Why shingles need their own bin
Asphalt shingles are dense. A square (100 sq ft) of one-layer tear-off weighs about 250 lbs; with felt and nails, closer to 300. Stack two or three layers and a small roof can hit a ton in a hurry.
That's why roofers almost always use a dedicated 20-yard for tear-offs instead of throwing shingles into a general construction bin.
Shingle capacity by dumpster size
- 10-yard: up to ~15 squares (single layer)
- 20-yard: 25–30 squares (single layer) — the sweet spot
- 30-yard: 40+ squares, useful for big homes or two-layer tear-offs
Tear-off scheduling
- Drop bin the morning of tear-off, not the day before
- Park within 20 ft of the dump zone
- Tarp the lawn if you're worried about nails and shingle bits
- Call for pickup the day the crew loads out — no reason to pay for storage time
What else can go in a roofing bin
Once shingles are out, the bin can also take old flashing, gutters, vents, plywood decking, and underlayment. Keep an eye on the weight cap if you're also pulling decking.