20 yard dumpster
20 yard dumpster: size, weight limit and what fits.
About 540 cubic feet, or nine pickup loads, in a container with walls low enough to load by hand. The usual pick for roof tear-offs, single-room remodels, decks and garage cleanouts.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026.
Dimensions
- Length
- 22′9″ to 23′
- Width
- 7′9″ to 8′
- Height
- 4′3″ to 4′7″
Most 20-yard quotes include 2 to 4 tons, and the median is 3. Across 5,895 20-yard orders our provider network delivered from October 2024 through October 2026 with tons on the quote, the middle half fell between 2 and 4 tons included, and 2 tons was the single most common figure.2
Size and weight check
Will it fit in a 20?
Pick the material and how much of it you have. We estimate the weight from loose weight per cubic yard and compare it with the tons a typical quote includes.4
Your load
Within a typical quoteFits, with weight to spare.
About 2.5 tons of mixed construction, inside the typical 3 tons included on a 20. You would reach 3 tons at about 14 cubic yards.
Too small or too big
When a 20 is the wrong call.
Kitchens and whole-house cleanouts
A 150 sq ft kitchen gut is about 23 cubic yards. That is past a 20 by volume: use a 30. If you're keeping the walls and ceiling, you'll produce far less, and a 20 may be enough.
Shingles and drywall
Dense debris uses up the weight allowance first. A bigger container only adds empty space you pay to haul. A single-layer roof stays within about 25 squares at 3 tons included.
Concrete, dirt and brick
Use a 10-yard heavy-debris container, which usually includes 10 tons, or keep a 20 to a partial fill.
Before it arrives
Placement, permits and billing.
Placement and clearance
The truck needs access width, a straight run to back in and overhead clearance to tip the container off.11 Pick firm, level ground, protect pavers and asphalt, and stay at least 10 feet from power lines.10 Many contractors lay plywood or boards under the rails and rollers to spread the load on asphalt and pavers. That's common contractor practice, not a manufacturer requirement.
Permits and what stays out
A container on a public street usually needs a permit; rules vary by locality. Hazardous waste, batteries, asbestos, refrigerant appliances, tires and liquids stay out.13
How it is billed
Every quote should give the rental period, tons included, the per-ton overage rate and the daily rate after the period ends. Rates, tons and days vary by provider and market.
Size comparison
How the 20 compares.
| Size | Length | Width | Height | Volume | Tons included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | about 14 ft 9 in | about 8 ft | about 4 ft | 270 cu ft | 1 to 3 |
| 20 yard (this page) | 22′9″ to 23′ | 7′9″ to 8′ | 4′3″ to 4′7″ | 540 cu ft | 2 to 4 |
| 30 yard | 22′9″ to 23′ | 7′9″ to 8′ | 5′11″ to 6′2″ | 810 cu ft | 2 to 4 |
| 40 yard | 22′9″ to 23′ | 7′9″ to 8′ | 7′7″ to 8′ | 1,080 cu ft | 3 to 5 |
Approximate outside dimensions from manufacturer spec sheets; included tons from quotes in our provider network. Both vary by provider and market.12
What are the dimensions of a 20 yard dumpster?
Outside, about 22 ft 9 in to 23 ft long, 7 ft 9 in to 8 ft wide and 4 ft 3 in to 4 ft 7 in tall. Inside walls run 3 ft 5 in to 3 ft 10 in. Exact sizes vary by manufacturer.
How much weight can a 20 yard dumpster hold?
Most quotes in our provider network include 2 to 4 tons, with a median of 3. Weight over the included amount is billed per ton from the scale ticket.
Can I put concrete or dirt in a 20?
Only as a partial fill, or in a heavy-debris container. Concrete, dirt and sand reach legal truck weight long before a 20 looks full.
Is a 20 big enough for a roof?
About 25 squares of single-layer shingles fits with roughly 3 tons included. Multi-layer tear-offs need more weight capacity, so plan a swap.
How long is the rental, and what does it cost?
Rental days, included tons and rates vary by provider and market. Every quote from us lists the rental period, tons included, the per-ton overage and the daily rate after.
Billing
How dumpster rental is billed.
Most quotes in our provider network are a flat rate per haul. That rate covers delivery, pickup, disposal up to the tons included and a set number of rental days. Across our 20-, 30- and 40-yard orders, the median rental period was 14 days, and 7, 14 and 30 days were the most common.2 A second model is a base rate plus per-ton disposal from the scale tickets. Ask about swap delivery, dry-run, relocation, overfill, permit and special-item charges.
Charges you might see: tonnage overage from the scale ticket, extra days, a swap or extra haul, a dry run when the spot is blocked, relocation on site, special items, overfill, contamination, permit fees, and fuel, environmental or disposal surcharges.
For a sample invoice with the amounts left off, see how dumpster rental is billed.
- Swaps: we schedule swaps on a set cadence or on call. Call before the load is at the rail. Paying for air is the other way a schedule drifts.
- Scale tickets: every overage should trace to a scale ticket. Ask and we'll get it from the provider.
- Multi-site billing: containers at every site roll up to one invoice, with each line tagged to its site and haul.
- Missed pickups: we contact the provider the same business day.
Rates, tons included and rental days vary by provider, market and material. We don't publish prices on this page. Your written quote lists every rate that applies to your job.
| Debris | Pounds per loose cubic yard | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clean lumber | 169 | US EPA4 |
| Mixed household trash, loose | 250 to 300 | US EPA4 |
| Mixed construction debris | 417 | US EPA4 |
| Drywall | 467 | US EPA4 |
| Asphalt shingles (tear-off) | 731 | US EPA4 |
| Concrete pieces, as hauled | 860 | US EPA4 |
| Dirt and sand, as hauled | 929 | US EPA4 |
| Topsoil, dug and loose | 1,620 | FHWA9 |
| Earth (loam), dug and loose | 2,070 to 2,360 | FHWA9 |
| Broken concrete slab, loose | 2,370 | FHWA9 |
Sources
- Container manufacturer spec sheets: Wastequip rectangular roll-off brochure; Custom Container Solutions standard rectangular roll-off; Rudco roll-off containers; American Made Dumpsters rectangular roll-off product sheet. Accessed Oct 27, 2026.
- Detritus provider network order records, 20-, 30- and 40-yard and 10-yard heavy-load containers delivered Oct 26, 2024 to Oct 26, 2026, canceled orders excluded.
- Ford, 2026 F-150 specifications: cargo volume 52.8 cu ft (5.5 ft bed), 62.3 cu ft (6.5 ft bed), 77.4 cu ft (8 ft bed).
- US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors, April 2016.
- US EPA, Estimating 2003 Building-Related Construction and Demolition Materials Amounts (EPA530-R-09-002, March 2009), Tables 2-3 and 2-5 and Appendix A.
- CertainTeed Landmark technical data sheet, 229 to 300 lb per square.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282), Table 5-3b.
- NIST, American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20-25, dressed sizes.
- FHWA, earthwork density and swell table (Exhibit 5-1A): broken concrete 3,960 lb per in-place cu yd, 2,370 lb loose, 67% swell; asphalt 3,240 lb in place, 50% swell; topsoil 2,430 lb in place, 56% swell.
- eCFR: 23 CFR 658.17 (vehicle weight); 29 CFR 1926.600(a)(6) (equipment near power lines); 40 CFR 82.155 (refrigerant recovery before appliance disposal).
- Roll-off hoist spec sheets: JWR AFCD-OR-22/24 and Galbreath AF series (raised height above frame 173 to 191 in, frame 45 in above ground, tire width 98 to 101.5 in, hoist length 281.5 to 305.5 in).
- Michigan FACE Program, Michigan State University, investigation report #08MI005, roll-off container truck driver electrocuted.
- US EPA, Household Hazardous Waste.
- US EPA, Universal Waste.
- US EPA, Asbestos NESHAP overview.
- US EPA, Section 608 appliance disposal.
- US EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program.
Ready for a 20?
Send us the job, the material and the ZIP. We quote the rental period, tons included, overage and daily rate, then schedule the drop.