Moving

What size dumpster do I need when moving?

A room or a one car garage worth of items is a 12 yard. A basement or a few rooms is a 16, and a whole house with furniture is a 20.

Size by how much you are leaving behind

Our own pickup load guide, from our house cleanout page, sets the starting points.

Box	Size	Weight limit	Pickup loads
12 yard	12' x 7' x 4'	3 tons	3 to 4
16 yard	14' x 7' x 5'	4 tons	About 5
20 yard	18' x 8' x 4.5'	4 tons	6 to 7

What each size means

Only count what you are not taking. Donate or sell what is still good first.

12 yard: a room or a one car garage, about 3 to 4 pickup loads.
16 yard: a basement or a few rooms, about 5 pickup loads.
20 yard: a whole house with furniture, about 6 to 7 pickup loads.

Plan the timing

A week of rental, with three grace days on top, is plenty for most moves. Have the box delivered a few days before you start sorting, not on moving day. We offer same-day delivery if plans change.

Mattresses are $25 each.

Leave room for the movers

A moving truck needs a spot too. Tell the driver where the movers will park, and where you want the box. One customer wrote:

Their driver Jason was helpful and was able to position the dumpster in a way to preserve vehicle access to the garage while the dumpster was in the driveway. Tony M, Google review.

Tips

I called this morning for a dumpster swap and they had it taken care of within two hours, which is impressive. Jason Craig, Google review.

Sort in rooms, not all at once.
Break down furniture so it lies flat.
Keep boxes of things you are keeping away from the dumpster.
Call before the movers come if the box fills early. We can swap it for a fresh one.

Call 630-850-0770

Call 630-850-0770 and tell us the job. Give us the move out date and the rooms. We are open Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm, and closed weekends.

Prefer to write it down? Request a quote online and we will call you back.

Questions people ask

What size dumpster do I need to move out of a house?

Plan on a 20 yard for a full house with furniture, a 16 for a basement or a few rooms, or a 12 for a room.

When should I have the dumpster delivered?

A few days before you start sorting. One flat rate covers a full week, with a three day grace period on top.

Can I put a mattress in the box?

Yes. Mattresses are $25 each.

Can I get same-day delivery if I run out of time?

We offer same-day delivery. Call 630-850-0770 on a weekday morning.

Is a bag enough for a small move?

Bagster lists moving preparation as a use for its 3 cubic yard bag. For more than a few rooms, a box is simpler. See Bagster vs dumpster.

Book a dumpster

Call and describe the job. We size the container with you, give you the price on that call and book the date. Same-day delivery when the route allows.

Call 630-850-0770 Request a quote