A 10 yard dumpster runs about 12 feet long, 8 feet wide and 3.5 feet tall, a 20 yard adds roughly a foot of height, and a 30 yard climbs to around 6 feet tall on the same footprint; these 10 yard dumpster measurements and 20 yard dumpster size numbers cover the two boxes most Des Plaines jobs end up choosing between. Picking the right box saves a second haul. Des Plaines Porta Pros sets all three for driveway cleanouts, roof jobs and full remodels.
A 10 yard box is the one most homeowners grab for a garage cleanout or a small landscaping job. Its 10-yard dumpster dimensions measure close to 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and about 3.5 feet tall, which keeps it low enough to hand-load shingles or brush without a ramp, and those 10 yard dumpster sizes stay consistent across most suppliers. That footprint fits in most Des Plaines driveways without blocking the sidewalk, though dumpster permit requirements still apply if the unit sits in the right of way. Weight matters more than most people expect. Check dumpster weight limits before you fill it with shingles or dirt, since dense debris hits the ton limit long before the box looks full. If you are not sure this is the right size, dumpster sizes and dimensions comparisons and a quick call usually settle it faster than guessing. For pricing across durations, see dumpster rental cost and the day-week-month table below. A 10 yard also pairs well with a home renovation porta potty when a crew is on site for more than a day or two.
The 20 yard dumpster keeps the same rough dumpster dimensions 20 yard footprint as the 10, around 12 feet long and 8 feet wide, but stands closer to 4.5 feet tall, and those dumpster sizes 20 yard numbers are what most flooring and roofing crews plan around. That extra height doubles usable volume, which is why it is the default for roof tear-offs, flooring jobs, and kitchen remodels that generate a lot of bulky, lightweight waste. Anyone comparing 20 yard dumpster measurements against a 10 yard is really deciding between height and hauling frequency, not footprint. If your job is close to the Des Plaines line, note that Mount Prospect sits 3.4 miles northwest and Park Ridge is 4.6 miles southeast, both inside the normal delivery radius for this size. Before ordering, check what cannot go in a dumpster, since paint, tires and certain electronics get rejected at the landfill and can hold up a pickup. For active job sites running multiple trades, pair the box with construction dumpster rental and a porta john rental so crews are not driving offsite for either need.
A 30 yard dumpster keeps the 12 by 8 foot base but rises to about 6 feet tall, built for whole-house cleanouts, additions, and commercial strip-outs where volume outpaces weight. That height means a full load can be hard to reach into by hand, so plan for a front-end loader or a lift if you are filling it with anything heavier than drywall. Delivery needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck to set the box down safely, which matters on narrower Des Plaines streets near older housing stock. If your site cannot offer that clearance, ask about placement options before the truck shows up, since a blocked alley means a wasted trip. For bigger commercial teardown jobs, a 40 yard storage container or a 30 yard dumpster rental confirmation call will settle which size actually clears your load in one haul instead of two.
Match the box to the job, not the other way around. A single-room remodel or a garage cleanout usually fits a 10 yard dumpster rental, a roof or full-floor renovation calls for a 20 yard dumpster rental, and a gut renovation or new construction project usually needs a 30 yard dumpster rental or the 40 yard dumpster rental. Weight, not just volume, decides the right call more often than people expect, so review dumpster weight limits alongside the footprint. Construction sites juggling a dumpster, fencing and toilets at once should look at construction site services as a package rather than ordering each piece separately. Below is a rough comparison across the three most common sizes and durations, pulled from actual rental data rather than a guess.
| unit | duration | low | typical | high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dumpster | day | $51 | $75 | $112 |
| dumpster | week | $426 | $600 | $778 |
| dumpster | month | $91 | $108 | $500 |
Note that a weekend rate typically runs $390 to $497, priced separately from the day-week-month scale above since it is a short-term premium rate, not a discount.
Placement in the public right of way, meaning the street or a portion of the sidewalk, needs confirming directly with the City of Des Plaines before delivery, since permit rules vary by exact location and are not something to guess at. Driveway placement on private property generally avoids that question entirely, which is one more reason to measure your driveway against the dimensions above before booking. For a full rundown of what to check before the truck arrives, see dumpster permit requirements. If your project also needs sanitation onsite, whether that is a construction crew or a weekend event, look at portable toilet rental or event restroom rental to line both deliveries up on the same day and save a trip charge.
A 30 yard box holds three times the volume of a 10 yard on nearly the same 12 by 8 foot footprint, gaining height instead of width. That makes it the better call for bulky, low-density debris like furniture or framing lumber rather than dense material like concrete or dirt.
Most residential driveways in Des Plaines handle a 20 yard dumpster's 12 by 8 foot footprint without issue. Confirm overhead clearance for low branches or wires, and remember delivery trucks need roughly 60 feet of straight approach space to set the box down.
You can, but placement in the right of way needs confirming with the City of Des Plaines first. Driveway placement skips that step entirely, so measure your driveway against the dimensions above before deciding where the box goes.
Most roof tear-offs on a typical single-family home fit a 20 yard dumpster, since shingles are heavy but the debris volume is moderate. Larger roofs or multiple layers of old shingles may push weight limits, so check those figures before committing.
Dumpster size is measured in cubic yards of volume, not by outside footprint alone. Two boxes can share nearly the same 12 by 8 foot base, like the 10 and 20 yard, while differing mainly in wall height and total capacity.
Yes. Des Plaines Porta Pros delivers dumpster sizes and dimensions across Des Plaines and the surrounding metro, with same-day and next-day drop-off available on most orders.
Pricing depends on the unit and how long you need it. See our cost breakdown and request a free quote for an exact figure.
Standard rentals include scheduled service — a pump-out, a clean, a restock and fresh deodorizer. Busy or hot-weather sites can be serviced more often.
Call now or request a free quote — clean units, on-time delivery, transparent pricing.
