Skip sizes and prices explained

Skip sizes and prices

All displayed skip prices exclude VAT. Delivery, collection and tipping are included in the price, and mattresses go in at no extra charge. Heavy waste is restricted to 2- and 4-yard skips. The hardcore-only price covers clean brick, concrete and rubble, which is recycled at no tipping cost. Soil is charged at the mixed waste price. Ton bags and skip bags are quoted separately.

D J Recycling currently lists 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-yard skips. Our cheapest skip is £100 plus VAT for a 2-yard hardcore-only load. Green waste and mixed waste are priced differently.

Sizes are given in cubic yards as a guide to capacity, not exact outside measurements. Vehicle access, container shape and maximum weights also matter. Ask for the actual measurements if it must fit within a tight driveway or behind gates.

Choose the size by the waste, not only the number

Sizes we do not offer

People also search for a 3-yard skip or 5-yard skip. We do not offer either as a standard size, so the guides explain what to use instead. We do not supply large roll-on roll-off containers.

Placement, load limits and highway permits

The advertised seven-day hire is a starting point for arranging dates, not a guarantee of instant delivery. For a skip placed on a public highway in West Sussex, the skip operator has responsibilities under the county council’s licence procedure; the council currently requests advance notice. Keep the load level, keep unsuitable waste out and do not allow anyone to overfill the container.

See also what can go in a skip before loading.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest skip?

Our cheapest skip is £100 + VAT, a 2-yard skip of clean hardcore. Mixed and green waste are priced separately.

Does seven days include collection?

Standard hire is seven days and includes collection and delivery. Always reconfirm the quoted dates, VAT and any extra hire charges.

Can I put soil in an 8-yard skip?

No. D J Recycling lists soil, rubble and hardcore for approved 2- and 4-yard loads only because heavier waste must be controlled.

Split your waste into three price groups

Every skip looks the same, but what you put in it decides where it goes and what it costs. A clean, approved hardcore-only load can follow a different treatment route from an ordinary house clearance. Clean green waste is not the same as a garden project load that contains soil, treated timber, plastic packaging and fencing. Mix them together and the whole skip is charged at the mixed waste price.

Before you call, split it into three: rubble, garden waste and everything else. Then ask whether each item is accepted and whether any portion needs a different collection. Electrical appliances, batteries and sofas cannot go in a normal skip. Our waste acceptance guide explains why these need checking.

Volume is only part of the size calculation

Cubic yards measure the approximate container volume; they do not tell you how heavy a safely permitted load can be. A skip full of bricks or soil can exceed its safe weight limit well before it appears full. That is why heavy waste goes in our 2 and 4-yard skips, not the 6 or 8-yard.

For building jobs, list the heavy rubble separately from the packaging. A few large flat panels may use volume quickly even if they weigh little. Garden waste squashes down well. Timber with nails, glass or treated wood needs a bit more care. Do not overfill a small skip to save money. A bigger skip is safer. Photos give us a rough idea, but the waste rules and prices still apply.

How to check your space before a skip arrives

Start with the part of the property where the container will stand. Does the entrance accommodate a delivery lorry, not just the skip itself? Is there a low tree, overhead obstruction, soft ground, parked vehicle or steep approach? Would the container obstruct a neighbour’s driveway or a shared entrance? These are usually what decide whether a skip will fit.

For tight spaces, ask D J Recycling for exact dimensions for the available skip model. They can differ between suppliers, so a generic online dimensions chart should not be treated as a promise. Send a photo from the street and one of where the skip will go. It can be better to choose a collection service when there is nowhere to put a skip.

On-road skips: permits and timing

If the skip will be wholly on private property, a highway skip licence is generally not required. On a public road in West Sussex the skip needs a county council licence, and parking rules may apply too. The county’s published guidance currently requires a minimum of ten working days’ notice for standard applications, with a separately priced fast-track option.

Do not promise yourself next-day road delivery without checking the licence first. Yellow lines, footways, grass verges and suspended parking bays all have restrictions. Tell us the road and where you want the skip. Refer to the official county skip-licence guidance for the latest rules and fees.

How to compare a 2-yard and a 4-yard skip

Both sizes take heavy hardcore, so start with these for rubble. A 2-yard skip is compact and can suit a controlled, smaller volume; the 4-yard option offers more capacity but also needs more space. The type of waste matters too: clean hardcore, green waste and mixed waste are priced differently.

If the waste comes from a room refurbishment, think about whether you will dispose of packaging, wood, plasterboard and unwanted fixtures as well as masonry. If you are unsure, send photos before filling the container. This can prevent an incorrect initial waste classification. Read the detailed 2-yard and 4-yard guides for the main differences.

When a 6 or 8-yard skip is the better choice

Larger containers are most useful when the problem is the space occupied by permitted waste rather than the weight of a dense load. An 8-yard skip suits a bulky house clearance, and a 6-yard suits a medium project or a big garden. Neither can take soil or rubble, though, because of the weight.

Keep loads level and avoid putting restricted or sharp items where they can injure people handling waste. If your project produces both rubble and bulky household rubbish, discuss whether separate containers or collections would be safer and more economical. The 6-yard and 8-yard pages show the prices.

Hiring for the right length of time

Standard hire is seven days. Choose a date when the waste will be ready rather than having a container arrive before the job can begin. If builders or deliveries need the same space, plan around the skip so nothing gets blocked in. If you need it longer, agree extra days with us in advance.

Have the skip ready by collection day and keep the drive clear for the lorry. If we cannot reach the skip, or it has things in it that should not be there, we may need to come back. If anything changes, let us know before collection day.

Skip bags, collections and equipment hire are different choices

A skip is convenient when you can safely load it over several days and there is room to place it. Skip bags suit smaller amounts. Rubbish removal or house clearance may be better when a crew needs to collect items from a property rather than asking the customer to load a skip.

For soil or excavation spoil, the method depends on the amount, access and material; grab hire can work for some jobs, so ask us. The cheapest option depends on the job, so tell us what you have.