How to Rent a Dumpster for a Garage Cleanout
Sizing for one-car, two-car, and oversized garages, the attic and basement add-ons people forget, and the order that keeps a cleanout moving.
By Joe Hardin, Co-Founder, The Dumpster Co. | Published September 25, 2026
Call (678) 306-9993 Book OnlineQuick Summary
- A 10 yard dumpster handles most one or two-car garage cleanouts. Add an attic, basement, or workshop and the 15 yard is the safer pick.
- Pull out paint, motor oil, propane tanks, tires, and batteries before the bin arrives. They are not accepted in any container.
- Sort into keep, donate, sell, and toss piles first, then load heavy, flat items at the bottom.
- A 5-day rental starts at $360 for a 10 yard, plus tax. Extra days are $15 each.
In This Guide
Why a Dumpster Beats Hauling Loads Yourself
Most garages hold years of overflow: broken furniture, old toys, boxes that never got unpacked, lumber scraps, and tools that stopped working. Clearing it with a pickup truck means loading, driving to the landfill, waiting in line, unloading, and doing it again.
A roll-off dumpster parked in the driveway turns that into one job. You carry items a few steps, toss them in, and keep going. When you finish, you call for pickup and the container leaves with everything in it. For a full garage, that usually saves a weekend of trips. If you have never rented before, our step-by-step dumpster rental guide walks through booking from start to finish.
What Size Dumpster Do You Need for a Garage?
Garage size is a starting point, but what is stored inside matters more. A tidy two-car garage can fill less space than a packed one-car garage that doubles as a workshop.
One-car garage: 10 yard
A cleared-out one-car garage almost always fits in a 10 yard roll-off dumpster, with room left for a few yard bags.
Two-car garage: 10 yard, sometimes 15
The 10 yard covers most two-car garages. If yours is stacked to the rafters with furniture or old appliances, step up to the 15 yard dumpster for bigger cleanouts.
Garage plus attic, basement, or workshop: 15 yard
This is the add-on most people underestimate. Attic boxes and basement storage often double the volume. The 15 yard gives you that extra room without a second delivery.
Whole-house cleanout that includes the garage: 20 yard
If the garage is one part of a move-out or estate job, a 20 yard container is the better fit. Our estate cleanout planning guide covers whole-home sizing.
| Size | Dimensions | Holds About | Weight Included | 5-Day Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Yard | 12 ft L x 8 ft W x 3.5 ft H | 50 to 60 bags | 1 ton | $360 |
| 15 Yard | 16 ft L x 8 ft W x 4.5 ft H | 90 to 100 bags | 1.5 tons | $375 |
| 20 Yard | 16 ft L x 8 ft W x 4 ft H | 110 to 130 bags | 2 tons | $410 |
For other projects, the project-by-project sizing guide breaks down 15 common jobs.
How to Stage a Garage Cleanout in the Right Order
The order you work in decides how fast the job goes and how well the dumpster fills. Here is the sequence that works best.
- Clear a sorting area. Pull the car out and use the driveway apron or lawn edge for four piles: keep, donate, sell, and toss.
- Pull out prohibited items first. Paint, motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, propane tanks, batteries, and tires cannot go in the dumpster. Set them aside before you start loading so they do not end up in the bin by accident.
- Move donation and resale items off site. Anything worth giving away should leave before the bin fills up. Our guide to getting rid of old furniture covers donating and selling first.
- Break things down. Take apart shelving, bed frames, and tables. Flat pieces stack tight and save space.
- Load heavy and flat items first. Old lumber, broken furniture panels, and boxed items go on the bottom. Bags and odd shapes fill the gaps on top.
- Keep everything below the top rail. An overfilled container cannot be hauled safely. Our tips for loading a dumpster efficiently show how to use every cubic yard.
What You Can and Cannot Throw Away
Accepted
- Old furniture and shelving
- Boxes, toys, and household junk
- Lumber scraps and trim
- Yard tools and broken equipment
- Carpet, rugs, and mattresses
- Bikes and sporting goods
Not Accepted
- Paint, solvents, and motor oil
- Pool and lawn chemicals
- Propane tanks
- Car batteries and tires
- Liquids and flammable waste
- Concrete, brick, and dirt
Two items need a call first. Electronics like TVs and monitors are handled case by case, and refrigerators or freezers with refrigerant may need separate handling. If you are clearing concrete blocks or bricks out of the garage, those belong in our dedicated concrete-only dumpster, not the standard roll-off. See the full accepted materials list and our prohibited items guide for details.
Where to Put the Dumpster
Most garage cleanouts use the driveway, right outside the garage door. That keeps the carry short. The truck needs about 60 feet of straight-line clearance to set the container down, so move vehicles and check for low branches or wires.
Laying plywood under the container helps protect concrete and asphalt. Our driveway prep checklist covers what to move before the truck arrives. If the container stays on your own property, you typically do not need a permit. Street placement is different, and the middle Georgia dumpster permit guide explains when one is required.
Rental Length and Pricing
A standard rental runs 5 days, which covers most weekend garage cleanouts with a buffer. You can also choose 7, 10, or 14 days. If the job runs long, extra days are $15 each.
| Size | 5 Days | 7 Days | 10 Days | 14 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Yard | $360 | $375 | $405 | $445 |
| 15 Yard | $375 | $390 | $419 | $460 |
Prices are before tax and include delivery, pickup, and disposal up to the weight allowance: 1 ton on the 10 yard and 1.5 tons on the 15 yard. Weight over that is $85 per ton. For a full breakdown, read what a dumpster rental costs in middle Georgia.
Where We Deliver
We deliver garage cleanout dumpsters from our home base in Jackson across Butts County and the surrounding middle Georgia communities, including:
Not on the list? See every city we deliver to or call (678) 306-9993 to confirm your address.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dumpster do I need for a two-car garage cleanout?
A 10 yard dumpster handles most two-car garage cleanouts. If the garage is packed with furniture, or you are also clearing an attic or basement, choose the 15 yard so you do not run out of room.
How long can I keep a dumpster for a garage cleanout?
Rentals start at 5 days, with 7, 10, and 14-day options. Most garage cleanouts finish within the 5-day window. If you need more time, call before your rental ends. Extra days are $15 each.
Can I throw old paint in the dumpster?
No. Paint, solvents, motor oil, and other liquids are not accepted in any container. Set them aside before you start and take them to a household hazardous waste collection site in your county.
Can I put an old refrigerator in a dumpster?
Refrigerators and freezers that contain refrigerant may need separate handling. Call (678) 306-9993 before loading one so we can tell you how to handle it.
How much does a garage cleanout dumpster cost?
A 10 yard starts at $360 for a 5-day rental and a 15 yard starts at $375, plus tax. Delivery, pickup, and disposal are included up to the weight allowance.
Ready to Clear Out the Garage?
Flat-rate pricing, GPS-tracked delivery, and same-day or next-day service when our schedule allows.
Call (678) 306-9993 Book OnlinePrices shown are base rates before tax and may vary with debris type, delivery distance, and local disposal fees.