Quick Summary
For most shed and barn teardowns in Central Alabama, a 10-yard dumpster handles a small wooden shed, a 15-yard fits a large shed or a small metal building, and a 20-yard is the starting point for a barn. Every 10, 15 and 20-yard roll-off from The Dumpster Guy Montgomery includes 5 tons, and a concrete slab belongs in the 10-yard concrete dumpster with its 10-ton allowance. If you'd rather not swing the hammer yourself, our shed and barn demolition service takes the structure down and hauls every board away.
Why the right dumpster matters for a shed or barn teardown
A shed looks small until it's lying in pieces across the yard. Walls, rafters, roofing, flooring, shelving and whatever has been stored inside for twenty years all turn into loose debris, and loose debris takes up far more room than the standing building did.
Picking the right size up front saves you a second haul and keeps the job moving. Whether you're clearing an old tool shed behind a house in Montgomery or taking down a leaning barn on acreage outside Wetumpka, the plan is the same: estimate what's coming down, choose the container, and load it so you use every foot you're paying for.
What size dumpster do you need for a shed or barn?
The structure's size and what it's made of decide the container. Use this as a starting point, then check our dumpster sizes page for the exact dimensions of each roll-off:
- Small wooden shed, up to about 10×12: a 10-yard dumpster usually holds the whole thing once the walls are broken down.
- Large wooden shed, workshop, or small metal storage building: a 15-yard gives you room for framing, siding, roofing and the junk that was inside.
- Small barn or a large outbuilding: start with a 20-yard, and plan on more than one haul for a full-sized barn.
- Concrete slab, pier blocks, or a brick foundation: keep it out of the regular roll-off and order the 10-yard concrete dumpster.
Count the contents, not just the building
Old sheds and barns are rarely empty. Broken mowers, rotted feed sacks, paint cans and decades of stored odds and ends can fill a third of a container on their own. Walk through and clear the contents first so you can see what you're really dealing with.
Weight matters as much as volume
Every 10, 15 and 20-yard roll-off from The Dumpster Guy Montgomery includes 5 tons. A wooden shed rarely gets close to that, but some materials are heavier than they look. Wet lumber after an Alabama thunderstorm, old shingles, and any concrete or brick add up fast.
If the foundation is coming out too, that's the one place to change plans. Concrete belongs in the 10-yard concrete dumpster, which carries a 10-ton allowance built for heavy material. You can read more about it in our guide to concrete dumpster rental in the Montgomery AL area.
How to load shed and barn debris so it fits
Demolition debris is mostly long, flat pieces, and that's good news if you load it with a plan.
- Lay lumber and wall sections flat on the floor of the container instead of tossing them in at angles.
- Pull nails or knock boards apart so pieces stack tight.
- Cut long rafters and beams down to fit the length of the box.
- Put metal roofing panels and tin flat on top of a level layer of wood.
- Fill gaps with smaller scraps as you go, and keep everything below the top rim.
What should stay out of the dumpster
Sheds and barns tend to hold things that can't go in a roll-off. Set these aside before you start loading: old paint, stains and solvents, gas cans, propane tanks, batteries, tires, pesticides and fertilizer chemicals. If you find something you're not sure about, ask us before it goes in the box.
Do it yourself, or hand us the whole job
Plenty of homeowners rent a dumpster and take a weekend to knock down an old shed themselves. That works well for a small wooden structure on flat ground with nothing in the way.
A large barn, a sagging roof, a metal building or a slab foundation is a different job. Our shed and barn demolition service takes down outbuildings of any size or condition, removes the foundation, and leaves the property clean and ready for its next use. Our licensed and insured team protects your yard and landscaping, and we can salvage reusable materials on request.
Shed and barn removal across the River Region
The Dumpster Guy Montgomery serves Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, Millbrook, Pike Road, Clanton and the towns around them. Check our dumpster rental prices for current rates on each size, and when you know what you need, you can order online in a couple of minutes.
Key Takeaways
- A small wooden shed usually fits in a 10-yard dumpster, a large shed or small metal building in a 15-yard, and a barn starts at a 20-yard.
- Clear out the contents first; stored junk can take a third of the space.
- Each 10, 15 and 20-yard roll-off includes 5 tons. Concrete foundations go in the 10-yard concrete dumpster with its 10-ton allowance.
- Lay lumber and tin flat, break pieces down, and keep the load below the top rim.
- For a big barn, a metal building, or a slab, our shed and barn demolition service handles the teardown and the haul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dumpster do I need to tear down a shed?
A small wooden shed up to about 10×12 usually fits in a 10-yard dumpster once the walls are broken down. A larger shed or workshop is better suited to a 15-yard.
What size dumpster do I need for a barn demolition?
Start with a 20-yard roll-off for a small barn. A full-sized barn usually takes more than one haul, and a slab foundation should go in a concrete dumpster.
Can I put a concrete shed foundation in a regular dumpster?
Concrete is heavy enough to push a standard roll-off past its weight allowance quickly. The 10-yard concrete dumpster from The Dumpster Guy Montgomery includes 10 tons and is built for it.
How much weight is included with a roll-off in Montgomery?
Every 10, 15 and 20-yard roll-off from The Dumpster Guy Montgomery includes 5 tons. The 10-yard concrete dumpster includes 10 tons.
Can you tear the shed or barn down for me?
Yes. Our shed and barn demolition service handles structures of any size or condition, removes the foundation, cleans up the site and hauls away all of the debris.
