Most people need an 8-yard skip for a kitchen or bathroom refit or a house clearance, a 4-yard skip for a garden tidy or garage clear-out, and a 6-yard skip for heavy waste like soil. The right size depends on how much waste you have and what it weighs. This guide gives you the dimensions, what each size holds and a size-by-job chart so you can choose in a couple of minutes. We hire skips across Dorset and the surrounding counties; for a price for your postcode, get an instant skip quote.
Skip sizes at a glance
Skips are measured in cubic yards, which is hard to picture. The table translates each size into dimensions, bin bags and typical jobs. Prices are Dorset Zone 1 general-waste prices, inc VAT, including delivery, collection and 14 days’ hire.
| Skip size | Dimensions (approx.) | Capacity | Bin bags | Typical job | From (Dorset Z1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-yard (mini) | 1.5 × 1.2 × 0.9 m | 1.5 m³ | 20-30 | Small, light clear-out | Not available in Dorset; ask us about your area |
| 4-yard (mini/midi) | 1.8 × 1.3 m | 3.0 m³ | 30-40 | Garden tidy, garage, bathroom strip-out | £306 (inert £222) |
| 6-yard (small builders) | 2.6 × 1.5 × 1.2 m | 4.6 m³ | 50-60 | Kitchen refit, bulky furniture, soil | £360 (inert £258) |
| 8-yard (builders) | 3.4-3.7 × 1.7 × 1.2 m | ~6.1 m³ | 70-80 | Renovation, house clearance | £420 (inert £282) |
| 10-yard | 3.7 × 1.7 × 1.4 m | ~7.6 m³ | 90-100 | Bulky, lightweight waste | Get a quote |
| 12-yard (maxi) | 3.7-4.0 × 1.7 × 1.6 m | 9.2 m³ | 100-120 | Large clearances, light bulky waste | £582 |
Get a price for your postcode →
Full dimensions for each size: 2-yard · 4-yard · 6-yard · 8-yard · 10-yard · midi · builder’s skip · roll-on roll-off sizes.
What size skip for your job?
Find your job, then take the size in the right-hand column. If you are between two sizes, go up one: a second skip costs more than a bigger first one, and you cannot load above the fill line.
| Your job | Recommended size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Garden tidy-up, hedge and shrub clippings | 4-yard | Light and bulky; fills the skip by volume, not weight |
| Garage or shed clear-out | 4-yard | About 30-40 bin bags of mixed items |
| Bathroom strip-out (suite, tiles, flooring) | 4-yard | Compact but heavy; inert option available |
| Kitchen refit | 6-yard or 8-yard | Units, worktops and flooring from an average kitchen |
| Full house or flat clearance | 8-yard | Furniture, carpets and bags; about 70-80 bin bags |
| Garden landscaping with turf and soil | 6-yard (inert) | Heavy waste reaches the weight limit before the skip looks full |
| Extension or major renovation | 8-yard, or two | Bricks, plasterboard, timber: heavy and bulky together |
| Rubble, bricks, concrete | 4- or 6-yard inert | Weight governs; do not oversize |
| Large clearance of bulky, light waste (packaging, timber, furniture) | 10- or 12-yard | High capacity; not for soil or rubble |
| Commercial or construction site | Roll-on roll-off container | See RoRo skip sizes and the 20-yard RoRo guide |
Unsure which row you are? Ask for a quote and tell us the job: we will say which size we would send.
Heavy or light? Why weight matters as much as size
A skip is limited by volume and by weight. A 6-yard skip holds a 4.6 m³ load, but 4.6 m³ of soil or rubble weighs several tonnes, far more than a lorry can legally lift. This is why:
- Heavy waste (soil, rubble, concrete, bricks) needs a smaller skip, often an inert skip, which is cheaper because it is recycled as aggregate. The 6-yard is the largest size we recommend for soil.
- Light, bulky waste (furniture, packaging, timber, garden waste) suits larger skips; the 8- and 12-yard are the best value per cubic yard.
- Mixed building waste with plasterboard needs plasterboard kept separate, in its own skip or bag. See what can and cannot go in a skip.
Never fill above the marked fill line. An overfilled skip cannot be collected safely and the driver may refuse it. Read more in our skip hire cost guide.
The sizes in more detail
2-yard skip
The smallest standard skip: 1.5 m long, 1.2 m wide and 0.9 m high, about 1.5 m³ and 20-30 bin bags. We don’t hire 2-yard skips in Dorset, but some areas outside it can get one through our partners, so ask when you quote. In Dorset the 4-yard is the smallest option. 2-yard skip guide →
4-yard skip (mini or midi)
3.0 m³, about 1.8 m long and 1.3 m wide, 30-40 bin bags. It fits most driveways and suits garden waste, a garage clear-out or a bathroom strip-out. 4-yard skip size → · midi skip guide →
6-yard skip (small builders skip)
4.6 m³, about 2.6 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.2 m high, 50-60 bin bags. It is the usual choice for a kitchen refit and the largest skip we recommend for soil. Allow a driveway at least 3 m wide. 6-yard skip size →
8-yard skip (builders skip)
About 6.1 m³, roughly 3.4-3.7 m long, 1.7 m wide and 1.2 m high, 70-80 bin bags. It holds about 40% more than a 6-yard without costing 40% more, so it is better value for bigger jobs. 8-yard skip size → · builder’s skip guide →
10-yard and 12-yard skips
For bulky, lightweight waste. The 10-yard is about 3.7 m long, 1.7 m wide and 1.4 m high (roughly 7.6 m³, 90-100 bin bags). The 12-yard is 3.7-4.0 m long, about 1.7 m wide and 1.6 m high, 9.2 m³ and 100-120 bin bags. Both are for light waste such as timber, packaging and furniture, not soil or rubble. 10-yard skip dimensions →
Roll-on roll-off containers
For site clearances, demolition and commercial work, a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) container holds far more than a skip and is delivered on a larger lorry. RoRo sizes → · 20-yard RoRo →
Where will the skip go?
A bigger skip needs more room, and the lorry needs clear access.
- On your driveway or private land: no permit needed. Check width and overhead clearance.
- On the road or pavement: you need a council skip permit. We arrange this for you; allow a few working days. See the government skip permit guidance.
- Do not place a skip over a drain, and keep access clear for delivery and collection.
Get a quote and we will check access →
Common questions about skip sizes
How many bin bags fit in an 8-yard skip?
About 70-80 standard black bags, or the clear-out of a typical three-bedroom house.
What size skip do I need for a kitchen refit?
A 6-yard or 8-yard skip. Choose the 8-yard if you are also removing flooring, plaster or a lot of packaging.
How big is a 4-yard skip?
About 1.8 m long, 1.3 m wide, with a capacity of 3.0 m³, roughly 30-40 bin bags.
What is the biggest skip you can put soil in?
A 6-yard skip. Soil and rubble are heavy, so larger skips reach the weight limit long before they look full. Ask for an inert skip.
What is the difference between a 6-yard and an 8-yard skip?
The 8-yard is about 6.1 m³ against 4.6 m³ for the 6-yard, around 30% more room. The 6-yard suits heavier waste; the 8-yard suits bulky household and building waste.
Is it better to hire a bigger skip than I need?
Usually yes. Hiring one larger skip is normally cheaper than filling a small one and ordering a second. Do not oversize for heavy waste, where the weight limit applies.
Do I need a permit for a skip?
Only if any part of it goes on a public road, pavement or verge. On your own drive, no.
How long can I keep a skip?
Our prices include 14 days’ hire. Ask when you book if you need longer.
Get an instant skip quote → or browse skip hire areas across the UK.
