What Size Dumpster Do I Need? A Complete Guide for Pittsburgh Homeowners

It's the first question everyone asks — and getting it wrong costs real money.

Order too small and you're stuck with a half-demolished bathroom, a full dumpster, and a second rental fee on the way. Order too big and you're paying for air. Either way, you lose.

At Brandon’s Roll Off Services, we've delivered thousands of dumpsters across southwestern PA. We know exactly what fits what — and we're going to share everything so you can get it right the first time.

The Three Sizes That Handle 90% of Residential Jobs

We keep it simple. No confusing size charts with eight options. For homeowners in the Pittsburgh area, it comes down to three:

10-Yard Roll-Off Dumpster — $350

Best for: Small cleanouts, single-room demo, light landscaping

Dimensions: Roughly 12 feet long × 8 feet wide × 4 feet tall

Holds approximately: 3-4 pickup truck loads of debris

Common projects:

• Garage cleanout
• Small deck removal
• Landscaping and yard debris
• Single-room declutter

The 10-yard is the easiest size to place. If your driveway is short or steep, this is the one to ask about.

12-Yard Roll-Off Dumpster — $400

Best for: Single-room projects, basement cleanouts, small roof tear-offs

Dimensions: Roughly 13 feet long × 8 feet wide × 4 feet tall

Holds approximately: 4 pickup truck loads of debris

Common projects:

• Bathroom remodel demo
• Single-layer roof tear-off (up to 1,500 sq ft)
• Garage or basement cleanout
• Small deck removal
• Flooring removal (one level)

The 12-yard is our most popular residential size. It's big enough to handle a real project but compact enough to fit in most Pittsburgh driveways — even the narrow ones in Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, and the South Hills.

15-Yard Roll-Off Dumpster — $450

Best for: Multi-room projects, full cleanouts, larger renovations

Dimensions: Roughly 14 feet long × 8 feet wide × 4 feet tall

Holds approximately: 4-5 pickup truck loads of debris

Common projects:

• Kitchen gut and remodel
• Multi-room renovation
• Whole-house cleanout or estate cleanout
• Larger roof tear-off (multi-layer or 2,000+ sq ft)
• Deck and shed demolition combined
• Basement finishing demo

When you're torn between two sizes, go with the bigger one. The price difference is small, and it gives you breathing room. We've never had a customer complain about having too much space — but we've heard plenty of regret from people who went too small.

How to Estimate What You Need

Here's the method we use when customers call:

Step 1: Identify Your Project Type

Different materials take up different amounts of space:

• General construction debris (drywall, wood, insulation) — bulky but light. Fills up fast.
• Roofing shingles — heavy and dense. A small roof fills surprisingly little space but weighs a lot.
• Concrete, brick, stone — extremely heavy. Even a small amount can hit weight limits.
• Household junk (furniture, appliances, boxes) — varies wildly. Old couches eat space.

Step 2: Visualize Pickup Truck Loads

Most people can picture what a full pickup truck bed looks like. Use that as your unit:

• 10-yard = about 3-4 truck loads
• 12-yard = about 4 truck loads
• 15-yard = about 4-5 truck loads

Walk through your project mentally. That bathroom demo — how many truck loads would it fill? Two loads of tile and drywall, one load of the vanity and fixtures, one load of subflooring? That's a 12-yard.

Step 3: When in Doubt, Call Us

Seriously. We do this every day. Tell us what you're tearing out, how big the space is, and we'll tell you which size fits. No upselling — if a 12-yard handles it, we'll say so.

What You Can and Can't Put in a Dumpster

Yes — Load It Up

• Construction debris (drywall, lumber, siding, roofing)
• Household junk (furniture, appliances, clothing, boxes)
• Yard waste (branches, dirt, sod — but not mixed with construction debris)
• Concrete and masonry (let us know in advance — weight matters)

No — Keep It Out

• Hazardous materials — paint, chemicals, oil, solvents, asbestos
• Tires — recycling regulations prohibit them
• Batteries — household and car batteries
• Electronics — TVs, monitors, computers (PA e-waste law)
• Appliances with refrigerant — fridges, AC units, dehumidifiers (unless properly drained)

Not sure about something? Ask before you toss it in. A prohibited item can mean fines at the landfill that get passed back to you.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Rental

Break things down. That old deck railing takes up twice the space if you throw it in whole. Spend 20 minutes with a sawzall and you'll fit twice as much.

Load flat items first. Drywall, plywood, and sheet materials should go in flat on the bottom. Stack bulky items on top.

Don't stack above the sides. We can't haul an overloaded dumpster safely on Pittsburgh's hills. If debris is above the rail, we'll need to make a second trip — and that costs more.

Plan your placement. We need a flat, hard surface — driveway, street (with a permit if required), or packed gravel. Soft lawns and muddy yards won't work for our dumpsters.

Schedule ahead for busy seasons. Spring cleanouts (April-May) and post-storm cleanup are our busiest times. Book a week or two ahead during those periods.

What It Costs

We believe in straightforward pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise charges at the end.

Our rentals include delivery, pickup, and disposal up to the included weight limit — 1 ton on every size. The 10-yard is $350, the 12-yard is $400, and the 15-yard is $450.

Every rental comes with 7 days on site, which covers most residential projects. Need longer? Extra days are $25 each, and you can add them when you book or call us mid-project.

For an exact price on your specific job, give us a call or book online. You'll see your total based on your size, location, and dates before you submit.

Ready to Get Started?

The easiest way to figure out what you need is to talk to us. We've been hauling debris across Pittsburgh for years, and we can size your project in a 2-minute phone call.

• Book: Book online
• Service area: Southwestern PA — Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Butler, and Westmoreland counties

No project is too small. Whether it's a single bathroom or a whole-house gut, we'll get the right dumpster to your driveway and haul everything away when you're done.