$75/ton · exact pound · ticket attached
How Dumpster Weight Is Billed
How the load is weighed, what the scale ticket shows, and how to stay under your included tons. Worked examples with real numbers.
Book by 3 PM for next-day delivery · Deliveries 7 AM–5 PM
- Local hauler, our own trucks
- Scale ticket with every bill
- Boards protect your driveway
7daysincluded
How is dumpster weight measured and billed?
Dumpster weight is measured on a certified landfill truck scale. The truck is weighed full (gross) and empty (tare); gross minus tare is your net debris weight. We compare the net weight to your included tons and bill anything over at $75 per ton by the exact pound.
Tare weight is the weight of the empty truck and container. Tipping fee is what the disposal site charges per ton to accept debris.
Worked example: your 20-yard includes 3 tons. The scale ticket shows 3.42 tons net. You pay for 0.42 tons (840 lb) × $75 = $31.50. A company that rounds up to the next full ton would charge $75.00 for the same load.
Your final invoice arrives 3 to 5 business days after pickup, with a digital copy of the certified scale ticket attached.
Sample final bill
Example only. The certified scale ticket is attached to your final invoice, emailed 3 to 5 business days after pickup.
How much weight is included with each dumpster size?
Included weight rises with size: 2 tons in the 10-yard, 2.5 tons in the 15-yard, 3 tons in the 20-yard, 4 tons in the 30-yard and 5 to 6 tons in the 40-yard. One ton is 2,000 pounds. Every size also includes 7 days on site.
| Size | Dimensions | Pickup loads | Included weight | Rental | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yard | 12 × 8 × 3.5 ft | 3–5 | 2 tons | 7 days | Concrete, dirt or brick, a small bathroom remodel, a one-room cleanout (heavy debris allowed) |
| 15-yard | 16 × 7.5 × 4.5 ft | 5–7 | 2.5 tons | 7 days | A garage cleanout, a small roof, flooring or deck removal (heavy debris allowed) |
| 20-yard | 22 × 8 × 4 ft | 7–10 | 3 tons | 7 days | A kitchen remodel, whole-house decluttering, most single-layer roofs |
| 30-yard | 22 × 8 × 6 ft | 10–15 | 4 tons | 7 days | New construction, a home addition, a large tear-out or estate cleanout |
| 40-yard | 22 × 7.5 × 8 ft | 12–16 | 5–6 tons | 7 days | Major demolition, new construction, large commercial cleanouts |
How much does my debris weigh?
Debris weight depends on the material. Using EPA national averages, a cubic yard of broken concrete weighs about 860 lb, while a cubic yard of mixed construction debris weighs far less. Estimate yours below, then leave room under the included tons.
Weight estimator
Pick a material to see an estimate.
Method: cubic yards × the EPA volume-to-weight factor for that material ÷ 2,000 = tons. Overage = tons over the included weight × $75. Factors are national averages from the EPA Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016). Wet debris weighs more. Your scale ticket is the final word.
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete, broken | 860 lb | 2.3 yd³ |
| Dirt and sand | 929 lb | 2.2 yd³ |
| Asphalt shingles | 731 lb | 2.7 yd³ |
| Drywall | 467 lb | 4.3 yd³ |
| Mixed construction debris | 417 lb | 4.8 yd³ |
| Yard trimmings, loose | 250 lb | 8.0 yd³ |
| Lumber, clean | 169 lb | 11.8 yd³ |
| Carpet | 147 lb | 13.6 yd³ |
How do I estimate roofing shingle weight?
Roofing shingle weight is bundles per square times the weight per bundle. If your shingles weigh 80 lb per bundle and a square takes 3 bundles, one square weighs 240 lb. A 25-square roof is then 25 × 240 = 6,000 lb, which is 3 tons. Read your own bundle weight on the wrapper.
Two layers double the weight. Felt, nails and wet decking add more. Size a roofing dumpster by squares and layers.
What are the heavy-debris rules?
Heavy debris such as concrete, dirt, brick and sand goes only in our 10-yard and 15-yard dumpsters. It can be loaded only halfway up the walls, because a full bin would exceed legal highway weight. A load of one clean material, such as concrete only, qualifies for clean-fill pricing.
Weight and overage questions
What happens if my dumpster is overweight?
The weight over your included tons is billed at $75 per ton by the exact pound. If the load is so heavy or so high the truck can't legally haul it, the driver can't take it, a $125 trip fee applies and the excess has to come out first.
How do I know what my dumpster weighed?
A digital copy of the certified landfill scale ticket is attached to your final invoice, which arrives 3 to 5 business days after pickup. The ticket shows the gross, tare and net weight.
Do you round up to the next ton?
We bill by the exact pound. Going 140 lb over costs 140 × $0.0375 = $5.25.
Does rain make my dumpster heavier?
Wet debris weighs more than dry debris, and that water is weighed at the landfill. Cover an open load with a tarp before storms, especially drywall, carpet and yard waste.
Which materials go over the weight limit fastest?
Concrete, brick, dirt, rock, asphalt, tile and roofing shingles reach the weight limit long before the dumpster looks full. Heavy debris is restricted to our 10-yard and 15-yard sizes, loaded halfway.
Ask how much your debris will weigh
Tell us the material and amount. We will recommend a size that keeps you under the included tons.