Book a Skip
What Size Skip Do I Need?
If you’ve ever stood in your driveway, looked at the pile of rubbish from a kitchen rip-out, and thought \”is a 4 yard going to be big enough or do I need something bigger?\”– you’re not alone. It’s the single most common question we get asked at Throw & Tow when enquiring about skip hire.
This guide gives you a straight answer. We’ll walk through every skip size we hire, how much waste each one actually holds (in real bin bags, not just yards), and which size suits which project. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to book.
A Skip Size Overview
Here’s everything in one table. Scroll for the detail underneath, or scan this and book a skip.
| Skip size | Holds approximately | Best for | Price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 yard | 25 bin bags | Small garden tidy, decluttering one room | £180 – £200 |
| 3 yard | 35 bin bags | Bathroom rip-out, garage clear-out | £210 – £285 |
| 4 yard | 45 bin bags | Small kitchen, larger garden clearance | £250 – £325 |
| 5 yard | 55 bin bags | Small builder jobs, full-room renovation | £275 – £350 |
| 6 yard | 65 bin bags | Medium home renovation, large garden | £300 – £375 |
| 8 yard | 85 bin bags | House clearance, builder’s job, heavy waste | £370 – £440 |
| 12 yard | 125 bin bags | Large project, light waste only | £460 – £565 |
| 16 yard | 165 bin bags | Full renovation, light waste only | £550 – £625 |
Prices are correct as of 2026. All skips include a 14-day hire period – if you fill yours sooner, we’ll collect early.
The Bin Bag Sizing Example
Yards of capacity are abstract. Black bin bags are not. Picture a standard 80-litre bin bag stuffed firmly but not bursting. That’s the unit we use, and it’s a far more reliable way to size up than guessing volumes.
For most domestic jobs:
- Small project – one room cleared, modest garden tidy – usually 20 to 40 bags: 2 to 4 yard skip
- Medium project – full bathroom, kitchen units stripped, big garden makeover – usually 40 to 70 bags: 4 to 6 yard skip
- Larger project – multi-room renovation, house clearance, builder’s site – usually 80+ bags: 8 yard or above
Skip Sizes By Project Type
This is the part most people skip to, so we’ve made it the bulk of the guide. Find the project closest to yours and use it as a starting point.
Bathroom refit
Recommended size: 3 yard or 4 yard.
A standard bathroom strip – old suite, tiles, vanity unit, flooring – typically generates 30 to 45 bags of waste. A 3 yard skip works for a small en-suite. Step up to a 4 yard if you’re also tearing out walls, a separate WC, or replacing the floor down to the joists.
Kitchen renovation
Recommended size: 4 yard to 6 yard.
Kitchens generate more waste than people expect – cabinets, worktops, appliances, flooring, packaging, and often plasterboard. A small kitchen refit fits comfortably in a 4 yard. Larger kitchens with knock-throughs or new flooring usually need a 6 yard.
Garden clearance
Recommended size: depends entirely on what garden waste you’re clearing.
- Light tidy (pruning, weeds, a few bags of clippings): 2 yard
- Standard makeover (turf, shrubs, small tree branches, soil): 4 yard
- Overgrown garden or full landscape job (heavy soil, root balls, decking removal): 6 yard or 8 yard
Quick note on soil and turf: these are dense. A 4 yard skip filled with soil weighs roughly the same as a 6 yard of mixed waste. Don’t overload – see the heavy waste section below.
Garage or shed clear-out
Recommended size: 3 yard to 4 yard.
A double garage that’s been collecting boxes, broken furniture and DIY offcuts for 15 years typically needs a 4 yard. A modest single-garage tidy fits in a 3 yard with room to spare.
House clearance
Recommended size: 6 yard to 8 yard for a 2-bed; 8 yard or higher for 3 beds and above.
Full domestic waste clearances – whether for a probate sale, a move, or a downsize – almost always fill more skip than people predict, because fixtures, carpets, and white goods add up fast. Plan for one size larger than your gut says.
Builders’ jobs and renovations
Recommended size: 6 yard, 8 yard, or 12 / 16 yard for light bulky waste.
For builders’ waste removal (timber, plasterboard, packaging), the 8 yard is the workhorse. For very large but lightweight loads – strip-out timbers, insulation, packaging – the 12 yard and 16 yard skips give you the volume.
Important: Heavy Waste Has A Size Limit
This is the trap most people fall into. The 12 and 16 yard skips are huge – but they cannot be filled with heavy materials.The largest skip available for aggregate waste – rubble, soil, mud, hardcore – is our 8 yard skip.
The reason is weight. Skip lorries have a legal weight limit, and a 12 yard filled with soil would be too heavy to lift safely. We cap aggregate at 8 yards for that reason.
If your project is heavy and you need more capacity than 8 yards – for example a patio rip-out followed by a driveway dig – book two 8 yard skips and we’ll swap them out on the same day. It’s the only safe way to handle that volume.
When To Size Up – And When To Size Down
A few rules of thumb that save people money.
Size up if:
- You’re working with anything bulky and awkward (sofas, mattresses, garden waste with long branches). Awkward shapes waste interior space.
- The project is in stages and you’d rather pay once than twice. A second skip costs more in total than the next size up.
- You’re tight on time – a slightly bigger skip means fewer worries about overflow before pickup.
Size down if:
- The waste is dense (soil, rubble, tiles). A smaller skip fully loaded beats a half-empty bigger one.
- You have limited driveway space and a larger skip won’t physically fit.
- You’re confident you’ll fill it efficiently – flat-pack everything, break it down, and layer rather than pile.
A Note On Extra Charges
A handful of items carry a small additional charge on top of the standard skip price – mattresses, carpet, excess plasterboard, paint, and bitumen felt. You’ll find the current charges listed under the “Additional Costs” tab on each skip product page when you book, so there are no surprises at the end.
Items we cannot take in any skip
For safety, legal, and environmental reasons, the following can’t go in a Throw & Tow skip:
- Asbestos
- Tyres
- Televisions
- Fridges, freezers, and gas cylinders
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Oils, fuels, solvents, paint thinners
- Medical waste
- Food waste
- Human or animal waste
If you’ve got any of these and you’re not sure where to take them, give us a call on 07845 523868 – we can point you to the right disposal route.
A Note On Availability & Locations
NOTE: Our smallest skip – the 2 yard – is only available in Zones 1 and 2 of our delivery area. If you’re in Zone 3 or 4, the 3 yard is the smallest option we can offer.
All other sizes are available across our Mid, West, and East Devon delivery area. You can check which zone you’re in by clicking the “Zones” tab on any product page. If you’re working to a deadline, ask about our same-day skip hire – available across Zones 1 and 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long can I keep the skip?
Standard hire is 14 days on all our fixed skips. We can extend if you need longer, and if you fill it sooner, we’ll come and collect – just give us a call. For very short jobs, our wait and load service lets us collect within the hour.
- Do I need a permit?
Only if the skip is going on a public road. If it’s on your driveway, private land, or back garden, no permit needed. If you do need one for the road, we sort it on your behalf.
- Can I overfill the skip?
No. Anything piled above the rim can’t be collected safely and may result in a refused pickup. If you’re close to capacity, call us before we arrive, and we’ll work something out.
- What happens to my waste?
We hand-sort 100% of what goes in our skips. Reusable items go to charity. Everything else is recycle – that’s the point of choosing Throw & Tow.
- Can I change my mind on the size after booking?
Yes – call us as soon as you can. As long as your skip hasn’t been loaded onto the lorry, we can swap to a different size. There’s a £50 + VAT admin fee on cancelled orders.
Still Not Sure? We’ll Size It For You
If you’ve got a specific project and you’d rather just check, drop us a line. Tell us what you’re doing – “single-storey rear extension, knocking through the dining room and kitchen, ripping up the patio” – and we’ll tell you exactly what to book.
Call: 07845 523868 or 01392 498562
Email: info@throwandtowecoskipsltd.co.uk
Book online: Choose your skip and delivery date