Debris weight calculator
Enter cubic yards of each material and get a weight range in tons and pounds. This is the calculation that decides whether you go over your tonnage allowance, which is where surprise charges come from.
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This calculator needs JavaScript. The reference table below covers the same ground.
How much will my debris weigh? weight in pounds = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard, summed across every material in the load. Divide by 2,000 to get short tons, and then compare that figure against the tonnage your own rental agreement includes.
The formula
weight in pounds = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard, summed across every material in the load. Divide by 2,000 to get short tons, and then compare that figure against the tonnage your own rental agreement includes.
Worked example
A 25 square architectural shingle tear-off is about 10 cubic yards of shingles. At 1,800 to 2,500 pounds per cubic yard that is 18,000 to 25,000 pounds, or 9 to 12.5 tons — against a 20 yard rental that typically includes 2 to 4. That gap, not the container size, is the real cost of the job.
Assumptions
- Density ranges are engineering estimates for loose, mixed debris, not weighbridge measurements of your load
- Wet material is materially heavier than dry — rain between demolition and pickup raises your bill without adding a shovelful
- The output is a range because the input is a range. Any calculator that returns a single number for debris weight is presenting a guess as a measurement
Reference table
| Material | lb per yd³ | Tons per 10 yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall and gypsum board | 400–600 | 2.0–3.0 |
| Untreated lumber and wood | 300–500 | 1.5–2.5 |
| Asphalt roofing shingles | 1800–2500 | 9.0–12.5 |
| Yard waste, brush and branches | 250–500 | 1.3–2.5 |
| Sod, soil and dirt | 2000–2700 | 10.0–13.5 |
| Concrete, brick and asphalt | 3500–4100 | 17.5–20.5 |