Debris Weight Calculator
A loose cubic yard of broken drywall weighs about 467 lb, lumber 169 lb and asphalt shingles 731 lb (U.S. EPA). Heavy materials are another scale: broken concrete about 2,400 lb and dry dirt about 2,200 lb a yard. Our 12 to 25-yard bins include 3 tons; past that it’s $135 a ton, rounded to the nearest ton.
No sign-up · works on your phoneUpdated 12 sources
The calculator
What's going in
Weight and what it costs
Weight
2.54tons
5,075 lb
Volume
13yd³
Sources range
2.1–3t
lowest to highest published figure
$650: inside the 3 tons included
Why — every rule that applied
- 01Debris is billed by weightThe price includes 3 tons (5 in the 40-yard). Extra tonnage is rounded to the nearest ton.
- 02Keep it below the red lineOverfilled dumpster (above the red line): additional charges may apply.
- 1 ton
- 2,000 lb
- Rental days
- 14 (included)
- Prices
- rate sheet
How this was calculated
- Drywall / gypsum board (broken): EPA’s factor, the same for clean and painted/demolition gypsum.
- Lumber / wood (framing, decking, fencing): EPA’s factor, the same for clean, painted/stained and treated lumber.
- Asphalt shingles (composition roofing): EPA’s factor. San Diego’s is 40% lower.
Worked example
A remodel’s drywall, lumber and shingles, then the same bin with concrete thrown in
4 yd³ drywall / gypsum board (broken) × 467 lb = 1,868 lb + 6 yd³ lumber / wood (framing, decking, fencing) × 169 lb = 1,014 lb + 3 yd³ asphalt shingles (composition roofing) × 731 lb = 2,193 lb. Total 5,075 lb = 2.54 tons in 13 yd³. In a 15-yard that rounds to 3 tons, inside the 3 included: $650.
Now add 2 yd³ of broken concrete to the same bin: + 4,800 lb, so 4.94 tons in 15 yd³. Trash mixed with concrete is weighed and billed at debris rates, so it rounds to 5 tons, 2 over, and the bin comes to $920 instead of $650. Put the concrete in its own clean bin instead and it’s $775 flat to the 10 yd³ fill line, whatever it weighs.
Reference
What a cubic yard weighs, by material
| Construction & remodel debris | We use (lb/yd³) | Tons per yd³ | All published figures (lb/yd³) | Why this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed remodel / construction debris | 484 (EPA) | 0.242 (0.16–0.33) | EPA: 484 · EPA: 417 · Minnesota PCA: 659 · Minnesota PCA: 318 · Kansas KDHE: 500 · San Diego: 360 | EPA’s “Construction & Demolition Bulk” factor (from Florida DEP). |
| Mixed demolition debris | 538 (Minnesota PCA) | 0.269 (0.27–1.19) | Minnesota PCA: 538 · San Diego: 2,380 | Minnesota PCA’s measured average for demolition loads. San Diego’s figure is 4.4× higher. |
| Drywall / gypsum board (broken) | 467 (EPA) | 0.234 (0.23–0.25) | EPA: 467 · San Diego: 500 | EPA’s factor, the same for clean and painted/demolition gypsum. |
| Lumber / wood (framing, decking, fencing) | 169 (EPA) | 0.085 (0.08–0.15) | EPA: 169 · San Diego: 300 | EPA’s factor, the same for clean, painted/stained and treated lumber. |
| Plywood, OSB, particleboard, cabinets | 268 (EPA) | 0.134 | EPA: 268 | EPA’s factor for clean engineered wood. |
| Asphalt shingles (composition roofing) | 731 (EPA) | 0.366 (0.22–0.37) | EPA: 731 · San Diego: 440 | EPA’s factor. San Diego’s is 40% lower. |
| Carpet | 147 (EPA) | 0.074 (0.07–0.3) | EPA: 147 · San Diego: 600 | EPA’s factor. San Diego’s is about 4× higher. |
| Carpet padding | 62 (EPA) | 0.031 (0.03–0.03) | EPA: 62 · Contra Costa Co.: 63 | EPA’s factor. |
| Scrap metal (mixed ferrous) | 225 (EPA) | 0.113 (0.07–0.51) | EPA: 225 · EPA: 143 · San Diego: 1,020 | EPA’s “Other Ferrous” factor. San Diego’s is 4.5× higher. |
| Plate / window glass | 1,400 (Contra Costa Co.) | 0.7 | Contra Costa Co.: 1,400 | Contra Costa County’s factor — the only published figure we found for plate glass. |
| Household | We use (lb/yd³) | Tons per yd³ | All published figures (lb/yd³) | Why this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major appliances (by volume) | 145 (EPA) | 0.073 (0.07–0.17) | EPA: 145 · Contra Costa Co.: 340 | EPA’s factor. Per-item weights are in the appliance table below. Ask us before loading appliances. |
| Glass bottles (loose) | 380 (EPA) | 0.19 (0.19–0.99) | EPA: 380 · Minnesota PCA: 1,971 | EPA’s factor (from Keep America Beautiful). |
| Household junk / mixed trash | 300 (EPA) | 0.15 (0.08–0.21) | EPA: 250–300 · San Diego: 360 · Contra Costa Co.: 417 · Minnesota PCA: 167 | High end of EPA’s 250–300 lb for uncompacted mixed MSW (from the Caterpillar Performance Handbook). |
| Furniture & bulky items | 80 (Contra Costa Co.) | 0.04 | Contra Costa Co.: 80 | Contra Costa County’s “Bulky Items” factor — EPA lists no furniture factor. |
| Heavy materials | We use (lb/yd³) | Tons per yd³ | All published figures (lb/yd³) | Why this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete, broken | 2,400 (San Diego) | 1.2 (0.43–1.2) | San Diego: 2,400 · Kansas KDHE: 1,800 · Contra Costa Co.: 1,400 · EPA: 860 | San Diego’s figure for broken concrete. EPA’s 860 lb comes from a 2006 California study of mixed C&D loads that were characterized visually; for a load that is only concrete we use the heavier published figure. Solid, in place: PCA’s design density for normal-weight concrete, 150 lb/ft³ × 27 (PCA range 130–155 lb/ft³). San Diego’s table prints 2,600 lb for a solid slab. |
| Asphalt paving, broken | 1,400 (San Diego) | 0.7 (0.39–0.7) | San Diego: 1,400 · Contra Costa Co.: 1,400 · EPA: 773 | San Diego’s figure. EPA’s 773 lb was “scaled down by factor” from a Florida study. Asphalt isn’t on our rate sheet — ask us. |
| Brick, broken | 1,400 (San Diego) | 0.7 (0.6–1.51) | San Diego: 1,400 · San Diego: 1,200 · San Diego: 3,020 | San Diego’s figure for broken brick (EPA lists no brick factor). |
| Dirt / soil, dry | 2,200 (U.S. Army) | 1.1 (0.46–1.2) | U.S. Army: 1,900–2,200 · San Diego: 2,400 · EPA: 929 | High end of the U.S. Army’s 1,900–2,200 lb for loose dry earth. EPA’s 929 lb (dirt and sand) comes from the same 2006 study of mixed C&D loads. In the ground (bank): high end of the Army’s 2,180–2,980 lb. |
| Dirt / soil, wet | 3,200 (U.S. Army) | 1.6 (1.3–1.6) | U.S. Army: 2,800–3,200 · San Diego: 2,600 | High end of the U.S. Army’s 2,800–3,200 lb for loose wet earth. In the ground (bank): high end of the Army’s 3,500–4,000 lb. |
| Clay, dry | 2,000 (U.S. Army) | 1 (0.85–1) | U.S. Army: 1,700–2,000 | High end of the U.S. Army’s 1,700–2,000 lb for loose dry clay. In the ground (bank): high end of the Army’s 2,360–2,780 lb. |
| Sand, dry | 2,900 (U.S. Army) | 1.45 (0.46–1.45) | U.S. Army: 2,600–2,900 · San Diego: 2,400 · EPA: 929 | High end of the U.S. Army’s 2,600–2,900 lb for loose dry sand. Ask us whether sand goes as clean dirt. In place (bank): high end of the Army’s 2,860–3,340 lb. |
| Gravel / rock, dry | 3,000 (U.S. Army) | 1.5 (0.5–2.35) | U.S. Army: 2,700–3,000 · EPA: 999 · San Diego: 4,700 | High end of the U.S. Army’s 2,700–3,000 lb for loose dry gravel. Gravel isn’t on our rate sheet — ask us. In place (bank): high end of the Army’s 2,980–3,450 lb. |
| Green waste | We use (lb/yd³) | Tons per yd³ | All published figures (lb/yd³) | Why this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed yard waste, loose | 250 (EPA) | 0.125 (0.06–0.19) | EPA: 250 · Minnesota PCA: 378 · Minnesota PCA: 126 · San Diego: 300 | EPA’s factor for uncompacted mixed yard waste (EPA gives 640 lb once compacted). |
| Branches, brush and stumps | 127 (EPA) | 0.064 (0.06–0.1) | EPA: 127 · Minnesota PCA: 195 | EPA’s factor for branches & stumps (same as prunings & trimmings). |
| Wood chips / chipped green waste | 473 (EPA) | 0.237 (0.12–0.24) | EPA: 473 · EPA: 243 · Minnesota PCA: 350 | EPA’s factor for green wood chips (dry chips: 243 lb). |
| Leaves | 500 (EPA) | 0.25 (0.04–0.25) | EPA: 250–500 · EPA: 300–383 · Minnesota PCA: 80 | High end of EPA’s 250–500 lb. Minnesota measured leaves at 80 lb. |
| Grass clippings / garden waste | 233 (Minnesota PCA) | 0.117 | Minnesota PCA: 233 | Minnesota PCA’s measured average (EPA lists no grass factor). |
| By the square foot | lb per sq ft | A 4 × 8 ft sheet or 100 sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall 1/2 in, standard (older homes) | 1.6 | 51 lb per sheet | San Diego: Drywall 1/2" (by square foot) 0.0008 t |
| Drywall 1/2 in, lightweight | 1.25 | 40 lb per sheet | USG: Sheetrock UltraLight 1/2 in: 1.25 lb/sq ft |
| Drywall 5/8 in, Type X (garages, ceilings) | 2.2 | 70 lb per sheet | USG: Sheetrock Firecode X 5/8 in: 2.2 lb/sq ft (San Diego: 2.1) |
| Ceramic / porcelain tile | 3.5 | 350 lb per 100 sq ft | San Diego: Tile (sq ft) 0.00175 t |
| Carpet | 1 | 100 lb per 100 sq ft | San Diego: Carpet (by square foot) 0.0005 t |
| Carpet padding / foam | 0.25 | 25 lb per 100 sq ft | San Diego: Carpet Padding/Foam (sq ft) 0.000125 t |
| Stone / quartz countertop, 3 cm | 14.34 | 1,434 lb per 100 sq ft | Caesarstone: 3 cm slab 639–675 lb, 120 in × 56½ in (high end ÷ 47.1 sq ft) |
| Solid hardwood floor, 3/4 in red oak | 2.75 | 275 lb per 100 sq ft | USDA FPL: Red oak SG 0.63 at 12% MC × 62.43 × 1.12 × 0.75 in |
| Item | lb each | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 250 | EPA: Major Appliances, Refrigerator, 1 unit |
| Clothes washer | 150 | EPA: Major Appliances, Clothes Washer, 1 unit |
| Clothes dryer | 125 | EPA: Major Appliances, Clothes Dryer, 1 unit |
| Stove | 150 | EPA: Major Appliances, Stove, 1 unit |
| Dishwasher | 125 | EPA: Major Appliances, Dishwasher, 1 unit |
| Cast-iron bathtub, 60 in | 316 | Kohler: K-715 Villager, enameled cast iron, 60 × 30¼ × 14 in: 316 lb |
How to use it
In 4 steps
- 1Pick a material and enter its loose volume in cubic yards. Don’t know the yards? Use the cubic yard calculator first.
- 2Add a row for each material going in the same bin.
- 3Choose the bin size you’re thinking of.
- 4Read the tons, the range across sources, and what that bin would cost, including any tons over what’s included.
Why weight tables disagree, and which number we use
The U.S. EPA’s 2016 conversion factors are the national reference, and we use them first. But its construction and demolition figures come from a 2006 California study in which 622 loads of C&D waste were characterized visually. Those figures give 860 lb for a cubic yard of concrete and 929 lb for dirt and sand.
For a load that is only concrete or only dirt, other primary sources are far heavier. The City of San Diego’s C&D table gives 2,400 lb for broken concrete and for loose dry earth. The U.S. Army’s earthmoving manual gives 1,900–2,200 lb for loose dry earth and 2,800–3,200 lb wet. Solid concrete in place is 4,050 lb a cubic yard at the Portland Cement Association’s 150 lb per cubic foot. For heavy materials we use the heavier published figure, and the calculator shows the full range.
Weighed loads land in between. Minnesota’s 2021 study ran loaded trucks over scales: mixed C&D averaged 659 lb per cubic yard (median 457), mixed concrete and dirt 1,453 lb. That’s why the tool prints a range beside every total.
Weight matters because the price includes 3 tons in the 12 to 25-yard bins and 5 in the 40-yard ($825). Each extra ton is $135, rounded to the nearest ton. Heavy loads are the exception: clean concrete or clean dirt is $775 flat to the 10 yd³ fill line, and mixing in trash turns it into a weighed load.
FAQ
Debris weight: questions
How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?
Broken up, about 2,400 lb (1.2 tons) per loose cubic yard, from the City of San Diego's C&D table. Solid, in place, about 4,050 lb at the Portland Cement Association's 150 lb per cubic foot. The EPA's factor is 860 lb; it comes from a 2006 California study of mixed C&D loads.
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
Loose dry dirt is 1,900–2,200 lb per cubic yard and wet dirt 2,800–3,200 lb (U.S. Army FM 5-434). In the ground, before digging, dry earth is 2,180–2,980 lb. We compute with the high end: 2,200 lb loose, dry.
How much does a sheet of drywall weigh?
A 4 × 8 ft sheet of standard 1/2-inch drywall is about 51 lb at San Diego's 1.6 lb per square foot. USG's 1/2-inch UltraLight is 1.25 lb per square foot (40 lb a sheet) and its 5/8-inch Firecode X is 2.2 (70 lb). Broken up, the EPA figure is 467 lb per loose cubic yard.
What happens if my dumpster goes over the weight limit?
The extra is billed. Our 12 to 25-yard bins include 3 tons and the 40-yard 5. Extra tonnage is rounded to the nearest ton and billed at $135 per ton. So 3.4 tons rounds to 3 (no extra) and 3.5 rounds to 4 (one extra ton).
Can I put concrete in with my other debris?
You can, but the whole bin is then weighed and billed at debris rates, and concrete is heavy. A clean concrete load is $775 flat to the 10 cubic yard fill line (no rebar, no brick), so keeping it separate usually costs less.
Something not answered here? Call or text — it’s quicker than guessing.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
- [1]U.S. EPA, “Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors” (April 2016) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Primary factor table (C&D rows pp. 5–6, from California’s 2006 C&D study; yard trimmings; mixed MSW; appliances).
- [2]City of San Diego, “C&D Debris Conversion Rate Table” (May 21, 2008) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Tons per cubic yard for broken concrete, asphalt, brick, earth, sand; tons per square foot for drywall, tile and carpet.
- [3]Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, “Volume-to-Weight Conversions” (Sept. 2021) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Measured densities (weigh-box field samples and scaled truckloads): mixed C&D, demolition, concrete & dirt, yard waste.
- [4]U.S. Army FM 5-434, “Earthmoving Operations,” ch. 1, Tables 1-1 and 1-2 (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Table 1-2: loose and bank weights and swell for earth, clay, sand, gravel and rock.
- [5]Portland Cement Association, “Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete” (2008) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Normal-weight concrete 130–155 lb/ft³; design density 150 lb/ft³.
- [6]Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, BWM Policy 10-02 (April 2010) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Clean rubble 1,800 lb/yd³; mixed C&D 500 lb/yd³.
- [7]Contra Costa County, “Volume to Weight Conversion Table for C&D Debris” (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Plate glass, bulky items, appliances and others (no sources printed on the table).
- [8]USG Sheetrock UltraLight Panels submittal sheet WB2501 (rev. 4-20) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. 1/2 in UltraLight panel: 1.25 lb/sq ft.
- [9]USG Sheetrock Firecode X Panels submittal sheet WB2964 (rev. 3-20) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. 5/8 in Firecode X panel: 2.2 lb/sq ft.
- [10]USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. Specific gravity by species (Table 5-3a) and density at 12% moisture (Eq. 4-14).
- [11]CIWMB, “Detailed Characterization of Construction and Demolition Waste” (2006), executive summary (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-22. The study behind EPA’s C&D factors: “622 loads of C&D waste were visually characterized.”
- [12]Eco Waste rate sheet, revised 07/01/2026 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Read 2026-09-23. Included tons, $135 per extra ton rounded to the nearest ton, heavy-load flat rates and the 10 yd³ fill line.
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