How big is a 10 yard dumpster?
A 10 yard roll off dumpster is an open-top steel container holding about 10 cubic yards of debris, delivered and collected on a hooklift truck. Wastequip and the other major container manufacturers build it short on purpose: 12 to 14 feet of floor against the 22 feet every larger size uses.
That length matters in this city. Philadelphia's subdivision street standards set a 26 foot cartway on a tertiary residential street, and a 14 foot can takes roughly one and a half parked cars off it instead of three. The low 3.5 to 4 foot walls are the other reason people pick it. You throw material in over the side rather than walking it up a ramp, and the loaded height stays clear of a fire escape or a low service drop. Compare the 6 foot walls on a 30 yard or the 8 foot walls on a 40. Full measurements for every size are on the sizes and dimensions page.
What fits in a 10 yard dumpster?
About 3 to 4 pickup truck loads. In practice:
- A single bathroom gut, tile, tub and vanity included
- A small kitchen tear-out in a one bedroom
- Roughly 250 to 350 square feet of roof tear-off
- A rowhouse basement or garage cleanout
- Deck boards off a modest South Philly back yard
- Concrete, brick or soil as a dedicated clean load, priced the way construction debris is
That last one is the important one. Heavy material goes in a 10 yard by design, not because it's the cheap option. A cubic yard of broken concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds, so two and a half yards of it is already 5 tons. Nobody loads concrete into a bigger can because Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code at 75 Pa.C.S. Section 4941 caps the truck at 80,000 pounds gross. See dumpster weight limits for the arithmetic by material.
What does a 10 yard dumpster cost in Philadelphia?
Typical weekly market ranges run $425 to $625, with extra days around $50 to $95. Those figures were reviewed July 2026 and they're market ranges, not a quote. A permitted curb placement in Center City sits at the top of the band. A driveway drop in the Northeast or out in Bensalem sits at the bottom.
Tonnage included is usually 1 to 2 tons, and anything above it bills by the ton at the transfer station rate. Ask for that number before you book. A clean concrete or dirt load gets quoted separately because the disposal stream is different. Dumpster rental cost breaks out every line, including the ones competitors bury inside one figure.
Do you need a permit for a 10 yard dumpster in Philadelphia?
On the street or sidewalk, yes. The Department of Licenses and Inspections issues the dumpster license under Philadelphia Code Section 10-722, and the Streets Department Right-of-Way Unit at (215) 686-5500 issues the placement permit. The city's Temporary No Parking permit for a dumpster is published at $40 per dumpster for a maximum of seven calendar days.
On private property, no permit, and often next-day delivery. Placement still has to leave the footway usable: the 2010 ADA Standards require a minimum 36 inch clear width on an accessible route at section 403.5.1, so a container that squeezes pedestrians off a narrow Philadelphia sidewalk isn't legal even with paperwork in hand. The permit requirements page has the full sequence and the placement guide covers what the driver needs to see.
What can't go in it
Pennsylvania bans more than most people expect. 25 Pa. Code Section 273.201 keeps bulk liquids and lead-acid batteries out of municipal waste landfills. The Covered Device Recycling Act, Act 108 of 2010, has banned televisions, computers, laptops and monitors from municipal waste disposal since January 24, 2013. Refrigerators and window units need certified refrigerant recovery under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act first. The rest of the list is on what cannot go in a dumpster.
Questions people ask about 10 yard dumpsters
Is a 10 yard big enough for a full rowhouse gut?Usually not. A cosmetic renovation fits. A full gut with plaster and lath wants a 20 yard container, and plaster runs about twice the weight of drywall, so watch the tonnage.
How much does an empty 10 yard container weigh?Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 pounds depending on the manufacturer and steel gauge. That's tare weight, and it comes off at the scale.
Can it sit on my driveway?Yes, on plywood under the rails. Thirty seconds at booking, and it prevents an argument about a cracked apron later. If the job also needs a lockable box, a storage container drops the same way.
Can I take small loads to the city instead?Only if you live here. Philadelphia's six Sanitation Convenience Centers, open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., need proof of residency and turn away commercial loads and vehicles over 6,000 pounds.
How fast can you deliver one?Next business day for private property across the city and out to Upper Darby and Conshohocken. Street placements move at the permit's pace. Coverage is on the service areas page.
Does the job need a restroom too?Most interior jobs running more than a week do. OSHA 1926.51(c)(1) requires one toilet where 20 or fewer workers are on site. See renovation restroom rental or what porta potty rental costs.
What are the 10 yard dumpster measurements?
Roughly 12 to 14 feet long, 8 wide, 3.5 to 4 tall. Outside the steel, not inside it.
Do the 10-yard dumpster dimensions change by maker?
By inches. Ask for the 10 yard dumpster size in feet before you measure the gap you want it in.
What else do people call it?
A 10 yard trash dumpster, a 10 cubic yard dumpster, or just the small can. Same box.
Start with the roll-off dumpster overview if you're still choosing a size, or the construction dumpster page for jobsite swap schedules. Everything we run is listed on the home page and on porta potty rental in Philadelphia. Send the address and the debris type through the quote form, or call the number on the contact page. The FAQ covers the rest.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.