Skip Size Guide
Choosing a Skip Hire Size
Skips come in a range of sizes. Larger skip sizes offer better value provided you have enough waste to fill them. On the other hand, if you order a skip that’s too small, it’s annoying and expensive to have to order a second one. To help you choose the right size skip, here is a short guide to the different skip sizes available (including dimensions), the types of projects best suited to each, and the restrictions that apply to larger skip sizes. For more general advice on hiring a skip, read our skip hire guide and for man & van rubbish removal check out our rubbish clearance guide.
Cubic Yard and Cubic Metres
Skip sizes are typically referred to by their volume in “cubic yards” often abbreviated just to “yards”. One cubic yard measures 3 feet high x 3 feet wide x 3 feet deep and takes up roughly the same amount of space as two standard dishwashers or washing machines, a fridge freezer, or 10 kitchen bin bags. In metric terms, a cubic yard measures 91cm x 91cm x 91cm and is approximately ¾ of a cubic metre. The most common sizes of skip are 4 yards, 6 yards, 8 yards and 12 yards.
Common Skip Sizes
Here is some more details of the most popular skip sizes, including dimensions and type of project each is commonly used for.
| Skip Size | Volume | Dimensions | No. of bin bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Skip | 2 cubic yards | 4 x 3 x 3 feet | 20 |
| Midi Skip | 4 cubic yards | 6 x 4 x 3 feet | 25-35 |
| Small Builders’ Skip | 6 cubic yards | 10 x 4 x 4 feet | 40-55 |
| Large Builders’ Skip | 8 cubic yards | 12 x 6 x 4 feet | 60-75 |
| Large Maxi Skip | 12 cubic yards* | 13 x 6 x 6 feet | 90-110 |
* weight limits apply
2 yard mini skip
The 2 cubic yard or mini skip used to be popular for very small jobs involving quite a bit of rubble (for example, tiling a bathroom shower). However, because of the increasing use of skip or Hippo bags and man & van rubbish removal which are generally cheaper and easier to use, the 2-yard skip is becoming very rare. As a result, AnyJunk no longer offers this size of skip.
4 yard midi skip
A Midi or small skip has 4 cubic yards capacity and is perfect for a small kitchen or bathroom refurbishment job. It can hold the equivalent of 25-35 bin bags.
A ‘6 yarder’ is the most common skip size and is great for DIY or building projects such as removing a medium-sized kitchen or large bathroom. It is the size you see most frequently in residential streets. It holds the equivalent of 40-55 bin bags.
8-yard large builders skip
The 8-yard skip is the second most widely used skip size and is the biggest available for heavy waste such as concrete, soil and rubble. Common uses include residential refurbishment projects, shop refits and office clearances. It holds the equivalent of 60-75 bin bags. The expression ‘builders skip’ comes from its popularity with the trade.
A 12 yard or maxi skip is used for bulky refurbishment works or a house clearance or office clearance. It holds the equivalent of 90-110 bin bags but cannot be filled with heavy waste materials like bricks and soil because the skip lorry would not be able to carry it. Because of its larger dimensions, some councils do not allow 12 yard skips to be put on the road, so you will need to ensure you have enough room for it in your garden or driveway.
Other resources
If you liked this guide, our other guides may be helpful:
