Skip sizes and dimensions
Skips are measured in cubic yards. One cubic yard is about 0.76 cubic metres. Exact sizes vary between manufacturers, so these are typical ranges.
| Skip size | Typical size (L × W × H) | Bin bags | Soil and rubble |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mini skip 2 to 3 yards |
About 5 ft × 3 to 4 ft × 2.5 to 3 ft | 15 to 20 (2 yd) 25 to 35 (3 yd) |
Can be filled |
|
Midi skip 4 yards |
About 6 to 7 ft × 4 to 5 ft × 3 ft | 30 to 40 | Can be filled |
|
6 yard skip small builder's skip |
About 8.5 to 10 ft × 4 to 5 ft × 4 ft | 50 to 60 | Can be filled: the largest most firms allow |
|
8 yard skip builder's skip |
About 10.5 to 12 ft × 6 ft × 4 to 4.5 ft | 60 to 80 | Only within the weight limit; some firms allow it, many don't |
|
12 yard skip maxi skip |
About 12 to 13 ft × 6 to 6.5 ft × 5.5 to 6.5 ft | 100 to 120 | No, light waste only |
|
Roll-on roll-off 20 to 40 yards |
About 20 ft × 8 ft, 6 to 9 ft high | About 220 to 440 | 20 yard only; 30 and 40 yard are for light waste |
Each size links to its own page with suppliers who deliver it. The skip size calculator above works it out from your job.
Which size skip do you need?
The size that usually fits common jobs. Heavy waste pushes you smaller; bulky, light waste pushes you larger.
| Job | Usual skip size |
|---|---|
| Single room or shed clear-out | Mini or 4 yard |
| Bathroom strip-out | 4 to 6 yard, depending on how much tile |
| Patio, path or driveway lift | Mini or 4 yard for a small area, 6 yard for a large one |
| Garden dig or landscaping with soil | 4 or 6 yard |
| Kitchen refit | 6 to 8 yard: units are bulky but light |
| Garden clearance with fencing or a shed | 6 to 8 yard |
| Loft or garage clearance | 6 to 8 yard |
| Small extension or conversion | 8 yard for mixed waste, plus a 4 or 6 yard for the rubble |
| Full house clearance | 8 to 12 yard |
| Building site with ongoing waste | Roll-on roll-off on an exchange, or regular skip exchanges |
Why heavy waste changes the answer
A skip has two limits: how much it holds, and how much the lorry can lift. For light waste the space runs out first. For soil, rubble and concrete the weight runs out first, often when the skip looks half empty.
So six cubic yards of soil or rubble already weighs 6 tonnes or more, which is why most firms stop at a 6 yard skip for heavy loads and won't put heavy waste in a 12 yard skip at all.
| Material | Rough weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Soil, clay, rubble, brick, concrete | About 1 to 1.5 tonnes, heavier when wet |
| Mixed building waste | About 0.4 tonnes, more if it's mostly masonry |
| Household waste, furniture, timber | About 0.25 tonnes |
| Packaging, cardboard, insulation | Very light: the space always runs out first |
If most of your load is heavy, a grab lorry or muck away can be cheaper than several skips.
How to estimate skip size from bin bags
Count how many full bin bags your waste would fill, then add a third, because bulky items waste space that bags don't. Roughly 8 to 10 bags fill a cubic yard. If you land between two sizes and the waste is light, take the larger one: one bigger skip is usually cheaper than two small ones.
Check the space, access and road rules
Space on the ground
Measure the spot. An 8 yard skip needs about 12 ft by 6 ft of firm, level ground, plus room for the lorry to lower it.
Access for the lorry
Check gate widths, overhanging branches, low cables and parked cars. If the skip can't be delivered, many firms charge a wasted journey fee.
Skips on the road Permit
A skip on a road or pavement needs a council permit, and councils set their own size limits, usually a maximum length and width such as 5 m by 2 m. Some cap road skips at 8 yards. See our skip permits guide.
Loading height
Bigger skips have higher sides: a 12 yard skip can be up to about 6.5 ft tall. Some smaller skips have a drop-down door, which helps with wheelbarrows of rubble.
Other options for your waste
Wait and load
The lorry waits while you fill the skip, then takes it straight away. Handy where there's no room to leave a skip.
Grab hire
A lorry with a crane arm lifts soil and rubble straight from your drive. Good for big heavy loads.
Rubbish removal
A crew loads and takes the waste for you. It can be cheaper than a skip for small loads.
Skip size questions
What size skip do I need?
Most home jobs need a 6 or 8 yard skip. For mostly soil, rubble or concrete, choose a 6 yard or smaller, because heavy waste hits the weight limit first. For bulky, light waste such as furniture or a house clearance, size by volume and consider an 8 or 12 yard skip.
What are the standard skip sizes in the UK?
The common sizes are 2 and 3 yard mini skips, 4 yard midi skips, 6 and 8 yard builder's skips and 12 yard maxi skips. Roll-on roll-off containers of 20 to 40 yards are used on larger sites.
How big is an 8 yard skip?
An 8 yard skip is typically about 10.5 to 12 ft long, 6 ft wide and 4 to 4.5 ft high, and holds roughly 60 to 80 bin bags. Sizes vary slightly between manufacturers.
How many bin bags fit in a skip?
Roughly 15 to 20 in a 2 yard mini skip, 30 to 40 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 skip.
What is the biggest skip you can fill with soil or rubble?
Most skip firms say a 6 yard skip is the largest you can fill with soil, rubble or concrete. Some allow an 8 yard within the lorry's weight limit, and 12 yard skips are for light waste only. Check the supplier's weight limit when you book.
What size skip can go on the road?
It depends on the council. Most set a maximum length and width for skips on the road, such as 5 m by 2 m, and some limit road skips to 8 yards. The skip firm applies for the permit and will know the local rules.
Still between two sizes?
Take the smaller one if the waste is heavy and the larger one if it's light. Then search your postcode to compare local skip firms that deliver that size.
Prices and council fees in this guide are examples taken from published price lists and council websites. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the cost with the supplier before you book.