EPA conversion factor · read 2026-10-20

Appliances: weight per yard and dumpster size

EPA puts a loose cubic yard of appliances at 145 pounds (0.1 tons at the figure). That is light enough that every size from 10 to 40 yards can be filled to the top and stay inside its published weight capacity, so appliances is sized by volume.

1One cubic yard 145 lb
2Per 32-gal bag about 24 lb
3Fills level 10-yard and up
410-yard limit 10 of 10 yd

Per loose cubic yard

145 lb

Per 32-gallon bag

≈ 24 lb

One 8-ft pickup bed

363 lb

Heavier materials listed

19 of 25

Appliances filled level in each size at EPA's 145 lb per cubic yard, in tons. Highlighted bars stay within the low end of Republic Services' published weight capacity; "over" means a full box would pass it.

How much appliances fits in each dumpster

Size	Full box	Republic capacity	Yards before the low limit
10 yard	0.7 t	2–3 t	all 10
15 yard	1.1 t	2–3 t	all 15
20 yard	1.5 t	4–5 t	all 20
30 yard	2.2 t	6–7 t	all 30
40 yard	2.9 t	8–9 t	all 40

Because every size can be filled to the brim, the only question is volume: how many cubic yards of appliances you have. A cubic yard is a 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft cube, and Republic counts 6 full 32-gallon bags to the yard. It weighs 3.3 times less per yard than mixed construction debris.

Worked loads of appliances

Loose yards	Weight	Smallest size that takes it	Fill
2	290 lb (0.1 t)	10-yard, volume-limited	20%
5	725 lb (0.4 t)	10-yard, volume-limited	50%
10	1,450 lb (0.7 t)	10-yard, volume-limited	100%
20	2,900 lb (1.5 t)	20-yard, volume-limited	100%

"Takes it" means the volume fits and the weight stays at or below the low end of Republic Services' published capacity for that size.

EPA also lists single appliances by weight: refrigerator 250 lb, stove 150 lb, clothes washer 150 lb, clothes dryer 125 lb, dishwasher 125 lb. Many transfer stations and haulers charge a fee per appliance, especially for anything holding refrigerant.

Materials of similar weight

Pallets and crates (169 lb) · Carpet (147 lb) · Branches and stumps (127 lb) · Cardboard (106 lb). Mixed loads take on the weight of their heaviest part, so a remodel load with shingles or tile in it should be sized as if it were mostly those. The guide to what you cannot put in a dumpster covers the items haulers refuse.

Source: U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016), row "C&D · Metal · Major appliances" (EPA source note 18), read 2026-10-20. Size capacities: Republic Services size pages. Methodology.