How Big of a Dumpster Do I Need To Clean Out a House?

Kurt Anderson • 03/15/2022

Cleaning out your home is a strenuous but essential event every homeowner has to go through periodically. Whether you’re moving, downsizing, or just giving yourself a fresh start, you’ll be throwing out seemingly endless clutter and junk. Residential dumpster rental services are smart, convenient, and efficient when cleaning out a home. But what size dumpster do you need? Bin There Dump That is here to help. Learn about dumpster sizes and see how big of a dumpster you need to clean out a house.

How Much Stuff Is In Your House?

When cleaning out a house, you need to rent a big enough dumpster to hold everything you’re throwing away. This sounds obvious, but we’ve seen huge differences from house to house, a project to project, and client to client. You’ll need a bigger dumpster if you’re dealing with a big home, large families, or enthusiastic collectors.

First, look around the home to see what you need to tackle. Make a note of things that won’t go into the dumpster. Family members might want to keep heirlooms, antiques, and sentimental objects. Depending on your timeline, you may be able to sell items in good condition through a garage or estate sale. You can also donate items to local charities to give back to the community. If you’re not keeping it, selling it, or donating it, plan to chuck it in the dumpster.

Prepping your house before the dumpster arrives can make the cleaning process much more manageable. Advance prep work isn’t always an option, especially if you’re doing an emergency cleanout instead of a planned sweep. Try to move as much out of the house as possible before your dumpster arrives. If keepsakes, for-sale items, and donations have already been removed, throwing things away will be much more streamlined. You’ll work faster and feel less stress when you know that everything in the house goes in the dumpster.

How Big Are Dumpsters?

Now that you know roughly how much clutter you’ll be facing, it’s time to consider dumpster rental sizes. Dumpster sizes are measured in volume using cubic yards. A cubic yard is a square box that’s three feet on each side. If you’re like most people, you don’t keep your items stacked in cubes throughout the house. You can also think of a cubic square as about the size of a standard chest of drawers. A dresser that’s three feet high, two feet deep, and 4.5 feet long can hold one cubic yard.

Bin There Dump That offers strategically-sized dumpsters that can hold plenty of materials for your property. We rent 10-yard, 15-yard, and 20-yard dumpsters. Each model takes up less space in your driveway than a minivan but can hold loads of materials!

Explore these dumpster size estimates.

10 Yard Dumpster

A ten cubic yard dumpster can hold ten dressers, 50 to 70 full 33-gallon trash bags, or around five pickup truck loads. We typically recommend our 10-yard dumpsters for sizable home improvement projects like roof replacements or bathroom renovations. A ten-yard dumpster isn’t big enough to clear out most houses, but it can still fit a lot of materials! If you’re focusing on your garage, basement, attic, or other storage space, a 10-yard dumpster can be just what you need.

15 Yard Dumpster

A fifteen cubic yard dumpster can hold 15 dressers, 80 to 100 full 33-gallon trash bags, or around 7 pickup truck loads. Fifteen-yard dumpsters are perfect when you’re doing a major remodel or making an addition to your home. If you’re clearing out your house before building something new, 15-yard dumpsters can fit the bill. A fifteen-yard dumpster is also a good choice if you’re downsizing but not getting rid of everything.

20 Yard Dumpster

A twenty cubic yard dumpster can hold 20 dressers, 110 to 130 full 33-gallon trash bags, or around 10 pickup truck loads. This is our most popular dumpster option and the size we recommend to many clients. If you’re recovering from a flood or fire, a 20-yard dumpster can handle all the household debris. This site is always a great choice if you’re throwing away an entire home’s worth of belongings, furniture, and all.

Why Picking The Right Dumpster Size Matters

If you’re like most of our clients, you’ve never rented a dumpster before. Most people don’t need a dumpster on a regular basis! Choosing the best dumpster size might not seem like a big deal, but this decision can save you time and money. If your dumpster is too small, you’ll need to rent another to finish the job. A dumpster that’s bigger than you need is just wasted space. We encourage you to consider your home, the amount of belongings you’re tossing out, and our range of dumpster sizes to find the best solution for your needs.

What Size Dumpster Do You Need To Clean Out Your House?

So, what size dumpster is best for your house? Most homes contain a surprising amount of things, and many people need a large residential dumpster rental. Our 20-yard dumpster is a good choice for lots of homes. However, every situation is unique! One of our smaller dumpster rental sizes might fit your needs, especially if you manage a small home or aren’t throwing everything away.

Bin There Dump That is happy to help you choose the best dumpster for any project. We’re industry experts in residential dumpsters, so we can point you in the right direction. Contact us today to learn more and find the best dumpster for you.

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About The Author Kurt Anderson

We have provided clean and green dumpsters to the Metro Atlanta area since 2012 we take great pride in our family first approach. We have lived, grown, and raised our children here in Atlanta, and love being able to work in such a great community. Same-day dumpster delivery and 100% driveway protection are just a couple of the traits that separate this family-owned business from other dumpster providers in Atlanta!