Soil, fill, clay, sand and sod · Kansas City metro
Dirt Dumpster Rental in Kansas City
Digging out a patio, regrading a yard or trenching a drain line? Our low wall dumpster is built for the weight of soil. $425 for 3 days covers delivery, pickup, disposal and 3 tons of dirt, with room for up to 6 tons. It is the same flat rate, heavy duty dumpster rental in Kansas City we run for every job.
- Fill dirt
- Topsoil
- Clay
- Sand
- Sod
- Excavation spoil
- Garden soil
- $4253 day rental
- 3 tonsof dirt included
- ≈ 4.7 ydof dug dirt per haul
- 2 ftwalls for easy shoveling
Book a Dumpster for Dirt
Choose the 8 Yard Concrete in the form. It is the container for soil and every other dense load. Pick your dates, enter the address and see the total before you pay.
Not sure how much you are digging? Call or text (816) 607-DUMP, 24 hours a day.
Weight, not space
How Much Dirt Fits in a Dumpster?
The box holds about 7.8 cubic yards to the rim, but no truck can lift that much soil. A load of dirt is full when it reaches the 6 tons limit, and for most soil that is a flat layer around a foot deep. Here is where each type of soil lands:
| Soil | Dug, lb per cu yd | Inside 3 tons | At 6 tons max | Depth at max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 1,600 | ≈ 3.8 cu yd | ≈ 7.5 cu yd | ≈ 23 in |
| Dirt or fill | 2,550 | ≈ 2.4 cu yd | ≈ 4.7 cu yd | ≈ 15 in |
| Wet dirt or mud | 2,700 | ≈ 2.2 cu yd | ≈ 4.4 cu yd | ≈ 14 in |
| Clay | 2,800 | ≈ 2.1 cu yd | ≈ 4.3 cu yd | ≈ 13 in |
| Sand | 2,850 | ≈ 2.1 cu yd | ≈ 4.2 cu yd | ≈ 13 in |
Depth is a level layer across the 14 by 7.5 ft floor. Weights are for soil after it is dug, from the Caterpillar earthwork density tables (opens in a new tab). Your scale ticket is what the invoice uses.
Load it like this
- Spread each wheelbarrow evenly from end to end
- Stop at the depth in the table for your soil
- Keep the layer flat, with no pile in the middle
- Leave room if rain is in the forecast
Why a standard dumpster is the wrong choice
Our taller containers include less weight and are meant for bulky debris. Filled with soil, they pass a safe hauling weight long before they look full. The full size chart shows the wall height of each one.
One flat price
Dirt Dumpster Rental Cost
Pick the number of days you need to dig. Every price includes delivery, pickup, disposal and 3 tons of soil. Past that, it is $0.10 a pound up to 12,000 lb.
-
1 day
$400
Machine dig, loaded and hauled the same day
-
Most booked
3 days
$425
Garden beds, sod and post holes
-
5 days
$450
A patio base dug by hand
-
7 days
$475
Regrading or a drainage project
Delivery past 30 miles is $3.00 a mile, and extra days are $25 each. Every fee for every size is on the dumpster price list, and the guide to how dumpster weight is billed explains scale tickets.
Before you book
How to Measure the Dirt You Are Digging
Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, and divide by 27. That is cubic yards in the ground. Once it is dug, dirt loosens and takes up about 26 percent more room, but it weighs exactly the same, so weight is the number to plan by.
Example: digging out a 12 by 16 foot patio base 6 inches deep is 3.6 cubic yards in the ground, about 4.5 cubic yards once it is loose, and roughly 11,378 lb. That is 5,378 lb past the included weight, so the 3 day total comes to about $962.80, still in one haul.
- Container to the rim
- ≈ 7.8 cu yd
- Floor
- 14 x 7.5 ft
- Wall height
- 2 ft
- Soil included
- 6,000 lb
- Maximum load
- 12,000 lb
- Past included
- $0.10 per lb
Dirt Weight Calculator
Choose dirt, topsoil, clay, sand or sod, enter the size of the area and the depth, and see the weight and how many hauls it takes.
Kansas City weather
Rain Makes Dirt Heavier
Soil holds water. In the figures our calculator uses, wet dirt is about 6 percent heavier than dry packed dirt, and a pile soaked by days of rain can be heavier still. Clay holds water longer than sandy soil, so a clay load dug after a storm reaches the limit sooner.
A tarp from our rental add-ons keeps rain off the container and the pile. In cold months, wet soil can also freeze to the floor; the winter rental guide covers that.
After a storm
- Fill a few inches less than the table shows
- Let standing water drain off the pile first
- Keep the tarp on overnight
- Add a day if the ground is too wet to dig
Keep it clean
What Goes in a Dirt Dumpster
Goes in
- Fill dirt and excavation spoil
- Topsoil and garden soil
- Clay
- Sand, including play sand
- Sod with the soil attached
- Rocks and gravel from the same dig
Goes somewhere else
- Roots, stumps and brush: a yard waste dumpster
- Mostly concrete, brick or rock: the concrete dumpster page
- Trash, lumber and bags: a standard size
Never allowed
- Soil stained by oil, fuel or chemicals
- Soil from a known contaminated site
- Buried tanks, drums or containers
- Asbestos pipe dug up with the dirt
The full list is on the restricted items page. Clean fill dirt is often wanted by neighbors and builders, so ask around before you haul it; our reuse and recycling guide has more ways to keep it out of the landfill.
Where the dirt comes from
Projects That Need a Dirt Dumpster
Patio and walkway bases
Digging out sod and soil before gravel and pavers go down.
Regrading and drainage
Pulling soil away from the foundation or cutting a swale.
Trenches and footings
French drains, utility lines, fence and deck footings.
Garden and lawn redos
Old raised beds, tired topsoil and stripped sod.
Excavation spoil
Small additions, egress windows and foundation repair digs.
Short wheelbarrow trips
Where to Put a Dirt Dumpster
On the hard surface closest to the dig. A loaded dirt dumpster is heavy, and freshly dug ground is soft, so it goes on a driveway or firm pad, never on the lawn next to the hole. You need about 14 by 7.5 feet and a straight approach for the truck.
Ask for driveway protection boards on newer concrete. If the dig starts tomorrow, see next day dumpster delivery.
Before it arrives
- Call 811 before you dig, so buried lines are marked
- Lay plywood over grass for the wheelbarrow path
- Keep the dumpster spot clear of parked cars
- Plan where the next pile goes if you need a second haul
Dirt answers
Dirt Dumpster Questions
How much does it cost to rent a dumpster for dirt in Kansas City?
Dirt goes in our 8 Yard Concrete dumpster: $425 for 3 days, $450 for 5 days, $475 for 7 days or $400 for 1 day. Each price covers delivery and pickup within 30 miles, disposal and 3 tons of soil. Weight past that is $0.10 per pound from the scale ticket.
How much dirt can I put in a dumpster?
About 2.4 cubic yards of dug dirt fits inside the 3 tons that is included, and about 4.7 cubic yards reaches the 6 tons maximum. Topsoil is lighter and clay is heavier, so the table on this page gives each soil type.
Why can I not fill a dirt dumpster to the top?
Because a full box of dirt would weigh far more than a truck can lift. The container holds about 7.8 cubic yards to the rim, but dug dirt weighs about 2,550 pounds a cubic yard, so a level layer about 15 inches deep is already the 6 tons limit.
Does wet dirt weigh more than dry dirt?
Yes. In the figures our calculator uses, wet dirt is about 6 percent heavier than dry packed dirt, and soil soaked by days of rain can be heavier still. Cover the pile and the container with a tarp when rain is coming, and fill a little less after a storm.
Can sod go in a dirt dumpster?
Yes, sod goes in with the soil still attached. It runs about 3 pounds a square foot, so roughly 2,000 square feet of cut sod fits inside the included weight. Roll it or stack it grass side down to keep the load flat.
Can I put rocks or broken concrete in with the dirt?
Yes, it is the same container. Rocks, gravel and chunks of concrete from the same dig can go in with the soil, and the weight is what counts. Loads that are mostly concrete, brick or rock are covered on the concrete dumpster page.
What cannot go in a dirt dumpster?
Roots, stumps and brush, trash, lumber and anything soaked with oil, fuel or chemicals. Stumps and limbs go in a yard waste dumpster, and contaminated soil is never accepted.
How do I figure out how much dirt I am digging?
Multiply length by width in feet, then by depth in feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards in the ground. Dirt takes up about 26 percent more room once it is dug, but the weight stays the same, so plan by weight. The calculator on this page does both.
How long can I keep a dirt dumpster?
1, 3, 5, 7, 14 or 30 days, with the delivery day as day 1. Extra days are $25 each, which helps when you are digging by hand or waiting for dry weather.
Do I need a permit for a dirt dumpster?
Not on a driveway or private lot. On a street or sidewalk, the city decides, and the permit is the customer's responsibility. The permits page explains the rules in Missouri and Kansas.
More answers are on the dumpster rental FAQ page, and the delivery areas page checks your address.
Dig it, drop it, done
Get the Dirt Out in One Haul
$425 for 3 days with 3 tons of soil included. Book online, or call and we will help you size the dig first.