Blue Sky Project Tools
Roofing Dumpster Calculator
Measure the tear-off. See estimated volume and weight. Find the roll-off required for standard shingles.
Roofing Tear-OffMeasure → Calculate → Recommendation
Step 1 — Roof type
Step 2 — Roof size
Step 3 — Layers
Step 4 — Shingle type
Selected Material
Architectural Shingles
~280 lb / roofing square
16–25 squares1 layerArchitectural shingles→ 7 yd³~2.8 tons
Your result
Your project
Roofing Tear-Off
Roof size
Average
16–25 squares
Layers
1
Estimated volume
7yd³
Estimated weight
~2.8tons
Recommended dumpster
10-Yard Roll-Off
Normal roofing is sized 10 / 20 / 30 yard. A 40-yard open-top is not used.
11.6' × 8' × 3.5'
Verified interior dimensions from the live Blue Sky 10-yard diagram.
Project estimate
7 yd³
10-yard container
10 yd³ nominal capacity
Reselect the project in booking. This tool does not prefill the order.
How Blue Sky sizes a shingle tear-off
The Dumpster Calculator already asks three roofing questions: how many squares, how many layers coming off, and shingle type. Weight is squares × layers × pounds per square, divided by 2,000. Volume is estimated at 0.35 cubic yards per square per layer. We do not add extra formulas on this page.
| Calculator input | Options in the engine |
|---|---|
| Roof size (squares) | Up to 15 (~1,500 sq ft) · 16–25 (~2,500 sq ft) · 26–40 (~4,000 sq ft) · 40+ |
| Layers | Single layer · Double layer (two tear-offs) |
| Shingle type | 3-tab asphalt (~230 lb/square) · Architectural (~280 lb/square) · Cedar / wood (~350 lb/square) |
Example using those same numbers: an average 20-square architectural roof, one layer, is 20 × 1 × 280 / 2,000 = 2.8 tons, about 7 cubic yards of volume. Weight, not empty space, usually decides the box.
10 vs 20 vs 30 — not 40
Normal roofing and shingle loads are eligible for 10-, 20-, or 30-yard roll-offs only. A 40-yard open-top is not used for this material.
| Size | When the engine tends to land here |
|---|---|
| 10-yard roll-off | Smaller roofs or heavier shingles where weight shows up first. |
| 20-yard roll-off | Typical residential tear-offs in the calculator’s average-square range. |
| 30-yard roll-off | Larger roofs, extra layers, or more volume — still capped at 30. |
| 40-yard roll-off | Not recommended for normal roofing / shingles. |
Commercial or special roofing
The calculator covers 3-tab, architectural, and cedar/wood shingles with one or two layers. Slate, tile, metal commercial systems, and other roofing outside that logic should not be forced into a 40-yard open-top guess. Call Blue Sky at 586-412-3762 so we can place the job correctly.
Weight and what belongs in the box
- Shingles are dense. A box can look half empty and still be at the weight limit.
- Keep loads level with the top rail so the truck can haul legally.
- Roofing is not on the 10-yard-only heavy list (dirt, concrete, brick, block, masonry, rocks).
- Prohibited items still apply — paints, chemicals, and other restricted materials stay out.
Dumpster Weight Guide · What can and can’t go in a dumpster · Contractor Portal