Skip Hire

Learn more about Skip Hire in England

How do I know what size skip to choose for my skip hire requirement in England?

England skip hire companies offer skips in all different sizes that can suit almost any task. The ideal size of skip depends on the amount of rubbish you need to clear and how much space you have on site to put the skip, which in England is a bit of a challenge. The larger it is, the cheaper the skip hire price will be per cubic yard/metre of waste removed. However, always ensure that you have enough rubbish to fill it or you will end up paying a high skip hire cost when you don’t have to. Moreover, remember that most councils In England don’t allow skips larger than 8 yards to be placed on a public highway.

The sizes of skip are referred to by their volume in terms of cubic yards. A cubic yard is 1 yard (3 foot) high x 1-yard wide x 1 yard deep. It is roughly the size of two washing machines or dishwashers, a large upholstered armchair, and a domestic fridge freezer. For the more metric of you, one cubic yard is equivalent to ¾ of a cubic metre (91cmx91cmx91cm).

The following are the different sizes of skips in England.

- 4-yard skips for smaller jobs in England – these skips are particularly popular with domestic consumers who are having smaller home improvement tasks, such as a bathroom renovation or a garden clearance. As the smallest size, these skips are also the cheapest skip hire sizes available. Therefore, if you are looking for a cheap skip hire and you don’t have too many waste to remove, this is your best choice. The small size allows it to be placed in your driveway, eliminating the need for a skip permit as you don’t have to put it on the read. It holds the equivalent of 30 bin bags.

- 6 yard skips for medium-sized jobs in England – this size is great for building or DIY projects, such as removing a large bathroom or a medium-sized kitchen. It is the size you frequently see in residential streets. It is still enough to be placed in the driveway and holds the equivalent of 45 bin bags.

- 8-yard skips for medium-sized jobs in England – commonly referred to as builder’s skips as they are usually hired by construction clients, this size is the biggest available for heavy waste, such as soil, rubble, and concrete. It is often used for residential refurbishment projects, office clearances, and shop refits. It can hold the equivalent of 60 bin bags.

- 12 or 16 yard skips for larger-sized jobs in England – this skip size is suitable for larger clearances, which include bulky and light waste types from house or office clearances. It is not ideal for large amounts of hardcore, soil, brick, or sand that need to be left on the road. The 12-yard skip holds the equivalent of 90 bin bags, whereas the 16-yard skip holds the equivalent of 120 bin bags.

The following is weight restrictions on the sizes of skips:
Skip size Dimension (feet) Max weight
2 Yard 4 long x 3 wide x 3 high 2 Tonnes
4 Yard 6 x 4 x 3 4 Tonnes
6 Yard 10 x 4 x 4 6 Tonnes
8 Yard 12 x 6 x 4 8 Tonnes
12 Yard 13 x 6 x 6 8 Tonnes
16 Yard 13.5 x 6 x 6.5 8 Tonnes

If you are looking through a Google search with “skip hire near me,” keep in mind that not all companies offering the service have all the skip hire sizes. So always make sure the company has what you need beforehand.

When hiring a skip in England how do I organise for it to be left on the road?

If you need to put a skip on a public highway in England (usually referred to as ‘on-road’) instead of private land, you will need to obtain a skip hire permit from the council. The average cost of obtaining a skip hire permit in England is as well as that if you need to suspend parking the parking bay suspension cost in England depends on the speciic council the road is part of, the average cost is

This permit is organised by the skip hire company. Note that this needs to be organised before the delivery of the skip.

Skip permits, or skip licenses, take several days to arrange and cost extra. If the skip is going to be placed in a controlled parking zone, such as on a single yellow line or a residents parking bay or pay, you will also need to have a parking suspension. The fee varies dramatically by each council and you will also have to bear the skip hire price too. The fee may drive up the skip hire cost a little, but paying it is still cheaper than paying for a fine.

Skip permits control the number of skips placed on the road in England since they take up precious space and can affect traffic flow and parking. You can be liable to a fine and the skip could be removed at any time if you do not have a skip permit. If you put a skip on private lands, such as a privet field or your driveway, there is no requirement for a permit. Valid permits are regularly checked by enforcement officers. You can be faced with a fine if an unlicensed skip is found without a skip permit.

What waste cannot go into a skip in England?

The following are the most common items that can’t be disposed of in a skip:

- Asbestos
- Batteries
- Liquids
- Tyres
- Clinical or medical waste, such as syringes
- Fluorescent tubes
- Electrical appliances and equipment
- Freezers, fridges, and air conditioning units
- Hazardous waste and toxic materials
- Gas canisters and gas bottles
- Petrol, oil, diesel
- Plasterboard
- Cans of paint and paint
- Computer screens and TVs

Keep in mind that if any prohibited items are found when the skip is emptied, you may be charged extra and the restricted items may be returned to you. It is highly advisable to keep an eye on your skip if you place it in an open and public area since other people could put their own waste into your skip. If this happens to you, you are responsible for any rubbish in your skip.

Is there an alternative to hiring a skip in England?

Yes, there are alternatives to hiring a skip in England. Although skip hire costs are low, hiring one comes with limitations. Some jobs are better suited to alternative waste disposal services, such as a man and van type of removal sometimes called rubbish removal, which is convenient when your waste has been created and simply needs to be collected. Unlike a skip, rubbish removal services provide a team that will do all the heavy lifting to remove your unwanted waste, then load it straight into a van. This service usually only charges for the amount of waste they take away, which may allow you to save money. In some cases, the price of rubbish removal can be a little more affordable than skip hire prices. You also don’t have to estimate the skip bin size needed for your waste.

Skip bags are another option; skip bags are a popular rubbish removal solution for those who only have a small amount of waste. It comes in a number of sizes and can be purchased from most hardware stores and online stores. The bags are collected with a grab truck once full. The cost of this type of rubbish removal is just as affordable as skip hire costs.