Sioux Falls Dumpster Size Guide: How to Pick the Right Size for Any Project
For most home projects in Sioux Falls — single-room renovations, garage and basement cleanouts, deck demos — a 20-yard dumpster is the right call. Smaller bath remodels and decluttering jobs fit in that same 20-yard. Whole-house cleanouts and full roof tear-offs usually need two loads of a 20-yard. Below is the project-by-project breakdown, the weight math nobody warns you about, and what to know about driveway placement in South Dakota.
Dump Dynasty Rentals offers one size only: the 20-yard roll-off dumpster. The 10-, 30- and 40-yard sizes below are shown for comparison only and are not available from us.
Sioux Falls Dumpster Sizing — Quick Reference
| Project | Recommended Size | Approx. Debris Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Single bathroom remodel | 20-yard 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) | 4–6 cu yd |
| Kitchen remodel | 20-yard | 6–8 cu yd |
| Single-room flooring removal | 20-yard 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) | 3–6 cu yd |
| Garage cleanout (2-car) | 20-yard | 8–12 cu yd |
| Basement cleanout | 20-yard | 10–15 cu yd |
| Attic cleanout | 20-yard 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) | 4–8 cu yd |
| Deck or shed demo | 20-yard | 8–14 cu yd |
| Roof tear-off (typical 2,000 sq ft house) | 20-yard × 2 loads 30-yard+ (comparison only, not offered) | 15–25 cu yd |
| Whole-house cleanout | 20-yard × 2 loads 30-yard+ (comparison only, not offered) | 20–30+ cu yd |
| Concrete or dirt only | 20-yard (weight-limited) 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) | 3–5 cu yd |
Dump Dynasty Rentals stocks 20-yard roll-off dumpsters — the size that fits about 80% of residential projects in Sioux Falls. For projects that need more capacity, the right move is usually scheduling a second load rather than a single oversized container.
The Four Dumpster Sizes Explained
10-Yard Dumpster
For comparison only, not offered by Dump Dynasty
Dimensions: roughly 12 ft long × 8 ft wide × 3.5 ft tall. Holds about 3 pickup-truck loads. Best for small bath remodels, single-room flooring tear-out, attic cleanouts, and small concrete or dirt jobs where weight (not volume) is the limit.
20-Yard Dumpster
Dimensions: 20 ft × 8 ft × 3 ft. Holds about 6 pickup-truck loads. The most common residential size and the only size we stock at Dump Dynasty. Fits kitchen remodels, basement cleanouts, garage cleanouts, deck demos, and most single-room or single-system jobs.
30-Yard Dumpster
For comparison only, not offered by Dump Dynasty
Dimensions: 22 ft × 8 ft × 6 ft. Holds about 9 pickup-truck loads. Used for full roof tear-offs, whole-house cleanouts, mid-size new construction, and major additions. Taller walls make loading bulky items easier.
40-Yard Dumpster
For comparison only, not offered by Dump Dynasty
Dimensions: 22 ft × 8 ft × 8 ft. Holds about 12 pickup-truck loads. Reserved for commercial demolition, large estate cleanouts, and major construction. Rarely needed for single-family residential work.
Kitchen Remodel
Recommended: 20-yard dumpster. Why: A full kitchen demo — cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall, and old appliances — typically generates 6–8 cubic yards of debris. That leaves comfortable headroom in a 20-yard for the inevitable extras (the subfloor that needed replacement, the closet you decided to expand). If you're only doing a refresh — paint, hardware, maybe new counters but keeping the cabinets — a 10-yard would be plenty by volume (comparison only, not offered). Rent the 20-yard.
Weight watch: Old cast-iron sinks and stone countertops are heavier than they look. If you're tearing out a granite or quartz island, you may approach the 1-ton included weight on the countertops alone.
Bathroom Remodel
Recommended: 20-yard. 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) Why: A full single-bathroom demo produces about 4–6 cubic yards — vanity, tub, shower surround, tile, toilet, and drywall. The 1 ton included in the rental is rarely a problem for bath work unless you're removing a cast-iron tub (those run 250–400 lbs each).
Sioux Falls tip: Old bathrooms with mortar-bed tile floors weigh significantly more than modern thin-set installations. Plan accordingly.
Garage Cleanout
Recommended: 20-yard. Why: A standard two-car garage cleanout — old tools, boxes, sports gear, broken appliances, seasonal stuff — runs 8–12 cubic yards. You'll have margin to also tackle the shed or attic the same weekend. For a clean-it-out-and-list-the-house cleanout, the 20-yard with the headroom is the safer pick.
What can't go in: Tires, batteries, gasoline, paint thinner, and propane tanks need separate disposal (covered in our debris disposal guide). Setting these aside before loading saves you an unloading fee at the landfill.
Basement Cleanout
Recommended: 20-yard. Why: Finished basements average 10–15 cubic yards of debris when you include old furniture, carpet, drywall, ceiling tile, and the contents of storage closets. Unfinished basements (mostly storage items) usually run 8–12. If you're also removing built-ins or doing demo for a remodel, plan on the upper end.
Sioux Falls tip: Many basements in older Sioux Falls neighborhoods have narrow stairs. Plan for breaking down larger furniture (sectionals especially) before hauling up — this also makes the dumpster pack denser, getting more out of the rental.
Attic Cleanout
Recommended: 20-yard. 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) Why: Attics rarely produce more than 4–8 cubic yards on their own — boxes, old holiday decor, insulation removal scraps. The exception: if you're removing blown-in insulation, the volume looks bigger than the weight suggests, and 20-yard gives you space to work.
Deck or Shed Demolition
Recommended: 20-yard. Why: A typical 12×16 deck breaks down to 8–14 cubic yards once you account for joists, decking, and railing. Sheds in the 8×10 to 10×12 range fit similar volume. Composite decking weighs more than wood — if you're tearing out Trex or similar, watch the included weight.
Roof Tear-Off
Recommended: 20-yard × 2 loads. 30-yard+ (comparison only, not offered) Why: Asphalt shingles are the heaviest debris on most residential jobs. A square is 100 sq ft of roof. General industry estimates are about 230–250 lb per square per layer for 3-tab and about 300–320 lb for architectural. We use 250 lb per square as the 3-tab planning figure. A typical 2,000 sq ft Sioux Falls house has roughly 40–50 squares of roof — about 10,000 to 12,500 lb, or 5–6 tons, at that figure. Volume is often 15–25 cubic yards. Weight runs out first. See the roof tear-off dumpster guide.
Practical approach: Schedule the first 20-yard for one side of the roof. Fill it, then call or text (605) 937-5430 to arrange a second drop for the other side. We do not publish a price for that second drop. Extra weight is $50 per ton, prorated, past the 1 ton included in each rental. Same-day delivery applies when you book before 2:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Flooring Removal
Recommended: 20-yard. 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) Why: Carpet and pad compress well — a whole house worth of carpet might only be 6–10 cubic yards. Hardwood, vinyl plank, and tile take more space and weigh more. Tile floors with mortar bed are the heaviest of the bunch.
Yard Waste & Landscape Cleanup
Recommended: 20-yard, but verify acceptance first. Why: Yard waste (branches, brush, sod, mulch) is bulky but light. A 20-yard handles a major landscape overhaul. Important Sioux Falls note: The city operates a separate yard waste collection program for curbside bagged material. For a large one-time cleanup that doesn't fit the curbside program, a roll-off works — but if it's pure leaves and small branches and your project is ongoing, the city's program is usually cheaper. Call us if you're not sure which path makes sense.
Concrete, Dirt, and Heavy Debris
Recommended: 20-yard, and call first. 10-yard (comparison only, not offered) Why: A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,000 lbs. A cubic yard of dirt weighs about 2,000–2,500 lbs. A small amount of either uses up the 1 ton included in the rental. We do not publish a maximum load, and we rent 20-yard dumpsters only. Call or text (605) 937-5430 before scheduling a concrete-heavy job.
Whole-House Cleanout (Estate, Hoarding, Move-Out)
Recommended: 20-yard × 2 loads. 30-yard+ (comparison only, not offered) Why: A fully-furnished 3-bedroom home produces 20–30 cubic yards of debris when emptied: furniture from every room, kitchen contents, garage and basement, plus the items that aren't worth donating. Plan a multi-day project. Schedule the dumpster for the start of the cleanout so you're not paying for empty time, and arrange the swap once it's full.
The Weight Math (What Nobody Warns You About)
Every Dump Dynasty rental includes 1 ton (2,000 lbs) of debris. Going over isn't a deal-breaker — additional weight is $50 per ton, prorated — but it does cost more, so it's worth knowing what's heavy:
- Concrete and asphalt: 4,000+ lbs per cubic yard
- Dirt and soil: 2,000–2,500 lbs per cubic yard
- Asphalt shingles: general industry estimates of about 230–250 lb per square per layer for 3-tab, and about 300–320 lb for architectural. Planning figure for 3-tab: 250 lb per square.
- Drywall: 500–800 lbs per cubic yard
- Construction debris (mixed): 300–600 lbs per cubic yard
- Household junk: 200–400 lbs per cubic yard
- Yard waste (loose): 200–400 lbs per cubic yard
Rule of thumb: If you're loading heavy materials (concrete, dirt, shingles), keep them to no more than about one-third of the container. The other two-thirds can be lighter material on top. This keeps you near the 1-ton included weight without leaving capacity unused.
Sioux Falls Site & Access Considerations
Driveway placement
Most residential driveways accommodate a 20-yard dumpster without issue — the container needs about 22 ft of straight clearance for delivery and pickup. We use boards under the wheels to protect concrete and asphalt. If your driveway has a steep slope or a tight turn, mention it when you book so the driver plans the approach.
Winter and frost
South Dakota winters can complicate dumpster placement. Frozen ground is actually better for delivery than soft spring soil — no risk of leaving ruts. The bigger winter issue is snow: if your driveway is buried, the dumpster goes on top of compacted snow, which means once it thaws, the unit may shift. For January–March jobs, plowing the placement area before delivery is worth the 15 minutes.
Spring thaw
Mid-March through early May is the worst time for off-driveway placement. Wet, soft soil + heavy loaded dumpster = ruts. We'll always recommend driveway placement during this window.
Permits
A dumpster on your own driveway in Sioux Falls does not need a city permit. One left on a public street for more than 24 hours needs a $15 permit from the City Engineer's office. See our dumpster permit guide for Tea, Brandon, and Harrisburg too.
HOA and historic neighborhoods
Some Sioux Falls neighborhoods (especially in the McKennan Park and All Saints historic districts) have HOA or covenant rules about visible containers. Verify before scheduling if you're in one of these areas.
Still Not Sure?
We've delivered to thousands of Sioux Falls projects and we're good at predicting how much room a given job actually needs. Send us a few details — what you're doing, where, when — and we'll tell you straight whether one 20-yard fits, whether you need two loads, or whether a different solution makes more sense.