How to read roll-off sizes
Roll-off dumpsters are named by volume in cubic yards. But two things decide the right box: how much fits (volume) and how much it can legally haul (weight). On heavy debris, weight caps out long before the box looks full — so read both columns below.
The sizes, by dimensions and use
10-yard
Roughly 12–14 ft long × 8 ft wide × 3.5 ft high — about 3–4 pickup-truck loads. The heavy-debris box: concrete, dirt, brick, tile, roofing. Small enough to fit a single-car driveway. On dense material you'll hit the weight cap fast, which is exactly why it's the size for the heavy stuff.
15-yard
Roughly 16 ft × 8 ft × 4 ft — about 4–5 pickup loads. A middle option for medium remodels and mixed debris where a 10 is tight but a 20 is overkill. Not every hauler stocks 15s; dispatch confirms availability.
20-yard
Roughly 22 ft × 8 ft × 4.5 ft — about 6 pickup loads. The workhorse. Single-layer roof tear-offs, bathroom and single-room remodels, garage and estate cleanouts, flooring jobs. If you're not sure, 20 is usually the right first guess for general C&D.
30-yard
Roughly 22 ft × 8 ft × 6 ft — about 9 pickup loads. Whole-room and multi-room remodels, new-construction cleanout, larger roofing. The height means it holds bulky, lighter debris well — drywall scrap, framing offcuts, packaging.
40-yard
Roughly 22 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft — about 12 pickup loads. Commercial demo, large-scale cleanouts, retail build-outs. Big volume for bulky, lighter material. If you're loading anything dense, you'll cap on weight long before you fill it — size down or split loads.
The tonnage cap decides more jobs than volume
Every roll-off includes a tonnage cap — a weight allowance baked into the rental. Go over and the overage is billed per ton at a rate stated on your quote before the box drops. The trap: dense debris. Concrete runs about 150 lb per cubic foot; a 10-yarder can hit its weight limit less than half full. Wet roofing shingles, tile, brick, and dirt behave the same way.
Rule: heavy debris → smaller box or split loads to stay under the cap. Light, bulky debris → size up for volume. Our dispatch will right-size it against both.
What can't go in any size
Hazardous waste, liquids and paints, tires, batteries, and freon-bearing appliances (fridges, A/C units) are prohibited by hauler and landfill rules. They trigger disposal surcharges and can bounce a whole load. Ask dispatch if you're unsure — we'll point you to the right disposal route.
How SolidSite handles it
We fulfill roll-offs through vetted, licensed haulers, coordinated on the same ticket as your restrooms, fuel, and fence. Same-day drop across Greater Houston when you order by mid-morning; the tonnage cap and any overage rate are on your quote up front — no surprise disposal bill. Swaps on one call.