Roofing Tonnage Estimation

Roofing is the one trade where tonnage math is non-negotiable — shingle and tile debris is dense, and Southwest Florida roofs are big. Two minutes here saves real money per tear-off.

The conversion

A square = 100 sq ft of roof. Tear-off weights, in round numbers:

• Asphalt shingles (one layer): ~250 lbs/square → 20 squares ≈ 2.5 tons; 30 squares ≈ 3.75 tons
• Double layer: double it — an old two-layer 25-square roof is ~6+ tons
• Concrete/clay tile: 800–1,000 lbs/square → a 25-square tile roof is 10+ tons and needs a swap plan, not just a bin

Match the package to the material

KYN prices roofing rentals by what the load actually weighs at the landfill:

• Asphalt tear-off — $550
• Tile tear-off — $650
• Heavy/mixed (tile + decking, multi-layer) — $750

Booking the right package up front beats booking the cheap one and eating $90/ton overage line by line. Tell us squares and material when you book, and the quote matches reality.

Tile jobs: think in swaps

Trucks have legal road-weight limits, so a tile roof rides out in multiple pulls no matter whose bin is in the driveway. Plan the tear-off in halves: load, swap, load again. Book the swap before the first tile drops (Lesson 3's 75% rule applies double here — tile hits weight limits long before the bin looks full).

Load it flat

Shingles and tile should be layered flat, spread across the floor — not bombed into one end from the roof edge. A weight-balanced bin loads onto the truck clean; a nose-heavy one is a problem in the driveway.

Full guide: roof tear-off dumpster guide · roofing dumpsters · pricing.