Roofing · sized by squares and layers
Roofing Dumpster Rental for Shingle Tear-Offs
Shingles fill a dumpster by weight long before they fill it by volume. Size the roll-off by squares and layers, book by 3 PM, and it arrives the next day before your crew starts.
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- One layer
- ≈210 lb/square
- 15-yard
- ≈23 squares
- 20-yard
- ≈28 squares
- 30-yard
- ≈38 squares
- Overage
- $75/ton
- SizeOne layer: 15-yard up to about 23 squares, 20-yard up to about 28, 30-yard up to about 38.
- WeightArchitectural shingles weigh about 210 lb per square, so two layers weigh double. Extra weight is $75/ton, by the pound.
- DeliveryBook by 3 PM for guaranteed next-day delivery, 7 AM–5 PM, before your crew starts.
- PlacementOn the driveway, on boards, as close to the drop edge as the truck can reach.
- IncludedDelivery, pickup and 7 days. If it fills before the roof is off, we swap it for an empty one.
What size dumpster do I need for my roof?
A one-layer roof up to about 23 squares fits a 15-yard dumpster. Up to about 28 squares fits a 20-yard, and up to about 38 squares fits a 30-yard. Two layers double the weight, so halve those numbers. These figures assume architectural shingles at about 210 lb per square.
| Dumpster | Weight included | One layer (≈210 lb/square) | Two layers (≈420 lb/square) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-yard | 2.5 tons (5,000 lb) | up to about 23 squares | up to about 11 squares |
| 20-yard | 3 tons (6,000 lb) | up to about 28 squares | up to about 14 squares |
| 30-yard | 4 tons (8,000 lb) | up to about 38 squares | up to about 19 squares |
Squares stop at the included weight, not the top rim. Shingles hit the weight limit long before they fill a 20 or 30-yard. A square is 100 sq ft of roof.
How much do roofing shingles weigh?
One square of architectural shingles weighs about 210 lb: 3 bundles at about 70 lb each. Three-tab shingles run about 195 lb per square. Multiply by your squares: 25 squares at 210 lb is 5,250 lb, or about 2.6 tons. Check the bundle weight printed on your own shingle wrapper.
Worked example: a 30-square, one-layer tear-off weighs about 6,300 lb. In a 20-yard with 3 tons included, that is 300 lb over. At $75 per ton, billed by the pound, the overage is $11.25.
Felt, underlayment, drip edge and old decking add weight on top of the shingles. Wet shingles weigh more, so tarp the open dumpster before rain. Read how dumpster weight is billed.
Bundles per square: GAF Timberline HDZ spec sheet. Bundle weights from retailer listings: 70 lb architectural, 65 lb 3-tab. EPA lists loose asphalt roofing at 731 lb per cubic yard (EPA Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors).
Where should the roofing dumpster go?
Place the roofing dumpster on the driveway as close to the roof's drop zone as the truck allows. The truck typically needs about 60 ft of straight approach and about 23 ft of overhead clearance. Our driver sets the bin on wooden boards so falling shingles don't crack the drive.
- Tell us which roof edge the crew will throw from, and we'll angle the dumpster toward it.
- Keep cars, trailers and material pallets out of the drop spot. If the truck can't set the bin, a $125 dry-run fee applies.
- Cover shrubs and AC units along the drop path with tarps.
- Street placement may need a city permit. Check your city page.
Do you need a chute for a roof tear-off?
OSHA requires an enclosed chute when debris is dropped more than 20 ft to any point outside a building's exterior walls. Most one-story tear-offs drop less than 20 ft. On a two-story roof, plan a chute or lower the debris another way. This rule binds employers and their crews.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.252(a). The rule is the law for contractors. Our advice for homeowners doing their own tear-off is simpler: keep the drop short and the dumpster close.
Load shingles flat and spread across the floor. Nothing may stick up above the top rim. An overfilled dumpster can't legally go on the road, so the driver can't haul it until the excess is removed, and a $125 dry-run fee applies.
What if the tear-off takes longer or the dumpster fills up?
Extra days cost $25 each after the 7 included days. If the dumpster fills before the roof is off, we pull it and drop an empty one. That swap is billed as a new rental at the flat rate for that size. Request the swap a day ahead so the crew isn't waiting.
Book by 3 PM for a next-day swap. Same-day swaps depend on truck availability and carry a $50 rush fee.
What can't go in a roofing dumpster?
Shingles, felt, underlayment, flashing, drip edge and old decking can all go in a roofing dumpster. Liquid roof coatings, solvents, wet paint and batteries can't go in. Keep every load level with the top rim, because Texas law requires haulers to secure loads for the road.
Not allowed in any dumpster
- Hazardous chemicals, solvents and pool chemicals
- Wet or liquid paint
- Batteries of any kind, including car batteries
- Motor oil, fuel and other liquids
Texas landfills can't accept lead-acid batteries, used oil or bulk liquids (30 TAC §330.15).
Allowed for $50 each
- Mattresses and box springs
- Car and truck tires
- Fridges, freezers, window AC units and other Freon appliances
These cost more because the landfill must process them separately.
See the full list of what can go in a dumpster →
Load rule: Tex. Transp. Code §725.021.
Roofing dumpster questions
Will the dumpster be there before my roofing crew starts?
Book by 3 PM and the dumpster is delivered the next day between 7 AM–5 PM. For an early crew start, schedule delivery for the day before tear-off, so the dumpster is in place when the crew arrives.
Can old roof decking go in the dumpster with the shingles?
Plywood and OSB decking can go in with the shingles. It counts toward the included weight, so add it to your estimate.
Where do I find my shingle bundle weight?
The weight is usually printed on the bundle wrapper or the product spec sheet. Multiply it by bundles per square, then by your number of squares.
Can the crew throw shingles from the roof straight into the dumpster?
Crews often do when the dumpster sits under the roof edge. The wooden boards under the rails protect the driveway. Drops over 20 ft outside the walls need an enclosed chute under OSHA rules.
What happens if rain soaks the shingles in the dumpster?
Wet debris weighs more on the landfill scale. Cover the open dumpster with a tarp at the end of each day to keep the weight down.
Schedule your tear-off dumpster
Give us the squares, the layers and the start date. We'll size it and set the delivery before your crew arrives.
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