Your Guide to the Cost of Grab Lorry Hire in 2026
Your Guide to the Cost of Grab Lorry Hire in 2026
When you're trying to budget for a project, one of the first questions is always about cost. So, how much does it actually cost to hire a grab lorry?
In the UK, you can generally expect to pay somewhere between £150 and £420 per load. This price isn't just for the lorry turning up; it typically includes the vehicle, a skilled operator to do all the heavy lifting, and the responsible disposal of your waste. The final figure really comes down to the size of the lorry you need and what kind of material you're getting rid of.
What Is the Average Cost of Grab Lorry Hire in 2026?
Getting a handle on the typical cost of a grab lorry gives you a solid starting point for your budget. Unlike some services that come with a long list of confusing charges, grab hire is usually priced on a simple ‘per load’ basis. It’s a straightforward, all-in-one rate that bundles everything together.
So, when you get a quote for one load, you’re paying for:
- The grab lorry itself, sized correctly for your job.
- A qualified operator who knows exactly how to handle the hydraulic arm and load your waste safely and efficiently.
- The transport and proper disposal of all your materials at a fully licensed facility.
This bundled pricing is a massive plus. It means you don't have to worry about separate, often hidden, costs for labour or tipping fees that can sometimes come as a nasty surprise. You get a clear, upfront figure that covers the entire job, from the moment the lorry arrives to the final disposal.
To give you a better idea, let's break down the average costs you can expect to see based on the lorry's size.
Quick Guide to 2026 Grab Lorry Hire Costs
For most home and commercial projects, the price is really driven by the vehicle's capacity. To make it simple, here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to pay.
| Lorry Size | Typical Capacity (Tonnes) | Average Cost per Load (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Wheeler | 7-9 Tonnes | £275 |
| 6-Wheeler | 12-14 Tonnes | £295 |
| 8-Wheeler | 16-18 Tonnes | £340 |
These figures are a reliable benchmark to help you plan your project budget. Industry reports consistently show that this simple pricing makes grab hire a very competitive alternative to skips, especially when you're dealing with bulky waste like soil and rubble.
A big part of its value comes from the sheer efficiency of loading waste in minutes. Plus, you often don't need a council permit on the road, which can easily add £20-£50 to the cost of skip hire. If you want to dig a bit deeper, you can learn more about the cost effectiveness of grab hire. This simple pricing helps you confidently choose the right service for your needs without any hidden extras.
Key Factors That Influence Grab Lorry Hire Prices
That "per load" price you see advertised for grab hire is a great starting point, but the final figure on your invoice is rarely that simple. A few key variables come into play, and understanding them is the best way to make sure you're getting a fair deal.
It’s a bit like ordering a takeaway. You know the base price for your main, but adding extra toppings or getting it delivered a few miles down the road will naturally bump up the cost. The same goes for grab hire. A huge part of the cost covers the essential operational side of things, like fuel, maintenance, and of course, the wages for recruiting qualified Class 2 drivers who are skilled enough to handle these massive vehicles.
Let's break down exactly what shapes your final quote.
The Type of Waste You Need Removing
By far, the biggest influence on your price is what you’re actually getting rid of. Waste falls into two main camps, and they come with very different price tags for disposal.
- Inert Waste: This is all the clean, non-reactive stuff from a groundworks or landscaping project – think soil, clay, concrete, rubble, and bricks. It’s much simpler and cheaper for us to process because it can often be recycled into new building materials. This makes inert waste loads the most affordable to clear.
- Mixed Waste: This is exactly what it sounds like – a jumble of different materials. It could be construction waste thrown in with wood, plasterboard, packaging, and general rubbish. Sorting all that out takes a lot more work and specialised equipment at the recycling centre, which pushes the disposal cost up.
Simply put, a clean load of soil from digging out a new patio will always work out cheaper than a mixed pile of rubbish from a full house renovation. If you can keep your waste streams separate, you'll see the savings on your bill.
Load Size and Your Location
It probably goes without saying, but the amount of waste you have makes a big difference. A massive pile of muck will need one of our 8-wheeler grab lorries, which costs more to run than a smaller 4-wheeler. If you want a better idea of what these lorries can handle, have a look at our guide on how much can a grab lorry take.
Your postcode matters, too. A job in a remote, rural part of Dorset will naturally have higher travel costs baked in for fuel and the driver's time compared to a collection right in the middle of Poole or Bournemouth.
Finally, we need to think about the time spent on-site. Most quotes are based on a quick, smooth collection, usually taking about 15-30 minutes. If our lorry has to navigate a really tight access road, or if the waste pile is spread out and difficult for the crane to reach, that extra time on the clock can lead to additional charges. A little bit of prep to make sure the site is clear and accessible is a great way to keep your grab hire costs on budget.
Grab Lorry vs. Skip Hire Costs: Which Comes Out on Top?
It’s one of the most common crossroads in waste management: grab hire or skip hire? Both get the job done, but they work in completely different ways. Getting your head around these differences is the key to figuring out where the real value is for your project. More often than not, the cost of grab lorry hire wins out, especially when you’re dealing with big projects and bulky stuff.
Think of a skip as a static container. You hire it for a set time, fill it up yourself, and then you wait for it to be collected. This system can be perfect for smaller jobs with mixed waste that you’ll be generating over a few days. The catch? Skips demand a bit of elbow grease to load, and if you need to put one on a public road, you’re almost guaranteed to need a council permit. That means extra paperwork and an added cost of anywhere from £20-£50.
A grab lorry, on the other hand, is a much more dynamic solution. It pulls up to your site, its powerful hydraulic arm gets to work, and your waste is loaded and gone in as little as 15-20 minutes. No heavy lifting for you, and because the lorry is only there for a short time, permits are rarely an issue.
A Real-World Cost Scenario
Let’s run through a typical scenario. Imagine you’re revamping your garden and end up with 12 tonnes of soil and rubble to clear.
To tackle this with skips, you'd likely need two 8-yard skips, as each can only safely hold around 5-6 tonnes of heavy, inert waste. The bill might look a bit like this:
- Skip Hire: Two 8-yard skips at roughly £250 each = £500
- Permit Fee: A potential extra £30 if you need to place them on the road.
- Total Cost: Somewhere between £500 – £530, not to mention all the time and effort you'll spend loading them.
Now, let's see how a grab lorry handles the same job. A standard 6-wheeler can easily take care of 12 tonnes in one go.
- Grab Lorry Hire: One 6-wheeler load = Around £295
- Permit Fee: £0
- Total Cost: £295
The difference is stark. In this situation, opting for a grab lorry saves you more than £200 and frees you from a back-breaking afternoon of manual labour. You can get into the nitty-gritty of this in our detailed guide on whether grab hire or skip hire is cheaper.
This decision tree helps you visualise the main questions to ask yourself, focusing on the type of waste, how much there is, and what your site access is like.
As the flowchart shows, when you've got large amounts of inert waste like soil, rubble, or concrete, a grab lorry is almost always the most efficient and budget-friendly choice. For smaller jobs with mixed waste, a skip might just be the better fit.
Decoding Your Grab Hire Quote with Real Examples
Knowing what drives grab hire prices is one thing, but seeing how it all adds up in the real world makes everything much clearer. Let's step away from the theory and walk through a couple of common scenarios to see how a quote actually takes shape.
These examples put flesh on the bones, turning concepts like 'waste type' and 'volume' into real pounds and pence. Once you see how different jobs are priced, you'll have a much better idea of what to expect when you ask for a quote.
Example One: A Homeowner's Patio Project
Let's picture a homeowner in Dorchester who's finally getting around to replacing their old garden patio. The job creates 8 tonnes of clean, inert waste – basically just a pile of old concrete slabs and a bit of rubble. This is a nice, straightforward job.
Since the waste is entirely inert and well under the 14-tonne limit of a standard 6-wheel lorry, it's easy to handle. The homeowner has piled it all up neatly by the front garden wall, giving the grab lorry perfect access from the road. The operator can swing the grab arm over, load it all up in about 20 minutes, and be on their way.
Here’s what a typical quote would look like:
- Waste Type: Clean Inert (Concrete/Rubble)
- Lorry Size Needed: 6-Wheeler (or a smaller 4-wheeler)
- Estimated Cost: Approximately £280-£300
This job sits at the lower end of the price scale. Why? Because the waste is easy to recycle, the load is a standard size, and the whole operation is quick and efficient. It’s a perfect example of a cost-effective grab hire.
Example Two: A Builder's Renovation Waste
Now for something a bit more complex. Imagine a builder in Bournemouth clearing out waste from a small house renovation. This time, they have 15 tonnes of mixed waste – a jumble of soil, timber, old plasterboard, and various fittings.
Because the waste is mixed, it requires careful sorting at a licensed facility, which carries higher disposal fees. Furthermore, the 15-tonne weight requires a larger, more expensive 8-wheel grab lorry to clear it all in a single visit.
The quote for this job naturally reflects these extra steps:
- Waste Type: Mixed Construction Waste
- Lorry Size Needed: 8-Wheeler
- Estimated Cost: Approximately £340-£380
The final price is higher, and it's a direct result of two key things: the higher tipping fees for mixed waste and the need for a bigger, heavy-duty lorry. These two examples really highlight why giving us accurate details about your waste is so important for getting a precise and fair cost of grab lorry hire.
How to Save Money on Your Grab Lorry Hire
While grab hire is already a great deal, a few smart moves can trim your final bill even more. Getting the best value isn't about cutting corners; it’s all about being clever with your planning.
By thinking ahead, you can directly influence the main things that drive up the cost of grab lorry hire. A little preparation really can lead to some impressive savings, making sure your project budget stretches as far as possible without compromising on quality.
Segregate Your Waste
This is the big one. The single most effective way to save a bit of cash is to separate your waste before we arrive. As we mentioned earlier, clean, inert stuff like soil, concrete, and rubble is far cheaper for us to process than a big jumble of mixed waste.
Just keep these clean materials in a separate pile from general rubbish like wood or plasterboard. This simple act of sorting can often drop your load into a lower price bracket, simply because the disposal fees for clean, recyclable waste are much, much lower.
Prepare Your Site for Swift Access
A grab lorry service is priced assuming a quick visit – usually around 15-30 minutes on-site. If our driver has to wait around or navigate an obstacle course to get to your waste, that extra time can unfortunately lead to extra charges.
To keep things moving smoothly, make sure your waste pile is:
- Easily Accessible: Get it as close to the kerb as you can, well away from overhead cables, branches, or other obstructions.
- In One Place: A single, neat pile is much quicker for the grab arm to load than several smaller heaps scattered about.
- Free from Obstructions: Move any parked cars, equipment, or other site materials well out of the way before the lorry is due to arrive.
A smooth, hassle-free collection keeps our lorry on schedule and your costs on budget. It’s a simple win-win that just takes a few minutes of foresight.
Provide an Accurate Volume Estimate
Guessing how much waste you have can be a costly mistake. If you underestimate, you might book a lorry that's too small, forcing you to pay for a second trip to clear the rest. If you overestimate, you could end up paying for a bigger, more expensive lorry than you actually need.
It’s not just about domestic projects, either. On commercial sites, getting these numbers right is crucial. Many modern firms now use advanced construction estimating software to make sure their quotes are spot on from the very beginning.
Choose a Local Provider
Finally, it pays to stick with a local company. A provider based miles away will have to build higher fuel costs and longer travel times into their quote, and that cost gets passed on to you.
Choosing a Dorset-based service like The Waste Group for a job in Dorset means travel costs are kept to an absolute minimum. It's the easiest way to guarantee you're getting the most competitive price possible.
Right then, let's get you sorted with a proper quote for your job in Dorset.
You’ve got the lowdown on the average costs, what makes the price tick, and how to keep a few quid in your pocket. The last piece of the puzzle is getting an exact price for your specific project. Here at The Waste Group, we keep things simple and honest, so you know exactly what you’re paying for with no nasty surprises. We're a local crew, dedicated to giving Dorset a reliable and fairly priced service for getting rid of its muck.
Our promise is simple: clear communication and real value. We even have a price-match guarantee, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal going. Forget about sneaky add-ons for tipping or labour – our quotes are all-in. They cover everything from one of our skilled operators collecting the waste right through to its responsible disposal.
Your Go-To Grab Hire Partner in Dorset
When you choose The Waste Group, you’re picking a service that gets the job done quickly and cares about the local environment. We offer a dependable next-day service across the county, from Bournemouth to Dorchester, keeping your project moving without a hitch.
We’re also serious about doing our bit for the planet. A huge chunk of the waste we collect is recycled at our own licensed facilities, turning your old rubble and soil into useful aggregates. This means less going to landfill and helps support a circular economy right here in Dorset. If you're based in or around Poole, you can find out more about our dedicated grab hire in Poole and the surrounding areas.
We believe great service doesn't need to be complicated. We mix our professional know-how with transparent pricing and a solid commitment to recycling. It’s why so many homeowners and builders count on us.
How to Get Your No-Obligation Quote
Ready to get the ball rolling? We’ve made it dead easy to get a fast, free quote. You can either give our friendly team a bell or fill out our simple online form.
To help us nail down the most accurate price for you, it’s handy if you have a few details ready:
- Your Postcode: This just lets us work out the travel time.
- Type of Waste: Let us know if it’s inert stuff like soil and rubble, or a mix of different things.
- Estimated Amount: A rough idea of how much you have helps us send the right size lorry.
- Site Access: Give us a heads-up about any tight lanes, overhead wires, or other obstacles.
With that info, we can fire back a fixed-price quote designed for your job, letting you get on with things with complete confidence.
Got Questions About Grab Hire? We've Got Answers
To wrap things up, let's go over a few of the most common questions we get asked about hiring a grab lorry. Getting these details straight from the start ensures your waste collection is smooth, straightforward, and cost-effective.
Knowing the answers upfront means no nasty surprises on collection day, just great value.
How Far Can a Grab Lorry's Arm Reach?
This is a big one, and it's key to planning where you'll pile your waste. A standard grab lorry comes equipped with a powerful hydraulic crane arm that typically has a maximum reach of around 7 to 8 metres.
That impressive reach is one of its main advantages over a skip. It lets our operators lift waste over garden walls, fences, hedges, or other tricky obstacles. Your waste pile doesn't need to be right on the kerbside – as long as it's within that 7-8 metre range, we can grab it without any fuss.
Do I Need to Be There for the Collection?
Not always. So long as we can clearly see the waste pile, can access it safely, and the job has been paid for, you don't need to be on-site when we arrive.
Just make sure any gates are unlocked and the access route is clear of parked cars or anything else that might get in the way. This flexibility means you can get on with your day without having to wait around for us.
What Materials Can a Grab Lorry Not Take?
While grab lorries are incredibly versatile for things like soil, rubble, and general construction waste, some materials are strictly off-limits for safety and legal reasons. These items need specialist disposal.
Prohibited items usually include:
- Hazardous Waste: This covers things like asbestos, chemicals, solvents, oils, and batteries.
- Electrical Equipment (WEEE): We can't take items like fridges, freezers, TVs, or computer monitors.
- Other Restricted Items: Plasterboard, tyres, and gas cylinders are also materials we generally can't collect.
If you're ever unsure about a particular material, just give us a call and ask. Making sure your pile is free from prohibited items avoids the headache of a refused collection and keeps the whole process simple.
Ready to clear your site without the hassle? For transparent pricing and a reliable service you can count on across Dorset, get in touch with The Waste Group. Get your free, no-obligation quote today!
