Calgary Dumpster Dimensions & Capacities
Understanding bin sizes and measurements for material disposal in Calgary
What Size Dumpster Do I Need?
Selecting a bin with the right dimensions is crucial for efficient waste disposal. Different materials and volumes require different container sizes. This guide helps you understand the measurements and capacities available in Calgary to fit your specific needs.
What materials are you disposing of?
Household Items
Furniture, appliances, general household materials
Mixed Materials
Mixed debris, wood, drywall, fixtures, cabinetry
Heavy Materials
Concrete, brick, soil, asphalt, stone
Organic Materials
Branches, stumps, sod, leaves, plants
Select your material type above to see our size recommendation based on typical volume needs
Waste Container Sizes We Offer
Detailed measurements and capacities of our available waste containers
12 yard Container
Suitable Materials:
Small cleanups, garage organization
Volume Equivalent:
Approximately 3-4 pickup truck loads or 1-2 standard garage spaces
20 yard Container
Suitable Materials:
Renovations, larger cleanouts
Volume Equivalent:
Approximately 6-7 pickup truck loads or a single-car garage filled to ceiling
Waste Volume Guide
Understanding waste container capacities in practical terms
Common Material Volumes
Material Volume Guide for Calgary Disposal
Match your waste volume to the appropriate container size
Small Volume Containers (4-12 Yards)
- Household Items (Small Volume) - 1-2 rooms of furniture, appliances
- Garden Waste (Small Volume) - Minor landscaping, small plant removal
- Light Renovation Materials - Single room fixtures, cabinets
- Sorting/Recycling Separation - Segregated material collection
- Concrete/Brick (Small Volume) - Small patio or walkway removal
Medium Volume Containers (15-20 Yards)
- Household Items (Medium Volume) - 3-5 rooms of furniture, multiple appliances
- Mixed Materials - Various debris types, mixed construction waste
- Roofing Materials - Shingles from standard residential roof
- Yard Waste (Medium Volume) - Multiple trees, extensive garden clearing
- Wood Materials - Deck removal, fence demolition, framing lumber
Large Volume Containers (30-40 Yards)
- Bulky Materials (Large Volume) - Multiple rooms or entire building contents
- Light Materials (High Volume) - Packaging, cardboard, insulation
- Mixed Demolition Materials - Large volume structural debris
- Large Furniture Collection - Office furniture, multiple household cleanouts
- Manufacturing Waste - Production byproducts, industrial materials
Container Dimension FAQs
To calculate cubic yards, multiply the length × width × height (in yards) of your material pile. For example, a pile that's 3 yards long, 2 yards wide, and 1 yard high would be 6 cubic yards (3×2×1=6). When estimating, it's better to choose a slightly larger container size than to underestimate your volume needs.
Standard waste container footprints typically range from 12-24 feet in length and 7-8 feet in width. Smaller 10-12 yard containers usually have a footprint of approximately 12' × 8', while larger 30-40 yard containers can extend to 22' × 8'. Height varies from 4' for smaller containers to 8' for larger ones.
For safe placement and pickup, we recommend having at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides of the container and 23 feet of vertical clearance for delivery trucks. Additionally, a clear path of 10-12 feet wide is needed for the delivery vehicle to access your property.
For dense materials like concrete, soil, and brick, we recommend our smaller containers (10-12 yards) even if the material volume seems small. This is because these materials are extremely heavy and can exceed weight capacity in larger bins before filling the volume. Our 12-yard containers are specifically reinforced to handle the weight of these dense materials.
Yes, container features vary by size. Most medium to large containers (15+ yards) include walk-in loading doors for easy access to place material inside rather than having to lift items over the sides. Weather-resistant covers are available on select sizes to protect materials from precipitation or to contain lighter materials that might blow away.
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