What is a mini skip?
A mini skip is the smallest standard skip in the UK, holding 2 or 3 cubic yards of waste (about 1.5 to 2.3 m³). A 2 yard mini skip is typically about 5 ft (1.5 m) long, 3 to 4 ft (0.9 to 1.2 m) wide and 2.5 to 3 ft (0.8 to 0.9 m) high, small enough for a narrow driveway, a front garden or the space in front of a terraced house. Exact sizes vary between manufacturers.
How much does a mini skip cost?
2026 UK cost guides put a mini skip at about £80 to £150, including delivery, collection and disposal for a standard hire period. London and the South East cost more (one 2026 guide puts them 20 to 40% above the national average), and a council permit is extra if the skip goes on the road.
| Published cost guide | Mini skip price |
|---|---|
| Home improvement cost guide (April 2026) | 2 yard: £80–£150, typical £115 |
| Trade cost guide (June 2026) | 2 yard: £80–£150, excluding VAT |
| Quote comparison site (September 2026) | 2 to 3 yard: £60–£130 |
Prices vary by area, supplier, hire length and waste type. Check whether a quote includes VAT and how long the hire period is. See skip hire prices for every size.
Can a mini skip take heavy waste?
Yes. Because it is small, a mini skip can be filled all the way to the top with dense material such as soil, rubble, bricks, concrete and tiles without going over the lorry's weight limit. That makes it a good choice for small heavy jobs where a bigger skip would be wasted space.
What a mini skip suits
- Bathroom strip-outs, including tiles and a suite
- Small garden clear-ups and soil from a planting bed
- Lifting a small patio or path
- Clearing a shed or single room
- Tight access where a larger skip cannot be placed
Mini skip or van collection?
For a small, one-off load, a rubbish removal collection can be quicker, because the collector loads the waste for you and there is no skip or permit to arrange. A mini skip makes more sense when the job runs over several days or produces heavy material you want to load yourself.
Permits
No permit is needed on your own driveway or private land. On a public road or pavement the local council must issue a permit, and the skip company normally applies for it. 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.
Need more room?
If a mini skip is too small, a 4 yard skip still takes a full heavy load and holds more. Not sure? See our guide to skip sizes.
Finding a mini skip near you
Search by your site postcode to see local suppliers who deliver mini 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.