How Are Dumpsters Measured?

When you’re renting a dumpster, you need to know that you’re getting the proper size for your needs. Not only do you need to know that the dumpster has the proper capacity for the job you’re doing, but you also need to be sure it will fit in your driveway or on your job site. Understanding how dumpsters are measured will help you choose the right one.

Dumpster Sizes Based on Capacity

When you’re shopping for a dumpster to rent, you will usually see it labeled as “20-Yard” or something similar. Does this mean that the dumpster is 20 yards long? If you think about this, you’ll realize it could not be true. That’s simply too big.

Instead, this measurement refers to cubic yards and measures the capacity of the dumpster. To find the cubic yards, multiply the length by the width by the height. Dumpsters can range from 10 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards, but 10-yard, 15-yard, 20-yard, and 30-yard are fairly standard dumpster sizes.

How Long Is the Dumpster?

While capacity is the standard measurement for dumpsters, measuring capacity does not really tell you how big the dumpster is. At Next Day Dumpsters, we offer these dumpster sizes:

• 10-Yard: Measures 14 feet long by 8 feet wide by 3 feet tall
• 15-Yard: Measures 14 feet long by 8 feet wide by 4.5 feet tall
• 20-Yard: Measures 22 feet long by 8 feet wide by 3.5 feet tall
• 30-Yard: Measures 22 feet long by 8 feet wide by 5 feet tall

The width of our dumpsters is standard, but the height and length will vary depending on the capacity you need. Keep in mind that our largest dumpsters may be too large for the standard driveway and residential project.

What Dumpster Capacity Means

As you’re measuring the size of your dumpster, make sure you understand what the capacity means as far as how much it can hold. This will help you select the right one for your job.

The largest dumpsters we have, the 30-yard model, works well for commercial jobs and large-scale construction or remodeling projects. For business and retail cleanouts or large kitchen or basement remodels, opt for the 20-yard model. The 15-yard dumpster works great for homeowners and small renovations or spring cleaning. The smallest 10-yard dumpster is perfect for a minor remodeling job or household junk removal task.

If you are having trouble determining which dumpster size is right for you, reach out to Next Day Dumpsters. Contact us for help choosing a dumpster or for a quote for dumpster removal.