How Much Does A Skip Cost

How Much Does A Skip Cost?

From house clearances to pulling up your decking, skips are a major requirement to dispose of any waste at your home or place of work.

To help you understand the costs involved with hiring a skip, our guide explains everything you need to know regarding the cost of a skip and how the hiring process works.
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Written By Danny Morgan | Updated:

✓ Fact: The most popular skip size to hire is an 8 yard skip, which can hold around 60 to 80 bags of rubbish

What Can You Put In A Skip?

Skips can typically be used for the disposal of construction and demolition debris, such as bricks, concrete, wood, metal, and other building materials.

Some common items that can be placed in a skip include:

  • Household items such as furniture, appliances and household goods
  • Construction materials such as drywall, plaster and flooring materials
  • Landscaping debris such as grass clippings, branches and bushes
  • Metal items such as old pipes and gutters
  • Electronic waste such as old TVs and computers
  • General household waste such as food scraps and plastic bags

However, items that are usually prohibited from being placed in a skip include:

  • Hazardous materials such as chemicals, batteries, and pesticides
  • Medical waste such as syringes and biological waste
  • Gas canisters and oil tanks
  • Tyres
  • Paint
  • Asbestos
  • Raw meat

If you aren’t sure what you can put into the skip, it’s always best to ask the company beforehand. Usually, before you hire a skip, they’ll ask you what you intend to put into it anyway and this would be a good chance to ask any questions.

Where Can You Place A Skip?

Skips can typically be placed on private property such as driveways or in front of commercial buildings with the permission of the property owner. However, if you plan to place a skip on a public road, you will need to obtain a permit from your local council.

Skips aren’t allowed to be placed on the pavement unless specified by the local council. They also can’t be put on yellow or double yellow lines.

When placing the skip, it’s important to ensure that it doesn’t block the pavement, obstruct traffic or cause an obstruction to emergency services. Also, the skip should be placed on a level surface to prevent it from tipping over.

It’s also important to note that there may be specific regulations and guidelines for placing skips in certain areas such as conservation areas or near historical buildings, so it’s best to check with your local council for specific regulations in your area.

If a skip is placed in a restricted area or is obtrusive to the public, the local council will ask the skip hire company to move the skip and might even fine them too.

Therefore, it’s best to have all the necessary permissions and permits in place before having the skip delivered to your location.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Skip?

The cost to hire a skip is dependent upon your location and the skip’s size. Therefore, to give you an idea of the costs, below is a table of the low and high prices of each skip size:

Skip Size Average Cost
2 Yard Skip £80-£100
4 Yard Skip £100-£160
6 Yard Skip £150-£250
8 Yard Skip £200-£300
10 Yard Skip £250-£350
12 Yard Skip £300-£425
14 Yard Skip £350-£475
16 Yard Skip £400-£550
18 Yard Skip £450-£600
Roll-on Roll-off Skip £400-£900
Lockable Skip £175-£225

What Factors Affect the Cost of a Skip?

Size

As shown in the above table, the size of the skip is one of the most important factors that affect the cost. The larger the skip, the more it’ll cost to hire.

Location

Some areas may have higher demand for skips, which can drive up prices. Additionally, some areas may have stricter regulations or higher disposal costs, which can also affect the price.

Duration of The Hire

The longer you need the skip, the more it’ll cost. Generally speaking, the cost per day for a skip hire will be cheaper for longer hires than for shorter hires.

Type of Waste

Skips that need to dispose of hazardous material such as asbestos, chemicals or batteries will be more expensive than skips for regular waste.

Availability

The availability of skips also plays a big role in determining the cost. During peak periods, such as summer, there may be a shortage of skips available for hire, which can drive up prices.

Additional Requirements

If you require specific pickup or delivery times as well as additional services such as a permit/skip license to place it on the road, that’ll increase the cost. The skip license fee usually ranges from £30 to £40 for a week but the company that you hire the skip from will usually deal with the license.

What’s Involved In Hiring A Skip?

1. Determine The Size

The size of the skip you need will depend on the amount of waste you have to dispose of. There are a variety of skip sizes available, from small mini skips to large roll-on roll-off skips, and it’s important to choose the right size for your needs.

2. Find A Local Skip Hire Company

Although there are hundreds of skip-hire companies in the UK, you’ll only have a choice of local companies (approximately 20 miles away from your location).

Therefore, it’s advised that you check the prices of each type of skip and compare them against our table listed above.

3. Book The Skip

Once you have determined the right size and have selected a company to provide the service, you’ll need to book the skip. You may need to provide your contact details, address, and a deposit at this point. The company may also ask you what type of waste you will be putting in the skip to make sure that the waste is allowed in the skip and also to take note of if any special requirements are needed.

4. Obtain A Skip License

In some cases, you may need to obtain a permit from your local council to place the skip on a public road. This process will have to be done by the company you hire the skip from as they are the ones responsible for ensuring that the skip is placed in a safe manner

5. Have The Skip Delivered & Begin Using It

The skip hire company will deliver the skip to your location on the agreed upon date and time, usually via a lorry. Once the skip has been delivered, you can begin filling it with your waste. It’s important to be aware of what type of waste is allowed in the skip and what types are prohibited because items such as hazardous materials, asbestos or certain electronic items can’t be disposed of in the general waste skips.

6. Schedule The Pickup

Once you have filled up the skip, proceed to call the skip hire company and request that they pick it up. It’s important to note that if you run over the pre-arranged time of collection, you may be expected to pay a “late fee”.

How Long Can You Hire A Skip For?

The length of time that you can hire a skip varies depending on the company and location. Generally, skip hire companies offer a range of rental periods to suit different needs and budgets.

For example, most skip hire companies offer rental periods of as little as a day or two, while others may offer longer-term rentals of up to several weeks or even months.

It’s common for a standard hire period for a domestic or small-scale commercial skip to be around 1-2 weeks, but it can be extended if needed as per agreement with the skip provider. Some providers may require a minimum hire period and some may have a maximum hire period.

It’s always important to check with the provider in question and make sure to schedule the delivery and collection of the skip around your time frame, to avoid any extra charges or penalties.

What Are The Alternatives To A Skip?

If you are looking to reduce the cost of hiring a skip (or multiple), below are some alternative methods of disposing of waste:

  1. Recycling – Separate recyclable items such as cans, paper, cardboard and plastic and take them to your local recycling centre.
  2. Reuse – Donate unwanted items to charity shops.
  3. Composting – Use a compost bin to reduce garden waste.
  4. Bulk Waste Collection – Most councils offer a bulk waste collection service for larger items like furniture, carpets and electronics.
  5. Skip Bags – Skip bags are an alternative to a skip and are usually cheaper. They can be filled with waste and collected from your home or business.
  6. House Clearance – If you are clearing out a house, sometimes it’s cheaper to use a house clearance company.

Conclusion

Hiring a skip can be expensive but as long as you load the skip efficiently, you’ll be surprised how much you can actually fit into it. Hopefully our guide on how much a skip costs has answered all your questions. However, if you require further information, feel free to get in touch and we will try to help out where possible.

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