The best skip size for pure soil or spoil is a 4-yard midi, filled only about two-thirds. Soil is one of the densest things you can put in a skip, so a small skip filled part-way is usually the most a lorry can legally lift. Garden landscaping waste is different: turf, branches and bagged greenery are bulky but light, so for those the volume decides the size, not the weight.
That split is the whole trick to sizing a garden job. Work out whether your waste is mostly heavy (soil, turf rolls, slabs) or mostly light (prunings, leaves, hedge trimmings), because the two are sized in opposite directions.
TL;DR
- For pure soil or spoil, a 4-yard skip filled to about two-thirds is the safe choice. Soil weighs roughly a tonne per cubic yard, and a standard lorry caps at around 10 tonnes.
- A 6-yard is the most soil you should ever put in one skip, and most operators refuse soil in 10-yard and 12-yard skips outright.
- For light garden landscaping waste (turf aside), volume governs, so a 6, 8 or 10-yard can make sense.
- Keep clean soil in its own skip where you can. Clean topsoil and subsoil have reuse value that is lost the moment it mixes with rubble.
For pure soil, think small and heavy: a 4-yard filled two-thirds, a 6-yard at the very most. For light garden waste like prunings and leaves, think big and bulky, and size by volume instead.
What size skip do I need for soil?
A 4-yard midi suits most soil-only jobs, filled to about two-thirds. Soil is heavy enough that even a part-filled small skip reaches the weight a lorry can lift. Step up to a 6-yard only if you genuinely have more than about 3 tonnes of soil, and never go above a 6-yard, because a larger skip full of soil cannot be collected.
| Amount of soil | Skip size | Fill level |
|---|---|---|
| A few barrow-loads, say one border or footing | 2-yard | Level |
| A typical garden dig or small landscaping spoil | 4-yard | About two-thirds |
| A large landscaping or foundation dig | 6-yard | About half |
| You were quoted a 10 or 12-yard for soil | 6-yard, or two of them | Most operators won't take soil in those sizes |
Run your exact job through the skip size calculator, or see the full weight-vs-volume logic in the skip size guide.
Why is the skip so small for soil?
Because soil is dense. A cubic yard of soil weighs roughly a tonne, and wet clay soils weigh more. A standard rigid skip lorry has a payload ceiling of about 10 tonnes including the skip, so a 4-yard filled two-thirds with soil is already near the weight it can lift. A 6-yard holds about 6 tonnes of soil filled to the line, which is the realistic ceiling.
This is why ordering up backfires on soil. An 8-yard reaches the same weight before it looks half full, and a 10 or 12-yard full of soil simply can't be lifted, so most operators refuse soil and rubble in those sizes. Every size's weight rating is on the skip sizes page. If you have slabs, broken concrete or hardcore mixed in, the same weight rule applies, and the per-material breakdown is in the concrete, rubble and hardcore guide.
Garden landscaping waste sizes differently
Most garden waste isn't soil. Hedge cuttings, branches, leaves and bagged greenery are bulky but light, so for those the skip's volume is the limit, not its weight. A 6-yard handles a typical garden clearance, and a big landscaping project with lots of greenery can justify an 8 or 10-yard.
| Garden waste | Weight | Right size |
|---|---|---|
| Pure soil and spoil | Heavy | 4-yard to two-thirds, 6-yard maximum |
| Turf rolls | Heavy (holds water) | Treat like soil: 4 to 6-yard |
| Hedge cuttings, prunings, leaves | Light | 6 to 8-yard by volume |
| Mixed landscaping (greenery plus some soil) | Medium | 6-yard is the safe middle |
Turf is the one that catches people out. Rolled turf holds a lot of water and weighs almost as much as soil, so a skip of turf is sized like a soil job, not a greenery job.
Mixing soil with other garden waste
You can mix soil with light garden waste, but it rarely helps. The skip reaches its weight limit on the soil while it still looks half empty, so you pay for space you can't use. It also ruins the soil for reuse.
On a bigger landscaping job the cheaper route is two skips: a small one for the heavy soil and turf, and a larger one for the bulky greenery and timber. Splitting also keeps the soil clean.
Can you reuse the soil instead?
Often, yes, and it can cut your skip bill. Clean topsoil and subsoil can be levelled elsewhere on the plot, given away locally, or collected by a muck-away service that often beats a skip on price for large volumes. The catch is contamination: the moment soil mixes with rubble, plaster or roots it loses that value.
A single extension's foundation dig produces 3 to 4 cubic yards of soil weighing 4 to 6 tonnes, enough that a muck-away can work out cheaper than skips. The numbers are in the renovation waste report.
Permit and placement
Put the skip on the driveway if you can. No permit, lower cost, and a hard, level surface is exactly what a heavy soil load needs. A full 4-yard of soil weighs around 3 tonnes, so never site a soil skip on a lawn or soft ground.
If it has to go on the road, you need a council permit, typically £25 to £200 depending on the council. Full detail in the skip permit guide.
What does a soil skip cost?
A 4-yard skip runs around £180 to £280 in 2026, and a 6-yard around £230 to £340, depending on region:
| Size | Typical 2026 range |
|---|---|
| 4-yard midi | £180–280 |
| 6-yard builders | £230–340 |
Some operators add a surcharge for heavy soil-only loads, and a weight-overage fee applies if you exceed the included tonnage. Both are avoided by sizing down and filling to the line. Regional breakdowns are in the 2026 skip hire cost guide.
Quick checklist for a soil or garden waste skip
- Pure soil or spoil: a 4-yard filled two-thirds, a 6-yard at the very most
- Turf is heavy because it holds water, so size it like soil, not greenery
- Light garden waste like prunings, branches and leaves: size by volume, 6 to 8-yard
- Never order above a 6-yard for soil; most operators won't lift or collect it
- Keep clean soil separate for reuse, or price up a muck-away for big digs
- Driveway placement on a hard, level surface; a permit only if it goes on the road
Not sure whether your garden load counts as heavy or light? The skip size calculator sizes it for your exact job and gives you a local number to call. A short call with the type of waste, rough volume, and your postcode gets a firm price including delivery, hire and collection.
