Choosing a dumpster size in Atlanta

With most of the city's homes built after 1960, the usual renovation debris here is light and bulky. Start from volume.

The 10-yard container

Picture roughly 3 pickup-truck beds of debris. It suits a small bathroom or a one-room cleanout, sits about 12 feet long, 8 wide and 3.5 high, and normally includes 1 to 2 tons.

The 15-yard container

Picture roughly 4 to 5 pickup-truck beds of debris. It suits a basement cleanout or a mid-size roof, sits about 16 feet long, 7.5 wide and 4 high, and normally includes 2 to 3 tons.

The 20-yard container

Picture roughly 6 to 8 pickup-truck beds of debris. It suits a kitchen remodel or a garage cleanout, sits about 22 feet long, 8 wide and 4.5 high, and normally includes 2 to 4 tons.

The 30-yard container

Picture roughly 9 to 12 pickup-truck beds of debris. It suits a whole-home cleanout or a big remodel, sits about 22 feet long, 8 wide and 6 high, and normally includes 4 to 5 tons.

The 40-yard container

Picture roughly 12 to 16 pickup-truck beds of debris. It suits a demolition or a new construction, sits about 22 feet long, 8 wide and 8 high, and normally includes 5 to 8 tons.

When weight wins

Brick, stone, tile, roofing and soil can hit the tonnage limit while the container still looks half empty. If the job is mostly those materials, tell the company and let it recommend the size.

Sizes and allowances are typical across the industry; check each company's quote for its own numbers.