When renting a dumpster, there are many different factors to consider. One of the most important is deciding on the size of the dumpster. How big of a dumpster do you need? How can you avoid renting a too-large or too-small dumpster?
You want to make sure you choose the right size so that you don’t end up paying for more space than you need. At Dumpster Rentals of Milwaukee, our team guides you through the dumpster rental process step-by-step. We have the experience to help you determine the perfect size for your needs, depending on what type of construction project you’re working on.
After servicing thousands of customers in the Metro-Milwaukee area, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. We’re pretty good at setting up our customers with the correct dumpster size for their projects.
Here are our top three most popular dumpster sizes that we recommend, and how they’re typically used:
15 Yard Dumpsters
This is our most popular size and for good reason. The 15-yard dumpster can hold about 6-8 pickup truck loads of debris. This size is perfect for homeowners going through spring cleaning, or contractors working on smaller home renovation projects. The 15 cubic yard dumpster size can easily fit into a front or backyard, and it’s versatile enough for most projects. This little guy can even fit into a parking space or small residential driveway.
If you’re facing a project with a decent amount of waste removal, but don’t have a ton of space to store a larger dumpster, the 15-yarder is probably your best bet. In these scenarios, we’ve seen customers opt for the 15-yarder and just empty the dumpster more often to keep the project running smoothly.
Most common uses for a 15-yard dumpster:
- Spring cleaning projects
- General junk, garbage, and trash removal
- Basement, garage, or attic cleanouts
- Smaller construction projects
- Smaller renovation debris projects
- Situations when you can’t fit a larger dumpster on the property
20 Yard Dumpsters
The 20-yard dumpster is our second most popular size. It’s just a few feet larger than the 15-yarder and can hold about 7 full pickup truckloads of debris. The 20 cubic yard dumpster size can still fit into smaller residential driveways, but it’s also common to see this size on commercial properties.
20 cubic yard dumpsters are perfect for general home renovation and commercial construction projects. It’s a good “middle-of-the-road” option, meaning it’s not too big and not too small. It’s versatile enough to handle most projects, but if you have a really big project, you might want to consider a 30-yard dumpster.
Most common uses for a 20-yard dumpster:
- Larger home renovation projects
- Larger home cleanouts
- Commercial construction projects
- Demolition projects
- Roofing projects
- Large-scale garbage, trash, and junk removal
- Large-scale waste collection
30 Yard Dumpsters
The 30-yard dumpster is our largest size and is almost exclusively used for big commercial construction projects. This dumpster size can hold about 12 pickup truck loads of debris, which is a lot! Unless a homeowner is planning a huge home renovation project, this dumpster is probably not necessary.
Our 30 cubic yard dumpsters are also used as permanent placement bins for commercial and industrial companies. We have many customers who use this size for ongoing waste removal, like demolition, manufacturing, or industrial companies.
Most common uses for a 30-yard dumpster:
- Permanent placement bins for industrial or commercial companies
- Big commercial construction projects
- Demolition debris
- Ongoing waste removal for industrial or commercial companies
- Large renovation and construction projects
- Junk removal for high-volume jobs
- High-volume waste collection and disposal
How to choose the right dumpster size for your project
Now that you know the three most popular sizes of dumpsters, how do you know which one is right for your project? Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you decide:
- How much debris will I need to dispose of?
- What size is my project?
- How long will I need the dumpster for?
- Do I have enough space to store a dumpster on my property?
The first thing to consider is the amount of waste you have. Be realistic in your estimate, as a dumpster that’s too small will just fill up quickly and you’ll end up having to rent another one. Once you have an estimate of the amount of waste, decide on the type of materials you’ll be disposing of. If it’s mostly light materials like cardboard, paper and plastic, then you can usually go with a smaller dumpster. However, if you’re dealing with heavier items like furniture or appliances, then you’ll need a larger dumpster that can handle the weight.
Another factor to consider is the duration of your project. If it’s a one-time cleanup job, then you can usually get away with renting a smaller dumpster. But if your project will span several weeks or longer, then you’ll need to rent a larger dumpster so you don’t have to empty it as often.
Finally, consider the location of your project. If it’s in a crowded area where space is limited, then you’ll want to avoid renting the biggest dumpster available as it will be an eyesore and take up too much space. On the other hand, if your project is in a remote location where there’s plenty of space, then you can afford to go with a bigger dumpster.
Still don’t know what size is right for you? Our team of experts can help! We’ll ask you a few questions about your project and recommend the perfect dumpster for your needs. Give us a call today at 414-296-6724 or fill out our online contact form to get started.
