Demolition Debris Calculator

Enter project details

Unit system

Switching units keeps your project logic the same.

Input method

Use area method for slabs, floors, and uniform layers.

Material type

Density auto-fills; adjust if your debris differs.

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Average height / depth (ft)

For wall demo, use average thickness × height area method instead.

Area (ft²)

Thickness (in)

Example

A 900 ft² slab at 4 in thickness.

Length (m)

Width (m)

Average height / depth (m)

Area (m²)

Thickness (cm)

Example

A 84 m² slab at 10 cm thickness.

Waste factor (%)

Allowance for missed areas and irregular shapes.

Bulking factor (%)

Loose debris can occupy more space after demolition.

Recycling rate (%)

Percent of weight eligible for credit or reduced fees.

Density (lb/ft³)

Used for weight and ton-limit planning.

Density (kg/m³)

Auto-linked with lb/ft³ when you calculate.

Note

Bulk density changes with moisture and break size.

Dumpster size

Common roll-off sizes for construction cleanup.

Dumpster fill factor (%)

Accounts for air gaps and safe loading practices.

Ton limit per dumpster

Haulers often enforce weight limits regardless of volume.

Disposal fee ($ per ton)

Charged by landfill or transfer station.

Rental fee ($ per dumpster)

Includes delivery and pickup in many quotes.

Extra haul fee ($ per haul)

Use when rental does not include transport.

Recycling credit ($ per ton)

Optional: revenue or reduced tipping fees.

Permit cost ($)

Street placement or local disposal permits.

Labor cost ($)

Optional: crew hours, equipment, and handling.

Reset

Example data table

These examples show typical inputs and outputs. Real projects vary by material mix, moisture, and handling.

Scenario	Method	Base volume	Waste + bulking	Material	Adj. volume (yd³)	Weight (tons)	Suggested dumpster
Concrete slab removal	Area × Thickness	900 ft² × 4 in	10% + 15%	Concrete	15.33	8.51	3 × 10 yd³ (ton limits)
Drywall renovation	Dimensions	20 ft × 15 ft × 1 ft	10% + 10%	Drywall	13.44	1.48	1 × 20 yd³
Mixed interior demo	Dimensions	25 ft × 20 ft × 1.5 ft	12% + 20%	Mixed C&D	24.89	2.80	2 × 20 yd³

Formula used

1) Base volume

Dimensions V = L × W × H

Area V = A × T

Imperial: thickness in inches is converted to feet (T/12).

2) Adjusted volume

V_adj = V × (1 + Waste%) × (1 + Bulking%)
Waste covers missed sections; bulking covers loosened debris expansion.

3) Weight estimate

W = V_adj × Density
Density is bulk density, not solid material density.

4) Dumpster count

N_vol = ceil( V_yd³ / (Cap × Fill) )
N_wt = ceil( Tons / TonLimit )
N = max(N_vol, N_wt)

5) Cost model

Total = (Tons × DisposalFee) + (N × RentalFee) + (N × HaulFee) + Permit + Labor − (Tons × RecyclingRate × RecyclingCredit)

How to use this calculator

Select a unit system and an input method that matches your measurements.
Choose your material type, then adjust density if you know your mix.
Enter base dimensions or area and thickness for the demolition scope.
Set waste and bulking factors to reflect breakage and expansion.
Select a dumpster size, fill factor, and any ton limits from your hauler.
Enter disposal and rental pricing, plus optional hauling, permits, and labor.
Press Calculate debris to view results above the form, then export.

Professional article: demolition debris estimating

1) Scope definition and measurement

Start by defining the demolition boundary: rooms, slabs, roof layers, or exterior walls. Measure either length × width × height for piled debris space, or area × thickness for uniform elements. Conversions matter: 1 yd³ equals 27 ft³, and 1 m³ equals 35.3 ft³.

2) Typical material density ranges

Weight drives hauling and landfill fees. Bulk densities often used for planning include mixed C&D near 45 lb/ft³, drywall near 50 lb/ft³, wood near 35 lb/ft³, and concrete near 150 lb/ft³. Moisture and contamination can raise these values significantly.

3) Waste factor for uncertainty

Waste factor covers missed areas, hidden layers, and measurement error. For interior renovation, 10–15% is common. For complex assemblies, add more. The calculator applies waste as a multiplier, so a 12% waste factor increases computed volume and weight by 1.12 before other adjustments.

4) Bulking factor after breakup

Demolition debris expands after breakage because air voids increase. Bulking factors of 15–25% are typical for mixed demolition, while dense concrete may be lower. Using both waste and bulking improves container planning, because loose debris occupies more space than intact material.

5) Dumpster capacity versus safe loading

Roll-off dumpsters are sized by volume, commonly 10, 20, 30, and 40 yd³. However, operators rarely allow 100% fill due to safe transport. A practical fill factor of 80–90% reflects air gaps and loading geometry, and helps prevent overflow and rework.

6) Ton limits and overweight risk

Many haulers enforce ton limits such as 3 tons for 10 yd³, 4 tons for 20 yd³, 5 tons for 30 yd³, and 6 tons for 40 yd³. Heavy debris can exceed limits early. This calculator compares volume-based and weight-based counts and recommends the higher value.

7) Cost structure and budgeting

Total cost usually combines disposal (tons × tipping fee), dumpster rental (containers × rate), and any haul, permit, and labor charges. Disposal fees vary widely, so sensitivity checks help: increasing tipping fee from $85 to $120 per ton raises disposal cost by 41% for the same weight.

8) Recycling and continuous improvement

Separating clean concrete, metal, and wood can reduce landfill tonnage and may earn credits. Track the first haul ticket to calibrate density and bulking for the remaining scope. Updating these inputs mid-project typically improves container scheduling and reduces surprise surcharges on later loads.

FAQs

1) Which input method should I use?

Use area × thickness for slabs, floors, and uniform layers. Use length × width × height when estimating a debris space or a consistent pile envelope.

2) What waste factor is reasonable?

Many renovation projects use 10–15%. Increase it when hidden layers, irregular geometry, or partial demolition makes measurements uncertain.

3) Why include a bulking factor?

Broken debris contains more air voids than intact materials. Bulking adjusts volume so dumpster counts reflect real container space needs.

4) How do I choose density for mixed loads?

Start with the mixed C&D option, then adjust. More masonry and tile increases density, while wood-heavy demolition decreases it.

5) Why can weight limit override volume?

Haulers charge overweight fees or reject loads beyond ton limits. Dense materials may hit ton limits before the dumpster looks full.

6) How are recycling credits applied?

Credits apply only to the recycled portion: total tons × recycling rate × credit per ton. Set credit to zero if you receive none.

7) Can this estimate multiple dumpsters of different sizes?

This version recommends one selected size for planning. Run scenarios with different sizes to compare container counts and total costs.