Terms of UseHow to Order a Dumpster Explore this Article parts 1 Finding a Vendor 2 Selecting a Dumpster 3 Making Delivery Preparations 4 Filling the Dumpster + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Last Updated: July 26, 2025
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 18,182 times.
Dumpster rentals are a way to easily dispose of a large amount of waste. You can order a dumpster by going online or calling a disposal company in your area. Temporary rentals are available for home use and long-term contracts are available for businesses. Once the company delivers the dumpster, review the usage rules to avoid additional fees. When you’re finished, the company will haul the dumpster away, helping your cleaning project become a success.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 4:
Finding a Vendor
1 Search online for waste disposal businesses in your area. Type a phrase like “dumpster rental” along with your city into an online search engine. Scroll down the page to find the websites for dumpster rental companies closest to you. Visit the websites or get in touch with the company to research their dumpster options.
The services available differ between companies. However, most companies offer both short-term and long-term rental options.
If you pay for a home garbage collection service, the business responsible for it most likely rents out dumpsters as well.
Also consult your local government’s waste disposal department. Some cities rent out dumpsters.
2 Type your location into the website. Many company websites will prompt you for some basic personal information as soon as you access them. Look for a “get quote” button or a box asking for your zip code. Type in the information the site needs so you can get an accurate list of available services and prices.
You may also call the company to order a dumpster. The phone number is usually displayed near the top of the page.
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3 Get a permit if you want to place your bin in the street. After you locate a company, check their permit requirements. Also consult your local municipality’s waste disposal office or check their website. You should apply weeks in advance to ensure the rental and delivery go smoothly. On the application, note the size of dumpster you need as well as how long you plan on keeping it.[1]XResearch source
Street dumpsters usually are only allowed to take up at maximum half of a road or sidewalk.
You can have the dumpster about a week, although in some locations you can renew the permit weekly.
Some companies may require you to have the permit before you can complete your order. These permits are not available in all areas.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 4:
Selecting a Dumpster
1 Estimate the amount of trash you need to throw away. Sorting the waste into groups based on material or size may help you pick out a dumpster big enough for your needs. Choose a larger dumpster if you have a lot of stuff to throw away or are getting rid of big objects, such as mattresses. If you are getting a dumpster for a business, use the size of the business to estimate how much trash you need to dispose of weekly.
A person throws away about 4 lb (1.8 kg) of trash a day. A dumpster 6 ft (1.8 m) long and 3 ft (0.91 m) high can handle about 25 employees.
Review the service’s list of accepted waste products. For example, a front-opening dumpster is often useful for removing construction material and yard waste.
2 Select a dumpster size that fits on your property. Most areas require you to fit the dumpster in your driveway unless you have a city permit. These roll off or open top dumpsters range in size from 10 to 40 cu yd (7.6 to 30.6 m3). Front load dumpsters for businesses are much smaller than this.[2]XResearch source
Front load dumpsters for businesses are about 6 ft (1.8 m) long and range from 3 to 7 ft (0.91 to 2.13 m) high.
If the dumpsters are too big, try a waste bag. The bag holds about 3,300 US gal (12,000 L) of trash. The disposal company will pick it up when you’re done.
3 Pick a temporary rental for residential use. If you plan on getting a roll off or open top dumpster, you can only keep it for a short time. Companies generally rent home dumpsters for 6 or 7 days starting around $500 USD. Then, they come and pick it up. This is to keep you and the company within the residential guidelines in your area.
For a fee of about $50 per day, you can rent the dumpster beyond the allotted time.
You can rent a dumpster multiple times. If possible, make use of a regular waste-disposal service in your area to avoid this.
4 Select the continual rental option for businesses. The continual rental option is a garbage collection service for businesses. You can use this to rent one of the front load dumpsters on wheels you may see behind many businesses. These dumpsters are smaller than roll off and open top dumpsters. The disposal company cleans them out weekly.[3]XResearch source
These dumpsters cost between $50 and $150 USD per month to rent, so they’re cheaper than home rentals.
For construction projects, you will need to get the roll off or open top dumpsters. These are the same heavy-duty dumpsters rented out for home projects.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 4:
Making Delivery Preparations
1 Schedule the delivery and pickup dates. Select a dumpster to bring up the order form. In the delivery box, indicate what day you want the dumpster delivered to you. If you are renting a dumpster for your home, you will also need to provide a date for the company to come and retrieve the dumpster.[4]XResearch source
Home dumpsters are typically rented out for up to 6 or 7 days. If you keep the dumpster longer, you have to pay extra.
2 Provide your delivery information to complete the order. Fill out the rest of the form to complete your order. You will need to type in some basic information, including your name, phone number, and delivery address. The company may also ask you to indicate where you want them to leave the dumpster and what you plan on putting in it. Supply your credit card information to complete the order form.[5]XResearch source
3 Clear out your driveway before the dumpster arrives. Dumpsters need to be delivered to a driveway or another flat area out of traffic. Move all cars out of your driveway. Also, clean up any tree branches. If there is a loose electrical wire, call your city’s energy department or the electrical company to get it fixed as soon as possible.
If the company cannot complete the delivery, they will charge you fuel and transportation fees.
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Part 4 Part 4 of 4:
Filling the Dumpster
1 Read the list of prohibited material before filling the dumpster. Basically, environmental toxins and electronics aren’t accepted by dumpster services. This includes antifreeze, motor oil, and computers. Also, keep food, yard waste, and other organic material out of the dumpster unless otherwise specified. Rinse out any recyclable material such as paper boxes and glass bottles that held food or chemicals.[6]XResearch source
The company will charge you a fee for any prohibited material you place in the dumpster.
Unaccepted material needs to be disposed of elsewhere. Look for hazardous waste sites or disposal services that accept electronics.
2 Put large and heavy material in the dumpster only if it is allowed. Many people get dumpsters when remodeling a building in order to throw away heavy material like bricks and mattresses. This is fine, as long as you notify the disposal company in advance so you get the correct dumpster size. Private companies can usually handle this material.[7]XResearch source
Dumpsters provided by your city, for example, may not accept large or heavy items.
3 Avoid overfilling the dumpster. Your trash should not stick out of the dumpster. If it does, it can spill out during transportation. This is a city hazard as well as an environmental one, and you will end up paying extra in fees. Fill the dumpster so the waste stays under the rim and safely inside it.[8]XResearch source
To save space, put anything you can into bags for your regular garbage disposal service. Transport the excess to a local waste facility.
If the dumpster is too small, you may need to rent it again to finish cleaning.
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Expert Q&A
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Video
Tips
Before ordering a dumpster, make sure you have a flat spot on your property for it. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
If you are getting rid of a lot of trash, divide it up to avoid overfilling the dumpster. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Be careful about what you put in dumpsters. Not all material is accepted by disposal contractors. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Not all waste is safe for dumpster disposal. Bring hazardous materials to a facility trained to handle them. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: wikiHow Staff wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 18,182 times. 6 votes - 83% Co-authors: 15 Updated: July 26, 2025 Views: 18,182 
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4876 
1 Search online for waste disposal businesses in your area. Type a phrase like “dumpster rental” along with your city into an online search engine. Scroll down the page to find the websites for dumpster rental companies closest to you. Visit the websites or get in touch with the company to research their dumpster options. 
2 Type your location into the website. Many company websites will prompt you for some basic personal information as soon as you access them. Look for a “get quote” button or a box asking for your zip code. Type in the information the site needs so you can get an accurate list of available services and prices. 
3 Get a permit if you want to place your bin in the street. After you locate a company, check their permit requirements. Also consult your local municipality’s waste disposal office or check their website. You should apply weeks in advance to ensure the rental and delivery go smoothly. On the application, note the size of dumpster you need as well as how long you plan on keeping it.[1] 
1 Estimate the amount of trash you need to throw away. Sorting the waste into groups based on material or size may help you pick out a dumpster big enough for your needs. Choose a larger dumpster if you have a lot of stuff to throw away or are getting rid of big objects, such as mattresses. If you are getting a dumpster for a business, use the size of the business to estimate how much trash you need to dispose of weekly. 
2 Select a dumpster size that fits on your property. Most areas require you to fit the dumpster in your driveway unless you have a city permit. These roll off or open top dumpsters range in size from 10 to 40 cu yd (7.6 to 30.6 m3). Front load dumpsters for businesses are much smaller than this.[2] 
3 Pick a temporary rental for residential use. If you plan on getting a roll off or open top dumpster, you can only keep it for a short time. Companies generally rent home dumpsters for 6 or 7 days starting around $500 USD. Then, they come and pick it up. This is to keep you and the company within the residential guidelines in your area. 
4 Select the continual rental option for businesses. The continual rental option is a garbage collection service for businesses. You can use this to rent one of the front load dumpsters on wheels you may see behind many businesses. These dumpsters are smaller than roll off and open top dumpsters. The disposal company cleans them out weekly.[3] 
1 Schedule the delivery and pickup dates. Select a dumpster to bring up the order form. In the delivery box, indicate what day you want the dumpster delivered to you. If you are renting a dumpster for your home, you will also need to provide a date for the company to come and retrieve the dumpster.[4] 
2 Provide your delivery information to complete the order. Fill out the rest of the form to complete your order. You will need to type in some basic information, including your name, phone number, and delivery address. The company may also ask you to indicate where you want them to leave the dumpster and what you plan on putting in it. Supply your credit card information to complete the order form.[5] 
3 Clear out your driveway before the dumpster arrives. Dumpsters need to be delivered to a driveway or another flat area out of traffic. Move all cars out of your driveway. Also, clean up any tree branches. If there is a loose electrical wire, call your city’s energy department or the electrical company to get it fixed as soon as possible. 
1 Read the list of prohibited material before filling the dumpster. Basically, environmental toxins and electronics aren’t accepted by dumpster services. This includes antifreeze, motor oil, and computers. Also, keep food, yard waste, and other organic material out of the dumpster unless otherwise specified. Rinse out any recyclable material such as paper boxes and glass bottles that held food or chemicals.[6] 
2 Put large and heavy material in the dumpster only if it is allowed. Many people get dumpsters when remodeling a building in order to throw away heavy material like bricks and mattresses. This is fine, as long as you notify the disposal company in advance so you get the correct dumpster size. Private companies can usually handle this material.[7] 
3 Avoid overfilling the dumpster. Your trash should not stick out of the dumpster. If it does, it can spill out during transportation. This is a city hazard as well as an environmental one, and you will end up paying extra in fees. Fill the dumpster so the waste stays under the rim and safely inside it.[8]