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Dump cost calculator

Estimate what a load will cost at the gate, using fees the facility posts on its official website. Enter your ZIP to pick a nearby facility with posted fees.

How the estimate works

Gate fees are usually per ton (often with a minimum charge), per load, or per item. When a facility posts a per-ton rate, we estimate your load’s weight and multiply. Many facilities charge by load or volume instead; for those we show their posted fees word for word rather than guessing.

Weight assumptions

• Household trash, loose: 275 lb per cubic yard (EPA lists 250–300 for uncompacted mixed residential waste).
• Yard waste, loose: 250 lb per cubic yard (EPA: mixed yard waste, uncompacted).
• Construction debris, mixed: 484 lb per cubic yard (EPA: C&D bulk).
• Concrete, broken: 860 lb per cubic yard (EPA 2016 table; older EPA tables list loose scrap concrete as heavy as 1,855, so real loads may weigh much more).
• Volumes are geometry, not data: a full-size pickup bed filled level with the sides is about 2 cubic yards (roughly 6.5 ft × 5 ft × 1.7 ft); a 6×10 ft utility trailer filled 2 ft deep is about 4.4 cubic yards; a 33-gallon trash bag is about 0.16 cubic yards.

Weight factors: U.S. EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016). Real loads vary a lot; the scale at the gate decides.

Haul it yourself, rent a dumpster, or hire junk removal?

Haul it yourself

Usually cheapest if you have a truck or trailer: you pay only the gate fee above. Costs you time, fuel, and the work of loading and unloading. Best for one load or a few bulky items.

Roll-off dumpster

You fill it over days and the company hauls it. Price depends on size (commonly 10 to 40 cubic yards), rental days, a weight allowance with per-ton overage, local landfill rates, and your area. Heavy material like concrete often needs a smaller dumpster or a special rate. Best for renovations and cleanouts.

Junk removal

A crew loads and hauls it, usually priced by how much of their truck you fill, plus surcharges for items like mattresses, tires or appliances. Costs the most per load, but zero labor. Best for heavy furniture, stairs, or when you don't have a truck.

We don’t list dumpster or junk removal prices because they vary widely by market and we only publish numbers we can source. Get a few local quotes and ask what’s included.