# Tipping fee: what it means

> What a landfill or transfer station charges per ton to accept a load. Set regionally, and the largest single input into what a container costs you.

Source: https://dumptergod.shop/glossary/tipping-fee/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-17

# Tipping fee

Definition
What a landfill or transfer station charges per ton to accept a load. Set regionally, and the largest single input into what a container costs you.

## What else to know about tipping fee

Also called a gate rate or dump fee. The 2024 US average was $62.28 per ton, up 10% in a year. Regional spread is wide enough to explain most of the price variation between states.

## Related terms
- Gate rate — Another name for a tipping fee — the per-ton price at the scale house where a hauler drops your debris.
- Transfer station — A facility where collection trucks tip loads for consolidation into larger vehicles before the trip to a landfill or processor.
- Overage charge — The per-ton fee for weight above the tonnage included in your rental. The most common reason a final invoice does not match the quote.

## Related questions
- The full glossary
- Costs
- Sizes
- What can go in

## Sources
- Primary source 2024 Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill Tipping Fees — Environmental Research & Education Foundation · last reviewed 2026-08-17The full report is a paid publication. The national average and the year-over-year change are reported in the publisher’s own product description and in trade press covering the release.

Reviewed by [R. Tiwari](https://dumptergod.shop/authors/r-tiwari/) Last reviewed: 2026-08-17