How big is a 30 yard dumpster?
A 30 yard roll-off dumpster is an open-top steel container holding about 30 cubic yards of debris, built on the same 22 foot by 8 foot floor as a 20 yard and a 40 yard. The difference is the wall: roughly 6 feet, against 4.5 on the 20 yard.
Those two extra feet change how the job works. Over-the-side loading stops being practical, so crews either use a walkboard, a ramp at the back door, or a chute. OSHA 1926.252 requires an enclosed chute whenever material is dropped more than 20 feet to a point outside the exterior walls, which on a three story Philadelphia building is a live question rather than a theoretical one. Every measurement side by side is on the sizes and dimensions page.
What fits in a 30 yard dumpster?
Roughly 12 to 15 pickup truck loads. Where it earns its keep in this city:
- A whole-house addition or a large commercial fit-out
- A multi-unit turnover in a converted West Philadelphia building
- Framing offcuts, sheathing and packaging on new construction
- A large estate or hoarding cleanout
- Storefront demolition, fixtures and shelving included
- Bulky light debris that fills volume long before it fills tonnage
The 30 yard is a volume container, not a weight container. EPA's national accounting put construction and demolition debris at roughly 600 million tons generated in 2018, over 90 percent of it from demolition, and most of that stream is bulky rather than dense. Put masonry, tile or soil in a 10 yard instead. The weight limits page shows what each material actually costs you in tons.
What does a 30 yard dumpster cost in Philadelphia?
Typical weekly market ranges run $525 to $750, with extra days around $60 to $110. Reviewed July 2026. These are market ranges, not a quote for a specific site. A permitted street placement, a mixed debris stream and a tight downtown approach all push toward the top. A fenced lot with a standing swap schedule sits at the bottom.
Included tonnage is normally 3 to 4 tons, and overage bills per ton at the transfer station rate. On commercial work, ask for the swap rate as well as the weekly rate, because most 30 yard jobs run on swaps rather than one drop. Dumpster rental cost breaks every line out.
Where does a 30 yard actually fit in Philadelphia?
Not on most residential blocks. Philadelphia's subdivision street standards set a 26 foot cartway on a tertiary residential street inside a right-of-way of no less than 50 feet, and 22 feet of container plus the truck's tipping room takes almost all of it. Cars parked both sides make it impossible.
Where it does work: hospital and university campuses in University City, industrial parcels along the Delaware and Schuylkill, commercial lots in the Northeast, and suburban sites in Norristown and Abington. The driver needs roughly 60 feet of straight approach and 23 feet of overhead clearance. Placement notes are in the placement guide.
Do you need a permit for a 30 yard dumpster?
On private property, no. In the public right-of-way, yes, and Philadelphia splits it between two agencies. The Department of Licenses and Inspections issues the dumpster license under Philadelphia Code Section 10-722 with an RFID medallion on the container, and the Streets Department Right-of-Way Unit at (215) 686-5500 issues the placement permit. The construction dumpster license under Philadelphia Code Section 11-610 costs $75 per three dumpsters or fraction of three. Details on dumpster permit requirements.
Questions people ask about 30 yard dumpsters
How many tons does a 30 yard dumpster hold?Rental allowances usually sit at 3 to 4 tons. The physical ceiling is the truck: Pennsylvania's 75 Pa.C.S. Section 4941 caps gross vehicle weight at 80,000 pounds, and federal limits at 23 CFR 658.17 cap a tandem axle at 34,000.
How much does an empty 30 yard weigh?Roughly 4,500 to 6,000 pounds depending on manufacturer and gauge. Tare comes off at the scale.
Can I put concrete in it?No, and no reputable hauler will let you. Clean masonry goes in a small container as a dedicated load, priced against the construction debris rate.
What can't go in it?Bulk liquids and lead-acid batteries are barred from Pennsylvania landfills by 25 Pa. Code Section 273.201, and Act 108 of 2010 banned televisions and computers from municipal waste disposal on January 24, 2013. Full list on what cannot go in a dumpster.
Do you swap them on a schedule?Yes, most 30 yard customers run standing swaps. See construction site services for the whole package, including chain link fence and a job office.
What are the 30 yard dumpster measurements?
About 22 feet long, 8 wide, 6 feet of wall. Ask what dumpster dimensions 30 yard boxes carry before booking.
How big is 30 yard dumpster capacity?
Roughly 12 pickup loads. That 30 yard dumpster size clears a whole house or a commercial strip-out.
Compare all four sizes on the roll-off dumpster overview. Crews on long sites also want restrooms and handwashing under OSHA 1926.51(c)(1). Everything we run is listed on the home page and on porta potty rental in Philadelphia. Send the site address through the quote form, call the contact page number, or check service areas and the FAQ.
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