What Size Bin Do I Need for a Kitchen Remodel?

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, one of the things that’s easy to underestimate is just how much debris a kitchen can create. Old cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall, packaging, fixtures, and all the little things that come out during demolition add up surprisingly fast. Bin There Dump That offers compact custom sized bins specifically designed for the residential driveway.

So, what size dumpster do you actually need for a kitchen remodel?

For most kitchen remodeling projects in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, and the surrounding East Valley, a 15, or 20 yard dumpster will usually do the job. The right size depends on how much of the kitchen you’re removing, the type of material going into the bin, and whether the remodel extends into other areas of the home.

Here’s a simple way to decide.

10 Yard Dumpster: Great for Small & Limited Kitchen Remodels

Dimensions:  7′ wide × 10′ long × 4′ high

A 10 yard dumpster is a great option when you’re updating a very small kitchen or only removing certain parts of it.

For example, if you’re replacing a few cabinets and countertops, but keeping the existing flooring and walls, a 10 yard bin may be all the space you need.

A 10 yard dumpster can work well for:

• Limited cabinet removal
• Countertop removal
• Small kitchen demolition projects
• Backsplash and tile removal
• Flooring replacement
• Fixtures, sinks and other miscellaneous debris
• Smaller condo, mobile home, townhome or patio-home kitchen remodels

The compact footprint can also be especially helpful for homes with limited driveway space. That comes in handy throughout Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa, where some neighborhoods have shorter driveways, tighter streets, and or limited space between the garage and sidewalk.

15 Yard Dumpster: The Sweet Spot for Smaller Kitchen Remodels

Dimensions: 8′ wide × 11′ long × 4.5′ high

If you’re doing a smaller kitchen renovation, a 15 yard dumpster is a solid choice without taking up much driveway space.

This is often a good middle-ground option when the project involves removing most of the existing kitchen, including cabinets, countertops and flooring in a small to medium sized kitch.

A 15 yard dumpster may be the better choice for:

• Cabinet removal
• Countertops
• Flooring and tile
• Drywall
• Kitchen islands
• Pantry demolition
• Fixtures and miscellaneous construction debris
• Packaging and debris from installing new materials

It also gives you some flexibility when the scope of the remodel inevitably grows a little. Maybe you decide to remove the old pantry while you’re at it, or discover another layer of flooring underneath the tile. Having some extra room in the bin can save you from having to carefully ration dumpster space toward the end of the project.

20 Yard Dumpster: Best for Full Kitchen Demolition & Larger Renovations

Dimensions: 8′ wide × 11′ long × 6′ high

For a complete kitchen demo or a larger kitchen renovation, a 20 yard dumpster is usually the safest bet.

The footprint is still compact, but the additional height provides significantly more capacity.

A 20 yard dumpster is a good option for:

• Complete kitchen demolition
• Large kitchens
• Cabinets, countertops and islands
• Drywall and framing materials
• Pantry demolition
• Projects involving the kitchen plus another room
• Larger residential remodeling projects

For example, if you’re remodeling the kitchen and replacing flooring throughout the living room or dining area at the same time, moving up to a 20 yard bin can make much more sense than trying to squeeze everything into a smaller dumpster.

Think About Weight, Not Just Size

One thing homeowners sometimes overlook is that the amount of space debris takes up isn’t the only consideration. Weight matters too.

Kitchen cabinets can take up a lot of room without being extremely heavy. Tile, granite countertops, and other dense materials are a different story.

If your kitchen remodel involves removing a large amount of tile, stone, concrete or other heavy material, let your dumpster rental company know what you’re disposing of before choosing a size.

Here in the East Valley, tile is especially important to mention. Many homes throughout Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa have tile flooring. Removing a kitchen full of tile, mortar and underlayment can add significant weight to a dumpster. Saltillo, slate, and travertine tile are VERY heavy and the weight adds up quickly depending on how many square feet is being disposed of.

What If I’m Between Two Dumpster Sizes?

When you’re genuinely between two sizes, going slightly larger is usually worth considering.

Misjudging the amount of demo material and running out of dumpster space halfway through demolition can mean renting a second dumpster – having a little left over room room at the top of a larger bin is usually a safer (and cheaper) bet as projects almost always have more debris than less.

That doesn’t mean every kitchen remodel needs a 20 yard dumpster, though.

A smaller kitchen where you’re simply replacing a few cabinets and countertops may fit into a 10 yard. A typical medium kitchen remodel may be better suited for a 15 yard, while a major demo renovation may justify the 20 yard.

A Simple Kitchen Remodel Dumpster Size Guide

10 Yard: Small remodels, limited cabinets, limited countertops, tile flooring, and or partial demolition.

15 Yard: Medium kitchen remodels involving cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall, and other renovation debris.

20 Yard: Large kitchens, complete demo, and or kitchen remodels that extend into additional rooms.

Don’t Forget About Where the Dumpster Will Go

Choosing a dumpster isn’t only about how much debris it holds. You also need to consider where it will be placed.

For residential kitchen remodels, keeping the dumpster close to the house can make demolition faster as the dumpster is closer thereby reducing the number of trips (and time) it takes to load making the loading process much more efficient. Instead of carrying old cabinets, flooring, and debris across the property down to the street, you can walk everything directly out to the bin in the driveway which is only a few feet from the garage.

Our residential dumpsters are designed with East Valley homes and driveways in mind. Our custom compact 10, 15 and 20 yard bins are all only 10–11 feet long.

We also use smaller delivery trucks designed to maneuver through tighter residential neighborhoods. We also place our dumpsters on Protective Driveway Boards rather than directly on the driveway preventing scratches and gouging of the driveway.

That can be particularly useful in established Mesa neighborhoods with tighter streets, shorter driveways in parts of Gilbert, or Chandler homes with pavers and other decorative driveway surfaces you want to protect during a remodel.

And if you still aren’t sure which size is best, let us what you’re removing and we can help recommend which size makes the most sense for your project.

At Bin There Dump That East Valley, we provide residential friendly dumpster rentals throughout Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and surrounding East Valley communities. With compact dumpsters, Protective Driveway Boards, double rear doors for easier loading, and a sweep and magnetic cleanup after pickup, our goal is to make the dumpster one less thing you have to worry about during your kitchen remodel.

-Paul Mauger

Owner of Bin There Dump That East Valley