Home renovation projects frequently require removing large amounts of debris and waste materials. The struggle of figuring out how to efficiently and quickly get rid of accumulated waste can be frustrating – mounds of debris start piling up, the space becomes challenging to work in, and multiple hauls to the dump may be needed. This hassle adds to an already stressful project of renovating your home.
Renting a dumpster on your property during a home renovation is the ideal solution for waste and debris removal. A roll-off dumpster allows you to gather renovation waste conveniently in a centralized container on-site and have it hauled away all at once when the project is completed. An easily accessible dumpster to toss the debris into saves you time and headaches compared to making many individual trips to the dump.
Why Rent a Dumpster for a Home Renovation Project
Easier Debris Removal
Renting a dumpster makes debris removal much easier during a home renovation project. With a dumpster on site, you avoid the need to haul waste yourself in your vehicle or by hand.
The process is simple – the dumpster rental company delivers an empty dumpster to your home before the renovation begins. Throughout your project, you can conveniently load demolition waste, debris, and other discarded materials directly into your driveway or yard dumpster.
When the dumpster nears capacity, or your project is complete, the rental company returns to remove the full dumpster. They handle transporting the waste away wholly. There’s no need for time-consuming trips to the landfill or arranging debris hauling and disposal yourself.
The dumpster rental company does all the heavy lifting when removing waste. Renting a dumpster takes the hassle out of debris removal so you can focus on your renovation project.
Safer Work Environment
Renting a dumpster creates a safer working environment during your home renovation project in a few key ways:
Less clutter and trip hazards – Construction debris like wood scraps, drywall pieces, and flooring can easily clutter up your home and garage during a renovation. Having this debris randomly strewn about creates trip hazards for you and the construction crew. Putting all waste into a single dumpster clears up clutter and removes safety hazards.
Designated contained area for waste – Rather than having debris spread everywhere, a dumpster consolidates it all into one designated waste receptacle. This prevents loose debris from blowing around and contains it safely in one spot. Workers know exactly where to dispose of waste.
Keep hazardous materials contained – Certain hazardous wastes like lead paint or asbestos should be sealed and contained during disposal. A dumpster provides a secure containment vessel to prevent contamination while properly disposing of hazardous waste.
Avoid injuries from loading vehicles – Loading heavy debris into trucks for hauling can lead to back injuries or strains. A dumpster eliminates this manual loading process and the injury risks involved. The dumpster service transports waste away with lifting equipment, keeping workers safe.
Having a centralized dumpster on site leads to an altogether tidier and safer working environment. Workers can focus on the renovation tasks at hand rather than wasting time attempting to dispose of waste safely.
Cost Savings
Renting a dumpster can lead to significant cost savings compared to arranging for multiple junk hauls or incurring extra fees for overfilled waste bins throughout your renovation.
With a dumpster, you can consolidate all your renovation debris removal into a single upfront cost. The price you pay to rent the dumpster will depend on its size and rental duration, but overall it is often cheaper than scheduling and paying for multiple trips by a junk hauling service.
For example, if you hire a junk hauler to take away debris every week during a 3-month kitchen remodel, you might pay $100-200 each time. That can add up to $1,200-2,400 spent just on debris removal! Instead, you could rent a 15-20 yard dumpster for 1-2 months for $500-800 and avoid all those separate junk haul fees.
Dumpsters also prevent any surprise fees for overloaded trash and recycling bins that often occur on renovation projects. If your renovation generates more waste than your regular bins can handle, you may incur extra “overage” fees each week from your waste collection service. They charge these fees when the bins are over-full or overweight. With a rental dumpster, you avoid these annoying extra costs.
Overall, the single upfront investment of renting a dumpster is far more cost effective than paying recurring junk haul and bin overage fees throughout your renovation. A dumpster provides a budget-friendly solution for simplified debris removal.
Keep Your Property Tidy During the Renovation
Renting a dumpster contains all the waste and debris in one designated area during your renovation. This prevents an unsightly mess from spreading across your property.
With a dumpster, you have a centralized dumping spot for all materials removed from the renovation area. Drywall, flooring, roofing, and other debris can be placed directly into the dumpster for easy cleanup.
Trying to store renovation waste in piles around the property looks unattractive and is a safety hazard. A dumpster neatly designates one space for gathering all waste items until disposal.
Your property stays presentable for you, your family, and passersby throughout the renovation process. The home improvement clutter is hidden from view in the dumpster instead of piled around the house and yard.
After the renovation, simply schedule dumpster pickup and all the waste is removed at once. This leaves your property looking clean and organized again.
Renting a dumpster is the best way to keep unsightly renovation debris contained in one area. This maintains pleasant curb appeal and tidiness for the duration of your project.
Convenience
Renting a dumpster for your home renovation project allows for hassle-free waste disposal right at your home. You don’t have to load up your vehicle and make multiple trips to the landfill or waste transfer station. The dumpster rental company will deliver the dumpster to your specified site and pick it up when you are done loading it. This is much more convenient than having to haul away debris yourself throughout the renovation process.
Most dumpster rental companies offer flexible delivery dates to fit your renovation schedule. You can also extend your rental period if your project runs longer than expected. When you are finished using the dumpster, the company will come to collect it based on the pickup date you scheduled. The entire process allows you to focus on your renovation work rather than debris removal logistics. Having a dumpster onsite is the most convenient way to handle waste disposal for any major home improvement project.
Factors Affecting What Size Dumpster You Need
Type of Waste
The type of waste you’ll generate during your renovation is a key factor in determining what size dumpster you need. Here are some common waste materials to consider:
Drywall – Home renovation projects often involve removing old drywall during demolition or having excess scraps after new drywall installation. Drywall panels are bulky and take up significant dumpster space.
Roofing shingles or roofing fell – Re-roofing projects will generate a high volume of heavy roofing waste. Shingle tear-off debris and rolled roofing materials weigh a lot, and you’ll need a sizable dumpster.
Old flooring – Removing old floors down to the subfloor or replacing carpets/hardwoods creates piles of flooring waste. Calculate this debris when planning dumpster size.
Wood scraps – Trimmings and off-cuts from carpentry work, moldings, cabinets, etc. Wood waste can accumulate quickly.
Siding/trim – Old exterior siding is being removed, and scrap cut-offs from new trim work fill dumpsters fast.
Tiles – Bathroom or kitchen remodels often involve tile demos, generating heavily broken tiles.
Furniture – If whole rooms are gutted, bulky old furniture may need to be discarded.
While most standard construction/renovation debris is acceptable for dumpster disposal, your rental company may prohibit some hazardous materials like paints or chemicals. Knowing what you can and cannot put in the dumpster is important.
Waste Volume
Determining how much waste you’ll generate during your renovation is key to choosing the right dumpster size. Take time to estimate the volume of debris you expect to dispose of.
Here are some tips:
- Walk through the renovation area and note all the items you’ll be removing – old cabinets, flooring, walls, roofing, etc.
- Measure the dimensions of larger items to calculate their cubic footage.
- Estimate how much volume standard materials like drywall will take up. A good rule of thumb is 4-5 pounds per square foot.
- Account for 25-30% more debris than your estimate to give yourself a buffer. It’s better to have overestimated than to end up overflowing your dumpster.
- Consider if you’ll be disposing of any unusually heavy materials like concrete that take up capacity quickly.
- For major whole home renovations, you may generate 5-15 tons of debris.
With rough volume estimates for all waste types, you’ll have a clearer picture of what dumpster capacity you’ll require. This prevents ordering one too small that overflows or too large that you overpay for. Get your waste volume estimates right to choose the optimal dumpster size.
Available Space
When renting a dumpster, you need to consider the amount of space you have available on your property to accommodate it. The dumpster will take up a significant footprint, so measure the area where you plan to place it.
Most standard dumpsters are around 8-15 ft long and 7-10 feet wide. However, dumpster dimensions can vary by rental company and capacity. Measure your driveway, side yard, or backyard space to ensure the dumpster will fit. There needs to be enough room for the full dumpster, plus space around it for walking and debris loading access.
Avoid blocking or limiting access to garages, gates, or doors with the dumpster placement. Also measure the height clearance if placing under trees or wires. Renting a dumpster that is too large for your property will pose issues. Allowing adequate space around the dumpster for loading and unloading debris safely is key. Proper planning of the dumpster’s footprint can prevent having to relocate it after delivery.
Local Regulations
You’ll need to check with your local municipality on any regulations for placing a dumpster in your driveway or on the street during your renovation. Most cities and towns require a temporary street occupancy permit if the dumpster is going to be placed on the road or sidewalk, even if it’s just in your driveway apron. The permit application will likely require you to provide details on the dumpster size, placement location, and duration.
Make sure to follow any guidelines on maximum weight limits for dumpsters placed on residential streets. Exceeding posted weight limits can result in citations and fines. The weight of debris inside the dumpster also needs to be evenly distributed to avoid cracking or buckling the pavement.
Some key questions to ask your local permit office:
- Is a street occupancy permit required to place a dumpster in my driveway?
- Are there any regulations on dumpster size or placement location?
- What are the weight limits for residential streets?
- How far must the dumpster be from intersections, stop signs, or fire hydrants?
- Is there a limit on how long the dumpster can remain?
- Are reflective safety markers required around the dumpster?
Knowing the local requirements in advance allows you to get the proper permits and plan your dumpster rental accordingly. This avoids potential compliance issues or fines from improperly placing your dumpster during the renovation. Checking with local authorities ensures your dumpster doesn’t create an obstruction or safety hazard for your neighborhood.
Budget
The cost of renting a dumpster can vary significantly depending on the size of the dumpster, rental period, and any additional fees charged. When budgeting for your dumpster rental, here are some key costs to consider:
Rental Fees
Rental fees are based primarily on the size of the dumpster and length of time you keep it. Larger dumpsters and longer rental periods will be more expensive. For example, renting a 10-yard dumpster for 2 weeks will likely cost $350-$450, while a 20-yard dumpster for 4 weeks may be $550-$750. Get rental fee quotes from multiple companies.
Extra Pickup/Drop-off
Most rental companies will charge an additional fee if you need the dumpster picked up and returned multiple times. If you take delivery at the start of the project and schedule one pickup at the end, you can avoid pickup/drop-off fees.
Overweight Fee
Most dumpsters have a maximum weight limit (e.g. 3 tons). Extra charges apply if you overload the dumpster beyond the stated limit. Carefully estimate your debris weight to avoid excess fees.
Disposal Fees
Dump fees at landfills and transfer stations will be included in your rental costs. However, putting prohibited materials in the dumpster may incur additional disposal surcharges.
Fuel Surcharges
Given high gas prices, some rental companies add on a fuel surcharge to account for transportation costs. This ranges from $10-$25 typically.
When requesting quotes, ask rental companies to break down all associated costs so you can accurately compare pricing. And remember that the cheapest dumpster isn’t always the best – focus on getting the right size dumpster at a competitive price. By understanding the budget factors, you can avoid surprises and keep your project on budget.
Bathroom Remodel Dumpster Sizes
For a small bathroom remodel involving replacing fixtures like a toilet, sink, and bathtub, a 6-8 yard dumpster is usually sufficient. However, for more extensive bathroom renovations involving tile/flooring work or moving walls and plumbing, a larger 10-15 yard dumpster is recommended.
A 10-15 yard dumpster is often an ideal size for a standard bathroom remodel. This allows you to dispose of large amounts of debris like old flooring, drywall, and removed fixtures, without having to order the dumpster emptied constantly. The 10-15 yard size also leaves room for those unexpected surprises that are often uncovered in bathroom remodels behind walls and under flooring.
Some key tips for bathroom remodel dumpster sizes:
- For simple bath fixture upgrades, start with a 6-8 yard dumpster
- For standard tub-to-shower conversions or complete remodels, aim for a 10-15 yard dumpster
- If fully gutting the bathroom down to the studs, consider a 15-20 yard dumpster
- For master or multiple bathroom remodels, upgrade to a 20+ yard dumpster
- Overestimate your size if unsure – you can always exchange it for a smaller one later
The right dumpster size means fewer rental fees and hassle, while giving you breathing room for all the debris you’ll be removing. For a seamless bathroom remodel, a 10-15 yard dumpster is typically the ideal fit.
Kitchen Remodel Sizes
One of the most common home renovation projects that require renting a dumpster is a kitchen remodel. When remodeling a kitchen, you’ll likely be removing and replacing cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, and sometimes walls or fixtures. All of this can generate a large amount of debris.
For a medium to large sized kitchen remodel generating waste from cabinetry, countertops, flooring and some appliances, a 15-20 yard dumpster is often suitable. The 15 yard size gives you buffer room for waste without going overboard on rental fees.
For very large, full kitchen gut renovations involving knocking down walls and removing plumbing and electrical, a 20-30 yard dumpster may better accommodate the amount of debris.
It’s important to take measurements of your kitchen and estimate the cubic yards of waste to determine if a 15, 20 or even 30 yard dumpster is required. A company that offers “next day dumpster” delivery can provide various sizes to match your renovation scope.
Carefully estimating the size needed for a kitchen remodel ensures you get a dumpster big enough to contain the waste, while not paying more than required for unused space. Most companies have affordable rates for their common 15-20 yard dumpster rental sizes.
Whole House Remodel Dumpster Sizes
For major whole home renovations, you will likely need a large 20-40 yard dumpster or even multiple dumpsters. Some guidelines on sizing:
- Whole kitchen remodel + 2 bathrooms: Consider a 30 yard dumpster
- Kitchen remodel + all bathrooms: 30-40 yard dumpster recommended
- Adding on an entire floor or wing: 40 yard dumpster or larger
- Combination of kitchen remodel, all bathroom updates, flooring replacement, roofing, siding, and painting: Order the biggest dumpster available, likely 30 yards or more
The more areas of your home you’ll be renovating at once, the larger sized dumpster you’ll need to contain all the debris. It’s better to overestimate than underestimate! For whole house renovations, a 30 yard or larger dumpster is often needed. The more bedrooms and bathrooms worked on, the bigger the dumpster required.
Some additional tips for major renovations:
- Order one giant dumpster vs multiple smaller ones to simplify logistics and rental fees
- Designate one area on your property for the oversized dumpster
- Check that the rental company can deliver a dumpster of this size
- Obtain necessary permits for a large dumpster and extended rental period
- Prepare for the dumpster to take up significant space – at least 10’x30′
- Budget more upfront for the large dumpster size
Planning ahead for a dumpster to match the scale of your whole house renovation will make debris removal much smoother.
Dumpster Placement
When renting a dumpster for your home renovation, you’ll need to determine the ideal spot on your property to place it. Here are some of the most common dumpster placement options to consider:
Driveway
Putting the dumpster in your driveway is often the most convenient option. Driveways provide a clear path for the delivery and pick-up of the dumpster. It also keeps the dumpster close to your home’s access points, minimizing how far you need to haul debris.
However, make sure your driveway can support the weight of a full dumpster. The location should also not obstruct visibility for entering and exiting your driveway. Check with local regulations, as some communities restrict dumpster placement in driveways.
Side Yard
A side yard or area along the side of your home can work well for a dumpster. This keeps the dumpster less visible from the curb, which some homeowners prefer. It also provides more flexibility in terms of distance from your home’s access points.
Measure the space to ensure there’s enough room for the dumpster with clearance on all sides. The side yard should be free of overhead obstructions like tree branches or power lines.
Backyard
The backyard offers another dumpster placement possibility. This is the most discreet location in terms of curb appeal and visibility from the street. But it’s important to measure the access path to ensure the delivery truck can safely maneuver through gates or other barriers.
The dumpster should be placed on a flat, solid surface – not on grass or soil that could become waterlogged. Keep in mind the farther back the dumpster is placed, the longer the haul will be for debris disposal.
Safety and Permit Factors
No matter where you plan to place the dumpster, avoid areas near trees, vehicles, or structures that could be damaged. Ensure sufficient clearance so the dumpster does not obstruct walkways, impede visibility, or block access to utility shut-offs.
Check with your city or HOA on any permits required for placing a dumpster in your driveway, yard, or other location. They may have restrictions on placement and size of containers. Carefully following all regulations will prevent issues or fees.
With proper planning, you can determine the optimal and compliant spot for your dumpster. This will provide hassle-free waste removal during your home renovation.
Hi, I’m Ivy, and I dumpster dive a lot! I’ve been diving for 10 years now & I’ve been able to reduce my carbon footprint so much. I live off what I dive, and I usually donate a couple hundred pounds of food per month to my local food pantry.
Long term, I plan on opening my own food pantry in Florida. This way I will be able to help those in need to get not only the food they need but the healthy fresh food they need, which most food pantries don’t/can’t give away.