Canonical: https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/renovation-debris-lakeland-15-or-20-yard-dumpster/ Guide # Renovation Debris in Lakeland FL: Choosing Between a 15 and 20 Yard Dumpster By Preferred Dumpster LLC Published October 21, 2026 For most Lakeland renovations, a 15 yard dumpster handles a single kitchen or bathroom tear-out, and a 20 yard dumpster is the better fit once the job spreads to several rooms, includes flooring throughout the house, or adds a lot of heavy material like tile and plaster. The choice comes down to three things: how many rooms you are opening up, how heavy the debris is, and how many days the work will take. Here is how to think it through before you book, so the container in your driveway matches the job instead of running out halfway through demo day. ## The two sizes, side by side We rent two roll-off sizes, and both are sized for residential work: - **15 yard dumpster:** 12’ long x 8’ wide x 5’ high. A good match for [roof tear-offs](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/services/roofing-dumpster-rental/), bathroom or kitchen remodels, and garage and attic cleanouts. - **20 yard dumpster:** 14’ long x 7.5’ wide x 6’ high. A good match for whole-house cleanouts, multi-room remodels, multi-layer roofs and [construction debris](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/services/construction-dumpster-rentals/). The 20 yard is a little longer and a foot taller, and that extra height adds up quickly when you are loading bulky items like cabinet boxes, vanities and rolls of old carpet. Both sizes include local delivery, pickup and 2 tons of debris. Our online price builder shows the exact total for either size before you book. ## When a 15 yard dumpster is enough A 15 yard is the right call when the renovation stays in one room. Typical examples: - A bathroom gut: old tub or shower surround, vanity, toilet, tile, drywall and flooring. - A kitchen tear-out: upper and lower cabinets, countertops, backsplash, a section of drywall and the old floor. - A single bedroom or living room refresh: carpet and pad, baseboards, a closet rebuild and some drywall. If you are doing one of these jobs and you are not also clearing out a garage or attic at the same time, a 15 yard usually covers it. It also takes up a little less driveway, which helps on the tighter lots in older neighborhoods like Dixieland or around Lake Morton. ## When to step up to a 20 yard Choose the 20 yard when any of these are true: - **More than one room is coming apart.** A kitchen plus a bathroom, or a kitchen that opens into the dining room, generates a lot more volume than people expect. - **Flooring is coming up throughout the house.** Carpet, pad, laminate and tack strip from several rooms fill space fast. - **You are combining a remodel with a cleanout.** Many homeowners use the same dumpster to clear out furniture and stored items before the work starts. - **A contractor is running the job on a schedule.** Running out of room mid-project means stopping work until a swap-out arrives. If you are torn between the two, the larger container is usually the safer choice for multi-room work. A second haul costs more than the difference in size. ## Weight matters as much as space Renovation debris is not all the same. Drywall, cabinets, trim and carpet are bulky but fairly light. Ceramic tile, mortar beds, plaster and concrete are dense and heavy, so a container can reach its weight allowance long before it looks full. Every rental includes 2 tons of debris. [Extra weight](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/how-to-avoid-dumpster-rental-overage-fees-in-polk-county/) is $65 per ton, based on the landfill scale ticket, which we share after pickup. A few ways to stay inside the allowance: - Tell us up front if the job includes a lot of tile, a mortar shower pan or concrete, so we can talk through the plan with you. - Keep debris dry. Drywall, carpet and cardboard soak up rain, and a Florida afternoon storm can add real weight to an open container. - Spread heavy pieces across the floor of the dumpster instead of piling them at one end. Our guide to [what size dumpster you need](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/what-size-dumpster-do-i-need/) walks through more project types if your job does not fit neatly into one of the examples above. ## What can go in, and what cannot Most remodeling debris is accepted: drywall, lumber and wood, flooring and cabinets, metal scraps and fixtures, and concrete, brick and tile. Non-hazardous appliances and old furniture can go in too. We cannot accept hazardous waste, paint, liquids, oils and fuels, batteries, tires, propane tanks, asbestos or liquid adhesives. Renovations are where these items tend to turn up: half-used paint cans, adhesive and solvent containers, loose batteries or a propane cylinder from the patio. Set them aside and take them to a proper disposal site instead. When you are not sure about an item, check our list of what you can throw in a dumpster or ask us before you load it. If your Lakeland home was built before 1978, keep in mind that older painted surfaces may contain lead. The EPA explains how its [Renovation, Repair and Painting program](https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program) applies to paid work that disturbs paint in older homes, and it is worth reading before demo starts. ## Picking the right rental period We offer two rentals: - **1-3 day rental:** keep the dumpster up to 3 days. There are no 1-day rentals; a one-day job is billed as a 1-3 day rental. - **4-7 day rental:** keep it up to 7 days, then $15 per extra day from day 8. The 1-3 day rental does not take extra days, so if there is any chance the work will run past three days, book the 4-7 day rental from the start. A weekend bathroom demo often fits in 1-3 days. A kitchen remodel where cabinets come out on Monday and the old flooring comes up on Thursday fits the 4-7 day rental better. Current prices, before tax: Size 1-3 day rental 4-7 day rental Swap-out 15 yard $299 $399 $199 20 yard $349 $449 $249 A swap-out means we haul the full container and drop an empty one, which is useful on bigger remodels where demo and cleanup happen in waves. ## A simple way to decide Walk through the project and answer these questions: - How many rooms are being torn out? One room points to a 15 yard. Two or more points to a 20 yard. - Is there a lot of tile, plaster or concrete? If yes, plan for weight, not just space. - Are you clearing out furniture or storage at the same time? If yes, size up. - Will the work run longer than three days? If yes, choose the 4-7 day rental. Planning a bit of reuse helps too. Good cabinets, doors and fixtures can often be donated instead of thrown away, and the EPA’s page on [construction and demolition materials](https://www.epa.gov/smm/sustainable-management-construction-and-demolition-materials) lists common renovation materials that can be reused or recycled. Less in the dumpster means less weight on the scale ticket. ## Placement on a Lakeland driveway Most residential renovations put the dumpster on the driveway, close enough to carry debris out but clear of the garage door and any overhead lines. Driveway boards are available on request. Let us know where you want it when you book, and point out anything to avoid, such as sprinkler heads, a soft shoulder or a low-hanging oak branch. You can see more about how we handle homeowner jobs on our [residential dumpster rental](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/services/residential-dumpster-rental/) page, and our [Lakeland service area page](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/service-areas/lakeland-fl/) lists the neighborhoods we deliver to. ## Frequently asked questions ### What size dumpster do I need for a kitchen remodel? A single kitchen tear-out, including cabinets, countertops, backsplash and flooring, usually fits a 15 yard dumpster. If the kitchen remodel also includes a dining area, a second room or a house-wide flooring change, choose the 20 yard. ### What size dumpster do I need for a bathroom remodel? One bathroom fits comfortably in a 15 yard. If you are remodeling two bathrooms at once, or the bathroom job has a lot of tile and a mortar bed, consider the 20 yard or plan your load carefully for weight. ### How long can I keep the dumpster during a renovation? Choose a 1-3 day rental for up to 3 days or a 4-7 day rental for up to 7 days. Only the 4-7 day rental takes extra days, at $15 per day after day 7. ### What happens if the debris goes over 2 tons? Every rental includes 2 tons. Anything over that is $65 per ton, based on the landfill scale ticket, which we share with you after pickup. ## Book your renovation dumpster Pick your size, choose your rental period and see your exact total on our [rent a dumpster page](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/rent-a-dumpster/), then book online. If you would rather talk it through first, call or text us at (863) 968-3996 and tell us what you are tearing out. We will help you match the container to the job. Price it now ## 15 yard from $299. 20 yard from $349. 1-3 or 4-7 day rentals, 2 tons included, delivery and pickup included. [Build my price](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/rent-a-dumpster/#builder) ## More guides - [How to Avoid Dumpster Rental Overage Fees in Polk County](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/how-to-avoid-dumpster-rental-overage-fees-in-polk-county/) - [Dumpster Rental for Estate Cleanouts in Winter Haven and Polk County](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/dumpster-rental-for-estate-cleanouts-in-winter-haven-and-polk-county/) - [How to Prepare Your Driveway for a Dumpster Rental in Polk County](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/how-to-prepare-your-driveway-for-a-dumpster-rental-in-polk-county/) - [What Can You Throw in a Dumpster? Florida Rental Rules Made Simple](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/what-can-you-throw-in-a-dumpster/) Answers in one click ## Plan your cleanup in 30 seconds Check what can go in, find the right size and confirm we deliver to you, before you ever pick up the phone. ### Can I toss it? ### What size do I need? Pick your project: We recommend **20 Yard** [Price this size](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/rent-a-dumpster/#builder) ### Do you deliver to me? We deliver to 31 towns across Polk County and nearby. [See the full list](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/service-areas/). ## Ready when you are. Book online in two minutes, or call and talk to Matt. Delivery across Winter Haven and all of Polk County. [Build your price](https://preferreddumpsterllc.com/rent-a-dumpster/#builder) (863) 968-3996