15 Yard
$45015 yard: 14 ft × 89 in × 48 in, about 6 pickup loads, 2 tons included, $450
- Dimensions
- 14 ft × 89 in × 48 in
- Holds
- About 6 pickup loads
- Included tonnage
- 2 tons
- Rental time
- 14 days
Book the one we recommend
Call (410) 205-5330 if you're between sizes
15 vs 20 Yard Dumpster: Which Size Fits Your Job
MAC Dumpsters' 15 and 20 yard roll-offs sit on the same 14-foot by 89-inch footprint, so the choice comes down to room and weight. Book the 15 yard for a remodel, a mid-size roof or one-space cleanout. Book the 20 yard for a whole house, a multi-room renovation or a bigger roof, since $100 more adds about two pickup loads and a full ton. Both deliver from Middle River, MD, and you can compare dumpster sizes across all three.
- Owner-operated since 2023
- Our truck, our driver
- 5.0 on Google
- No delivery fee
Who is comparing these two sizes?
MAC Dumpsters is a roll-off dumpster company in Middle River, MD, run by owners Adam and Tara Graf since 2023. Four of our 12 containers are 15 yards and three are 20 yards, and our own driver delivers both on our own hook-lift truck. We serve Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties, with a 5.0 rating on Google.
What this 15 vs 20 verdict rests on
20 Yard
$55020 yard: 14 ft × 89 in × 64 in, about 8 pickup loads, 3 tons included, $550
- Dimensions
- 14 ft × 89 in × 64 in
- Holds
- About 8 pickup loads
- Included tonnage
- 3 tons
- Rental time
- 14 days
- Same ground footprint on both: 14 ft × 89 in
- Overage on both: $125 per ton
- Any weight over the included tons is billed after the load is weighed at the landfill
- Rental on both: 14 calendar days, then $25 per day
- Door on both: one hinged walk-in door
- Swap-out on either: same price as the rental, with fresh tonnage
- Fill to the top of the walls and no higher, so nothing falls off on the road
Inside this 15 vs 20 yard comparison
This page puts the 15 and 20 yard roll-off dumpsters from MAC Dumpsters side by side. It compares their volume, included weight, wall height and price, lists the jobs each one handles, and ends with a recommendation you can act on. It's written for Baltimore-area homeowners, remodelers and property owners choosing between a 15 or 20 yard dumpster for a bigger project.
Should I get a 15 or 20 yard dumpster?
Get a 15 yard for one remodel, one cleanout space or a roof up to about 13 architectural squares. Get a 20 yard when the job will pass about six pickup loads or 2 tons, like a whole-house cleanout or a multi-room renovation. At MAC Dumpsters, the 20 yard's extra ton costs $100, less than the $125 you'd pay in overage for that same ton.
Book the one we recommend
Call (410) 205-5330 if you're between sizes
What is the difference between a 15 and 20 yard dumpster?
A 20 yard dumpster holds 5 more cubic yards than a 15 yard, about two more pickup truck loads, in the same length and width. At MAC Dumpsters, the 20 yard's walls are 16 inches taller, it includes 3 tons instead of 2, and it costs $550 instead of $450.
| 15 yard | 20 yard | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14 ft × 89 in × 48 in | 14 ft × 89 in × 64 in |
| Capacity | 15 cu yd (405 cu ft) | 20 cu yd (540 cu ft) |
| Pickup truck loads | About 6 | About 8 |
| 33-gallon trash bags | 80 to 100 | 110 to 130 |
| Tons included | 2 (4,000 lb) | 3 (6,000 lb) |
| Price | $450 | $550 |
Volume: about six loads against about eight
The 15 yard holds about six full-size pickup loads, or 80 to 100 trash bags. The 20 yard holds about eight loads, or 110 to 130 bags. Those two extra loads are roughly the contents of a furnished basement or a packed two-car garage.
Estimates assume standard 33-gallon trash bags and a full-size pickup bed loaded level with the sides. Actual capacity depends on the material and how it's loaded. Included tonnage applies no matter how full the dumpster looks, and weight over it is billed per ton.
Included weight: 2 tons against 3 tons
The 15 yard includes 2 tons and the 20 yard includes 3 tons, with $125 per ton over either. By EPA estimates, a full load of mixed construction debris weighs about 3.1 to 3.6 tons in a 15 yard and 4.2 to 4.8 tons in a 20 yard. Heavy renovation loads go over in both, but the 20 yard's extra ton keeps more of the bill in the base price. The full math is in our guide to included tonnage and overage.
Same footprint, taller walls
Both containers cover 14 feet by 89 inches once they're set down, and our truck needs the same room to place either one. The only size difference you'll see from the driveway is height: 48 inches on the 15 yard and 64 inches on the 20 yard.
Price: $450 against $550
The 20 yard costs $100 more than the 15 yard. Both include delivery, pickup and 14 days with no delivery fee, and code 3DAY takes $50 off either one for a rental of 3 days or less.
Jobs that belong in a 15 yard
One kitchen or bathroom remodel
A single remodel usually produces five or six pickup loads of cabinets, drywall, flooring and fixtures. The 15 yard roll-off holds it without paying for room you won't use.
A basement, attic or garage cleanout
Clearing one large space, like a finished basement or a crowded garage, fits the 15 yard's six loads. Household junk is light, so the 2 tons included rarely comes into play.
Roofs up to about 13 architectural squares
A 15 yard takes about 13 squares of architectural shingles, or about 22 squares of 3-tab, before it goes over 2 tons. That covers many single-layer roofs on ranchers, split-levels and townhomes.
Jobs loaded by hand
The 15 yard's 48-inch walls are easier to reach over than the 20 yard's 64-inch walls. If one or two people are loading without help, the lower walls save effort.
Jobs that need a 20 yard
Whole-house and estate cleanouts
Emptying every room, plus the basement, attic and garage, runs past six pickup loads. The 20 yard dumpster rental takes about eight in one haul. Timing tips for these jobs are on our estate cleanout dumpster page.
Multi-room renovations and additions
Gutting several rooms or framing an addition produces more debris than a 15 yard holds and more weight than 2 tons. The 20 yard's 3 tons covers more of that load before overage starts. See construction dumpster rental for planning around job phases.
Roofs of 14 to 20 architectural squares
A roof of 14 to 20 architectural squares, or about 23 to 34 squares of 3-tab, goes over the 15 yard's 2 tons but fits inside the 20 yard's 3. Two layers roughly double the weight, and slate or tile needs a call.
One-time business cleanouts
Clearing an office, a storage room or a retail space before a remodel tends to run large. The 20 yard handles it in fewer hauls.
Deciding between the 15 and the 20
Will it pass six pickup loads?
Six loads or fewer, book the 15 yard. Seven or eight loads, book the 20 yard. If you're under four, our 10 vs 15 yard dumpster comparison may save you money.
Will it pass 2 tons?
If your debris is shingles, plaster, tile or framing lumber in any quantity, assume it will. The 20 yard's extra ton costs $100, and that same ton as overage on a 15 yard costs $125.
Who's doing the loading?
The 20 yard's 64-inch walls are about as tall as many adults, so heavy pieces go in through the walk-in door. A crew handles that easily. A homeowner loading alone may find the 15 yard's 48-inch walls easier.
Your driveway won't decide it
Both sizes have the same footprint and need the same truck clearance. If the 15 yard fits your spot, the 20 yard fits too.
15 vs 20 yard dumpster questions
How much is it to rent a big dumpster?
A big dumpster from MAC Dumpsters, the 20 yard, rents for $550 with 3 tons and 14 days included. The 15 yard is $450 with 2 tons. Both include delivery and pickup with no delivery fee, and weight over the included tons is $125 per ton.
Where can I rent a big dumpster?
MAC Dumpsters rents 15 and 20 yard dumpsters across Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties, delivered from our yard in Middle River. Book online or call 410-205-5330. There's no delivery fee anywhere in that area.
How to get rid of a large amount of junk?
Rent one container big enough to take it all in a single haul. A 15 yard holds about six pickup loads, and a 20 yard holds about eight. If the junk fills more than one space, like a basement and a garage, the 20 yard is the safer pick.
How do I get rid of a large bulky object?
Carry it through the walk-in door of a rented dumpster instead of lifting it over the side. Both the 15 and 20 yard have one, and both are 14 feet long, so a sectional or a long table lies flat on the floor. On the 20 yard, the door matters more, because its walls stand 64 inches tall.
Can I take stuff to the dump myself?
Yes, if you have a truck and only a load or two. A job that fills a 15 yard would take about six pickup trips, and a 20 yard about eight. For a project that size, one container with 14 days to load it saves the trips. Check what we cannot take before you start.
Book the 15 or the 20
Job fits in six loads and 2 tons? Book the 15 yard online. Bigger than that? Book the 20 yard. If you're still between them, call (410) 205-5330 and we'll size it with you.
