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Calcimator

Demolition Debris Calculator

Estimate demolition debris volume, weight, dumpster count, disposal cost, and recyclability by construction type.

Inputs

sq ft

Results

Debris Volume

40 cu yd

≈ 20 hot tubs

Debris Weight

6 tons

≈ 11 grand pianos

Disposal Cost

$240.00

≈ 4 tanks of gas

30-Yard Dumpsters2
Recyclable50%
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the building's floor area in sq ft and number of stories.
  2. Select Construction Type (wood frame, masonry, concrete, steel) — this drives debris density.
  3. Choose Interior Only if you're doing a selective interior demo rather than a full teardown.
  4. Read Debris Volume in cu yd and Debris Weight in tons to size dumpsters (Dumpsters Needed) and budget disposal.
  5. Check Recyclable % to identify materials (concrete, steel, wood) that can be diverted from landfill.

How the result changes with Building Footprint

Building FootprintDebris VolumeDebris WeightDisposal Cost
50,0001,000 cu yd150 tons$6,000.00
175,0003,500 cu yd525 tons$21,000.00
325,0006,500 cu yd975 tons$39,000.00
450,0009,000 cu yd1,350 tons$54,000.00

What each input means

Building Footprint
Ground floor area of the building.
Number of Stories
Total number of stories to be demolished.
Construction Type
Primary structural material affects debris weight and recyclability.
Interior Only
Interior-only demolition produces roughly 40% of full demo debris.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Building Footprint = 2000, Number of Stories = 1, Construction Type = 1, Interior Only = 0 = 4 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Debris Volume
    Debris Volume
    40 = 40
  3. Calculate Debris Weight
    Debris Weight
    6 = 6
  4. Calculate Disposal Cost
    Disposal Cost
    240 = $240
  5. Calculate 30-Yard Dumpsters
    30-Yard Dumpsters
    2 = 2
  6. Calculate Recyclable
    Recyclable
    50 = 50

Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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