Question 1

What size skip do I need?

Accepted Answer

For most single-room jobs a 4-yard midi is enough; a full kitchen rip-out or a multi-room job usually needs a 6 or 8-yard. The right size depends on three things: the type of waste, how much of it there is, and where the skip will sit. Use the calculator above for a size in a few taps, then call the local number shown for an official quote.

Question 2

What size skip do I need for a bathroom or kitchen refit?

Accepted Answer

A standard bathroom rip-out usually fits a 4-yard midi skip, holding 30 to 40 bin bags. A standard kitchen refit (cabinets, worktops, flooring and appliances) usually needs a 6-yard builders skip, around 50 to 60 bin bags. Larger or multi-room work steps up to an 8-yard. Plasterboard cannot be mixed in, so plan a separate plasterboard skip if you are stripping walls.

Question 3

What is the biggest skip I can use for soil, rubble or concrete?

Accepted Answer

Heavy waste is limited by weight, not volume. A standard rigid lorry maxes out near 10 tonnes including the skip, so a 6-yard filled with rubble is already at its lift limit. The practical rule is a 6-yard maximum for mixed rubble, brick or concrete, and a 4-yard filled to about two-thirds for soil only. Most operators will refuse soil or rubble in a 10 or 12-yard skip.

Question 4

How many bin bags fit in a skip?

Accepted Answer

As a rough guide: a 2-yard mini holds 20 to 30 bin bags, a 4-yard midi 30 to 40, a 6-yard builders 50 to 60, an 8-yard 60 to 80, a 10-yard maxi 80 to 100, and a 12-yard large maxi 100 to 120. One bin bag is roughly 0.05 cubic yards, so about 20 bags fill a cubic yard.

Question 5

Should I size up or size down if I am unsure?

Accepted Answer

Size up. Roughly 60% of customers under-size and end up booking a second skip mid-job. The cost gap between adjacent sizes is usually £30 to £50, while a second hire (delivery, collection and possibly a fresh permit) is almost always more than £100. The exception is heavy waste, where weight, not volume, sets the ceiling.

Question 6

Do the prices shown include a permit?

Accepted Answer

No. The price shown is an indicative range for a skip on private ground (a driveway) with mixed light waste and a 7 to 14 day hire. A skip on a public road, pavement or verge needs a council permit on top, typically £25 to £200 depending on the council. Central London also runs higher. Enter your area in the calculator for a local range, and the local depot confirms the exact price, including any permit, on the call.

Size	Capacity	Volume	Max load
2 Yard Skip	20-30 bin bags	2 cubic yards	2 tonnes
4 Yard Skip	30-40 bin bags	4 cubic yards	3.75 tonnes
6 Yard Skip	50-60 bin bags	6 cubic yards	6 tonnes
8 Yard Skip	60-80 bin bags	8 cubic yards	8 tonnes
10 Yard Skip	80-100 bin bags	10 cubic yards	8 tonnes
12 Yard Skip	100-120 bin bags	12 cubic yards	8 tonnes

What size skip do I need? Skip size calculator

How to choose the right skip size

Skip size guide: which size for which job

Recommended size by job and scale

Capacity and weight by size

Skip size calculator: common questions

Job	Small	Modest	Average	Large	Very large
Home or garage clearance	2-yard	4-yard	6-yard	8-yard	10-yard
Bathroom refit	2-yard	4-yard	4-yard	6-yard	8-yard
Kitchen refit	4-yard	4-yard	6-yard	6-yard	8-yard
Garden clearance	2-yard	4-yard	6-yard	10-yard	10-yard
General renovation	4-yard	6-yard	8-yard	10-yard	12-yard
Construction or trade	6-yard	8-yard	8-yard	10-yard	12-yard
Heavy waste (soil, rubble, concrete)	2-yard	4-yard	6-yard	6-yard	6-yard