Commercial skip hire
Skips for building sites, shops, offices, landlords and trades: the same sizes homeowners use, plus regular exchanges and roll-on roll-off containers for bigger sites. Here’s what businesses need to know, including the paperwork.
Need a skip? Call for a price and to book.
- Prices up frontGuide prices for every size
- Permit rulesWhat your council charges
- LicensedRegistered waste carriers
- LocalCompanies near you deliver
Who hires commercial skips
- Builders and tradesRubble, timber, plasterboard and packaging from extensions, refits and new builds. Usually 6 and 8 yard skips on rotation.
- Shops and officesRefits, clear-outs and moves. Light, bulky waste suits a 12 yard skip or a RoRo.
- Landlords and agentsClearing properties between tenants. A skip for a weekend, or a man and van for a quick turnaround.
- Sites and factoriesHigh volumes of waste. 20 and 40 yard roll-on roll-off containers, exchanged when full.
- LandscapersSoil, turf and green waste. Smaller skips for heavy loads, or a grab lorry for big piles.
- Events and seasonalShort hires for one-off clear-ups, often with collection the next day.
Commercial skip sizes
| Size | Best for | Heavy waste? |
|---|---|---|
| 6 yard builders | Rubble, bricks and mixed building waste | Yes, filled level |
| 8 yard large | Larger refits and mixed site waste | Often limited |
| 12 yard maxi | Shop and office clear-outs, light bulky waste | No |
| 20 yard RoRo | Site waste, demolition, factory clear-outs | Some, within limits |
| 40 yard RoRo | Large volumes of light waste | No |
The paperwork businesses need
Every business has a legal duty of care for its waste. You must give it only to a registered waste carrier, describe it accurately, and get a waste transfer note for every collection.
Keep waste transfer notes for at least two years. A season ticket, one note covering repeat collections of the same waste, can cover regular exchanges for up to a year.
Hazardous waste, like asbestos or some chemicals, needs a consignment note instead, and has to go to a site licensed for it.
Business recycling rules
In England, Simpler Recycling rules mean most businesses have had to separate their recyclable waste since March 2025, with the smallest firms following later. Wales has required workplaces to separate recycling since April 2024, and Scotland has had similar rules for longer.
Those rules cover your general waste bins and recycling, not one-off skips for building work. But mixed skips are still sorted at a transfer station, where most of the material is recovered.
How regular exchanges work
- 1Set a scheduleWeekly, fortnightly or on call. The company agrees a day and a size with you.
- 2Swap, don’t waitThey take the full skip and leave an empty one in the same visit, so work doesn’t stop.
- 3One accountMany companies invoice monthly for trade accounts, with a waste transfer note for each exchange.
Skips on the road need a permit
If a site skip goes on the road, the council permit fee applies to every hire, and some councils charge more for longer periods or repeat placements.
Commercial skip questions
- Do businesses pay VAT on skip hire?
- Yes, at 20%, which VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim. Trade quotes are often given before VAT.
- Can I get a trade account?
- Many skip companies offer trade accounts with monthly invoicing for regular customers. Ask when you book.
- Do I need a waste transfer note for every skip?
- Yes, or a season ticket covering repeat collections of the same waste for up to a year. Keep them for at least two years.
- What size skip does a building site need?
- A 6 or 8 yard skip for most small sites, exchanged as it fills. Larger sites use 20 or 40 yard RoRo containers.
- Can commercial waste go in a household skip?
- The skip is the same. What matters is the paperwork: business waste needs a waste transfer note in the business’s name.
Skip prices for your site
Call for a price and to book.