How We Estimate
The rules behind every number on DumpsterEstimator: where the data comes from, how we combine it, and what we refuse to do.
Our rules
- Every number has a source we opened. Each constant in our calculators links to a published document, listed below with the date we checked it.
- Prices are cross-checked. We compare at least two current cost sources for every size and show them side by side, so you can see where they disagree.
- We show ranges, not false precision. Dumpster prices vary by city, hauler and season. A range is more honest than a single number.
- We don’t publish what we can’t verify. Concrete and dirt waited until we had in-place densities from primary sources (state DOT design manuals and USDA NRCS soil data) instead of loose hauling factors.
- No fake trust signals. We don’t display ratings, review counts or “trusted by” claims, and we don’t claim data from customers we don’t have.
- Our estimates stay independent. Our team takes calls about dumpster rentals, but the calculators never use our own prices: every number comes from the published sources below.
Sizes, allowances and prices
| Size | L × W × H | Pickup loads | Included weight (default) | Price range we use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yd | 12–14 × 8 × 3.5 ft | 3 | 1 t (range 1–3) | $250–$586 (market high $1,307) |
| 15 yd | 16 × — × 4.5 ft | — | 2 t (range 2–3) | $306–$609 (market high $1,334) |
| 20 yd | 22 × 8 × 4–4.5 ft | 6 | 1.5 t (range 1.5–4) | $275–$679 (market high $1,362) |
| 30 yd | 22 × 8 × 6 ft | 9 | 2.15 t (range 2.15–5) | $300–$809 (market high $1,460) |
| 40 yd | 22 × 8 × 8 ft | 12 | 2.75 t (range 2.75–6) | $350–$906 (market high $1,613) |
The default included weight is the lowest allowance we found for each size, so our overage estimates lean cautious. The price range runs from the lowest published price (Fixr, or Dumpsters.com for the 15-yard) to Dumpsters.com’s October 2026 average. “Market high” is the top of Dumpsters.com’s published range.
Fees
| Fee | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Overage per ton | $40–$100 | $75 |
| Extra day | $5–$15 | $10 |
| Street permit | $10–$100 | not added automatically |
Material weights
All material weights are the U.S. EPA’s volume-to-weight conversion factors (April 2016), which compile state waste-characterization studies. They describe loose debris as hauled.
| Material | lb per cubic yard | EPA table row |
|---|---|---|
| Household junk & furniture (mixed) | 250–300 | Mixed MSW, uncompacted: 250–300 lb/yd³ |
| Mixed renovation / construction debris | 417–484 | C&D remainder/composite 417; C&D bulk 484 lb/yd³ |
| Asphalt shingles (roofing tear-off) | 731 | Composition roofing: 731 lb/yd³ |
| Drywall / gypsum board | 467 | Gypsum board: 467 lb/yd³ |
| Lumber & wood (deck boards, framing) | 169 | Clean dimensional lumber: 169 lb/yd³ |
| Engineered wood (cabinets, particleboard) | 268 | Clean engineered wood: 268 lb/yd³ |
| Yard waste (mixed, loose) | 250 | Mixed yard waste, uncompacted: 250 lb/yd³ |
| Branches & stumps | 127 | Branches & stumps: 127 lb/yd³ |
| Leaves | 250–500 | Leaves: 250–500 lb/yd³ |
| Carpet | 147 | Carpet: 147 lb/yd³ |
| Carpet padding | 62 | Carpet padding: 62 lb/yd³ |
| Scrap metal (mixed) | 143–225 | Composite metal 143; other ferrous 225 lb/yd³ |
Heavy debris (concrete, asphalt, soil)
The concrete & dirt calculator starts from measured, in-place volume, so it uses in-place densities, never the EPA’s loose factors. Soil is NRCS dry bulk density plus water (25.9% by default, NRCS’s worked example), with water capped at the pore space (1 − bulk density ÷ 2.65). Heavy-debris containers default to the 10-ton limit Dumpsters.com and Budget Dumpster publish for a 10-yard.
| Material | In-place density | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Plain concrete (patio, sidewalk, footing) | 145–150 lb/ft³ | 145 pcf unreinforced (CDOT, per AASHTO Table 3.5.1-1); 150 pcf plain concrete (WSDOT) |
| Reinforced concrete (rebar or mesh) | 150–155 lb/ft³ | 150 pcf reinforced cast-in-place (CDOT); 155 pcf dead load with reinforcement (WSDOT) |
| Asphalt paving | 146.67 lb/ft³ | 146.67 lb/ft³ asphalt unit weight (CDOT) |
| Soil, not sure / mixed | 1.10–1.80 g/cm³ dry (1,854–3,034 lb/yd³) | USDA NRCS bulk density thresholds by texture |
| Soil, sandy | 1.60–1.80 g/cm³ dry (2,697–3,034 lb/yd³) | USDA NRCS bulk density thresholds by texture |
| Soil, silty / loam | 1.40–1.65 g/cm³ dry (2,360–2,781 lb/yd³) | USDA NRCS bulk density thresholds by texture |
| Soil, clayey | 1.10–1.47 g/cm³ dry (1,854–2,478 lb/yd³) | USDA NRCS bulk density thresholds by texture |
Volume conventions
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.
- 1 full-size pickup load ≈ 3.33 cubic yards (HomeGuide: 10 yd ≈ 3 loads, 20 yd ≈ 6, 30 yd ≈ 9, 40 yd ≈ 12).
- We size containers so debris fills about 85%. That’s our planning margin, not a hauler rule.
All sources
Corrections
If a number looks wrong, or a source has changed, please tell us. We re-check prices at least every quarter and date every review.
Last reviewed: October 2026.