Roof tear-off / 25 squares
2,500 sq ft of roof · 75 bundles
Dumpster size for a 25 square roof
Stripping one layer of architectural shingles from a 25-square roof (2,500 sq ft) produces about 5,250 lb (2.6 tons) of shingles taking up 7.2 loose cubic yards. That needs a 20-yard dumpster: the debris fills 36% of the box, and weight is what sets the size.
- 1Roof 25 squares · 2,500 sq ft
- 2Bundles 75 (1 layer)
- 3Tear-off weight 5,250 lb
- 4Dumpster 20-yard
How the 25-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 25 gives 5,250 lb and 4,650 lb. Loose shingles take space at EPA's figure of 731 lb per cubic yard for composition roofing, so the architectural tear-off fills 7.2 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 2.6 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. That is the same size as for a 20-square roof.
Two layers, 3-tab and heavy shingles
| Shingle | 1 layer | Size | 2 layers | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural (laminated) shingles (210 lb/sq) | 5,250 lb | 20 yd | 10,500 lb | 30 yd |
| 3-tab shingles (186 lb/sq) | 4,650 lb | 20 yd | 9,300 lb | 30 yd |
| Heavyweight designer shingles (360 lb/sq) | 9,000 lb | 30 yd | 18,000 lb | 2 × 30 yd |
A second layer doubles the weight to 10,500 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 9,000 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, 0.6 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, 0.6 tons short of this tear-off. Its 10-yard listings say they take roof shingles "up to 100 bundles or 33sq", which covers 25 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
25 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:
- Sudbury, MA at $32 per cubic yard ($16 minimum): $230. 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.
- Wellfleet, MA at $290 per ton: $761. Who may use it: Residents with a vehicle sticker ($25 first vehicle, $10 second, $35 third); vehicles without a sticker pay a $10 entrance fee. Scrap lumber must be cut to six-foot lengths.
- Larimer County, CO at $36 per cubic yard: $259. The schedule does not say who may use the station. Per-yard lines carry a surcharge of 10 cents, 21 cents or $1.09 a cubic yard that is not added here.
- Bismarck, ND at $50 per ton ($6 minimum): $131. The schedule does not say who may use the station. Construction debris goes to the inert-waste site at a lower rate than mixed loads ($67 a ton).
Most stations take residents only, and several refuse contractor loads, so check the town page before you plan trips.
Other roof sizes
20 squares · 30 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.