What size do you need for a garage?
Most garages fall into three buckets. A single-car garage or a light declutter fits a 10-yard. A packed two-car garage, or a garage plus attic, patio, or yard debris, is usually a 15 or 20-yard. If you're genuinely between two sizes, rent the bigger one: a second haul costs far more than the extra capacity.
| Garage job | Best size | Real local price (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Light declutter, a few truckloads | 3 to 10 yard | from $250 |
| Single-car garage, full clear-out | 10 yard | from $520 |
| Two-car garage, packed | 15 yard | from $620 |
| Garage + attic / yard / estate items | 20 yard | from $720 |
Keep it on the driveway, no permit needed
Here's the money-saver: a dumpster on your own driveway or private property needs no permit anywhere in LA County. A permit (and its fee) is only required when the container sits on a public street. For a garage cleanout, the driveway is right there, so almost everyone skips the permit entirely.
If your driveway genuinely can't fit one and you need street placement, check your city's rules first. Our LA County permit guide has the exact public-works contact and cost for every city we serve.
How to load a garage cleanout fast
Sort into three piles before the bin arrives: keep, donate/sell, and toss. Only the toss pile goes in the dumpster, and pre-sorting means you fill it in hours, not days.
Load flat and heavy-first: lay long items (shelving, lumber, doors) along the floor, put heavy boxes and furniture in next, then fill gaps with loose items. Breaking down boxes and hollow furniture lets you fit far more.
Keep the load level with the top rail. Overfilled bins above the fill line can't be legally hauled and may be refused or re-scheduled.
What can't go in
Standard roll-offs take almost everything from a garage: furniture, boxes, tools, wood, drywall, and yard equipment. But keep these out:
Hazardous items: paint, solvents, motor oil, chemicals, batteries, and propane tanks. Electronics (TVs, monitors) are e-waste and handled separately. Tires are usually excluded too.
Heavy material: leftover concrete, brick, dirt, or tile from a garage-floor or driveway project goes in a smaller lowboy container, not a standard bin, because of weight limits. If your cleanout includes heavy debris, mention it when you book so the hauler matches the right container.
Quick answers.
What size for a garage cleanout?
A 10-yard covers a single-car garage; a packed two-car garage usually needs a 15 or 20-yard. Between sizes, go one up.
How much does it cost?
Real local prices start at $250 (3-yard) and $520 (10-yard), 7-day rental included. Most garage jobs run $520 to $720. You see the real price before booking.
Do I need a permit for my driveway?
No, driveway and private-property placement never needs a permit in LA County. Only street placement does.
Is a trash bin the same as a dumpster?
Yes. Trash bin rental, trash container rental, and roll-off dumpster all mean the same open-top container you fill and the hauler takes away.
What can't I put in it?
No paint, chemicals, batteries, tires, or electronics. Heavy concrete/dirt needs a separate lowboy. Everything else from a garage is fine.
Related guides.
What size do I need?
The 30-second size picker, what fits in each roll-off, and real LA County prices.
Read the guideHow much does it cost?
Real 2026 LA County prices, what's included, the fees to watch for, and how to pay less.
Read the guideDo I need a permit?
When street placement needs a permit, what it costs, and the right contact in every city we serve.
Read the guide