Understanding your result
The headline is the smallest dumpster that takes your debris, and the line under it gives the weight, the loose volume, what the debris is, and whether the weight or the volume decided. The tiles repeat the weight, the volume and the limiting factor. The bars go through the common sizes and mark each one as fitting, too small or too heavy.
The table shows the arithmetic: the weight from the area, the material’s weight per square foot and the layers, plus any other debris; and the volume from the area and thickness, multiplied by about four because broken board does not stack. Other debris, trim, flooring, insulation, cabinets, is added in cubic yards and tons as you enter it.
The cost of the tear-out itself is on the removal cost calculator, and the weight of new board on the sheet weight calculator. Getting the new board in, and whether a truck or a delivery does it, is on the delivery planner.
How we calculate this
Board weights are manufacturer figures from the sheet weights table. The plaster weight, the loose bulking factor of four and the dumpster weight allowances are estimates and are labelled as such: haulers set their own allowances, and a careful crew that stacks whole pieces fills less volume.
The assumptions behind the numbers
| Assumption | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall weight | 1.6 / 2.2 lb per sq ft | Manufacturer data |
| Plaster on lath | About 8 lb per sq ft | Our estimate |
| Loose bulking | × 4 solid volume | Our estimate |
| Weight allowances | 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 tons for 10 to 40 yd | Typical hauler allowances; check yours |
| Offcuts | 10% of board hung | Common waste allowance |
| Asbestos | Test pre-1980 materials before demolition | US EPA guidance |
Assumptions last reviewed October 8, 2026.
The calculator does not know your hauler’s prices or local disposal rules, and does not cover asbestos-containing waste, which is handled by an abatement contractor under separate rules. How to plan a tear-out, from the asbestos test to the last bag, is in the guide to removing old drywall and plaster; moving heavy loads safely is in the weight and handling guide.
Two worked examples
A 2,200 sq ft tear-out of 1/2 in drywall with 4 cu yd and half a ton of other debris
- Weight: 2,200 × 1.6 + 1,000 = 4,520 lb (2.26 tons)
- Volume: 2,200 × 0.5 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 4 + 4 = 17.6 cu yd
- 20-yard dumpster, limited by volume: a 10-yard is too heavy, a 15-yard too small
Breaking the board into large flat pieces and stacking them could fit this in a 15-yard, if its weight allowance takes 2.26 tons.
1,200 sq ft of plaster and lath
- Weight: 1,200 × 8 = 9,600 lb (4.8 tons)
- Volume: about 22.2 cu yd
- 40-yard dumpster, limited by weight; every smaller size is too heavy
Two 20-yard loads, swapped halfway, often cost less than one 40-yard with an overweight charge. Ask the hauler.
Where to find your inputs
Area. The walls and ceilings coming down, from the area calculators.
Material and layers. Drywall or plaster, and whether it was covered with a second layer.
Offcuts. The sheets hung on a new job and the waste share you allowed.
Other debris. Your estimate of trim, flooring and the rest, in cubic yards and tons.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by volume only. Weight limits govern for drywall and plaster.
- Throwing in whole sheets loose. Break and stack flat; it saves volume.
- Mixing asbestos waste in. Test first; it has its own rules.
- Wet debris. Rain adds weight. Cover the bin.
- Forgetting the driveway. A full 30-yard bin is heavy enough to crack some driveways; ask for boards under it.
- Ignoring recycling. Clean gypsum offcuts are recyclable in some areas.
Questions people ask
- What size dumpster do I need for drywall?
- For a tear-out of up to about 1,500 sq ft of 1/2 in drywall, a 10-yard dumpster usually holds it by weight and volume. A whole floor of 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft, with some other debris, needs a 20-yard. Plaster and lath needs a bigger bin for its weight.
- How much does drywall debris weigh?
- About 1.6 lb per square foot of 1/2 in board and 2.2 lb for 5/8 in. A 2,200 sq ft tear-out is about 3,500 lb of drywall, 1.8 tons, before any trim or flooring.
- Why is plaster harder to dispose of than drywall?
- It is several times heavier: plaster on wood lath weighs around 8 lb per square foot by our estimate. 1,200 sq ft is nearly 5 tons, which only a 40-yard dumpster's typical weight allowance takes, or two smaller loads.
- Can drywall go in a regular dumpster?
- In most areas, yes, as construction and demolition debris. Some areas recycle clean gypsum and ban it from landfill; ask your hauler. Pre-1980 compound, texture or plaster that tests positive for asbestos needs special disposal.
- Do dumpsters have weight limits?
- Yes. Haulers include a weight allowance with each size, typically about 2 tons for a 10-yard up to 5 tons for a 40-yard, and charge per ton over it. Check yours; the calculator's figures are typical, not universal.
- How much drywall waste does new construction make?
- Offcuts are usually 10 to 15% of the board hung. A house with 300 sheets makes about 1,500 lb of offcuts, which fits in a 10-yard dumpster with room to spare.