How to Estimate the Weight of a Dumpster Load to Avoid Overage Fees

It’s not easy to maintain a working weight or final weight of a dumpster load, but it is quite important to have a good estimate.

It’s key to avoiding potential expensive overage charges.

What is an overage fee?

An overage charge is an additional fee that is added to the final bill if the weight of a dumpster load exceeds its weight allowance.

Overage fees vary by company but typically range from $50 per ton to $100+ per ton.

For example...

Let's say you contact a dumpster company, and they quote you $400 to rent a 20 yard dumpster with an included 4,000 lb (2-ton) weight allowance.

The dumpster rental company states there is a $50/ton charge for going over your 2-ton weight limit.

After filling the dumpster and having it hauled away, the dumpster rental company weighs the load at the landfill and finds it is 1,000 lbs over the weight allowance.

In this scenario, you will incur a $50 additional charge on your bill, so your total bill is now $450.

Note that the overage doesn’t have to be a full 2,000 lbs (1 ton) over the weight allowance in order to be charged the full amount - $50 in this example.

Many dumpster rental companies charge overage fees this way, while others offer prorated overage fees.

Common weight allowances by dumpster size

10 yard: 2 tons (4,000 lbs)
20 yard: 4 tons (8,000 lbs)
30 yard: 4 tons (8,000 lbs)
40 yard: 6 tons (12,000 lbs)

*As previously mentioned, weight allowances vary by dumpster rental provider. Reach out to them directly to get the most accurate and up-to-date cost info.

Keep reading:

How do I calculate the weight of debris or junk?

The weight of dumpster loads can vary a great deal.

For instance, a 10 yard dumpster filled to the top with cabinets and lineoleum floors will weigh far less than a 10 yard dumpster filled with stone or masonry debris.

cubic yard size

The weights in the chart below are per cubic yard.

It may be helpful to keep in mind that one cubic yard measures 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft in size, which is roughly the same dimensions as a standard kitchen stove. A small sofa or loveseat is about 2 cubic yards.

Material	Lbs/Cubic yard	Notes
Burned debris/Ash	800 - 1,000 1,500 - 1,800 2,300	Loose/dry Wet for dust suppression Wet mixed with soil
Concrete Asphalt	4,050 3,960
Wood, un-compacted	400	Multiply x2 if compacted
Metals, un-compacted	600	Ex. Appliances, metal siding
Earth/Dirt	2,100 3,000	Loose/dry Excavated/wet
Gravel or crushed stone	2,600	20% more if wet
Standard red clay bricks	3,400
Asphalt shingles Slate shingles	2,500 9,500	1,000 sq. ft. (10 squares, 30 bundles)
General household junk	300 - 350 400 - 800	Un-compacted Compacted
Yard waste	670 400 500 1,500 1,350	Glass clippings Leaves Brush Unfinished compost Finished compost
Drywall	340 420	1/2-inch thick drywall 5/8-inch thick drywall

Things to Remember

Volume does not necessarily dictate the weight of a load.

For example, a 10 yard dumpster filled to the top with household furniture will likely weigh less than a 10 yard dumpster filled one-fifth of the way full of concrete debris.

Wet debris weighs significantly more than dry wastes.

We advise covering the dumpster with a tarp during rainstorms to avoid saturating the load.

Calculating the Weight of the Load

Estimating the weight of your junk or debris can be tricky, particularly if multiple types of waste are disposed of in the dumpster.

However, keeping a running estimate of what enters the dumpster is a useful strategy to keep the load under the weight allowance.

(Weight of 1 yard of a particular waste) x (Number of square yards) = Total weight

*Calculate for each type of waste and then add each together to get the total load weight.

Knowing what and approximately how much debris is put in the dumpster—along with using the chart above—can help you estimate a load's weight and be sure you stay within your weight limit.

What if I have no idea how much my junk or debris will weigh?

Use the dumpster rental company’s expertise to your advantage.

Experienced dumpster rental providers are the best source for getting a rough estimate of how much a dumpster load will weigh based on the type of debris and size of the project.

They also understand local landfill fees, and of course, the cost of overage charges.

They are the experts; use their expertise to get a better understanding of which size dumpster to choose and how high you can fill the container without incurring overage fees.