---
title: "How much does a garbage truck weigh?"
description: "A garbage truck weighs 12,000–20,000 kg (26,500–44,100 lb). How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/weight/garbage-truck/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How much does a garbage truck weigh?

**Typical weight: 12,000–20,000 kg**

That is 26,500–44,100 lb.

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

> Empty. Loaded, a rear-loader routinely reaches 25,000-29,000 kg, which is why they are hard on road surfaces.

## How that compares

*Garbage truck against things of a similar mass.*

- Fire truck: 14,000–36,000 kg
- Garbage truck: 12,000–20,000 kg
- Whale shark: 9,000–21,000 kg
- Semi truck: 12,000–36,290 kg
- Concrete mixer truck: 11,000–16,000 kg
- Big Ben: 13.76 t
- City bus: 11,000–20,000 kg
- Double-decker bus: 12.65 t

## More about a garbage truck

- [How much does a garbage truck cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/garbage-truck/) — 200,000–500,000 $
- [Garbage truck vs Fire truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fire-truck-vs-garbage-truck/) — Side by side
- [Garbage truck vs Concrete mixer truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/concrete-mixer-truck-vs-garbage-truck/) — Side by side
- [Garbage truck vs Semi truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/garbage-truck-vs-semi-truck/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How much does a garbage truck weigh?

A garbage truck weighs 12,000–20,000 kg (26,500–44,100 lb). Empty. Loaded, a rear-loader routinely reaches 25,000-29,000 kg, which is why they are hard on road surfaces.

## Related pages

- [How much does a garbage truck cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/garbage-truck/)
- [How much does a car weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/car/)
- [How much does a bicycle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/bicycle/)
- [How much does a SUV weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/suv/)
- [How much does a pickup truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/pickup-truck/)
- [How much does a double-decker bus weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/double-decker-bus/)
- [How much does a motorcycle weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/motorcycle/)
- [How much does a Falcon 9 weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/falcon-9/)
- [How much does a school bus weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/school-bus/)
- [How much does a semi truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/semi-truck/)
- [How much does a fire truck weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/fire-truck/)
- [Garbage truck vs Fire truck](https://atoneplace.net/vs/fire-truck-vs-garbage-truck/)
- [Garbage truck vs Concrete mixer 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/)