EPA conversion factor · read 2026-10-20

Leaves: weight per yard and dumpster size

EPA puts a loose cubic yard of leaves at 250 to 500 pounds (0.3 tons at the high figure). That is heavy enough that no roll-off size can be filled level without passing the low end of its published weight capacity, so loads of leaves are sized by weight, not by yards.

1One cubic yard 500 lb
2Per 32-gal bag about 83 lb
3Fills level No size
410-yard limit 8 of 10 yd

Per loose cubic yard

250–500 lb

Per 32-gallon bag

≈ 83 lb

One 8-ft pickup bed

1,250 lb

Heavier materials listed

6 of 25

Leaves filled level in each size at EPA's 500 lb per cubic yard, in tons. Highlighted bars stay within the low end of Republic Services' published weight capacity; "over" means a full box would pass it.

How much leaves fits in each dumpster

Size	Full box	Republic capacity	Yards before the low limit
10 yard	1.3–2.5 t	2–3 t	8 yd
15 yard	1.9–3.8 t	2–3 t	8 yd
20 yard	2.5–5 t	4–5 t	16 yd
30 yard	3.8–7.5 t	6–7 t	24 yd
40 yard	5–10 t	8–9 t	32 yd

Even the 10-yard reaches 2 tons at 8 cubic yards of leaves, so the practical rule is to fill a small box partway. It weighs about the same per yard as mixed construction debris (484 lb).

Worked loads of leaves

Loose yards	Weight	Smallest size that takes it	Fill
2	1,000 lb (0.5 t)	10-yard, weight-limited	20%
5	2,500 lb (1.3 t)	10-yard, weight-limited	50%
10	5,000 lb (2.5 t)	20-yard, weight-limited	50%
20	10,000 lb (5 t)	30-yard, weight-limited	67%

"Takes it" means the volume fits and the weight stays at or below the low end of Republic Services' published capacity for that size.

Materials of similar weight

Asphalt shingles (731 lb) · Sawdust (275–530 lb) · Mixed construction debris (484 lb) · Wood chips (243–473 lb). Mixed loads take on the weight of their heaviest part, so a remodel load with shingles or tile in it should be sized as if it were mostly those. The guide to what you cannot put in a dumpster covers the items haulers refuse.

Source: U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016), row "Yard trimmings · Leaves" (EPA source note 1), read 2026-10-20. Size capacities: Republic Services size pages. Methodology.