Skip hire questions, answered
Short answers to everything people ask before hiring a skip. If your question is about your own town, the town page has the local prices, permit fee and nearest tip.
Need a skip? Call for a price and to book.
Call 0333 880 1030Lines open Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
- A skip costsAround £135For a 2 yard mini, before VAT
- Most home jobs need4 or 6 yardsGo one size up if unsure
- A road permit costs£15 to £250+Depends on the council
- Most hires lastUp to 2 weeksLonger on private land
Prices
- How much does it cost to hire a skip?
- A 2 yard mini is typically around £135 and a 6 yard builders skip around £290, before VAT. Prices start from under £100 for a mini skip in the cheapest areas. Prices vary a lot by area because tipping charges, fuel and competition differ, so check the guide prices for your town before you book.
- Why do skip prices vary so much?
- Five things move the price: the size, where you live, what you’re throwing away, how long you keep it and whether it goes on the road. Heavy waste like soil costs more to dispose of, a road permit adds the council’s fee, and a longer hire ties up the skip. Two quotes for the same size can differ by £100 or more.
- Is VAT included in skip hire prices?
- Not always. Skip hire is charged at the standard 20% VAT rate, and many companies quote before VAT, especially to trade customers. A £300 quote can become £360. Ask whether the price includes VAT, the permit and the hire period you need.
- Does a permit cost extra?
- Yes. If the skip goes on the road, the council’s permit fee goes on top, usually added to your bill by the skip company. Fees run from about £15 to over £250 depending on the council, with most between £50 and £100 for a couple of weeks.
- Are there extra charges for some items?
- Often. Mattresses, tyres, fridges and other awkward items carry a charge or need a separate collection because they cost more to recycle. Overfilled or overweight skips can also be charged extra. Tell the company what you’re throwing away when you book, and you won’t get a surprise.
- What is cheaper than hiring a skip?
- For one or two large items, the council’s bulky waste collection is usually cheapest. For a car or van load you can move yourself, the tip is free for household waste. A man and van can be cheaper for a single load that’s ready now. A skip is best value when you’re filling it over several days.
- How much is the cheapest skip to hire?
- The 2 yard mini skip, typically around £135 before VAT and under £100 in the cheapest areas. A skip bag can be cheaper still for very small jobs, but it holds far less.
- Do you pay for skips per day?
- No. Skip hire is priced per hire, normally covering one to two weeks. You pay extra only if you keep it longer than agreed or need it exchanged.
- Is it cheaper to get two small skips or one big one?
- Usually one big one, as long as your waste can go in it. The exception is heavy waste: two smaller skips may be the only option, because big skips can’t legally be lifted when full of rubble.
Cheaper ways to get rid of waste
How a skip compares with the alternatives.
| Option | Best for | How much | Permit | Loading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip | Building work and clear-outs you fill over days | 2 to 12 yards | Only if on the road | You load it |
| Skip bag | Small jobs with a little waste | About 1 yard | Usually not | You load it, collected by crane |
| Man and van | Rubbish that’s ready to go today | Single items to a full van | No | They load it |
| Grab lorry | Big piles of soil and rubble | 8 or 16 tonnes | No | The lorry loads it |
| Council bulky collection | One or two large items | A few items | No | You put it out |
| The tip | A car or van load you can move | What you can carry | Some need a van permit | You take it |
Sizes
- What size skip do I need?
- A 2 yard mini for a garden tidy or small bathroom, a 4 yard midi for a kitchen or garage, a 6 yard builders skip for building work or rubble, an 8 yard for a house clear-out and a 12 yard for bulky light waste. If you’re between sizes, go up one. The skip size calculator will suggest one for your job.
- What is the most popular skip size?
- The 6 yard builders skip. It takes most home renovation and building waste, including rubble, and fits on many larger driveways. It’s the biggest size most companies will fill with heavy waste.
- Should I go bigger if I’m not sure?
- Usually, yes. The price step from one size to the next is much smaller than the cost of a second skip or an exchange. The exception is heavy waste, where a bigger skip can’t be filled anyway.
- How many bin bags fit in a skip?
- Roughly 25 to 35 in a 2 yard skip, 35 to 45 in a 4 yard, 50 to 60 in a 6 yard, 60 to 80 in an 8 yard and 100 to 120 in a 12 yard. Bulky items fill space faster than bags, so allow for them.
- Can I fill a skip above the top?
- No. Skips must be loaded level with the sides so they can be lifted and covered safely on the road. An overfilled skip can be refused or charged extra, and anything loose can fall onto the road when it’s lifted.
- Why can’t I put rubble in a 12 yard skip?
- Weight. A 12 yard skip full of rubble would weigh far more than a skip lorry can lift. Most companies limit heavy waste to skips of 6 or 8 yards, filled level.
- What is a builders skip?
- The common name for a 6 yard skip. It’s the standard size on building jobs because it takes heavy waste and still fits on many drives.
- Are skip sizes the same everywhere?
- Close, but not exact. The yard sizes are standard, while the outside dimensions vary a little between companies and manufacturers.
Permits and roads
- Do I need a permit for a skip?
- Only if it goes on the road, pavement or a public verge. On your own drive or private land you don’t need one. If the skip won’t fit on your drive, it goes on the road and the council has to approve it first.
- Who applies for the permit?
- Your skip company. Councils only issue skip permits to registered skip companies, so they apply on your behalf and add the fee to your bill. You don’t fill in any forms.
- How long does a skip permit take?
- Usually two to five working days, and some councils issue them the next day. A few need a week or more, especially near Christmas. Allow a week to be safe, and book early if the skip has to go on the road.
- How much is a skip permit?
- It depends entirely on the council. Most charge between £50 and £100 for a couple of weeks. The cheapest charge around £15 and the most expensive over £250, so the same skip can cost very different amounts in neighbouring towns.
- Does a skip on the road need lights?
- Yes. By law, a skip on the road needs reflective red and yellow markings at each end, and lights or cones at night. The skip company supplies them, but you may need to check the lights are still working.
- Can a skip go on a grass verge?
- A verge owned by the council counts as the road, so it needs a permit. Some councils don’t allow skips on verges at all, because they damage the grass and the pipes underneath.
- Can I put a skip in a parking bay?
- Sometimes, but you may need a parking bay suspension from the council as well as the skip permit. Resident and pay-and-display bays usually need one. Ask your skip company to check.
- What happens if a skip is on the road without a permit?
- The council can fine the skip company, remove the skip and charge for doing so. Those costs usually come back to you, so it’s never worth skipping the permit.
- Can I extend a skip permit?
- Yes, in most councils, for an extra fee. Your skip company arranges it, but ask before the permit runs out. Some councils won’t extend past a set limit.
What councils charge for a skip permit
£15 cheapestMedian £80£263.50 dearest
Hire periods and extensions
- How long can I keep a skip?
- Usually up to two weeks. On private land you can often keep it longer by agreement with the skip company. On the road, the permit sets the limit, often 7 to 28 days depending on the council.
- Can I extend my skip hire?
- Yes, usually, for an extra charge. If it’s on the road, the permit must be extended too, which adds the council’s fee. Ask a few days before the hire ends.
- Can I swap a full skip for an empty one?
- Most companies offer an exchange: they take the full skip and leave an empty one in the same visit. It’s cheaper than a second hire and keeps the same permit if it’s on the road.
- Can the skip be collected early?
- Yes. Ring the company when it’s full and they’ll collect it, usually within a day or two. Collecting early doesn’t normally reduce the price.
- What happens if I keep the skip too long?
- You’ll be charged for the extra time, and if it’s on the road without a valid permit, the council can fine the skip company, who will pass it on.
Delivery and collection
- Do I need to be in when the skip is delivered?
- Usually not, as long as the driver knows exactly where it goes and the space is clear of cars. Mark the spot or leave a note, and make sure gates are open.
- How much space does a skip lorry need?
- Room to park beside the spot and a clear path for the lifting arms. Low branches, overhead cables, porch roofs and narrow gateways can all get in the way, so tell the company about anything tight when you book.
- Will a skip damage my drive?
- It can leave marks on block paving or soft tarmac, especially in hot weather. Ask for boards under the skip, or lay old planks down yourself before it arrives.
- Can I get a skip the same day?
- Often, if you book in the morning and a local company has a skip free. Road placements need the permit first, so same-day usually means on your drive or private land.
- What is wait and load?
- The lorry waits while you fill the skip, usually for up to an hour, then takes it straight away. No permit is needed because the skip never stays on the road, so it’s handy where parking is tight.
- What time will the skip arrive?
- Most companies give a morning or afternoon slot rather than an exact time. Ask for a call ahead if you need to move a car.
- Can a skip go on my front garden?
- Yes, if the lorry can reach it. The arms need to swing the skip over walls or hedges, so measure the reach and check for obstructions first.
What you can and can’t put in a skip
- What can you put in a skip?
- Most household, garden and building waste: rubble, bricks, soil, wood, metal, packaging, old kitchen and bathroom units, flooring, garden waste and general rubbish. If in doubt, ask, because each skip company has its own list.
- What can’t you put in a skip?
- Asbestos, fridges and freezers, TVs and computer monitors, batteries, tyres, gas bottles, paint and chemicals, oil, and clinical waste. These are hazardous or need specialist recycling, so they go to the tip or a licensed collector.
- Can you put a sofa in a skip?
- Often not. Sofas and armchairs can contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their foam and fabric, so the rules say they have to be kept apart from other waste and destroyed. Many companies won’t take them in a general skip, or charge to collect them separately.
- Can you put a mattress in a skip?
- Some companies take mattresses for an extra charge, others don’t take them at all. Mattresses are bulky and expensive to recycle. Ask before you book, or use the council’s bulky waste collection.
- Can you put garden waste in a skip?
- Yes. Branches, hedge cuttings, turf, leaves and soil are all fine, and soil counts as heavy waste. Japanese knotweed is not allowed in a normal skip because it’s controlled waste.
- Can you put plasterboard in a skip?
- Usually only if it’s kept separate, often bagged, because gypsum can’t be mixed with general waste at landfill. Tell the company first, and some will supply a separate bag.
- Can you put electrical items in a skip?
- Not usually. Electrical items should go to the tip or back to a retailer, many of which take old electricals when you buy new ones. That way their metals and plastics can be recovered.
- Can you put paint in a skip?
- Not liquid paint. Empty, dry tins are usually fine. Leftover usable paint can go to a reuse scheme, and the rest to the tip’s hazardous waste area.
- Can you put glass in a skip?
- Yes, in most cases, including window glass. Wrap broken glass so it doesn’t injure anyone loading or emptying the skip.
- Can you put tyres in a skip?
- No. Tyres can’t go to landfill and need specialist recycling. Garages and the tip usually take them for a small charge.
Booking
- How do I book a skip?
- Call us. Tell us your postcode, the size you need and where it will go, and we’ll give you a price and book it in with a licensed local skip company. You can check guide prices and your council’s permit rules for your town first.
- Who supplies the skip?
- A licensed skip company local to you. They deliver it, collect it, arrange any permit and take the waste to a licensed site.
- How do I know the company is licensed?
- Every company that carries waste must be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency, SEPA or Natural Resources Wales. The registration number appears on its paperwork, and you can look it up on the public register.
- How far ahead should I book?
- A few days is usually enough for a skip on your drive. If it has to go on the road, allow a week for the permit.
Where skip waste goes
- What happens to skip waste?
- It goes to a waste transfer station, where it’s tipped out and sorted by machine and by hand. Metal, wood, rubble, soil, cardboard and plastics are separated and sent for recycling or recovery, and only what’s left goes to landfill.
- How much skip waste is recycled?
- Most of it. Defra’s figures put the recovery rate for non-hazardous construction and demolition waste in England at over 90%. Crushed rubble becomes aggregate, wood becomes board or fuel, and metal is melted down.
- What is a waste transfer note?
- A record of who took your waste, what it was and where it went. The skip company provides it. Keep it, because it shows you’ve met your legal duty of care.
- What is my duty of care?
- By law, householders must make sure their waste goes to a registered waste carrier. If you give it to someone unlicensed and it’s fly-tipped, you can be fined.
Special situations
- Can I hire a skip if I rent my home?
- Yes. If it’s going on a shared drive or land you don’t control, get the landlord’s or managing agent’s permission first.
- Can I get a skip for a flat?
- Yes, but it will usually need to go on the road, so allow time for the permit. A wait and load collection or a man and van can be easier for upper floors.
- What if someone else puts rubbish in my skip?
- It happens, especially on the road. Fill it quickly, cover it if you can, or use wait and load. You’re still responsible for what’s in it, including anything banned.
- Can I hire a skip for a business?
- Yes. Businesses get the same skips, plus regular exchanges and larger roll-on roll-off containers for sites. You need a waste transfer note for every collection.
- What should I do about fly-tipping?
- Report it to the council. Only give your waste to a licensed waste carrier: if it’s dumped and traced back to you, you can be fined.