A Guide to Skip Sizes

A Guide to Skip Sizes

Choosing the right size of skip to hire is difficult. When planning a project, estimating how much waste it will generate can be challenging and even more complex to translate into a volume.

But when you get it wrong, it causes problems. Order a skip that is too big, and you are paying for space you do not need, as well as the inconvenience that a larger skip causes. Going too small means managing waste that cannot fit and possibly negotiating additional skips and permits.

At What Skip, we offer everything from small 2-yard skips to 40-yard roll-on roll-off (RORO) skips, and this guide should help you understand exactly what you need.

How Skip Sizes Work

Skips are measured by volume in cubic yards. Many people struggle to estimate volume, so a good rule of thumb is to think of each yard as holding around ten typical bin bags’ worth of waste.

Consider the type of waste, as both weight and volume are important. Larger skip sizes can hold lots of heavy waste, like bricks or soil, but would be too heavy to remove.

All waste material must be contained within the skip. While it may be tempting to stack items on top, transporting them in that manner is illegal due to the risk of waste falling during transit.

This means assessing the skip size you need accurately is important.

Small Skip Sizes

2-yard skip

Frequently known as a ‘mini skip’, this skip is ideal for small household and garden jobs. Measuring just 1.5 × 1.22 × 0.91 m, it can fit in small gardens and holds 25 to 35 big rubbish bags.

4-yard skip

The 4-yard ‘midi skip’ is a great compromise between the mini and more traditional skip sizes.

Slightly larger than the 2-yard skip, it holds between 45 and 55 bin bags, making it ideal for those slightly larger jobs when you still have limited space for your skip.

Medium Skip Sizes

6-yard skip

This is also known as the ‘small builder’s skip’, and for good reason, since it is often used for home renovation projects.

With a capacity of up to 75 bin bags, this option is perfect for projects that generate significant waste. Its compact size also allows for handling heavier materials, such as bricks, making it a versatile choice.

8-yard skip

The ‘builder's skip’, larger than the 6-yard skip, is commonly seen outside major domestic projects and smaller commercial undertakings. Holding around 75 to 85 bin bags, it is great for projects that cover multiple rooms. 

And, like the 6-yard skip, it can be used for denser materials, meaning it can be used in projects that require partial demolition of walls or re-landscaping gardens.

Large Skip Sizes

10-yard skip

Bigger projects need bigger skips. The 10-yard skip, for example, could handle a large house clearance and deal with plenty of lighter waste like wood, plastics, and garden waste.

However, the 10-yard skip is the point at which skips cannot be used for heavy waste. Although they can manage some rubble, that should not be their primary use.

12-yard skip

The biggest of our commonly hired skips, the 12-yard, holds the equivalent of up to 120 bin bags, making it suitable for bigger projects. This size tends to be used for large amounts of lighter materials, such as furniture and wood, from clearances and renovations.

Maxi and RORO Skips

The largest traditional skips come in 14-, 16-, and 18-yard sizes and are used for projects that generate large volumes of waste. They tend to be used commercially, where multiple contractors will work and generate waste.

RORO skips, between 20- and 40-yards, are the largest we offer. These are typically used on major industrial projects or for continuous waste management on larger sites.

What Skip Size is Right for Your Project?

The best way to judge is to consider the size of your project. Small skips are typically the best for small home and garden projects, such as clean-ups or limited work in a single room.

Medium skips are handy for larger renovation projects where furniture, cupboards, and general waste are removed from an entire room.

Larger skips are needed when your work is more extensive, such as renovations to multiple rooms or home clearances.

If you are unsure, opting for a larger skip is better. You might be paying a little more than you need, but it will still be significantly less than the expenses caused by a skip that is too small.

Additional Considerations

Space

As well as the skip volume, consider the overall size of your skip and the space required for loading and removal. These measurements will dictate where you can place the skip.

Permits

You will need a skip permit if you cannot keep your skip on private property. The rules and costs differ depending on your local council and the skip size you use.

Weight limits

Think carefully about the type of waste you are disposing of, especially with larger skip sizes. If you have materials like rubble or bricks, then larger skip sizes may get too heavy. Again, this can lead to extra costs as you will have to hire smaller skips and transfer the waste.

Conclusion

Skip sizes can be confusing. When estimating the amount of waste you will generate and the volume it will use, even professionals can struggle.

But making the effort to work out the right size helps avoid unnecessary costs and delays to your project from getting it wrong.

And remember, you can ask for advice. At What Skip, we know skips and what can fit in them! Contact us to share insights from years of experience and numerous waste management projects.

A Guide to Skip Sizes

Contact us

To book a skip or other services, or just to have a chat about your requirements, please get in touch.