What Skip Size Do I Need?

Skip Hire · 27th January 2021 · Posted by Camiers Waste Management

Selecting the right skip size might not seem like a big deal, but it can impact your project in a lot of different ways. You don’t want to pay too much, but you also don’t want to skimp on cost and wind up needing to order another one. You also won’t want to delay your project because you’ve not ordered the right size for your needs.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the things to consider when choosing a skip size, as well as which skip sizes might best suit different project types.

Rule Number 1 – Don’t hire based on price

If you go into the process trying to get the lowest price, you’ll probably end up with poor service and a skip size far too small for your needs. Always keep the amount of waste you think you’ll need to dispose of at the forefront of your mind as this should inform the skip size you choose to hire.

Rule Number 2 – Find a skip company with various sizes

To help make your life easier, opt for a skip hire company with a full range of skip sizes. This means you can choose a more exact size to meet your needs. Some companies will offer a vague sense of skip size without actually giving you any dimensions. At Camiers we have the following skip sizes to meet all needs:

4-yard skip – Mini skip, best for landscaping work, a house clearance or having an extension
6-yard skip – Midi skip, best for small home renovations and heavy waste
8-yard skip – Midi skip, standard builders skip, best for construction projects and heavy waste
12-yard skip (available as enclosed skip) – Midi skip, best for refurbishment projects and light commercial work
20-yard roll-on roll-off skip – Best for commercial and high volumes of waste
30-yard roll-on roll-off skip – Best for commercial and high volumes of waste
40-yard roll-on roll-off skip – Best for commercial and high volumes of waste

Rule Number 3 – Ask for advice if you need it

If you feel like you can’t pin down what size you need, you should always ask for advice from a professional skip hire company. We’re always happy to discuss the project you’re working on, the amount of waste you’ll produce – usually quoted by how many bags of waste you see yourself creating – and your location. Don’t feel pressured to select a size before you call, it’s always good to get advice!

To help you think about the size skip you’ll need a bit more, it’s always good to consider the type of work you’re undertaking as this will start to help you visualise how much waste there will likely be.

Suitable Skip Sizes for Garden Waste

Obviously, a lot will depend on your garden size when you’re hiring a skip for garden waste, as well as the work you’re carrying out. For those who are simply giving the garden a spruce, pulling up old plants and clearing out the shed you may simply want a 4 or 6-yard skip.

If you’re knocking down walls, tearing up paving, removing large chunks of soil, turf and aggregates then you may want to look a little bigger with an 8-yard skip to make sure you have room for these bulky, weighty materials.

Suitable Skip Sizes for DIY Projects

Planning on getting some renovations done in the home? Most DIY projects, such as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom suite, tend to involve a fair bit of waste. Having a skip ready means you can throw the waste straight in and forget about wrestling it into the car. Domestic skip sizes for DIY projects vary, but we’d recommend a 6-yard skip for small works or an 8-yard skip if you’ve got large pieces of furniture.

Tackling multiple rooms throughout the house as part of major renovations? Try a 12-yard skip to make sure you have enough room.

Suitable Skip Sizes for Commercial Waste

Commercial waste can come in many forms, from boxes of paperwork and small electrical items, all the way through to large bulky materials when you’re a contractor. A lot depends on the nature of what you’re throwing away – be sure to check accepted waste types with your skip hire company – but if you’re tackling one specific job then an 8-yard skip might be best. Alternatively, for a contractor taking on a bulky project, a 12-yard skip, also known as a builders skip, is ideal.

Suitable Skip Sizes for Office Clearances

One-off office clearances might seem like they ought to be simple, but they often throw up bulky items like desks, chairs and other equipment. This means you’ll need adequate room – again, depending a lot on the size of the office space you’re clearing out – so go with a 12-yard skip. Entire building clearances may need something larger in the form of roll-on roll-off skips.

Suitable Skip Sizes for Construction & Demolition

Construction and demolition projects often produce mountains of waste since they involve large, heavy materials in greater quantities. If you operate a commercial construction or demolition company, you can benefit from three different roll-on roll-off skip sizes, including 20-yard, 30-yard or 40-yard skips. These will allow you to keep your site clear and prevent the need for multiple skips on site at once (unless the project dictates the need for it).

Hopefully this acts as a rough guide on what size skip you need for your project, but don’t forget that if you need advice and guidance, we’re always happy to help at Camiers. We deal with both commercial and domestic skip hire, so we’ve had plenty of experience assisting customers throughout Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Hemel Hempstead and beyond.