft long with sides near 6 ft. For clearing most of a house, or a remodel that touches several rooms.
- 40-yardOften about 22 ft long with sides near 8 ft. Holds a lot of bulky, light material such as furniture and packaging. Tall walls make loading by hand slow.
Weight changes the answer
Every quote comes with a weight allowance, usually stated in tons. Go over it and the company typically adds a charge per extra ton after the load is weighed at the disposal site.
Light debris such as furniture, carpet and boxes fills a container long before it gets heavy. Shingles, wet soil, stone and concrete do the opposite. That is why heavy jobs use small boxes, and why some companies ask you to fill those only part way.
Questions to ask about size
- What are the outside length, width and height, and will it fit my driveway or curb space?
- How many tons are included, and what happens above that?
- Is there a fill line, and is anything allowed above the top rail?
- Does this load count as mixed debris or as clean concrete or soil?
- How many days are included before an extra-day charge starts?
The company confirms sizes and weight allowances on the call. If you are torn between two, the size-choosing guide walks through a quick estimate.
Book a roll-off for your Albany address
Pick up the phone with three things in mind: the debris, the drop spot and your dates. A locally run, independent roll-off company picks up, recommends a container and quotes a drop-off day and a total.
This number is for rentals, not trash pickup. Albany's regular trash and recycling are handled by the city's Department of General Services.
Booking hours: Monday to Saturday 8 to 8, Sunday 8 to 1 (Eastern time)
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