Last updated on February 16th, 2022
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Everything you need to know before hiring a skip
Transporting rubbish too and from the local tip can be a laborious exercise that many of us don’t enjoy. In other instances, there’s just too much to dispose of and a wheelie bin is too small to handle the rubbish. Perhaps there is lots of construction and demolition waste to get rid of, hiring a skip is an ideal solution in this situation. In addition to filling the skip, most of the hard work will be done for you by the skip supplier.
As good as it sounds, you ought to know the basics of skip business in order to keep skip hire costs to a minimum. This guide informs you about how much you can expect to pay to hire a skip and everything else you need to know before hiring one.
What skip size do you need?
This is a crucial factor to consider before hiring a skip. Skips come in various sizes and prices are relative to size. Private property residents must be sure that they have enough space to accommodate a skip. At the very least, skips come in four size variations; mini skip, midi skip, builders skip and large skip.
Mini Skip
If you want to work on a small project around your home, a 2 yard skip makes an ideal piece of equipment. The kind of projects where this skip will come in handy include home clearouts, garden refurbishments, shed clearance and minor renovation work. This skip measures 0.76m x 1.52m x 1.22m (H x L x W) and can be placed in your garden or on your drive. A mini skip will cost around £75 to £90 for a week’s hire in most parts of the UK with prices expected to be higher in London. A 2 yard skip will hold around 25 to 35 bags of rubbish.
Midi Skip
This one is just 4 yards and it happens to be the most popular skip for all kinds of domestic waste removal jobs and offers excellent value. Perfect for major room refurbishments, large garden redesigns, full house clearouts and cleaning as well as minor demolition work. Projects of this magnitude can create an immense amount of waste and a 4-yard skip is a piece of practical equipment.
4 yard skips fit nicely into any garden space and driveway. It measures 1.29m x 1.29m x 0.97m (L x W x H) and can hold up to 45 rubbish bags. Hiring this skip for a full week will set you back by a minimum of around £150-£160.
Builder’s Skip
This is commonly known as the 8 yard skip and it’s used for large domestic projects as well as medium commercial projects. Example projects include total home clearouts, large domestic refurbishment, construction and demolition work, and retail and office clearouts. This skip’s dimensions are 3.66m x 1.68m x 1.22m (L x W x H) and can hold between 80 and 90 standard rubbish bags. Expect to pay anywhere from £200 to £250 for this type of skip. It can also fit into most driveways without major trouble but you will have to apply for a temporary license to have it placed on public property or on the road.
Large Skip
Also known as the 12 yard skip, this is perfect for massive domestic and commercial projects. It accommodates up to 135 average-sized rubbish bags plus it can hold bulky waste such as furniture. Projects such as house renovation, complete home clearance, and garden remodelling have found their match! A large skip measures 3.7m x 1.78m x 1.68m (L x W x H). The price varies depending on location but you can expect between £250 and £350, with large skips in London going for up to £380.
The following skip hire price list can also help you compare skip hire prices across various locations throughout the UK:
| LOCATION | 4 YARD SKIP | 8 YARD SKIP | 12 YARD SKIP |
| Birmingham | £140 | £198 | £277 |
| Bristol | £156 | £263 | £334 |
| Edinburgh | £134 | £226 | £266 |
| Essex | £183 | £265 | £332 |
| Exeter | £233 | £308 | £409 |
| Glasgow | £120 | £186 | £244 |
| Leeds | £123 | £191 | £253 |
| Liverpool | £127 | £179 | £238 |
| London | £213 | £298 | £374 |
| Luton | £196 | £279 | £352 |
| Manchester | £134 | £197 | £245 |
| Newcastle | £165 | £240 | £290 |
| Nottingham | £123 | £200 | £249 |
| Southampton | £186 | £262 | £349 |
Are there any items that are restricted of going into your skip?
There are items that are not suitable to be disposed of in a skip. Most skip companies advise on what is and what is not acceptable to go into your skip. The most commonly restricted items include electrical equipment, fridges and freezers, computers and TV screens, asbestos, tyres, plasterboard, batteries, paint cans and toxic or hazardous materials.
Make sure you are aware of restricted items, otherwise you may face extra fines and fees. Skip companies will go through all the waste and can discover any items that are not supposed to be there. So, avoid the urge to even hide banned items amongst other waste products.
Is there a weight limit?
Every skip has a weight limit, depending on its size. Sticking to the limit makes it easy for the collection lorries to lift and take the skip from the ground. Failure to abide by the limit not only attracts potential fines but also the need to remove excess rubbish in order to lighten the load.
Generally, mini and midi skips can be fully filled with heavy stuff but larger skips have weight limits. For instance, a large skip, such as the 12 yard skip, can accommodate only 40% heavy items and 60% light material. In addition, make sure to load your skip to the marked level, otherwise, the skip driver may refuse to collect it. It’s also safer to transport level-filled skips than overloaded skips. If you are not sure, seek advice from skip companies concerning the materials you’re disposing of in a skip.
Delivery information
The key to successful and hassle-free skip delivery is ensuring that there’s enough access to your property. On that note, there are a number of factors that you should consider before ordering a skip:
- Road size – roads across the UK are different and many will allow access for a skip lorry. However, it’s important to factor in the layout and width of the road leading to your property. Skip companies may charge for a wasted trip if they come and find it hard to deposit the skip at your property.
- Parked cars – these can hamper the efforts to deliver a skip. They can make access much more difficult no matter what side of the road they are. Be sure that your road doesn’t have these distractions at the time you want the skip delivered. Speak to neighbours if you think cars will be in the way.
- Height restriction bars – skip delivery vehicles tend to be taller than most standard vehicles. Therefore, it’s prudent to inform the skip company about any height restrictions on the way so you can both plan for a new route.
- Gates – if your property has gates, then you must ensure that the skip delivery team can gain access to the deposit location. Consider the width of the gate too.
Potential skip problems
Some people worry that large skips can damage their driveways, and that’s true – a full and heavy skip has the potential to destruct blocked paving and tarmac. You may need to use stabilising equipment for a particularly heavy skip, whilst MDF boards can be deployed to spread the weight and mitigate the risk of damage.
Fly-tipping is another issue that you may face, whether the skip is located in your property or public area. Some people may take advantage of a neighbour’s skip and just dump any materials inside it. If this happens, it leaves the skip owner as the one held responsible in case restricted items are found. To curb this problem, cover your skip at night or alternatively, order a closed skip that can be locked overnight. This will also prevent any light waste material from blowing out of the skip.
On the road skip permits
The law requires that any skip left on public land such on the roadside must have permission to be there. In some instances, you’ll be the one seeking the permit from your local council, whilst in others, the skip hire company does it on your behalf. The license may take a few days, so make sure the application is done in time.
Bear in mind that permit costs vary greatly from location to location. A roadside permit on a residential street in Manchester could cost only £15, whilst a similar street in Glasgow could be more than £50.
If you put a skip on the road you may need to put markers out such as reflectors on the corners for safety, failing to do this can lead to a fine of up to £1000, if you are unsure ask your local council. You cannot put a skip on the pavement.
How long can you hire the skip for?
Standard skip hires are for one week or two weeks. Be careful about unlimited time skip hire because it will be very expensive in the long run. Limited time skip hire may also attract a small fee for an additional day(s) but it’s a cheaper option than unlimited time hire.
Can a house clearance reduce skip hire cost?
Last but not least, there are times when you totally don’t need a skip. House clearance maestros can help you get rid of junk from your home, which they usually sell to others. They take items such as old furniture, materials and other solid items that you may need to dispose of for free, so you won’t need a paid skip service. Consider this option sometimes and you will find yourself saving a lot.
To sum it up, a skip provides a safe and secure area to leave your waste items. There’s no constant skip hire cost but it varies depending on where you live in the country and the company you use. Even your local skip hire companies will have price variations so you ought to shop around for the best price before ordering one. And if you didn’t know, your skip hire cost includes delivery, collection and waste disposal.
