What size skip do I need?
Estimate the volume of your waste — from a pile's size or the number of builder's bags — and see which skip fits, from a mini to a maxi. Heavy waste like soil and rubble fills the weight limit long before the skip is full, so the volume isn't the whole story. Free, no sign-up.
A guide, not a guarantee. Skips are quoted in cubic yards; the figures here are typical. You can't load above the rim — overloaded skips are illegal to lift, so a slightly bigger skip beats one you can't fill safely. A skip on the public road needs a council permit; on your own drive it doesn't. Some waste (plasterboard, tyres, fridges, paint, asbestos) must be kept separate or can't go in at all — ask the operator. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Volume first, then the weight catch.
Estimate the volume. Whether you measure the pile, count the bulk bags, or already know the cubic metres, we turn it into a volume and match it to the smallest skip that holds it. A pile is length times width times height; a builder's bulk bag is roughly 0.7 m³.
Match to a skip. The common UK sizes are the mini (2 yd³, about 1.5 m³), midi (4 yd³, ~3 m³), builder's (6–8 yd³, ~4.6–6.1 m³) and maxi (12 yd³, ~9.2 m³). We pick the smallest that fits your volume — but bear in mind you can't load above the rim, so leave headroom.
The weight catch. Volume isn't the whole story for heavy waste. A builder's skip full of soil or rubble can exceed the lorry's safe lifting weight, so operators often won't fill a big skip with heavy material — or will cap it part-full. For soil, concrete, hardcore and tiles, a smaller skip (or a grab lorry) is usually the right call even when the volume says bigger.
Permit or no permit. A skip on your own drive or garden needs no permit. A skip on the public road or pavement needs a licence from the council, which the skip company usually arranges for a fee — allow a few days.
What can't go in. Plasterboard usually has to be bagged separately; fridges, tyres, mattresses, electricals, paint, gas bottles and anything with asbestos are restricted or banned. Check with the operator before you load.
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