What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Measure your debris piles or count pickup loads. The calculator turns that into cubic yards and the roll-off size that fits. Send the result to a local pro for a quote.
Debris projects only. We refer construction, remodel, roofing and cleanout debris roll-offs, not recurring garbage service. Inside Abilene city limits the City handles regular trash, with short-term construction debris as its stated exception.
Dumpster size calculator
Debris piles (feet, length x width x height). Leave unused rows at 0.
How the calculator works
- Piles: length x width x height in feet, divided by 27 to get cubic yards. Loose debris does not stack neatly, so measure the pile as it sits.
- Pickup loads: one published Abilene vendor page compares a 20 yard to about 6 pickup truckloads, a 30 yard to about 9 and a 40 yard to about 12. That works out to about 3.3 cubic yards per load, which is the figure used here.
- Sizes: roll-offs are commonly offered in 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 yards. The calculator picks the smallest size that holds your total plus 10 percent, our own margin so the load stays below the fill line. Not every pro stocks every size.
- Weight: the calculator measures space only. Shingles, tile, brick, concrete and dirt can hit a container's weight limit before it is full, so for heavy loads a smaller container may be the right answer. Tell the pro the material and amount, such as roof squares and layers.
Compare the published dimensions and the City of Abilene's own container specs on the size guide. Inside city limits, the City's Solid Waste Services is the only authorized collector for regular trash, with short-term construction debris as its stated exception; see the FAQ.