Are you moving, cleaning out a rental, or doing extensive renovations to your home or office building? Will you have a lot of junk, trash, or debris that you’ll need to dispose of? If so, you can save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration by renting a dumpster for your project.

Here is the ultimate guide to everything you need to know if you’re looking at dumpsters for rent near me.

Know What Size You Need

Though sizes may vary depending on what company you choose to rent from, you should have a good idea of how much space you’ll need before you settle on a container. The majority of dumpster rental companies offer 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 yard containers. While a 10 yard container may be plenty if you’re just clearing out a small basement or garage, you’ll likely need a 20 or 30 yard if you’re doing a renovation or whole home clean-out.

When you talk with a dumpster rental company, ask them about the different sizes they offer and tell them about your project so they can make a professional recommendation.

Know What You Can Put in the Dumpster

Not all your debris and trash can go into a dumpster rental. Before you look into dumpsters for rent near me, do some research to see what you can and cannot dispose of in your rental. Allowed items generally include garage junk, roofing materials, scrap metal, yard waste, furniture, sinks and toilets, and general trash.

Prohibited materials usually include batteries, paint cans, tires, oil, flammable liquids, concrete, appliances, and air conditioners. You will have to find different options to dispose of these and other possibly toxic materials.

What You’ll Pay

The cost of dumpsters is usually determined by their size and by the amount of time you will be renting them. Ask your dumpster rental company what these rates are as well as if there are any extra fees. Some companies will charge extra if you go over a certain weight limit, if you dispose of materials that are prohibited, if you block the company’s retrieval vehicle, or if you violate any of their other policies.

Keep Accessibility in Mind

Before you have your dumpster delivered, know where you want to place it. It’s usually best to choose a location that is level, away from any drainage areas, and free of anything near or under it. You want the area to be accessible for delivery and retrieval and convenient for you to get to, but also out of the way of your everyday activities.

Choosing Dumpster for Rent Near Me

Ready to rent a dumpster to help facilitate your move, renovation, or clean-out? When choosing dumpsters for rent near me, make sure you ask around for referrals, read online reviews—choosing a company with a majority of five-star reviews is usually best—and do some research on web sites to find out more about sizes, cost, and rental times. If you have more questions, always call the company to get them answered before making a final decision.