20 Yard Dumpster: Size, Weight Limit & Cost
A 20-yard roll-off is about 22 ft long, 8 ft wide and 4–4.5 ft high and holds about 6 full-size pickup loads (HomeGuide). Whole-house cleanouts, larger remodels, flooring and roofing tear-offs are typical jobs for it.
Will my project fit a 20-yard?
Check volume and weight against a 20-yard in one go.
How big is a 20-yard dumpster?
20 cubic yards is 540 cubic feet. Planned at 85% full, so nothing rides above the rim, a 20-yard takes about 17 cubic yards of debris.
Why most jobs end up in a 20-yard
The 20-yard sits in the middle of everything. It has the same 22-ft footprint as the 30 and 40-yard, but the lowest walls of the three, 4–4.5 ft, so you can still throw debris over the side instead of walking it in through the rear door. It holds about 6 pickup loads, twice the 10-yard.
It is also good value per yard of space: about $34 per cubic yard at Dumpsters.com’s October 2026 averages, against $59 for a 10-yard. A 30-yard is cheaper still per yard ($27), but only if you can fill it.
The roofing catch
Shingles weigh 731 lb per cubic yard (EPA). At a 1.5-ton allowance a 20-yard reaches its weight limit with just 4.1 cubic yards of shingles on board, about 21% of its volume; even the most generous 4-ton allowance is used up at 10.9 cubic yards. For a tear-off, agree on a higher allowance before you book.
The cleanout case
Household junk is the opposite: at 250–300 lb per cubic yard, a 20-yard filled to 85% weighs about 2.1–2.5 tons, so volume usually runs out before weight does.
20-yard: space or weight, which runs out first?
| Material | EPA lb per cu yd | Weight at 85% full | Volume that hits 1.5 t | What limits you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed renovation / construction debris | 417–484 | 3.5–4.1 t | 6.2 cu yd | weight may run out first |
| Household junk & furniture (mixed) | 250–300 | 2.1–2.5 t | 10.0 cu yd | weight may run out first |
| Asphalt shingles (roofing tear-off) | 731 | 6.2 t | 4.1 cu yd | weight runs out first |
| Drywall / gypsum board | 467 | 4.0 t | 6.4 cu yd | weight may run out first |
| Yard waste (mixed, loose) | 250 | 2.1 t | 12.0 cu yd | weight may run out first |
| Leaves | 250–500 | 2.1–4.2 t | 6.0 cu yd | weight may run out first |
What does a 20-yard dumpster cost?
| Source | 20-yard price |
|---|---|
| Dumpsters.com (Oct 2026) | $374–$1,362 (avg $679) |
| Fixr (Jan 2025) | $275–$450 |
| Thumbtack (Mar 2026) | $390 avg |
| Range we use | $275–$679 |
Price it with your own rental length, weight and overage rate in the dumpster rental cost calculator.
Compared with the next sizes
| Size | Length × height | Pickup loads | Included weight | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 yd | 16 × 4.5 ft | — | 2–3 t | $306–$609 |
| 20 yd | 22 × 4–4.5 ft | 6 | 1.5–4 t | $275–$679 |
| 30 yd | 22 × 6 ft | 9 | 2.15–5 t | $300–$809 |
How we calculate
Every number in the calculator comes from these steps and the data below. The page runs the same numbers you see here.
- Usable volume = 20 × 0.85 = 17.0 cubic yards.
- Weight at that fill = 17.0 × the EPA factor in the table ÷ 2,000 for tons.
- Volume that reaches 1.5 t = 1.5 × 2,000 ÷ the heaviest EPA factor for the material, capped at 20.
The full list of EPA factors is in the weight calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- Ask for the exact container size and included tons for a 20-yard before you book; they differ by company.
- EPA factors describe loose debris; wet or packed loads weigh more.
Sources
We opened and checked every source below in October 2026.
- Custom Truck One Source — Roll-off dumpsters: which size is right for you?
- Dumpsters.com — Dumpster rental prices (updated October 2026)
- U.S. EPA — Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016)
- Fixr — Dumpster rental cost (updated Jan 31, 2025)
- HomeGuide — Dumpster rental prices (Apr 5, 2023)
- Thumbtack — How much does it cost to rent a dumpster? (updated Mar 31, 2026)
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Full methodology
20 yard dumpster FAQ
How big is a 20 yard dumpster?
About 22 ft long, 8 ft wide and 4–4.5 ft high, per Custom Truck One Source and HomeGuide. Exact dimensions vary by hauler.
How much does a 20 yard dumpster cost?
Our range is $275–$679 for a typical rental. Dumpsters.com lists $374–$1,362 (avg $679). Thumbtack’s average is $390.
How much weight can a 20 yard dumpster hold?
The included allowances we found run 1.5–4 tons. Anything over is usually billed at $40–$100 per ton.
Can you fill a 20 yard dumpster with shingles?
By volume yes, by weight rarely. 17 cubic yards of shingles would weigh about 6.2 tons, well over the 1.5–4-ton allowances we found. Most roofers fill it partway or pay overage.
What is the difference between a 10 and 20 yard dumpster?
The 20-yard is about 22 ft long against 12–14 ft, with 4–4.5-ft walls instead of 3.5 ft, and holds about 6 pickup loads instead of 3. Dumpsters.com’s average price is $679 against $586.