What is a 30 yard dumpster used for?
A 30 yard roll off holds about 30 cubic yards, or 9 to 12 pickup truck loads. It is the standard container for a whole house cleanout, a large addition, new build framing waste, or a commercial renovation. The 6 foot walls suit bulky light debris rather than heavy material. Call 1-833-520-0680 for local pricing.
Who should rent this container?
Whole house or estate cleanout- Large addition or new build framing waste
- Commercial office or retail renovation
- Bulky light debris such as furniture and insulation
- Multi room flooring and drywall tear out
What are the dimensions and weight limits?
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 20 ft |
| Width | 8 ft |
| Wall height | 6 ft |
| Capacity | 30 cubic yards |
| Pickup truck loads | 9 to 12 |
| Typical weight included | 3 to 5 tons, varies by provider |
| Driveway space needed | 60 ft including the truck |
What makes the 30 yard different from the 20?
Height. Both are about 20 feet long, but the 30 yard has 6 foot walls instead of 4.5. That extra foot and a half adds ten cubic yards of capacity on the same footprint, which is why it fits where you might expect it not to.
The trade off is loading. A 6 foot wall is chest height or above for most people, so you either use the rear barn door or build a ramp. For a house clearance with a lot of furniture that is fine. For a job where you are tossing in drywall offcuts all day, the 20 yard is less work.
Is this the right size for a house clearout?
Usually, yes. A three bedroom house cleared of furniture, appliances, boxes, carpet and the contents of a loft and a garage lands somewhere around 25 to 35 cubic yards once the bulky items are broken down.
The reason it fits is density. Household contents are light for their volume. You will fill a 30 yard long before you approach the weight allowance, which is exactly how this size is meant to be used.
What should not go in it?
Anything dense. Concrete, brick, block, dirt, asphalt and tile belong in a 10 yard container priced by the ton. A 30 yard filled with inert material would be far over the truck’s legal road weight, and no provider will collect it.
The usual mistake is a renovation that produces both kinds of waste. If you are taking out a tiled bathroom floor and clearing furniture in the same week, that is two containers, not one.
How do you keep the cost down?
Break things down before they go in. A dismantled wardrobe takes a third of the space of an intact one, and with a 30 yard you are paying for volume rather than weight. Flat packing furniture and cutting down carpet rolls can be the difference between one container and two.
Load from the back forward and keep the pile level with the top rail. Material heaped above the rail cannot be tarped, and the driver will charge to level it or refuse the lift.
How does booking work?
Call with your ZIP and debris list
We connect you with a local provider. Describe the material honestly so the weight allowance is right.
Confirm price, dates and placement
The provider quotes the all in total and tells you what the site needs to look like on delivery day.
Load it, then call for pickup
Keep debris level with the top rail. Call when you are done or let the rental period run out.
What does it cost?
| Market type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Major metro | $475 to $825 |
| Mid size city | $420 to $725 |
| Small town or rural | $380 to $650 |
Going over the included weight is the most common extra charge. Expect roughly $50 to $125 per extra ton, depending on the local landfill rate.
What can you put in it?
Usually accepted
- Household junk, furniture and mattresses
- Drywall, lumber, trim and flooring
- Asphalt shingles, in a heavy debris container
- Yard waste, branches and sod
- Appliances with the refrigerant already removed
- Carpet, padding and cabinetry
Not accepted
- Paint, solvents, fuel and motor oil
- Tires and vehicle batteries
- Asbestos and other regulated materials
- Propane tanks and pressurized cylinders
- Medical waste and chemicals
- Electronics in states that ban them from landfills
Accepted material varies by landfill and by provider. Confirm your list on the call before the container is dropped.
Where should the container sit?
The 6 foot walls change how you load. Ask whether the container has a rear barn door, because without one you are lifting everything over a wall that is chest height or taller. Plywood under the wheels remains essential at this weight.
The truck needs roughly 60 feet of straight approach, 10.5 feet of width and 23 feet of overhead clearance. Low branches, carports and utility lines are the usual obstacles. Keep cars clear of the drop zone, and tell the driver which way you want the barn doors to face.
Compare it to the other sizes
10YARD 10 yard roll off dumpster 12 ft x 8 ft x 3.5 ft · 3 to 4 pickup loads
- Approximate dimensions12 ft x 8 ft x 3.5 ft
- Pickup truck loads3 to 4 pickup loads
- Typical weight allowance1 to 2 tons included, varies by provider
- Typical projectsSmall bathroom remodel, single room cleanout, up to 1,500 sq ft of shingles
Typical range
$325 to $575 7 to 10 day rental. Typical price ranges reported by providers. Your provider quotes the exact price, including any weight, mileage or permit fees, before booking.
Call for today's price 15YARD 15 yard roll off dumpster 14 ft x 8 ft x 4.5 ft · 4 to 6 pickup loads
- Approximate dimensions14 ft x 8 ft x 4.5 ft
- Pickup truck loads4 to 6 pickup loads
- Typical weight allowance2 to 3 tons included, varies by provider
- Typical projectsKitchen remodel, garage clearout, medium deck tear off
Typical range
$360 to $625 7 to 10 day rental. Typical price ranges reported by providers. Your provider quotes the exact price, including any weight, mileage or permit fees, before booking. Call for today's price 20YARD 20 yard roll off dumpster 20 ft x 8 ft x 4.5 ft · 6 to 8 pickup loads
- Approximate dimensions20 ft x 8 ft x 4.5 ft
- Pickup truck loads6 to 8 pickup loads
- Typical weight allowance2 to 4 tons included, varies by provider
- Typical projectsFull floor remodel, large cleanout, 2,500 sq ft roof tear off
Typical range
$400 to $700 7 to 10 day rental. Typical price ranges reported by providers. Your provider quotes the exact price, including any weight, mileage or permit fees, before booking. Call for today's price 30YARD 30 yard roll off dumpster 20 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft · 9 to 12 pickup loads
- Approximate dimensions20 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft
- Pickup truck loads9 to 12 pickup loads
- Typical weight allowance3 to 5 tons included, varies by provider
- Typical projectsFull house cleanout, new build framing waste, large addition
Typical range
$475 to $825 7 to 10 day rental. Typical price ranges reported by providers. Your provider quotes the exact price, including any weight, mileage or permit fees, before booking. Call for today's price 40YARD 40 yard roll off dumpster 22 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft · 12 to 16 pickup loads
- Approximate dimensions22 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft
- Pickup truck loads12 to 16 pickup loads
- Typical weight allowance4 to 6 tons included, varies by provider
- Typical projectsCommercial demolition, major renovation, bulky light debris
Typical range
$550 to $950 7 to 10 day rental. Typical price ranges reported by providers. Your provider quotes the exact price, including any weight, mileage or permit fees, before booking. Call for today's price Related containers
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30 Yard Dumpster questions
How many pickup loads is a 30 yard dumpster?
About 9 to 12 full size pickup loads. For a whole house clearance that is normally the right order of magnitude.
Is a 30 yard too big for a residential driveway?
The footprint is the same length as a 20 yard, so it usually fits. The difference is height, not length, which matters for overhead clearance rather than parking space.
Can I put heavy debris in a 30 yard?
Only light to moderate material. Concrete, brick and dirt need a 10 yard heavy debris container, because a 30 yard of inert material cannot be legally transported.
How do I load a container with 6 foot walls?
Use the rear barn door if it has one and walk material in, or load from a step or a ramp. Lifting heavy items over a 6 foot wall by hand is how people get hurt.
What weight is included?
Commonly 3 to 5 tons, but it varies by provider and market. Ask for the included tonnage and the per ton overage rate when you get the quote.
Should I get a 30 or two 20 yard containers?
One 30 yard is almost always cheaper than two 20 yard hauls. Two containers only make sense if you need to separate heavy debris from general waste.
Who wrote this page
Written and fact checked by the Dumpster Porta Potty USA editorial team. We check container sizes, servicing intervals and price ranges against published provider rate sheets and federal guidance, then update the page when those change.
Last updated . Read our editorial policy.
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