How Dumpster Weight Limits Work

Empty dumpsters weigh anywhere from 3,500 to 6,500 pounds, depending on their size. But don't worry about that — we only care about what you put in it. The dumpster's own weight doesn't count toward your weight limit.

The maximum weight limit for each roll off container is 10 tons. If your dumpster weighs more than this, our driver cannot safely haul it away. In the event of an overloaded dumpster, we may ask you to remove contents or our driver will leave without taking the container, which will result in additional fees. Keep in mind that heavy debris such as rock, brick or concrete can quickly exceed your dumpster’s weight limit even if your container is only partially full.

Your roll off dumpster is weighed at the landfill before and after emptying. The difference in those two numbers tells us exactly how much your debris weighed and gives us an accurate disposal cost.

When you order your dumpster, we’ll ask questions about what you’re disposing of to help gauge the weight of your debris. This information helps us suggest a suitable roll off container size for your project. You can also use our dumpster weight calculators to estimate the tonnage of your materials.

The best way to avoid additional fees during your dumpster rental period is to make sure you don’t overfill your dumpster and nothing is above the dumpster walls or hanging over the edges. You should also avoid disposing of any prohibited items that the landfills can't process.