Top Add-Ons for Dumpster Rentals | Portable Toilets, Junk Removal & More

image from mydisposal.com

Add-ons for dumpster rentals are a smart strategy to grow your business because they increase revenue without having to find new customers. But the best add-ons do more than raise margins — they make things easier for customers by solving common problems like protecting driveways, tight timelines, and surprise overage charges. In this guide, we’ll break down the top add-ons to offer, who they’re best for, and how to position them as helpful options that boost your average ticket.

TL;DR Summary

Offering The Right Add-ons for Dumpster Rentals

Offering the right add-ons for dumpster rentals isn’t about throwing a long list of choices at every customer. It’s about offering a few simple options that add value and improve the customer experience.

It also helps to understand that add-ons are not a “one-size fits all” strategy for your customers. It’s a good approach to match add-ons to each customer based on the service or equipment they’ll find most valuable.

For example, a homeowner doing a garage cleanout usually values convenience and protecting their property (so add-ons like driveway protection, flexible scheduling, or prepaid weight would be a good match for them). Contractors would typically value speed and predictability (priority delivery, weekend service). Property managers and multi-unit cleanouts often need predictable timing and coordination (priority pickup windows, bundled services, multiple stops in the same area). When you match your add-ons to what customers would be willing to pay for, they are viewed as helpful “options” rather than “upsells.”

Driveway Protection

Driveway protection is one of those add-ons that feels small but matters a lot to customers. Placing protective mats under the dumpster’s contact points helps reduce the risk of scratches, cracks, and asphalt divots. It’s an easy add-on for you to implement and one that homeowners and property managers often opt for when offered. Driveway protection also helps you reduce the chances of damage claims after pickup. 
 
One thing to keep in mind is to use driveway protection that’s durable and designed for the job. The mats you use should be of high quality and sturdy material; flimsy protection can tear or fail to protect the surface, which defeats the purpose of using them. You want customers to see your business as professional and reliable, and using (and charging extra for) makeshift “protective equipment” can undermine that—especially when it’s something they could’ve set up themselves. 

Extra Revenue from Driveway Protection: 5-10% (On a $400 rental, it’s typical to charge $20-40 for driveway protection).

Portable Toilets

If you serve contractors or long-running jobs, portable toilets are one of the most straightforward add-ons to offer because the value is obvious and customers often opt for it. Portable toilets are a part of the same jobsite checklist as dumpsters and can be combined as a construction crew rental package that includes delivery, pickup, and regular servicing. It’s convenient for the customer because it solves a real jobsite need in one order, on one invoice, and it’s easy to fulfill if you’ve already got units—or if you partner with a local provider and bundle it into a single quote.

From an operator’s perspective, portable toilets also have strong return on investment because they can be rented on their own and don’t have to be part of a dumpster rental. The same units can be rented for construction sites, sporting events, fairs, and concerts—so you’re investing in inventory that can generate revenue across multiple customer types, not just dumpster jobs.

Extra Revenue from Portable Toilets: $150-300/week (when renting one portable toilet)

Junk Removal

Junk removal is a great add-on because some customers want the job done soup to nuts, not just the container. This works especially well for estate cleanouts, rental turnovers, and homeowners who don’t have time, labor, or a way to load bulky items. You can position it as an alternative (“we load and haul everything for you”) or as an upgrade (“we do the heavy lifting”), giving customers a clear option based on budget and how hands-on they want to be.

This video from Sweat Venture walks you through pricing junk removal & dumpster rentals with tips for upsells and best practices

From an operator’s perspective, junk removal is also a good way to save the sale when a customer hesitates on a dumpster rental because they don’t have the labor to load it. You should clearly state what’s included, what items cost extra, and how pricing works (by volume, by item, or by labor). When the service is clearly defined, it feels like a helpful solution instead of an open-ended request.

Extra Revenue from Junk Removal: $150-350/job (national estimate provided by homeguide.com)

At DRS we’ve developed waste management software that helps with the scheduling, routing, and customer payments for a junk removal service. Learn more about Junk Removal Software from DRS.

Priority and Weekend Delivery

For some customers, time is crucial and they’re willing to pay to get you on their schedule. Contractors need reliable delivery to keep crews working and jobs on schedule, and homeowners may want a dumpster during a narrow time window when help is available. Make sure you define what “priority” means (first available slot, guaranteed window, same/next-day when available), so customers understand exactly what they’re paying for.

Weekend delivery is a high-value add-on for customers who can only load when they’re off work. It’s also useful for contractors trying to keep a project moving without losing a weekday. Because weekend routes can mean overtime, limited staffing, or tighter scheduling, it’s a great candidate for an add-on fee. Be clear about the service area, available time windows, and cutoff times for booking.

Keep in mind that many landfills and transfer stations have limited weekend hours (or are closed), which can affect pickup availability, same-day swaps, and where loads can be dumped.

Pre-Purchased Weight Bundles

Pre-purchased weight bundles help customers avoid one of the most common surprises in dumpster rentals: overage charges. Instead of assuming that they stay under the included tonnage, customers can choose a higher weight tier upfront based on the type of debris they’re throwing away. It’s especially helpful for heavy materials like roofing shingles, plaster, dirt, and mixed construction debris. For you, it simplifies billing and reduces disputes, because the customer is choosing a clear, predictable price before delivery — similar to “budget billing” programs offered by utility companies that help reduce bill shock.

American AF Dumpsters gives tips on charging weight overages, including the use of DRS software in streamlining the process

To make weight bundles work well, suggest different options at the time of booking. For example, you can recommend a higher weight tier for “heavy” cleanouts and keep a standard tier for “light” household junk. The important part is that the customer understands that weight is determined at the scale, and wet material (rain, snow, mud) can increase weight quickly, as discussed in our guide to dumpster weatherproofing and winterizing. When customers understand how weight is measured and can prepay for the right tier, you’ll see fewer billing surprises, fewer angry calls, and a smoother checkout process.

Bonus: Cost-Saving Dumpster Rental Options

Some customers aren’t looking for extra equipment or priority delivery, instead they’re looking for options that keep the price down. Offering lower-cost service choices that work when the customer can meet certain conditions, like loading the dumpster the same day or being flexible on delivery and pickup timing, is also a strategy that can add value to your rentals. The “budget” options below aren’t random discounts; they’re priced lower because they reduce rental time, simplify routing, or make scheduling more flexible. If the customer can meet the requirements, these are great ways to save money without cutting corners on service.

Strategic revenue options like the ones mentioned here are also discussed in our recent how to start a dumpster rental business guide, along with tips for growth, compliance, and more.

Live Loads / Same-Day Pickup

A live load is a lower-cost alternative to a standard multi-day rental. With a live load, the dumpster is delivered and picked up on the same day—often in the same visit once it’s loaded. Because the dumpster isn’t left on-site for multiple days, you can turn your dumpsters faster, which allows you to price live loads more competitively than a traditional rental. Keep in mind that this option depends on timing, so the customer needs to be ready to load when the dumpster arrives.

Who it works for: Customers who already have labor lined up, are doing a fast cleanout, or have limited space and can’t leave a dumpster overnight.
Why it saves money: The dumpster isn’t tied up for days, which lets you turn containers faster and reduce the time and overhead built into a standard rental.

Flexible Scheduling (Wider Delivery Window)

Flexible scheduling is a cost-saving option for customers who don’t need a specific delivery or pickup time. You can set up the options as:

• Standard delivery: delivered on the scheduled day (time not guaranteed)
• Priority delivery: either first stop of the day or a guaranteed time window
• Flexible delivery: delivered within a 48hr window

Customers choosing the lower cost option give you more flexibility to plan out the most efficient route possible and to fill gaps in your schedule. This means that you can group stops in the same area and reduce your drive time, allowing you to offer a lower price.

Who it works for: Homeowners who aren’t on a tight timeline.
Why it saves money: More efficient routing and smoother scheduling (less drive time between jobs).

Keep It Simple with Add-Ons: Less Is More

With dumpster rental add-ons, “less is more.” You don’t need a massive list of options to increase revenue per order. The best add-ons are the ones that are easy to explain, easy to deliver, and clearly worth it to the customer. The key is to keep the list short, be upfront about the pricing, and make the value of the add-on easy to understand with simple example situations (ex. add-ons for “home remodeling” or a “contractor jobsite”). When customers understand what they get, and why it affects the price, add-ons feel like helpful options, not “pushy” upsells.

Rental Software Makes Add-Ons Easy

Offering add-ons for dumpster rentals will be a huge step for your rental business because increasing your average rental value plays a big role in the long-term success of your business. But, if your dumpster rental business is going to offer add-ons, it has to be able to fulfill them consistently. If you’re running your dumpster rental business with pen, paper, and spreadsheets, then tracking inventory, scheduling rentals, and optimizing delivery routes will quickly become overwhelming.

For example, coordinating priority delivery of a dumpster and portable toilets on short notice is much easier when you have instant visibility into what’s available and what your delivery schedule looks like. And flexible scheduling only works if the time you save on routing and scheduling doesn’t get lost rebuilding routes by hand every time something changes. The more service options you offer, the more important it becomes to have a system that keeps your business organized and coordinated.

This is where software shines as a key investment in your dumpster rental business.

Dumpster Rental Systems software streamlines your operation with features including:

• Online booking: let customers schedule rentals and add-on services 24/7 through your website
• Real-time inventory management: see what equipment is available (and when) so you can reliably offer priority delivery
• Integrated payments: collect payments without relying on third party tools—especially practical for add-ons and weight overage charges
• Automated customer messaging: send ETAs, confirmations, and reminders—especially useful for priority delivery, flexible scheduling windows, and live loads that depend on timing
• Optimized routing: build efficient routes automatically and adjust quickly when deliveries are prioritized, rescheduled, or canceled

Add-ons can only increase revenue — and grow your business — when they’re easy to quote, easy to schedule, and easy to fulfill, and the right software makes this seamless. If you’d like to see how DRS software simplifies and optimizes your entire dumpster rental operation, schedule your free demo today.

Frequently Asked Questions