Roof Tear-Off Weight & Dumpster Calculator

How it works

Weight = squares × layers × lb/square (+ 10 lb/sq underlayment + 2.5 lb/sq nails/flashing + replaced decking); volume = squares × layers × loose yd³/square; hauls = max(by volume, by weight)

Roofing is the classic case where the dumpster fills by weight long before it fills by volume: architectural shingles weigh about 275 lb per 100 ft² square, so a modest 24-square roof produces more than three tons before felt, nails and any rotten decking are added, and a second layer doubles it. Roll-off pricing includes a weight allowance of two to four tons with a per-ton overage above that, so the cheapest plan often has more boxes than the volume suggests. Tile and slate weigh three to four times as much as asphalt and must go in small heavy-debris containers filled half way to stay under road limits; metal, by contrast, is light, bulky and worth scrapping.

Worked example

Tearing one layer of architectural shingles off 2,400 ft² (24 squares) yields 6,600 lb of shingles plus 240 lb of felt, 60 lb of nails and about 480 lb of replaced decking — 3.7 tons in about 13 yd³. One 20 yd box handles the volume but runs 0.7 t over a 3 t allowance ($60), so the job costs about $510, roughly $21 per square.

Frequently asked questions