Dumpster Weight Limits and Overage Fees, Explained
Updated 2026-10 · Murfreesboro, TN
How the weight is measured
When the truck collects the container it goes to a transfer station or landfill and crosses a scale, full and then empty. The difference is your load. The company is charged for that weight, and your quote included a set amount of it. Anything over is billed at the per-ton overage rate in your agreement. Ask for the scale ticket if the bill shows an overage; most companies will send it.
What common loads weigh
These are rough, and they vary with moisture and material, but they show why the same container can come back at very different weights:
- Household clean-out (furniture, boxes, clothes, carpet): roughly 150 to 300 pounds per cubic yard
- Mixed remodel debris (drywall, cabinets, lumber): roughly 250 to 500 pounds per cubic yard
- Asphalt shingles: around 200 to 350 pounds per square of roof, depending on type
- Wet yard waste and storm limbs: far heavier than dry, sometimes double
- Concrete, brick, soil: often over a ton per cubic yard
A 20 yard of clean-out debris might weigh two to three tons. A 20 yard of shingles from a 30-square roof can weigh four or five. A 10 yard of broken concrete can weigh eight or more, which is beyond what many trucks may legally carry, and is why concrete gets its own rules.
Roofs in Murfreesboro
A lot of the houses built during Murfreesboro's growth after 2000 are now on their first replacement roof. Architectural shingles from that era weigh more per square than older three-tab, so a 30-square tear-off is often three to five tons before underlayment and nails. A 20 yard with two to four tons included can go over. Ask for a roofing-specific price; some companies offer one with more weight included.
Rain makes it heavier
An open container in a week of Middle Tennessee rain collects water, and drywall, insulation, carpet, mattresses and brush hold it. That water is weighed and billed. A tarp over the container between loading sessions is the cheapest way to keep a bill down, especially through the wet months from late fall to spring.
Keeping under the allowance
- Keep concrete, brick, tile and soil out of a mixed load
- Cover the container when you are not loading it
- Pull out metal; scrap yards will often take it
- Ask for a higher weight allowance up front on a roof; it is usually cheaper than overage
- Do not let neighbours add to it
If you think you will go over, say so when you book. A quote with four tons included is often cheaper than a quote with two tons and two tons of overage.
Doing a roof or a heavy remodel? Tell us the squares or the material and ask for a price with the right weight included.
Where to go next
Common questions
How much is the overage per ton in Murfreesboro?
It varies by company. Commonly around $50 to $100 a ton. Get the number in writing before you book.
Can I see the weight ticket?
Ask. Most companies will provide the scale ticket if you were charged an overage.
Why is there a fill line on my 10 yard?
It marks how full you can load heavy material before the container is too heavy to move safely and legally.