What size dumpster do you need for a roof tear-off?

Start with squares, not square feet

Roofers count in squares. A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface, so a 20 square roof is 2,000 square feet of surface and a 25 square roof is 2,500. Your roofer's estimate should list the square count. If it does not, ask for it before you call us.

Roof surface is not the same as the floor plan of the house. A steep or cut up roof has more surface than the rooms under it.

What a square of shingles weighs

Public guides give a range, and they do not fully agree. Here is what three of them say. Neither the Sourgum page nor the Budget Dumpster page shows a date.

A ton is 2,000 pounds. The tables below use that.

The math for a 20 and a 25 square roof

Because the guides disagree on 3-tab, this post uses the full spread, 135 to 240 pounds per square, for asphalt shingles. Multiply by your squares and you get a low and a high weight. Sourgum also says each layer is another full set of shingles to remove, so a two layer roof is about double.

Which WasteBox size holds that weight

A tear-off looks like a small pile and weighs like a big one, so weight picks the box before space does. Our included weight is 3 tons in the 12 yard, 4 tons in the 16 and 20 yard, and 5 tons in the 30 yard. See every box on the dumpster sizes page.

• 20 squares, one layer: the 12 yard holds even the high end, 2.4 tons.
• 25 squares, one layer: the 12 yard holds the low end, but the high end of 3.0 tons sits right at its limit. The 16 yard leaves room.
• 20 squares, two layers: up to 4.8 tons, which is over the 16 and 20 yard and under the 30 yard.
• 25 squares, two layers: up to 6.0 tons, which is over even the 30 yard. That job needs two loads or two boxes.

These numbers cover shingles only

The figures above are for the shingles. Underlayment, flashing and any rotten decking that comes off with them add weight the per square numbers leave out. Treat the result as a starting estimate, then give us the real details on the phone.

Slate is a different job. At about 935 pounds per square, a 20 square slate roof is roughly 18,700 pounds, or 9.35 tons, which is more than the 5 tons in our largest box.

Can shingles go in the dumpster

Illinois EPA lists roofing shingles as general construction and demolition debris. WasteBox accepts shingles, and the shingles page has our rule. Tell us the number of squares and layers when you call and we size the box.

What to have ready when you call

Give us the address and town, the square count, the number of layers, the shingle type and the date the crew starts. We size the box against the tonnage and book the drop. Our roofing dumpster page has the usual setup, and the size calculator has a weight estimator if you want to check the math yourself.

Need a box for the tear-off? Call us.

Call 630-850-0770, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm. Or request a quote and we will get back to you.