How Much Does a Dumpster Rental Cost?

Roll-off dumpster rental costs are pretty straightforward. For the most part, the factors that determine the overall price are the same across the board. But exact dumpster costs will vary based on added fees like time extensions or overfill.

So whether you’re dejunking your house pre-move or remodeling your kitchen, the cost to rent a dumpster boils down to the type and amount of rubbish you have.

Let’s dive into the full list of factors that determine roll-off dumpster prices:

• Dumpster size
• Dumpster availability
• Location
• Rental period
• Total weight of debris
• Type of debris you're tossing

Another thing to consider when renting a dumpster is hiring someone to haul your junk for you. We get into the nitty-gritty of this later on, but check out our best junk removal companies if you want to learn more.

First things first—you can rent a dumpster from three different types of companies:

1. Locally owned, independent dumpster rental companies
2. Large-scale, national brands like Waste Management
3. Out-of-state brokers that book/reserve dumpsters and transfer the order to an independent dumpster service

Second, know that different-sized dumpsters have standard cost parameters no matter the company you’re doing business with. And some companies offer only specific sizes of dumpsters. Still, we're confident in our average dumpster rental price estimates below.

Again, these are averages. We’ve seen prices $35–$50 lower and higher than the average costs, so your price really does depend on the rates companies set.

Also, not all companies offer the specific sizes we listed above. Some companies only offer ten-, twenty-, thirty-, and forty-yard dumpster rentals, while others offer a happy-medium twelve-yard dumpster

To start, we recommend getting quotes from at least two or three companies. Asking around will help you get a feel for the industry, as well as an understanding of what you need for your move.

You’ll also want to consider weight. Even if you’re getting rid of a small amount of heavy debris like dirt or roofing shingles, you may need to get a larger dumpster than you think because some smaller dumpsters have weight restrictions.

Roll-off dumpster cost factors:

• Length of rental
  • Typically, most companies price their dumpster rental in week-long increments.
• Dumpster availability
  • Not every dumpster rental company will have the size you want. Because of this, prices might increase on specific dumpster sizes—especially if it’s spring (a.k.a. busy season).
• Dump fees
  • Dump fees refer to how much it costs to take a load to a dump. These charges look different in every state and are controlled by dump sites.
• Type/weight of trash
  • Not every dump site enforces this, but some items, such as large appliances or mattresses, cost extra. In general, the larger the load the higher the cost.
• Permits
  • Certain cities require you to have a permit for your rental dumpster. Most dumpster rental companies provide basic permits, but be sure to look into your ZIP code to figure out your situation.

To help you see the difference between the two types of fees, here’s a breakdown:

• Flat rate: A fixed fee, regardless of weight, volume, and usage
  • Includes delivery, pickup, tax, and fueling costs
  • Charges extra for additional tonnage
  • Helps with budgeting
• Variable rate: A fee that fluctuates depending on added fees
  • Includes dumpster rental, removal, landfill tonnage, administrative, franchise, and environmental surcharge fees as well as taxes
  • Can be harder to determine final cost

Basically, flat-rate pricing bundles all the factors into one clean rate, letting you know your price at the get-go. Plus, it accounts for added tonnage, so you could get rid of heavier debris without necessarily paying more.

But that doesn’t mean variable rates will cost you more money. In fact, because you pay only for what you use, you'll be able to keep an eye on your overall cost.

Bottom line: it comes down to whether you want to set a price up front or if you want a fluctuating rate that is more specific to your needs.

Although dumpster size has a lot of pull in the overall cost, added expenses can easily sneak in last minute, so it’s good to be aware of what these are.

Overload fee: If you hit your dumpster’s max capacity, you’ll be charged for every additional ton. This can be anywhere from $40 to $100 per ton depending on the landfill.

Overflow fee: A fee if any items in the dumpster are spilling over the edge.

Extra days: For every day you extend your rental past the first week, most companies charge a fee anywhere from $5 to $10.

Hazardous waste fee: Dumpster rental companies will charge you extra if there are any prohibited materials in your load (e.g., batteries, chemicals, etc.).

Special item fees: Depending on the state, some landfills charge extra for items like TVs and mattresses.

Tip fee: If your driver has trouble dropping off or picking up your dumpster because something blocks their way, like a parked car or power line, a fee will hit your final price.

There are two options for dumpster rental: self-service junk removal where you rent a dumpster and do the hauling yourself, or hiring a junk removal company to do the legwork for you.

Renting a roll-off dumpster is helpful if you want the flexibility to fill the dumpster over time or if you don’t need additional help hauling your trash. If you do decide to rent a dumpster, we recommend going local because local companies tend to be cheaper and give better customer service.

On the other hand, if you need extra help, hiring a junk removal company might be the better choice—especially if you’re on a time crunch. Plus, most junk removal services are going green and will recycle junk instead of dumping it (with no additional hassle for you).

Both options get the job done and, in most cases, aren’t that different price-wise. In fact, junk removal services for small loads can usually end up being cheaper than the cost of a small dumpster rental.

Because of this, we recommend looking into junk removal companies, especially since you’ll save on time and you won’t have to break a sweat—companies like Junk King and 1-800-GOT-JUNK are great places to start if you want to minimize the many hassles associated with junk removal.

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