Guide
What size dumpster do you need for a roof tear-off?
By Cesar Hurtado, owner · Published
For a roof tear-off, pick the trailer by weight, not by space. The U.S. EPA puts asphalt roofing at about 731 pounds per cubic yard, so a ton of old shingles takes up only a few cubic yards, and a smaller 15 yard ($350) or 18 yard ($395) trailer is usually the better fit. Each rental includes 1 ton, and weight over that is $120 per ton.
How heavy is a roof tear-off?
Heavier than almost anything else people put in a dumpster. The U.S. EPA's volume-to-weight conversion factors list composition roofing and other asphalt roofing at about 731 pounds per cubic yard. A ton is 2,000 pounds, so a ton of tear-off fills only a few cubic yards, and fewer when shingles are wet or the load includes decking.
For comparison, the same EPA table lists:
| Material (EPA category) | Pounds per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Asphalt roofing (composition / other asphalt roofing) | 731 |
| Concrete | 860 |
| Gypsum board (drywall) | 467 |
| Mixed construction and demolition debris | 417 |
| Clean engineered wood (such as plywood or OSB) | 268 |
| Clean dimensional lumber | 169 |
Shingles sit much closer to concrete than to the household debris most people picture. If your roof is concrete or clay tile instead of shingles, treat it as heavy material too and send photos before you book so we can talk through the load.
What size dump trailer should you rent for roofing?
Usually the smallest one that holds the job's volume, because weight will be the limit first. Here's how our sizes line up for roofing work:
| Trailer | Dimensions | Flat rate | Roofing fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 yard | 14 x 7 x 4 ft | $350 | Smaller tear-offs, re-roof sections, or one load of a larger job |
| 18 yard | 14 x 7 x 5 ft | $395 | A common pick when shingles, underlayment and some rotted decking go together |
| 21 yard | 16 x 7 x 5 ft | $440 | Jobs with more wood and other lighter debris than shingles; filled with shingles alone, it means a lot of overage |
| 24 yard | 16 x 8 x 5 ft | $485 | Rarely the right call for shingles alone |
Do the math with the EPA factor: a 15 yard trailer filled to the top with asphalt roofing would be roughly 11,000 pounds, or about five and a half tons. That is well past the 1 ton included with every rental, and every ton over is billed at $120. A bigger trailer doesn't make the shingles lighter; it just lets you load more weight.
See roofing dumpster rentals for how a roofing rental works, or the size guide if your project mixes roofing with other debris.
How do the included ton and overage work on a roofing job?
- Every dump trailer rental includes 7 days and 1 ton.
- Weight over the included ton is charged by weight at $120 per ton.
- After the 7 days, $50 per day accrues beginning on the 8th day after delivery.
- If you need the trailer emptied and brought back, Dump & Return is charged as a new rental at the full flat rate for your trailer size.
On a roofing job, plan for overage rather than hoping to avoid it. In general, the honest way to budget a tear-off is the trailer's flat rate plus the tons you expect beyond the first one. If you're unsure how much roof you have, text photos of the roof and the number of layers to (954) 247-1399 and we'll help you pick a size.
For more on how weight is charged, see dumpster weight limits and overage fees.
What else comes off a roof, and what can't go in?
A tear-off usually produces more than shingles: underlayment, drip edge and flashing, nails, and sometimes sections of rotted decking. Those can generally go in with the shingles. Wood decking is much lighter per cubic yard than shingles, so it adds space more than weight.
A few things that show up on roofing jobs can't go in our dumpsters:
- Paint and paint cans
- Propane tanks, such as torch tanks
- Tires and batteries
- Hazardous materials
If any of those are found in the bin, the load is returned to your job site and a $100 surcharge applies. If you have leftover roofing cement, sealant or adhesive containers, ask us before they go in. See what can't go in a dumpster for the full list.
Where does a roofing trailer go, and how do you load it?
Our dump trailers are driveway-safe, so they can sit on the driveway near the work. A few loading habits help on roofing jobs:
- Spread the weight. Load evenly from front to back instead of piling everything at one end.
- Keep it level. Don't load above the trailer's sides; shingles are heavy and slide.
- Keep roofing separate from cleanout junk. If you're also clearing a garage, a second rental or a junk removal pickup keeps the weight math clear.
- Swap instead of overfilling. On a bigger roof, plan two loads rather than one overloaded trailer.
Roofers and contractors running several jobs can see how trailer swaps and repeat rentals work on our contractor dumpster rentals page.
Do you need a permit to re-roof?
Whether a re-roof needs a permit depends on your city and the scope of the work, so check with your city's building department before the tear-off starts. Getting any required permit is the property owner's or their roofing contractor's responsibility. If your community has an HOA, check its rules on trailer placement and work hours too.