Shingles are the heaviest thing most people ever put in a dumpster. We size roofing jobs by weight, not just roof size, so you're not staring at an overage fee the day the crew finishes.
Roofing is the one job category where guessing on size costs the most. A homeowner clearing out a garage can eyeball the pile and be close enough. A roofer tearing off a 1,800 square foot roof can't eyeball weight, and weight is exactly what determines whether the job finishes in one dumpster or needs a second delivery halfway through. We've seen plenty of roofs around Bowling Green — especially older homes near downtown and around WKU that have had two or three reroofing jobs stacked on top of each other over the decades — where the actual tear-off weighs a lot more than the square footage alone would suggest.
| Roof Type | Recommended Size | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single-story, one layer | 20 Yard | $375 – $525 |
| Single-story, 2–3 layers | 30 Yard | $425 – $625 |
| Two-story or steep pitch | 30 Yard | $425 – $625 |
| Large or commercial roof | 40 Yard | $475 – $700 |
These are starting points, not a quote — the number of shingle layers matters as much as square footage. Call and describe the roof and we'll size it by weight. Full details in our dumpster sizes guide, pricing guide, and our guide to shingles, concrete & dirt weight limits.
A container that looks half-empty can already be near its allowance if it's loaded with shingles. We build the weight estimate into your quote upfront.
Older homes near downtown and around WKU often have two or three layers of shingles from past reroofing. Tell us if you know the layer count.
Roofing crews often need the dumpster close to the house for a debris chute or direct toss. Tell us the setup when you book.
Order before 12 PM and we can usually deliver the same afternoon, which covers most crews booking a day or two ahead.
After severe weather, we prioritize getting containers out fast so crews aren't waiting on a dumpster to start emergency repairs. See our storm debris cleanup guide for full details.
Pre-1980s homes occasionally have asbestos-containing roofing material, which needs a different disposal path than a standard tear-off.
A 20 yard dumpster covers most single-story roofs up to about 20 squares of shingles. Go with a 30 yard for a two-story home, a steep roof, or if you're tearing off more than one layer of existing shingles, since old roofs in Bowling Green often have two or three layers stacked from past reroofing jobs.
Shingles are one of the densest materials that go in a roll-off. A stack of shingles that looks small can weigh as much as a truckload of furniture, so a container that appears far from full by volume can already be at its weight allowance. We size roofing jobs by expected weight, not just square footage, to avoid an overage fee at pickup.
Yes. Shingles, underlayment, flashing, and roofing nails can all go in the same container as general tear-off debris. The one thing to flag is if the roof has any suspected asbestos-containing material, which is more common on homes built before the 1980s near downtown Bowling Green — that needs a different disposal path, not a standard roll-off. See our accepted materials guide for details.
If you call before 12 PM, we can usually deliver the same afternoon, which covers most roofing crews that book a job a day or two out. Storm-related reroofs sometimes need faster turnaround — call as early as you can and we'll prioritize getting a container out before the crew arrives.
No. A dumpster on your own driveway or private property doesn't need a City of Bowling Green permit. If the roofing crew needs it placed on the street instead, because of a narrow driveway or scaffolding setup, that does require a right-of-way permit, which we file for you.
Tell us the roof size and layer count, and we'll size the container so weight doesn't catch you off guard.
Rather put it in writing? Email bgdumpsters@gmail.com and we'll follow up.
