Have you ordered the wrong skip? If it’s too small, you’ll be stuck with overflow and extra charges. If it’s too big, you’ll have wasted money and driveway space.
So, before hiring a skip, you should know which skip is ideal for your domestic and commercial waste removal needs. Skip hire costs vary depending on the skip size you choose. So, choosing the right skip can help to save money.
Sometimes it becomes a mess to find out which size skip will be the right one for you. All the skips are measured in cubic yards. You can easily calculate by yourself. using this simple formula:
Cubic Yards = (Length in feet × Width in feet × Height in feet) ÷ 27
Why divide by 27?
There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard, because:
1 yd = 3 ft , so 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet | 1 yd=3 ft,so 3×3×3=27 cubic feet
Skip Hire Team made this skip size guide to help you match the right skip size to your specific job—whether it’s clearing out a garden shed, gutting a kitchen, or handling construction rubble. So all our customers can easily compare skip sizes and capacities to choose the right one.
| Scenario | Best Skip | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
|
Garden waste or shed clearance |
4 Yard Skip |
Ideal for soil, branches, and compact waste piles
|
|
1–2 room home renovation |
6 Yard Skip |
Handles heavier waste like tiles or old fixtures
|
|
Full home declutter or kitchen demo |
8 Yard Skip |
Room for bulkier items like units or furniture
|
|
Large clearances or refurb jobs |
10–12 Yard Skip |
For serious volume—but check weight restrictions
|
|
Commercial or industrial waste |
20–40 Yard RoRo Skip |
For builders, businesses, or total demolitions
|
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 30–40 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 1.83m (L) x 1.35m (W) x 0.92m (H)
Volume: 3.06m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Kitchen or bathroom refurbishments, ✔️ Garden waste removal (soil, plants, branches), ✔️ Small construction or DIY projects, ✔️ Office or home clearances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Start with Bulky Items: Place large items like furniture or boxes at the bottom.
✔️ Break Down Large Objects: Disassemble items like cabinets to fit more efficiently.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Smaller Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 50–60 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 3.05m (L) x 1.52m (W) x 1.22m (H)
Volume: 4.59m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Large Kitchen or bathroom refurbishments, ✔️ Garage or loft clearances, ✔️ Medium construction or DIY projects, ✔️ Office or home clearances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Place Heavy Items First: Start with dense materials like bricks or rubble.
✔️ Disassemble Large Objects: Break down furniture or fixtures to save space.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Lighter Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
Pro Tip: This is the largest skip suitable for heavy waste like bricks or soil in large volume.
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 60–80 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 3.66m (L) x 1.68m (W) x 1.22m (H)
Volume: 6.12m³
Perfect For:
✔️Large home or office clearances, ✔️ Medium-sized construction or demolition projects, ✔️ Disposal of bulky items like furniture or appliances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Start with Bulky Items: Place large items like furniture or appliances at the bottom.
✔️ Break Down Large Objects: Disassemble items to fit more efficiently.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Smaller Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 80–100 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 3.05m (L) x 1.83m (W) x 1.22m (H)
Volume: 7.65m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Large construction or demolition projects, ✔️ Major home or office clearances, ✔️ Disposal of bulky items like furniture or appliances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Place Heavy Items First: Start with dense materials like bricks or rubble.
✔️ Disassemble Large Objects: Break down furniture or fixtures to save space.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Lighter Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
⚠️ Note: Some councils limit heavy waste (soil, concrete) in this size.
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 100–120 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 3.66m (L) x 1.83m (W) x 1.68m (H)
Volume: 9.18m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Large construction or demolition projects, ✔️ Major home or office clearances, ✔️ Disposal of bulky items like furniture or appliances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Place Heavy Items First: Start with dense materials like bricks or rubble.
✔️ Disassemble Large Objects: Break down furniture or fixtures to save space.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Lighter Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
Restrictions: Not suitable for heavy materials like soil or concrete
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 180–200 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 6.09m (L) x 2.44m (W) x 1.83m (H)
Volume: 15.3m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Large construction or demolition projects, ✔️ Industrial clearances, ✔️ Disposal of bulky items like furniture or appliances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Place Heavy Items First: Start with dense materials like bricks or rubble.
✔️ Disassemble Large Objects: Break down furniture or fixtures to save space.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Lighter Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill remaining spaces.
What It Holds
Capacity: Approximately 350–400 bin bags of waste
Dimensions: 6.09m (L) x 2.44m (W) x 2.13m (H)
Volume: 30.5m³
Perfect For:
✔️ Major construction or demolition projects, ✔️ Large-scale industrial clearances, ✔️ Disposal of bulky items like furniture or appliances
Tips for Efficient Loading to maximize space and ensure safety:
✔️ Place Heavy Items First: Start with dense materials like bricks or rubble.
✔️ Disassemble Large Objects: Break down furniture or fixtures to save space.
✔️ Fill Gaps with Lighter Waste: Use bags of rubbish or garden waste to fill
Ask yourself:
Our FAQ section covers everything you need to know, from permit requirements to skip sizes and waste types.
A 6-yard skip holds easily around 50–60 bin bags, ideal for small building jobs or loft clearances, while a 4-yard skip is ideal choice for garden waste or minor DIY jobs.
No, you should not put bricks, soil, or other heavy waste in a 10-yard skip. Heavier waste like bricks and soil should go in skips up to 6 or 8 yards to avoid overloading.
Not always. Bigger skips cost more. It’s more cost-effective to choose the right size based on the actual waste amount you are going to dispose of.
Yes, but hazardous items (like asbestos, electricals, tyres) must be avoided or declared. We’ll guide you on proper disposal.
If you place your skip on a public road or pavement, your local council requires a permit. Our experts will arrange this for you in advance.
6-yard or 8-yard skip is ideal for a full house clearance. For single room or small space cleaning, a 4-yard skip may be enough.
The 6-yard builder’s skip is the most commonly hired size in the UK, suitable for both domestic and commercial waste.
You can put items like sofas, chairs, wardrobes, and tables into a skip. Just make sure they fit within the skip dimensions and aren’t sticking out above the fill line.
6-yard skip is usually perfect for a full kitchen strip-out, including cabinets, worktops, tiles, and some appliances.
Most UK skip hire companies use standard skip size ranges, but exact dimensions can vary slightly. Always check with your supplier.
We accept a wide range of waste types, including:
Use our online booking system to choose your skip size, set your delivery date, and get an instant quote. Or give us a call for friendly, expert advice in under 60 seconds.
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