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Skips are handy tools for waste removal. Providing a place for you to dispose of your unwanted materials or debris, skips can be used for a range of purposes such as home cleanouts, garden renovations, and building materials. Hiring the right-sized skip for your needs helps to ensure your waste can be disposed of quickly and with minimal hassle. Not all skips can hold the same materials, so hiring the right one helps to prevent delays in your project and additional fees.
Skips come in a wide range of sizes depending on your needs. Here at Budget Skips Direct, we supply skips ranging from 2 yards to 16 yards, providing plenty of choices so you only pay for the space you need. To help you choose the right skip for your project, we created this simple guide. It shows all the skip sizes, what materials they can hold, and tips to make your skip hire easy.
The measurements for skips can vary depending on where you rent them. Each supplier may use different measurements for their skips. Most skip suppliers provide the dimensions of their skips; however, it can be hard to guess how much material you can fit inside. Luckily, many skips tell you how many bin bags they can hold, helping you decide what size you need.
Generally, 1 cubic yard of space will fit around 10 – 15 bin bags. From this, you can determine how many cubic yards you will need for your waste, and what size skip you will need.
Depending on your supplier, the type of waste you’ll be able to put into your skip may be differ very slightly. Skip suppliers have to adhere to certain regulations, so be sure to check what you can and cannot place into your hired skip. You can use skips for material waste like wood, metal, cardboard, or other light waste. For heavy materials like brick, rubble, soil, or hardcore, we advise hiring a skip under 8 Yards, as larger skips won’t be able to hold the weight.
You cannot put certain items in skips because they can harm the environment. Items like asbestos, paint cans, gas bottles, batteries, and solvents contain harmful chemicals or flammable liquids and must be kept out of skips. Also, electronics such as computers, appliances, and televisions, as well as persistent organic pollutants (POPS) often found in upholstered furniture, sofas, and chairs, cannot be placed into skips.
If you need to dispose of hazardous waste, please contact your skip supplier first. They may be able to help you arrange disposal for you. Here at Budget Skips Direct, we are able to handle the removal of some of these items for you at an added cost.
Also known as a ‘mini skip’
Ideal for: Smaller home projects such as room clear-outs or small garden projects.
Dimensions: 5ft (1.52m) long x 3.4ft (1.03m) wide x 2.5ft (0.74m) high.
Bin bag capacity: 20 – 30 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘mini skip’
Ideal for: Small and medium projects such as room clear-outs or garden projects.
Dimensions: 5.5ft (1.68m) long x 3.6ft (1.1m) wide x 2.8ft (0.85m) high
Bin bag capacity: 30 – 38 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘midi skip’
Ideal for: Medium domestic projects such as garden projects and small renovations.
Dimensions: 6ft (1.8m) long x 4ft (1.22m) wide x 3.2ft 0.96m) high
Bin bag capacity: 35 – 40 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘builder’s skip’ or ‘maxi skip’
Ideal for: Smaller amount of bulkier waste like soil, concrete, or other building materials.
Dimensions: 8.6ft (2.6m) long x 5ft (1.52m) wide x 4ft (1.22m) high
Bin bag capacity: 50 – 60 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘builder’s skip’
Ideal for: Larger amounts of bulkier waste like soil, concrete, or other building materials and garden waste.
Dimensions: 9.2ft (2.8m) long x 5ft (1.6m) wide x 4ft (1.2m) high
Bin bag capacity: 56 – 70 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘builder’s skip’
Ideal for: Larger renovation projects such as kitchen, bathroom or other full room renovations.
Dimensions: 10.6ft (3.2m) long x 5.9ft (1.75m) wide x 4ft (1.22m) high
Bin bag capacity: 70 – 80 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘large skip’
Ideal for: Larger refurb projects with light waste, but not suitable for bulkier items like bricks or rubble.
Dimensions: 12ft (3.5m) long x 5.9ft (1.75m) wide x 4.11ft (1.5m) high
Bin bag capacity: 80 – 100 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘large skip’
Ideal for: Large and bulky items from room house clear-outs or large amounts of smaller items, but not suitable for bulkier items like bricks or rubble.
Dimensions: 12.2ft (3.96m) long x 5.9ft (1.83m) wide x 5.6ft (1.68m) high
Bin bag capacity: 100 – 120 full bags (approx.)
Also known as a ‘large skip’
Ideal for: Large and bulky items from house clear-outs or very large amounts of smaller items, but not suitable for bulkier items like bricks or rubble.
Dimensions: 13.5ft (4.1m) long x 5.9ft (1.75m) wide x 5.11ft (1.8m) high
Bin bag capacity: 150 – 175 full bags (approx.)
Ideal for: Many large or bulkier items from full house clear-outs or renovations, but not suitable for bricks or rubble.
Dimensions: 14.1ft (4.3m) long x 5.9ft (1.75m) wide x 6.7ft (2m) high
Bin bag capacity: 160 – 180 full bags (approx.)
Depending on your project, you may need a larger skip than expected. You may also need to consider what is going in your skip to ensure it can be disposed of. Here are our recommended skips for your project:
For clearing out a single room in your home, we recommend a 2, 3, or 4 yard skip depending on the size of the room. For full home clear-outs, a 14 or 16 yard skip may be needed. It’s important to note that not all skips allow for all waste, so be sure to hire the right skip for your waste needs.
For room renovations such as bathroom or kitchens, an 8 yard ‘builder’s skip’ is recommended.
For small renovations, a 2, 3, or 4 yard skip is enough. For larger projects that involve removing a lot of soil, concrete, or other building materials, a 8 yard skip is a better choice.
A 10-yard skip can handle most office waste. However, you must dispose of electrical items, fire extinguishers, and unsafe materials separately.
If you need to throw away upholstered furniture, contact your skip supplier to arrange for proper disposal.
For any building work, a 6, 7, or 8 yard ‘builder’s skip’ is best for disposing of heavier materials like brick, rubble or concrete.
If you’re hiring a skip for the first time, here are our top tips for ensuring your disposal goes smoothly.
Sometimes, you may need to place a skip on the public road, for example, during a building project or a house clearance. If you want to put a skip on council land, you’ll need a road permit. Many skip suppliers can help you get a permit for an extra fee, so be sure to check this before you hire.
When hiring a skip, be aware of waste restrictions. You cannot dispose of hazardous materials, such as chemicals or paint, in a skip. Some companies also have restrictions on heavy items and certain types of building waste. Always check with your skip supplier to avoid extra fees or issues later.
Do not overfill a skip. Overfilling can cause safety issues, making it difficult to move the skip and leading to waste spilling onto the road. Most skip hire companies have rules about how full the skip can be, usually allowing you to fill it to the top or just below the rim. If you overfill, you may have to pay extra charges, or the company might not pick it up until it is filled correctly.
When renting a skip for heavy items, ask for a drop door feature. It makes loading easier and safer by allowing you to lift large materials directly into the skip. Mention the drop door when booking should you require one.
Check out our selection of skip hire options at Budget Skips Direct and book your skip today.
