Downsizing
Moving to a smaller home means letting go of furniture and items that will not fit. Find the right dumpster size, get expert tips, and order with same-day delivery available.
Downsizing Overview
Downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one (whether it is an empty-nester moving from a 4-bedroom to a condo, a retiree transitioning to a senior living community, or a family rightsizing after kids leave) means a significant volume of furniture, household goods, and personal items will not be making the move. That oversized sectional, the full dining room set, the exercise equipment, and the contents of the extra bedrooms all need to go somewhere.
A dumpster gives you a practical, stress-free way to handle the items that cannot be sold, donated, or passed along to family. After an estate sale or donation pickup takes the usable items, the dumpster handles everything else: broken furniture, worn-out linens, outdated decor, and the miscellaneous accumulation of years in a larger home.
A 15-yard dumpster handles most downsizing projects where you have already sold or donated the major items. If you are disposing of large furniture pieces, mattresses, and significant quantities of household goods, a 20-yard gives you the extra room to work without worrying about space.
Recommended Dumpster Size
15 Yard Dumpster
A 15-yard dumpster handles the disposal portion of most downsizing moves: the items that cannot be sold, donated, or moved to the new home. If you are disposing of large furniture and a full garage or basement worth of items, a 20-yard provides more breathing room.
16' x 7.5' x 4.5'
1.5 tons
Pro Tips for Your Downsizing
Make the most of your dumpster rental with these tips from our team.
Measure your new home's rooms and closets before deciding what to keep. Many items simply will not fit
Host an estate sale or list large items on marketplace apps before your dumpster arrives
Donate usable items to charities. Many offer free pickup for furniture and household goods
Start early. Downsizing is emotional and takes longer than expected when you are sorting through decades of memories
Downsizing FAQ
Common questions about dumpster rental for downsizing projects.
Order the dumpster after you have held your estate sale and received donation pickups. The dumpster handles what is left: the items that could not be sold or donated. This usually happens 1-2 weeks before your moving date.
Hold an estate sale, list items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or contact a consignment shop. For furniture, Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts donations and offers free pickup. Maximize the value of your items before resorting to the dumpster.
If you are only discarding a few pieces of furniture and a modest amount of household items, a 10-yard may suffice. However, most people underestimate the volume. When in doubt, size up to a 15-yard. The cost difference is small compared to needing a second container.
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