The 10 Yard Dumpster: Your Project's MVP
Alright, let's get down to business. You've got a project that's past the point of no return. It's bigger than a few trips to the curb in your F-150, but you're not trying to demo the whole block. You know you need a 10-yard dumpster.
The Right Size Dumpster
But here's something the other guys might not tell you: there's more than one player on the field. Getting the right dumpster for your specific mission is key. At Haul'n Off, we don't just give you a box; we give you the right tool for the job. We've got two kinds of 10-yarders, and picking the right one is the first step to getting your project done right.
Why a 10 yard dumpster?
10-yard dumpsters offer a lot of advantages for both homeowners and contractors working on various projects. These compact yet versatile containers are designed to handle a range of materials. By choosing a 10-yard dumpster, you can streamline the waste management process, promote recycling, and ensure a cleaner, safer worksite.
General Waste
For General House Hold waste or Construction Material
The All-Arounder: The Standard 10-Yard Dumpster
This is your classic workhorse, the go-to for 90% of home projects. With taller sides, it's designed to hold a mix of bulky but relatively light items.
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Dimensions: 11 ft long×8 ft wide×3.5 ft tall
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Best For: General household junk, yard waste, and construction debris.
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Capacity: Holds the equivalent of about 4 pickup truck beds.
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This is the right dumpster for projects like:
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Full Garage or Basement Cleanouts
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Small-Scale Remodels (bathroom, small kitchen)
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Major Landscaping & Yard Waste
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Shingle Roofing Jobs (up to 15 squares)
Heavy Material
For Heavy Materials such as dirt, concrete, asphalt or br
The Specialist: The 10-Yard "Lowboy" Dumpster
This is the heavy-hitter. The Lowboy is specifically engineered for heavy, dense materials like dirt and concrete. Its low sides (only 2 feet tall) don't just make it look different; they make it a breeze to load with a wheelbarrow or small equipment.
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Dimensions: 18 ft long×8 ft wide×2 ft tall
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Best For: A single, clean load of heavy material like dirt, rock, brick, or concrete.
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Key Feature: Easy walk-in or wheelbarrow loading.
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This is the only choice for projects like:
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Concrete Patio or Driveway Demolition
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Dirt Removal for Landscaping or Foundations
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Brick or Block Teardowns
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Asphalt Removal
The Tale of Two Dumpsters: Which 10-Yard Is Right For You?
Hold Your Horses: What You CAN'T Throw In There
The rules are simple and mostly the same for both dumpsters. To keep the landfills happy and your final bill free of surprises, you must avoid these items:
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Hazardous Materials: Paint, oil, asbestos, solvents, chemicals.
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Tires, Batteries, and E-Waste.
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Appliances with Freon (fridges, AC units).
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Flammable Liquids (fuel, propane tanks).
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Crucial Point for the Lowboy: When you order a Lowboy for concrete or dirt, that's the only thing that can go in it. Mixing in trash, wood, or other junk will contaminate the load and lead to significant extra charges. Keep it clean.
How Much Can a 10-Yard Lowboy Really Hold?
Here is a chart of the capacity for a 10 cubic yard dumpster and the amount of different materials it can hold. Please note that these values are approximate. They can vary depending on factors such as moisture content, compaction, and the specific type of material.
Material | Volume (cubic yards) | Approximate Weight (tons) |
|---|---|---|
Asphalt | 10 | 9 |
Concrete
| 10 | 10 |
Decomposed Granite
| 10 | 6.5 |
Dirt | 10 | 10 |
Road Base | 10 | 8 |
Now, keep in mind, this isn't an exact science. Wet dirt weighs a ton more than dry dirt, and how you stack broken concrete makes a difference. Think of this as your guide, not gospel.
Here's the most important part, and trust us on this one: Do not go over the 10-ton (20,000 lbs) weight limit. This isn't just our rule; it's a hard Department of Transportation limit for hauling safely on the road. Pushing that limit means we can't legally move the dumpster until it's fixed, and it'll hit you with some serious overage fees. We want to help you avoid that. When in doubt, give us a call.
The low height of lowboy dumpsters facilitates the loading of dirt, which can be a hard process. The low sidewalls make it easier for workers to shovel dirt into the dumpster or use machinery to load the material without needing to lift it high off the ground.
10 cubic yard Lowboy dumpsters are designed to withstand the weight of heavy materials, making them suitable for concrete disposal. Their lower sidewalls allow for easier loading of broken concrete, which can be quite heavy and difficult to lift.​
Asphalt can be challenging to load into a dumpster with higher sidewalls. Lowboy dumpsters provide a more accessible solution for loading asphalt due to their lower height and reinforced design.
10-yard lowboy dumpsters are preferred for concrete, dirt, and asphalt removal because of their lower sidewalls, which allow for easier loading of heavy materials, and their reinforced design, which can handle the weight of these materials. The use of specialized machinery for each material type enhances the efficiency of loading these heavy materials into lowboy dumpsters.
The Lowdown on the Lowboy
Frequently Asked Questions (The Stuff Everyone Asks)
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Why can't I just put concrete in the standard 10-yard dumpster?
Great question. It comes down to weight. A standard dumpster is designed for about 2 tons (4,000 lbs) of material. Just a few cubic yards of concrete or dirt will blow past that limit in a hurry, making the container dangerously overweight for our trucks to legally haul on the road. The Lowboy is built to handle that dense weight safely.
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How much weight is included?
The Standard 10-Yard Dumpster comes with a 2-ton (4,000 lb) weight limit included in your price. The 10-Yard Lowboy is typically priced at a flat rate for a full load of clean concrete or dirt, as we know it's going to be heavy.
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How long can I keep the dumpster?
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Our standard rental period is flexible for both types. If your project runs long, we can extend the rental for a small daily rate. Just give us a heads-up.
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Do I need a permit for this in my driveway?
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In most cases here in San Diego County, if the dumpster (even the longer Lowboy) fits on your property, you won't need a permit. If you need to place it on a public street, a permit is usually required.
Holds up to 9 x Pickup Truck loads
Holds up to 15 x Pickup Truck loads
Alternatives and Related Sizes
Making the right call on size is everything. If you're looking at your project and feeling like Goldilocks—worried this dumpster is too big or too small—we've got options.
When You Need a Little More Room: The 20 Yard Dumpster
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Sometimes you gotta bring in the bigger guns. If you're tackling a full kitchen gut, a multi-room cleanout, or a larger construction project, the 10-yarder might get tight. The 20-yard dumpster offers double the space without taking up much more room in your driveway (it's taller, not wider). It's the perfect upgrade for larger residential jobs.
[Learn More About Our 20 Yard Dumpster] -> Links to the 20-yard dumpster page.
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For Smaller Jobs or When You Need a Hand: Junk Removal
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Maybe you don't have enough stuff to justify a whole dumpster, or maybe you just don't want to do the heavy lifting yourself. We get it. For those jobs—like getting rid of an old sofa, a broken fridge, or a small pile of yard debris—our junk removal service is the perfect solution. We bring the truck and the crew, and we haul it away for you. No fuss.
Collection and transportation
Ready to Haul it Off? Let's Get it Done.
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Stop second-guessing and let's get your project moving. Renting from Haul'n Off means you're getting the right equipment and straightforward advice from a local crew that knows their stuff. Whether it's the 10-yard All-Arounder, the Lowboy specialist, or another size, we've got you covered.
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No games, no hidden fees. Just the right dumpster, delivered on time.
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Tell us about your project, and we'll get you the right container.