Skip sizes and prices: what to ask before you book
Updated 30 September 2026
Skips are sold by volume in cubic yards. The names vary a little between firms, but these are the usual groups:
| Type | Typical size | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini skip | 2 to 3 yards | A garden tidy or a small bathroom |
| Midi skip | 4 to 5 yards | A kitchen or bathroom refit |
| Builders skip | 6 to 8 yards | Building work and bigger clear-outs |
| Maxi skip | 10 yards or more | Bulky, lighter waste |
| Roll-on roll-off | 20 to 40 yards | Commercial and large projects |
Heavy waste such as soil, rubble and hardcore often has a weight limit or goes in a smaller skip, so tell the firm what you’re throwing away.
What firms near you publish
Most skip firms don’t publish prices online. Of the 123 firms we list in Somerset, Wiltshire and North and East Yorkshire, only 14 show a starting price on their website. The lowest were about £100 for a 3 or 4 yard skip. Published starting prices went up to around £335, depending on the size and what’s included. (Source: the firms’ own websites, read in September 2026. Each listing shows the price that firm publishes.)
Questions that decide the real price
- Is VAT included?
- Is the council permit included, if the skip has to go on the road? Permit fees range from £39 to £109 in the councils we cover (skip permits).
- How long can I keep it? Hire periods vary, and extensions can cost extra.
- Is there a weight limit or a charge for certain items? Plasterboard and tyres, for example, can’t go to landfill with general waste, so firms often want them kept separate or charge for them (GOV.UK).
- Are you a registered waste carrier? Ask for the number and check it.
Alternatives
- Wait and load: the lorry waits while you fill the skip, then takes it away. Good for a quick job. Because the skip isn’t left on the road, ask the firm whether you still need a permit.
- Grab hire: a lorry with a crane arm lifts loose waste like soil and rubble straight from your drive.
- Skip bags: for small jobs, collected when full.
Find a skip
Somerset & Wiltshire · North & East Yorkshire
Find a firm near you: Northallerton · Wells · York · all towns