Dumpster Sizes
Four containers cover almost every job in these suburbs. The hard part is not the volume — it is knowing when heavy material means you want a smaller box.
(708) 523-9401Not sure? Describe the jobThe four sizes
- Small bathroom rip-out
- One room cleared
- Concrete, brick, dirt
- Fits most single drives
- Garage or basement
- Medium remodel
- Small roof tear-off
- Deck removal
- Whole-house clear-out
- Kitchen remodel
- Average roof tear-off
- Most-booked size
- Full gut or addition
- Commercial clear-out
- Siding and decking
- Bulky light material
Dimensions are approximate and vary by container. Ask when you book if clearance is tight.
Heavy debris needs a smaller container
This is counter-intuitive and it is the single most common sizing error we correct on the phone.
Every roll-off has a weight limit as well as a volume. Dense material hits the weight limit long before it fills the box:
- Concrete, brick, block, stone — a 10 yard container filled with concrete can weigh more than a 30 yard container of household furniture
- Soil, sod, gravel — especially after rain, when it holds water
- Plaster and lath — common in the older bungalows around Berwyn and Cicero, and far heavier than modern drywall
- Roofing shingles — a full tear-off is deceptively dense, see roof tear-off
For those jobs we send a smaller dedicated container and, if needed, more than one. It is not an upsell — an overweight container cannot legally leave your property.
What people actually book
| The job | Usual size | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Single room or garage clear-out | 10–15 yard | Appliances with refrigerant have to come out separately |
| Basement clear-out | 15–20 yard | Old paint tins and chemicals cannot go in |
| Kitchen remodel | 20 yard | Old cast-iron and tile add weight quickly |
| Full house gut | 30 yard, often two | Plaster in a pre-war house doubles the weight you expect |
| Roof tear-off, average bungalow | 15–20 yard | Layers. Two or three existing layers changes everything |
| Patio, driveway or foundation removal | 10 yard, heavy | Must be clean concrete — no mixed rubbish in a heavy container |
| Estate or move-out clearance | 20–30 yard | Electronics and tyres turn up in nearly every one |
| Deck or fence removal | 20–30 yard | Bulky but light — volume is the limit, not weight |
What the space needs to allow
About 60 feet, straight
The truck needs a clear straight run to slide the container off and winch it back on. A tight cul-de-sac or a sharp drive entrance is the usual problem.
Roughly 23 feet overhead
The arm lifts high. Low branches, utility lines and carport roofs are what stop a delivery, far more often than ground space.
Door direction
The barn doors at one end swing open so you can walk debris in rather than lifting it over the side. Tell us which way you want them facing.
What people ask when they call
What happens if I pick the wrong size?
If it is too small we swap it — routine, and usually quick. If it is too big you have hired more container than the job needed, which is why we would rather spend two minutes on the phone getting it right.
Can I mix concrete with general debris?
No. Clean concrete, brick and dirt go to a different facility from mixed waste, so a heavy container has to stay clean. One bag of household rubbish in a concrete load re-classifies the whole container.
How full can I load it?
Level with the top rail, no higher. A heaped container cannot legally be transported on Illinois roads, and the driver will have to level it by hand before it moves — which delays your collection.
Do you have anything smaller than 10 yard?
Not in a roll-off. If your job is genuinely smaller than a 10 yard, most of these villages run a bulk pickup that will be far less hassle, and we will tell you that rather than send a truck.
Will a 20 yard fit on a standard suburban driveway?
Usually yes — it is about 22 feet long, so it sits roughly where two cars would. The constraint is more often the approach than the space itself.
Describe the job, get the size
Tell us the material rather than the volume and we will pick the container.
(708) 523-9401Mon–Sat 6am–6pmWorth reading before you book
