What is an 8 yard skip?
An 8 yard skip holds eight cubic yards of waste. It is typically about 10.5 to 12 ft long, 6 ft wide and 4 to 4.5 ft high: the open-topped steel skip most people picture on a driveway or outside a house being renovated. Exact sizes vary between manufacturers.
Is a builders skip the same as an 8 yard skip?
Usually, yes. Builders skip is the common trade name for the 8 yard size, because it is the standard container on domestic building and renovation jobs. Some suppliers also call their 6 yard a small builders skip, so check the capacity in cubic yards on the listing.
How much heavy waste can go in an 8 yard skip?
Less than it looks. A cubic yard of soil, rubble or concrete weighs about a tonne or more, so a full 8 yard skip of it would weigh more than a standard skip lorry can typically lift, which is about 8 tonnes. Most skip firms say a 6 yard skip is the largest you can fill with heavy waste. Some accept heavy waste in an 8 yard up to the weight limit, with lighter waste on top, so confirm the supplier's limit when you enquire.
What an 8 yard skip suits
- Major kitchen and bathroom renovations
- House and garage clearances
- Mixed building waste from extensions
- Shop and office refits
- Large garden clearances with fencing or a shed
Permits and placement
On a public road an 8 yard skip needs a council permit, normally arranged by the skip company. Councils set their own size limits for road skips, usually a maximum length and width, and some cap them at 8 yards. On your own driveway or private land, no permit is needed. See our skip permit guide.
The fill line
Load the skip level with its sides and no higher. An overloaded skip cannot be legally carried, and the driver can refuse to collect it until the excess is removed. Some items cannot go in any skip at all, so check what can and cannot go in a skip before you start loading.
Other sizes
For heavier loads, a 6 yard skip. For bulky, light waste, a 12 yard skip. Not sure? See our guide to skip sizes.
Finding an 8 yard skip near you
Search by your site postcode to see local suppliers who deliver 8 yard skips to your area, with their from prices and the checks we have made on their waste registration. You contact the supplier directly and agree the price, hire period and any permit costs with them. There is no booking fee.