How Do Dumpster Rentals Work?

Dumpster rentals let homeowners and businesses rent dumpsters that can be used for everything from cleaning out garages to large yard projects, renovations, and construction. Dumpsters are delivered to the home or business at a scheduled time and left there for a set number of days, after which they are removed by the rental company for disposal. Sizes generally range from 10 to 40 yards, and customers can choose an option based on their needs.

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Dumpster for a Day?

Dumpster rental companies typically charge a flat rental fee for seven to 10 days of dumpster access (anywhere from about $200 to $800), plus a fee for additional days (typically around $15). This breaks down to roughly $30 to $160 per day. Keep in mind, however, that the cost of renting a dumpster varies widely based on factors like location, size, and type of waste.

What Are the Different Dumpster Sizes?

In general, roll-off dumpsters are available in 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard models. Dimensions vary by company and location, but an average 10-yard model is 12 feet long by 8 feet wide and 3.5 feet high; 20-yard dumpsters are typically 22 feet long by 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. With increased volume, the footprint of the dumpster stays the same, but the sides get taller; 30-yard dumpsters are generally 6 feet tall and 40-yard models are 8 feet tall. Depending on where you rent your dumpster, additional sizes may be available. Some companies also offer smaller disposal bags that are best suited to small residential projects.

When Should I Reserve a Dumpster?

The ideal time to reserve a dumpster depends on the rental company and availability in your area. For example, if you live in a large city, there are likely more dumpsters available and making an early reservation may not be necessary. Also, consider the time of year: Dumpsters may be in higher demand during popular seasons for cleaning and construction. Ultimately, though, it’s best to contact your preferred dumpster rental company to check on availability.

Best Dumpster Rentals of 2023

Dumpster rentals let individuals and businesses conveniently dispose of large items, yard debris, and trash without transporting them off-site. A customer can typically request a 10- to 40-yard dumpster and the company delivers it to their home or business for a set time. Once the dumpster is full—or the rental period is over—the company picks it up and disposes of the contents.

Renting a dumpster can simplify your next home renovation project, streamline landscaping, and reduce the stress associated with decluttering. The best dumpster rentals make it convenient to reserve equipment and offer stress-free delivery and pick-up. Top rental companies also offer several dumpster sizes, provide transparent and competitive pricing, and accept a wide range of waste types. Here are our top picks of the best dumper rentals.

Best Overall: Waste Management
Best for Construction & Demo Waste: Redbox+
Best Residential: Junk King
Best for Yard Waste: Republic Services
Best for Event Waste: Dumpsters.com
Best for Commercial Waste: National Waste Associates

Best Overall: Waste Management

Key Specs

Price: Varies by size, date, location, and waste type
Included Rental Period: 7 days
Available Sizes: 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards

Why We Chose It

Waste Management provides flexible dumpster rentals, transparent pricing, and excellent customer service that make it our top choice overall.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Offers roll-off residential construction and commercial dumpsters
Customers can manage their rentals online 24/7
Bagster bags offer a more manageable solution for small projects

Cons

Prices are higher than some competitors we reviewed

Overview

Founded in 1968, Waste Management (WM) is a waste management and environmental services company with locations across the United States. In addition to residential trash and recycling pickup, WM customers can rent dumpsters for trash, construction debris, furniture, and flooring. The company offers 10-, 12-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard dumpsters, though availability depends on the rental location and date range.

The cost of WM rentals depends on location, dumpster size, waste type, and length of the rental. Prospective customers can use the WM website to quote and reserve a rental. Each quoted price includes 7 days of use plus an additional $15 per subsequent day; 20-yard dumpsters include two tons of waste and each additional ton costs around $160. Based on our research, renting a 20-yard dumpster in New Jersey starts at about $820 for trash and is about the same for construction debris

In addition to dumpsters, Waste Management also offers Bagster bags for projects that are too big for normal trash pickup but don’t warrant a dumpster. These bags can be ordered online or picked up at a home improvement store, and can hold up to 3,300 pounds of debris. Once full, customers can schedule pickup and removal online or over the phone.

Best for Construction & Demo Waste: Redbox+

Key Specs

Price: Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type
Included Rental Period: 10 days
Available Sizes: 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards

Why We Chose It

As the only dumpster rental with a built-in portable toilet, Redbox+ stands out for construction and demo projects.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Offers standard dumpsters and combination portable toilet and roll-off dumpsters
10-yard mini dumpsters are perfect for smaller residential projects
Works for residential waste, construction and demolition debris, roofing materials, yard waste, and commercial waste

Cons

Locations are more limited than those offered by other providers

Overview

Redbox+ is a dumpster rental company that specializes in combination portable toilet and dumpster roll-off containers. This makes Redbox+ our top choice for construction and demolition projects where site owners need additional amenities. To book a dumpster, choose your location, and you’ll be routed to the local website where you can view available sizes and prices.

The company offers 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard dumpsters, and quoted prices include up to seven days with additional days billed at about $20 per day. Like other providers we considered, dumpster sizes and availability depend on location. In general, though, standard 20-yard dumpsters start around $700 for up to 10 days and go up to about $849 for 30-yard Elite dumpsters with a portable toilet.

Best Residential: Junk King

Key Specs

Price: Varies by location, terms, and amount of space used
Included Rental Period: Available for 3, 5, and 7 days
Available Sizes: 12 cubic yards

Why We Chose It

Junk King’s unique fee structure lets customers pay only for the space they use, making it perfect for smaller residential projects.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Customers only pay for the space they use—not the entire dumpster
Also offers junk hauling services, including furniture removal and e-waste recycling
Has an eco-friendly mission dedicated to increasing recycling and reducing waste

Cons

Only offers one dumpster size that may be too small for large projects

Overview

Junk King is a top junk removal service that also provides residential dumpster rentals at more than 100 locations across 32 states and Canada. While many of the companies on our list offer residential services, Junk King stands out because of the company’s 12-yard MINI dumpsters.

Dumpsters are large enough to handle furniture and appliances, but small enough to fit in a driveway. Rentals are available for three-, five-, and seven-day periods, and Junk King picks up the dumpster when the rental cycle is complete.

Dumpster rentals vary by location, date, and portion of the dumpster they actually fill, but start at roughly $250.

In addition to offering its clients convenience and transparent pricing, Junk King is known for its sustainable practices. The company works with local sorting facilities to recycle 60% or more of every job.

Best for Yard Waste: Republic Services

Key Specs

Price: Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type
Included Rental Period: 9 business days
Available Sizes: 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards

Why We Chose It

In addition to residential and commercial dumpster rentals, Republic Services offers customers full-service yard debris haulaway services to further simplify your next landscaping project.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Customers can view quotes and make reservations online
Pricing is transparent and rental periods can be customized
Also offers a yard debris haul-away service

Cons

Available dumpster sizes may vary by location

Overview

Republic Services is a solid waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling company that offers commercial and residential dumpster services. The company makes it easy to choose the right dumpster size by offering standard 20-, 30-, and 40-yard models as well as 10- and 15-yard dumpsters meant for heavier loads (like dirt, rocks, and concrete).

Pricing varies based on location, dumpster size, and materials. As of February 2023, the rental cost of a 10-, 20-, or 30-yard dumpster in Orlando starts at about $865. Quotes include up to nine business days of service.

In addition to renting Republic’s dumpsters for yard waste, you can hire its team to haul away grass clippings, leaves, tree branches, and other yard debris—like after a storm. The company also offers sharps disposal, appliance recycling, household hazardous waste, and electronic recycling.

Best for Event Waste: Dumpsters.com

Key Specs

Price: Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type
Included Rental Period: Flexible, quotes are custom
Available Sizes: 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards

Why We Chose It

Dumpsters.com’s sales representatives understand the complexities of waste management at events of every size, including one-time, recurring, and permanent rentals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Offers rentals for a single event as well as bi-monthly and weekly events
Website provides insights into the size dumpster you’ll need for various events
Permanent dumpster rentals available for recurring events

Cons

Only local price ranges are available online

Overview

Dumpsters.com connects individuals and business owners with dumpster rentals. But in addition to assisting clients with standard residential and commercial dumpster rentals, the company specializes in waste management for events. Dumpsters.com can accommodate events of all sizes, as well as single events, multiple events, and recurring events (weekly, bi-monthly).

The platform helps clients rent 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard dumpsters and provides guidance on which option is appropriate for various event types and sizes. It also offers permanent dumpster rentals for businesses and organizations that plan to hold multiple events at the same location.

Customers can get a general price range through the Dumpsters.com website but have to call for a quote that’s tailored to your needs.

Best for Commercial Waste: National Waste Associates

Key Specs

Price: Flexible; quotes are custom
Included Rental Period: Flexible; depends on quote
Available Sizes: Varies based on client needs

Why We Chose It

National Waste Associates works with large businesses to provide custom dumpster rentals and maintenance while upholding the standards of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Creates a custom waste management plan based on a business’s unique needs
Oversees installation, maintenance, and removal of rented waste equipment
Member of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council

Cons

Pricing is custom and not available through the website

Overview

National Waste Associates provides specialized commercial waste services to large companies across the United States, including dumpster rentals.

The service's solid waste professionals consult with clients to plan and design a suitable dumpster configuration and then handle the installation, maintenance, and removal of leased and rented equipment. Customers can choose from bins, dumpsters, roll-offs, and open-top containers, as well as enclosures and compactors.

Pricing is totally custom, so prospective clients can’t get a quote online. However, this tailored approach to dumpster rentals means that each business can access the most up-to-date waste management technology and keep equipment looking clean even with heavy use. National Waste Associates will also perform ROI analyses to ensure its clients are getting the best possible deal on equipment.

Final Verdict

Waste Management stands out as the best dumpster rental overall because of the company’s convenient online account management and flexible rental options. In addition to choosing from a wide range of traditional roll-off dumpsters, customers can use Waste Management’s Bagster bags for smaller projects.

Compare the Best Dumpster Rentals

Company	Locations	Rental Periods	Cost	Available Sizes
Waste Management Best Overall	48 states plus Washington, D.C.	Flexible, quotes covers first 7 days	Varies by size, date, location, and waste type	10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards
Redbox+ Best for Construction & Demo Waste	86 locations across the U.S.	Flexible, quotes covers first 10 days	Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type	10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards
Junk King Best Residential	100 locations across 32 states	Available for 3, 5, and 7 days	Starts at about $250; based on how much space you use	12 yards
Republic Services Best for Yard Waste	48 states plus Washington, D.C.	Flexible, quotes covers first 9 business days	Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type	10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards
Dumpsters.com Best for Event Waste	44 states plus Washington, D.C.	Flexible, quotes are custom	Varies by size, location, terms, and waste type	10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yards
National Waste Associates Best for Commercial Waste	Nationwide	Flexible, quotes are custom	Flexible, quotes are custom	Varies based on client needs

How to Choose the Best Dumpster Rental Service

To select the best dumpster service, first consider your location and what you plan to dispose of. While some dumpster rental services specialize in commercial or construction waste, others focus their business on meeting smaller, residential needs. Similarly, if you plan to dispose of a large volume of yard debris, confirm the dumpster rental accepts this type of waste before committing to a rental.

Once you identify rental services that can meet your disposal needs, compare prices and build a quote for the amount of time you need to rent the dumpster.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do Dumpster Rentals Work?

Dumpster rentals let homeowners and businesses rent dumpsters that can be used for everything from cleaning out garages to large yard projects, renovations, and construction. Dumpsters are delivered to the home or business at a scheduled time and left there for a set number of days, after which they are removed by the rental company for disposal. Sizes generally range from 10 to 40 yards, and customers can choose an option based on their needs.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Dumpster for a Day?

Dumpster rental companies typically charge a flat rental fee for seven to 10 days of dumpster access (anywhere from about $200 to $800), plus a fee for additional days (typically around $15). This breaks down to roughly $30 to $160 per day. Keep in mind, however, that the cost of renting a dumpster varies widely based on factors like location, size, and type of waste.
What Are the Different Dumpster Sizes?

In general, roll-off dumpsters are available in 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard models. Dimensions vary by company and location, but an average 10-yard model is 12 feet long by 8 feet wide and 3.5 feet high; 20-yard dumpsters are typically 22 feet long by 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. With increased volume, the footprint of the dumpster stays the same, but the sides get taller; 30-yard dumpsters are generally 6 feet tall and 40-yard models are 8 feet tall.

Depending on where you rent your dumpster, additional sizes may be available. Some companies also offer smaller disposal bags that are best suited to small residential projects.
When Should I Reserve a Dumpster?

The ideal time to reserve a dumpster depends on the rental company and availability in your area. For example, if you live in a large city, there are likely more dumpsters available and making an early reservation may not be necessary. Also, consider the time of year: Dumpsters may be in higher demand during popular seasons for cleaning and construction. Ultimately, though, it’s best to contact your preferred dumpster rental company to check on availability.

Methodology

To choose the best dumpster rentals, we evaluated 15 services based on geographic availability, cost, and size options. We also looked at what types of waste can be disposed of through each provider—trash, construction debris, yard waste, etc.—and the flexibility of rental periods. Finally, we used customer reviews to help narrow our options.