Understanding your result
The headline is the debris weight in tons, with the container and disposal cost. The stats give the weight per square, the container size and the disposal cost. The breakdown shows the weight per square per layer, the roof debris, any sheathing, the total, the container and the cost.
The number to tell the hauler is the tons. The tear-off line in the replacement cost calculator includes typical disposal; this page checks it. The weight of the roof you are adding, for the structure, is in the roof weight calculator.
How we calculate this
The assumptions behind the numbers
| Assumption | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Weight per square per layer | three-tab 240 lb, architectural 300, heavy 400, shakes 350, rolled or built-up 550, metal 120, tile 1,000, slate 800 | Manufacturers’ installed weights; see the material weights table |
| Felt, nails, flashing | 15 lb per square per layer | #15 felt is about 8 lb per square; nails and metal the rest |
| Sheathing | 48 lb per ½ in sheet | Typical plywood weight |
| Included tonnage | 10 yd 2 t; 15 and 20 yd 3 t; 30 yd 4 t; 40 yd 5 t | Typical hauler allowances; ask yours |
| Rental | $450 | A mid-range 2025 roll-off price; enter a local quote |
| Overweight | $75 per ton | Typical; enter the hauler’s figure |
Assumptions last reviewed October 7, 2026.
The calculator does not check volume limits, local landfill rules or asbestos. The material weights table gives the weights, and the tear-off guide covers layers and disposal.
Two worked examples
One layer of architectural shingles
22 squares, felt included.
- Per square: 300 + 15 = 315 lb
- Debris: 22 × 315 = 6,930 lb = 3.47 tons
- Container: 30-yard (about 4 t included); disposal $450
Two layers of three-tab with decking
28 squares, two layers, ten sheets of sheathing replaced.
- Per square per layer: 240 + 15 = 255 lb; debris: 28 × 2 × 255 = 14,280 lb
- Sheathing: 480 lb; total 14,760 lb = 7.38 tons
- Container: 40-yard × 2 loads; disposal $900
Where to find your inputs
Squares. The roof area without waste.
Material and layers. From the roof edge at the eave.
Rental and overweight. From the hauler’s quote.
Common mistakes
- Sizing by volume. Weight decides.
- Forgetting a second layer. It doubles the weight.
- Ignoring tonnage limits. Overweight is per ton.
- Asbestos-era roofs in a normal dumpster. Test first.
- No room for the container. Plan the driveway.
- Tile in a small bin. Tile weighs three to four times shingles.
Questions people ask
- How much does a roof tear-off weigh?
- About 240 pounds per square per layer for three-tab shingles, 300 for architectural, 400 for heavy designer shingles, plus about 15 for felt, nails and flashing; tile is about 1,000 and slate 800. Twenty-two squares of one layer of architectural shingles is about 6,900 pounds, 3½ tons.
- What size dumpster for a roof tear-off?
- Choose by weight: haulers include a tonnage with each container, roughly 2 tons for a 10-yard, 3 for 15 and 20-yard, 4 for 30-yard and 5 for 40-yard, though limits vary. A 3½-ton tear-off needs a 30-yard or a 20-yard with an overweight charge.
- How much does roof debris disposal cost?
- Roll-off rental with a tonnage allowance often runs $350 to $600 for a 20-yard, plus a per-ton charge above the allowance. Two layers or tile can need two loads.
- Can old shingles be recycled?
- In some regions asphalt shingles go to recyclers who grind them for road paving, at a lower tipping fee than landfill. Tile and slate can be salvaged or crushed as aggregate. Ask local haulers.
- What about asbestos in old roofs?
- Roofing made before about 1980, and some old roof cements and felts, can contain asbestos, which cannot go in an ordinary dumpster. If the roof could be that old, have a sample tested; the EPA and your state set the rules. This site gives no handling procedures.
- How many layers can a roof have?
- The International Residential Code (R908.3.1.1) allows at most one re-cover over an existing roof; a roof with two layers must be torn off before new roofing. Two layers also double the tear-off weight.