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Roofing Dumpster Size by Squares

By Dumpster Sizer · Published October 20, 2026

Dumpster Sizer

Roofing is the job where weight decides the dumpster. Three numbers do the work.

  1. Weight per square. A square is 100 sq ft. GAF Timberline HDZ is sold at 70 lb a bundle and GAF Royal Sovereign at 62 lb, three bundles a square, so 210 and 186 lb a square.
  2. Loose volume. EPA's factor for composition roofing is 731 lb per loose cubic yard, so a square of architectural shingles fills 0.29 yd³.
  3. The weight capacity. Republic Services publishes 10 yd 2–3 t, 15 yd 2–3 t, 20 yd 4–5 t, 30 yd 6–7 t, 40 yd 8–9 t.

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  1. 1Roof sizes 10–50 squares
  2. 2Architectural 210 lb per square
  3. 3Loose shingles 731 lb per yd
  4. 43-tab 186 lb per square

Size by roof area

Roof Tear-off weight Loose volume Dumpster
10 squares 2,100 lb 2.9 yd³ 10-yard
15 squares 3,150 lb 4.3 yd³ 10-yard
20 squares 4,200 lb 5.7 yd³ 20-yard
25 squares 5,250 lb 7.2 yd³ 20-yard
30 squares 6,300 lb 8.6 yd³ 20-yard
35 squares 7,350 lb 10 yd³ 20-yard
40 squares 8,400 lb 11 yd³ 30-yard
50 squares 10,500 lb 14 yd³ 30-yard

A second layer doubles the weight. Heavy designer shingles such as Owens Corning Berkshire are listed at 360 lb a square. Bin There Dump That's listings say their 10-yard takes "up to 100 bundles or 33sq": that is a volume limit, and with 1 ton included in the price most of that weight would be overage.

More: asphalt shingle weight per yard, weight limits and overage.

Sources

Questions

What size dumpster do I need for a 30 square roof?

One layer of architectural shingles from 30 squares weighs about 6,300 lb, or 3.2 tons, which is past the 2-ton low end of the 10- and 15-yard capacities Republic Services publishes, so a 20-yard is the first size that carries it.

How much does a square of shingles weigh?

GAF lists Timberline HDZ architectural shingles at 70 lb a bundle and Royal Sovereign 3-tab at 62 lb a bundle, three bundles to the square: 210 lb and 186 lb a square.

Size the dumpster for your job. Pick the project, enter its size, and see the container, how full it gets and how close it comes to the weight allowance. Open the sizer.

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