Renting a Dumpster for a Roof Tear-Off

A roof tear-off is one of the heaviest jobs a homeowner can put in a rental dumpster. Shingles take up less room than you might expect, but they weigh a lot. As one shingle manufacturer puts it, choosing a dumpster for shingles is not just about volume; it’s more important to estimate their weight.

How much a roof tear-off weighs

Roofs are measured in squares. Connecticut’s environmental agency, quoting the roofing industry’s trade group, explains that a square is roofing jargon for 100 square feet of shingles. A 1,500 square foot roof is about 15 squares.

Shingle weight depends on the type. That manufacturer gives these estimates for tear-off debris, which include about 10 pounds per square for underlayment, nails and other debris:

Shingle type	Estimated tear-off weight per square
3-tab	about 200 lb
Laminate (architectural)	about 240 lb
Premium	about 300 lb

Spec sheets are in the same range: one laminate shingle line lists 217 to 229 pounds per square for new product.

The same manufacturer estimates that a 25-square laminate roof produces about 6,000 pounds of debris, or three tons. It also warns that a second layer of shingles will double the size of dumpster you need, that you should do a separate weight calculation for it, and that you should not assume the bottom layer is the same type of shingle as the top.

Which dumpster size to rent

You generally can’t fill a dumpster to the brim with asphalt shingles without going over the weight limit, so weight usually runs out before space does.

Hauler size charts point to the 20 yard dumpster for typical roofs, listing it for roofing projects or roofing. The manufacturer’s chart is more specific:

The same source says the very large 30, 35 and 40 yard dumpsters are not meant for asphalt shingles, because a full one may be too heavy to transport safely.

Typical included weight by size:

Size	Typical included weight
10 yard	1 to 2 tons
15 yard	1.5 tons at some haulers (1, 2), 2 tons at others
20 yard	2 to 3 tons
30 yard	3 to 4 tons

These are typical ranges, not promises; your contract sets the real number. A 20 yard rental typically runs $350 to $600, with local hauler quotes of $490 to $555 in Minneapolis (1, 2) and $430 to $475 for a 7 day rental in Phoenix (1, 2). See our cost guide and the Minneapolis and Phoenix pages for more.

Weight limits and heavy-debris rules

Weight limits for hauling are set to keep the roads safe, and each size’s limit depends on the capacity of the truck that will be hauling it. Tell the company the dumpster is for reroofing, since some have special restrictions or charges for shingle disposal, and some may require you to load only shingles.

If you go over, you pay for the extra. Overage charges commonly run $50 to $150 per ton; one New Jersey hauler, for example, charges $130 per ton over the allowance. See how to avoid overage fees.

Do not plan on putting asbestos in a rental dumpster; it is on the not accepted list at one national hauler, for example. You can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, so if your roof is old and you are unsure, have a trained professional test it before tear-off. See what you cannot put in a dumpster.

Shingle recycling

Old shingles can often be recycled. According to the roofing industry’s trade group, the primary use of recycled shingles is to make roads. Connecticut’s environmental agency lists other uses, including cold patch for pothole repair and aggregate road base.

To find a recycler, the trade group suggests ShingleRecycling.org or Earth911, then contacting the recycler directly to confirm it accepts shingles. Tips that make a load recyclable:

Keep shingles separate from other construction debris, such as wood or metal.
You do not have to pull out nails, since most recyclers use magnets.
Expect questions about age. Connecticut, for example, requires permitted shingle recyclers to test for asbestos unless residential shingles are documented to have been constructed after 1981.

Ask your hauler whether it offers a shingles-only container that goes to a recycler.

Placement near the house

Place the container as close to the roofline as the truck can safely reach, so debris has a short trip. Before delivery, make sure the spot is accessible for delivery trucks and free of low-hanging tree limbs or overhead wires. One national hauler’s 20 yard box measures 22’9” long by 8’3” wide, so measure your driveway, and avoid a spot that will trap cars in the driveway for the whole job.

If the box goes in the street, you will likely need a permit. Minneapolis charges $84.20 for 30 days, Denver charges $125 for the first 5 days for a one-time residential street placement, and Atlanta requires a permit for all dumpsters placed on the public right-of-way. See the Denver and Atlanta pages and our permit guide.

Protecting the driveway

Heavy containers are hard on pavement; the shingle manufacturer warns that the weight of the largest sizes may even damage a driveway. Two steps help:

Ask what goes under the rails. One franchise hauler says its drivers place protective boards beneath the dumpster to spread its weight, and an Atlanta hauler offers fiberglass pads for $25 as an option.
Keep it on a solid, flat surface. Avoid soft ground like lawns, which increase the likelihood of sinking. If your path to the dumpster crosses the lawn, lay sheets of plywood along the path.

Before you book

Count squares and layers, then estimate weight with the figures above.
Get the included weight and overage rate in writing.
Ask about shingle restrictions, shingle recycling and street permits.