A house cleanout is one of those projects that always feels bigger once you actually start. What looked like “a few rooms” turns into a basement, a garage, an attic, and a driveway full of furniture you forgot you owned. The right dumpster makes the difference between a smooth weekend and a project that drags into next month.
So, what size dumpster do I need for a house cleanout? Most jobs land in the 15-, 20-, or 30-yard range, but the right pick depends on the size of the home, what you’re tossing, and how much room you have to work.
15-Yard Dumpster: One to Two Rooms or a Garage
A 15-yard split the difference between small and standard. It works well for garage cleanouts, one or two cluttered rooms, or a partial basement project. Homeowners often pick this size when they want a little more breathing room than a 10-yard but don’t need the footprint of a 20.
20-Yard Dumpster: The Most Common Size for a Whole-House Cleanout
For most residential cleanout dumpster jobs in the St. Louis area, the 20-yard is the workhorse. It’s a strong fit for a 2- to 3-bedroom home and handles furniture, mattresses, boxes of household items, and yard waste without forcing you to ration what goes in. If you’re somewhere between “a lot of stuff” and “the whole house,” this is usually the size we recommend.
30-Yard Dumpster: Full House Cleanouts and Estate Projects
A 30-yard is built for serious volume. Think a 4+ bedroom home, an estate cleanout dumpster rental for a parent’s or relative’s house, a foreclosure cleanup, or a property you’re prepping to sell. It holds roughly the contents of a fully furnished family home, with room for outdoor items, basement contents, and large pieces of furniture.20-yard vs 30-yard dumpster for a house cleanout: if you’re going through every closet, every cabinet, and the garage, sizing up to a 30 saves the cost (and headache) of ordering a second haul.
40-Yard Dumpster: Large Estates, Hoarder Cleanups, and Multi-Property Jobs
The 40-yard is the largest roll-off we offer. It’s the right call for hoarder cleanups, multi-family property cleanouts, or estate projects where decades of belongings need to come out at once. It’s a big footprint, so confirm there’s enough driveway or yard to place it before it arrives.
What Else Affects the Size You Need?
Square footage is just the starting point. A few other factors that change the answer to what size dumpster do I need for a house cleanout:
- Weight of materials. Heavy debris (concrete, dirt, roofing, drywall) hits weight limits faster than household items, so a smaller container may make more sense for heavy loads, even if the volume seems low.
- Driveway space. A 40-yard will not fit in a tight driveway. If space is at a premium, two smaller hauls can work better than one large container.
- What’s allowed. Paint, tires, hazardous chemicals, batteries, and certain electronics aren’t permitted in roll-off dumpsters. Plan a separate disposal for those before you start filling.
Project timeline. If you’re cleaning out across multiple weekends, a longer rental period and a bigger size usually beats trying to time a quick swap.
How to Estimate the Right Size in 60 Seconds
Quick rule of thumb for a residential job:
- Walk the home and tag what’s leaving.
- Mentally group items into pickup-truck loads (one truck is roughly 3 cubic yards).
- Add a 25% buffer for items you’re underestimating (you are).
- Match the total to the closest size up.
If you’re between two sizes, go bigger. The price difference between a 20 and a 30 is almost always less than the cost of a second haul.
Need Help Sizing a Dumpster for Your St. Louis House Cleanout?
Tell us about the project: the home, the timeline, and what’s coming out. We’ll recommend the right size for the job (and the price), deliver on your schedule, and haul it away when you’re done. Call Scapers Dumpster Rentals or request a quote online to get your St. Louis dumpster rental on the calendar.
