Roof tear-off / 20 squares
2,000 sq ft of roof · 60 bundles
Dumpster size for a 20 square roof
Stripping one layer of architectural shingles from a 20-square roof (2,000 sq ft) produces about 4,200 lb (2.1 tons) of shingles taking up 5.7 loose cubic yards. That needs a 20-yard dumpster: the debris fills 29% of the box, and weight is what sets the size.
- 1Roof 20 squares · 2,000 sq ft
- 2Bundles 60 (1 layer)
- 3Tear-off weight 4,200 lb
- 4Dumpster 20-yard
How the 20-square figure is worked out
A square is 100 sq ft of roof. GAF's Timberline HDZ architectural shingle is sold at 70 lb a bundle and 3 bundles a square, so 210 lb a square; GAF's Royal Sovereign 3-tab is 62 lb a bundle, 186 lb a square. Multiplying by 20 gives 4,200 lb and 3,720 lb. Loose shingles take space at EPA's figure of 731 lb per cubic yard for composition roofing, so the architectural tear-off fills 5.7 cubic yards. Nails, underlayment and flashing add a little to both numbers.
The size comes from Republic Services' published weight capacities. By volume alone the shingles would fit a smaller box, but 2.1 tons is more than the 2-ton low end of the 10- and 15-yard capacities, so the 20-yard (4–5 tons) is the first that carries it.
Two layers, 3-tab and heavy shingles
| Shingle | 1 layer | Size | 2 layers | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural (laminated) shingles (210 lb/sq) | 4,200 lb | 20 yd | 8,400 lb | 30 yd |
| 3-tab shingles (186 lb/sq) | 3,720 lb | 10 yd | 7,440 lb | 20 yd |
| Heavyweight designer shingles (360 lb/sq) | 7,200 lb | 20 yd | 14,400 lb | 40 yd |
A second layer doubles the weight to 8,400 lb, which moves the job up to a 30-yard. Heavyweight designer shingles such as Owens Corning's Berkshire (360 lb a square nominal) weigh 7,200 lb for one layer. If you do not know how many layers are on the roof, check at a gable edge or a vent before ordering.
What the published rental prices include
Bin There Dump That (New Hampshire franchise) lists a 20-yard in New Hampshire at $750 with 2 tons included, 0.1 tons short of this tear-off; Bin There Dump That (Central Massachusetts franchise) lists a 20-yard in Central Massachusetts at $700 with 3 tons included, enough for this tear-off; Bin There Dump That (Northeast Massachusetts franchise) lists a 20-yard in Northeast Massachusetts at $760 with 2 tons included, 0.1 tons short of this tear-off. Its 10-yard listings say they take roof shingles "up to 100 bundles or 33sq", which covers 20 squares by volume. Weight over the included tons is billed as an overage; none of these pages prints the rate. See published rental prices.
Hauling it yourself: town transfer-station fees
20 squares of shingles is about 3 loads of an 8-ft pickup bed (2.5 cubic yards each). Where a town publishes a shingle rate, the same tear-off would cost:
- New Boston, NH at $0.14 per pound ($5 minimum): $588. Who may use it: Residential users with a resident disposal sticker or a no-charge special permit from the Town Office; New Boston-generated materials only. Credit cards carry a 3.99% convenience fee.
- Raymond, NH at $0.077 per pound: $323. Who may use it: Raymond residents with the town sticker pay the resident rate; non-residents are accepted at a higher rate. The resident permit is $43 a year. Chester, NH sends residents with construction debris and furniture to the Raymond station.
- Stratham, NH at $175 per cubic yard: $1,005. Who may use it: Stratham residents with a resident permit sticker from the Town Clerk's Office, one per vehicle. Vehicle loads are priced by the attendant's estimate of volume; a vehicle that is less than full counts as full.
- Sudbury, MA at $32 per cubic yard ($16 minimum): $184. Who may use it: Residents only, with a vehicle sticker. No contractors or businesses. The town notes that one level 8-ft pickup bed is about 2.5 cubic yards.
Most stations take residents only, and several refuse contractor loads, so check the town page before you plan trips.
Other roof sizes
15 squares · 25 squares · all roof sizes · asphalt shingle weight per yard · guide: roofing dumpster size by squares.
Sources: GAF Timberline HDZ listing; GAF Royal Sovereign listing; Owens Corning product guide; EPA volume-to-weight factors; Republic Services size pages. Read 2026-10-20. Methodology.