01The short answer
For most Florida roofs the right can is the 20 yard at $550, delivered, with two tons included. A single-storey house of 1,800 to 2,200 square feet usually comes to 20 to 26 squares, which on architectural shingles is 4,800 to 6,240 lb. The can covers the first 4,000 lb and the rest is $95 per ton off the scale ticket: roughly $40 to $105 of overage on a single layer, and about double with two layers.
That is not a surprise charge. It is the number, in advance, so it goes in your quote instead of on the invoice.
02How many squares fit in each can
Roofers measure in squares: one square is 100 square feet of roof. Manufacturer figures put three-tab shingles at roughly 190 lb a square and architectural shingles under 230 lb, plus about 10 lb a square for underlayment, nails and tear-off debris. Call it 200 lb a square for three-tab and 240 lb for architectural, one layer.
| Can | Weight included | Three-tab | Architectural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard, $425 | ½ ton | about 5 squares | about 4 squares |
| 15 yard, $465 | 1 ton | about 10 squares | about 8 squares |
| 17 yard, $495 | 1 ton | about 10 squares | about 8 squares |
| 20 yard, $550 | 2 tons | about 20 squares | about 16 squares |
03Tile is a different job
Concrete and clay tile are far heavier than shingles. Industry figures put tile at 600 lb to over 1,000 lb per square, against roughly 200 to 250 lb for shingles. A tile tear-off fills the weight allowance with most of the can still empty.
Say so when you book and give us the square count. We will size the job for weight, and tell you the likely overage, or whether it is cheaper as more than one can, before anything is delivered.
04For roofing contractors
On repeat tear-offs the swap-out usually matters more than the size. Call and ask about same-day exchanges and contractor accounts.
- Seven days a week, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sundays and bad weather are charged at the standard rate.
- Driveway drops with boards under the rollers. A driveway drop needs no street permit anywhere we work; the permit guide covers the street.
- The first 50 miles from Lakeland are included, which covers Tampa, Plant City, Thonotosassa, Auburndale and Davenport. Bradenton is in the $185 band.
- You get the scale ticket with every overage, so it can go straight on your customer's invoice.
05Where a roof ends up
Shingles and underlayment are construction and demolition debris, and the counties charge for them by the ton.
- Polk County takes C&D at the North Central Landfill for $46 a ton, rising to $48.30 on 1 October 2026.
- Hillsborough County's Southeast County Landfill does not take C&D at all, so Tampa-area roofs go to private processors, and Hillsborough charges mixed loads at double.
Keep the roof load to roof material. A can with a roof and a kitchen in it is a mixed load.
06Questions people ask
How much is a roofing dumpster?
The 20 yard is $550 delivered with two tons included. Weight over that is $95 per ton off the landfill scale ticket.
What size dumpster do I need for a roof?
The 20 yard for most whole-house tear-offs. It holds about 20 squares of three-tab or 16 of architectural shingles, one layer, inside the included weight.
How many squares fit in a 20 yard dumpster?
By volume, more than the weight allows. By weight, about 20 squares of three-tab or 16 of architectural, one layer, before overage starts.
Can I put roofing tile in it?
Yes, but tile weighs several times what shingles do. Tell us the square count and we will price the overage up front.
Do you work with roofing contractors?
Yes. Ask about contractor accounts and same-day exchanges.
More reading: what a dumpster costs, junk removal, hurricane debris pickup and all our guides.