---
title: "Fire truck vs garbage truck — size, weight and speed compared"
description: "Fire truck is somewhat greater than garbage truck on weight — about 1.3×. Compared on 4 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/fire-truck-vs-garbage-truck/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Fire truck vs Garbage truck

**Fire truck vs garbage truck: Fire truck is larger on weight**

Fire truck is somewhat greater than garbage truck on weight — about 1.3×.

A fire truck and a garbage truck can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

## Side by side

*Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.*

|  | Fire truck | Garbage truck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 14,000–36,000 kg | 12,000–20,000 kg |
| Length | 800–1,400 cm | 800–1,100 cm |
| Typical cost | 500,000–2,200,000 $ | 200,000–500,000 $ |
| Volume | 1,900–11,400 L | 11–30 m³ |

## What the numbers say

- Fire truck is somewhat greater than garbage truck on weight — about 1.3×.
- Fire truck and garbage truck are near enough identical on length.
- Fire truck is 3× garbage truck on typical cost.
- Garbage truck is 5× fire truck on volume.

*Weight compared.*

- Fire truck: 14,000–36,000 kg
- Garbage truck: 12,000–20,000 kg

## Fire truck

A firefighting vehicle carrying a pump, hose and water, or an aerial ladder or platform.

## Garbage truck

A truck with a compacting body that collects and crushes household or commercial waste.

> This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

## Common questions

### Which is bigger, fire truck or garbage truck?

Fire truck is somewhat greater than garbage truck on weight — about 1.3×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do fire trucks and garbage trucks compare on length?

Fire truck: 800–1,400 cm. Garbage truck: 800–1,100 cm. Fire truck and garbage truck are near enough identical on length.

### How do fire trucks and garbage trucks compare on typical cost?

Fire truck: 500,000–2,200,000 $. Garbage truck: 200,000–500,000 $. Fire truck is 3× garbage truck on typical cost.

## Related pages

- [Fire truck vs semi truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fire-truck-vs-semi-truck/)
- [City bus vs fire truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/city-bus-vs-fire-truck/)
- [Concrete mixer truck vs fire truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/concrete-mixer-truck-vs-fire-truck/)
- [Fire truck vs school bus](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fire-truck-vs-school-bus/)
- [Concrete mixer truck vs garbage truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/concrete-mixer-truck-vs-garbage-truck/)
- [Garbage truck vs semi truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/garbage-truck-vs-semi-truck/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)