Choosing the right skip size is key
Pick a skip that’s too small and you risk overfilling it. Go too large and you’re paying for space you don’t need. The easiest way to judge skip sizes is to think in terms of black bin bags. Here’s a quick guide:
- 2 yard3 skip: ~20 bin bags. Great for small DIY projects, garden tidy-ups, or bathroom refits.
- 4 yard3 skip: ~40 bin bags. Ideal for kitchen renovations, loft clearances, or general household waste.
- 8 yard3 skip: ~80 bin bags. Perfect for heavier waste like soil, bricks, concrete, and hardcore.
- 12 yard3 skip: ~120 bin bags. Best suited to large clearances, bulky furniture, or light commercial waste.
If you’re not sure, size up. It’s illegal for us to collect an overfilled skip and could result in delays or extra charges.
Have you got room for it?
Before you book, make sure you have enough space. A 2 yard skip fits into tighter spaces like driveways or small yards, but anything bigger will need more room and access for delivery and collection. If it’s too big, we won’t be able to drop it off.
Public roads, pavements, and permits
If the only place for your skip on a public road, verge, or pavement, you’ll need a permit from the council. Don’t worry, we can arrange all that for you, but please remember to let us know when you book your skip.
Match the skip to your project
Garden waste: 2 yard or 4 yard skips are great for soil, turf, branches, and green waste.
Home renovations: 4 yard or 8 yard skips are ideal for tiles, plasterboard, wood, and cabinets.
Building materials: 8 yard skips are perfect for heavy or construction materials. For larger volumes you might need multiple skips, or an alternative solution. Just ask.
Don’t be tempted to overfill
We’ve all seen skips overflowing with rubbish. Not only is it hard to keep the waste safely contained, it’s also illegal to transport an overfilled skip. That means we won’t be able to collect it until you’ve removed the extra waste, and you may be charged extra. Only ever add waste until it’s level with the top of your skip.
Still not sure about sizes?
That’s what we’re here for. Simply give us a call on 0333 0570 200 and we’ll help you pick the right skip for the job.
