Shingle Dumpster Calculator
Estimate roof tear-off squares, debris weight, loose volume, dumpster yardage, selected-bin loads, and tonnage margin from layers, shingle type, sheathing debris, pitch, and access.
🔧Tear-Off Presets
📏Roof And Debris Inputs
Dumpster Sizing Results
🧱Debris Spec Grid
📊Shingle Tear-Off Weight Reference
| Shingle Type | Weight Per Square | Loose Volume Per Square | Dumpster Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt shingles | 230 lb per layer | 0.36 yd³ | Common on smaller single-layer tear-offs. |
| Architectural asphalt shingles | 285 lb per layer | 0.42 yd³ | Heavier than 3-tab and often tonnage-limited first. |
| Premium laminated asphalt | 335 lb per layer | 0.48 yd³ | Plan for more weight per roof square. |
| Wood shingles | 240 lb per layer | 0.58 yd³ | Often fills yardage before reaching weight limits. |
| Cedar shakes | 350 lb per layer | 0.75 yd³ | Bulky debris with more air gaps in the bin. |
| Synthetic slate shingles | 430 lb per layer | 0.65 yd³ | Watch weight and keep fill below the rim. |
| Natural slate shingles | 800 lb per layer | 0.85 yd³ | Very heavy debris usually needs short, weight-managed loads. |
🚚Dumpster Yardage And Load Reference
| Dumpster Size | Usable Volume At 85% | Typical Shingle Range | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yd³ | 8.5 yd³ | 15 to 22 asphalt squares | Useful for heavy debris when tonnage is the limit. |
| 15 yd³ | 12.8 yd³ | 22 to 32 asphalt squares | Good middle size for one-layer residential roofs. |
| 20 yd³ | 17.0 yd³ | 32 to 45 asphalt squares | Common for larger asphalt tear-offs if weight allows. |
| 30 yd³ | 25.5 yd³ | 45 to 65 asphalt squares | Volume helps, but heavy shingles may need multiple hauls. |
| 40 yd³ | 34.0 yd³ | 65 plus asphalt squares | Best for bulky debris only when loading rules allow it. |
📝Underlayment And Sheathing Allowances
| Debris Item | Weight Allowance | Volume Allowance | Use In Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light felt or synthetic | 8 lb per square | 0.02 yd³ per square | Use for clean tear-offs with limited membrane debris. |
| Felt plus normal flashings | 18 lb per square | 0.04 yd³ per square | Default allowance for nails, felt, edge metal, and trim. |
| Felt plus ice barrier sections | 32 lb per square | 0.07 yd³ per square | Use when membrane covers eaves, valleys, or low slopes. |
| 7/16 in OSB or plywood | 150 lb per full roof square | 0.25 yd³ per full roof square | Multiply by the percentage of deck removed. |
| Roof planks or mixed lumber | 260 lb per full roof square | 0.42 yd³ per full roof square | Use for board decking, rot repairs, or mixed wood debris. |
⚠Pitch, Access, And Bulk Factors
| Condition | Multiplier | What It Represents | Planning Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkable roof, close dumpster | 1.00x | Debris can be dropped and packed efficiently. | Lowest yardage allowance. |
| Moderate pitch and access | 1.10x | Normal staging, wheelbarrow paths, and mixed tear-off piles. | Default residential factor. |
| Steep roof or hand carry | 1.18x | Debris lands less compactly and may include chute piles. | Adds volume for handling loss. |
| Difficult access, staged debris | 1.25x | Long carry, tight driveway, or staged loading. | Raises recommended yardage and loads. |
💡Dumpster Sizing Tips
A homeowner’s eye tends to see the dumpster as just a big box, something into which all of their debris can be piled up until it appears full. That’s a false impression… What usually fills first isn’t space but weight. Shingles ripped off in chunks is bulky, dense and heavy. Unless you consider how much denser one kind of shingle is then another, you’ll probably end up ordering a bin that doesn’t fill up. Your job will then come grinding to a halt as you reach the tonnage limit well short of filling the container.
That’s where calculator comes in. You just enter the dimensions of your roof (size) and how many layers it has and it does the calculations for you. You don’t need to convert anything or try to remember which coefficient applies. But it is good to know WHY the inputs matter.
How to Choose the Right Dumpster Size
For example, a “roof square” are really only 100 sq ft of surface area. How much of that space is filled depends on the material. Premium laminated (architectural) shingles weigh more than three tab shingle. And if there are multiple layer, then you’re adding all that weight but keeping the same roof footprint, which is why this is often the ignored part. People look at a smallish house and think it’ll take up a small dumpster…. Until the bin is halfway full and they realize they’re two tons over the limit.
Not all debris are shingle. Consider anything being removed, such as plywood/OSB decking, nails, or underlayment. Ice and water shield membranes is thick and heavy; old felt paper isn’t much of an issue. Rotting sheathing increases both the weight and volume of the debris. The tool addresses that with option to enter how much of the deck will be removed. It may seem insignificant, but removing half of the decking on a twenty-four square roof changes things, enough to push you into a bigger, industrial bin instead of a normal residential bin.
The debris will fall into the bin differently depending on roof pitch. If the roof is steep, shingles tend to fall in a loose pile with a lot of aeration, like down a chute. There are air gaps that make the pile looser but still weigh as much or more. A walkable roof with a close dumpster allows for tighter packing. A long walk to a distant dumpster and a steep roof make packing less efficient and leave more air in the bin. It may be that your bin needs to be bigger, just because the material take up more room. It is not necessarily because it weighs more.
This is where the weight per square comes into play. This comparison of loose volume to weight per square is laid out on the reference table on the page. Look at cedar shakes: they’re both bulky and heavy. That’s two strikes against them. First, you reach the weight limit fast; second, you can’t stack them tightly because of their irregular shape.
Even worse is natural slate. Often it takes several shorter loads just to not overload a bin. Somewhere between these extremes is synthetic slate. It provides a moddern option, but you need to plan carefully.
Keep the fill rate from reaching one hundred percent. Overfilling a dumpster can get you in trouble with haulers. They’re very particular about loading it over the rim. Going past their weight limit will cost you steep overage fees. Eighty-five percent fill is probably a good bet. That leaves a little wiggle room and ensures the load doesn’t shift during transportation.
To help you visualize it, the calculator displays the recommended bin size (based off your selected fill line). For instance, if the numbers are telling you to use a ten-yard bin, you may decide to order a fifteen instead. This allows some breathing room, which can be helpful if your pitch is steep or your access is tight. That breathing room should of saved you from getting a second delivery; and the resulting headache.
Now when it comes to planning for tearing off your roof, it’s not as much about figuring out how much room something takes up as it is how much it weighs. You’re dealing with heavy, dense things that act different than drywall or construction wood. Breaking up the math helps to get an idea of where on the spectrum your project will land, and that is not just, ‘how deep is my driveway’. That’s understanding what it is you’ll be hauling before you drop the first bundle; that clarity transforms a chaotic demo into a logistical project that you can manage.
