How Much is Skip Hire Cost in 2025?
What are the average costs to hire a skip?
The average cost to hire a 2-yard skip is £100 to £200 per week with the cost landing about £130 to £280 for a 4-yard skip and £180 to £320 for a 6-yard skip.
Further below we have included a table of skip hire prices in 2025 for the UK, which also covers larger skips up to 18-yards costing around £480 to £850 per week.
The price to hire a skip will depend mostly on the size of the skip.
How much should you budget for a lockable skip?
You'd need to budget for roughly £300 to £600 for a lockable skip.
What can affect the costs of skip hire?
The cost of hiring a skip depends on the type of skip as well as the size. For instance, roll-on roll-off skips are cheaper per yard than ordinary skips.
Other price factors are the number of tradespeople hired to drop off and collect the skip, ease of access to your property, and your location. Where you live will impact on the cost of hiring a skip since skip hiring prices vary across the country.
On the one hand, you can expect hiring costs to be higher than the national average in the southeast (London especially). Still, costs are generally lower than most of the country in the north of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Those based in the London area can usually expect to pay higher on average to hire a skip than other regions in the UK.
To find out what local skip hire prices are, you can always Google 'skip hire near me'.
Skip Hire Prices in 2025
| Type of Skip | Skip Hire Prices (weekly) |
|---|---|
| 2 Yard Skip | £100 to £200 |
| 4 Yard Skip | £130 to £280 |
| 6 Yard Skip | £180 to £320 |
| 8 Yard Skip | £210 to £385 |
| 10 Yard Skip | £270 to £475 |
| 12 Yard Skip | £325 to £575 |
| 14 Yard Skip | £400 to £685 |
| 16 Yard Skip | £445 to £800 |
| 18 Yard Skip | £480 to £850 |
| Roll-on Roll-off Skip | £550 to £1,300 |
| Lockable Skip | £300 to £600 |
What are the Additional Costs of Hiring a Skip?
There are a range of added costs that may apply when hiring a skip. In this section, we'll break down some of the most common examples.
Minimum Fee
Some skip providing companies will set a minimum charge regardless of the skip's size, where you live, and how long it takes to reach your property. This won't apply in most cases, but in scenarios where it does, it will likely act as an added fee to your total bill.
Most skip providers offer a cost breakdown on their website that should provide you with all the information you need. If one is not available, you can always try contacting them by phone or email for further information as to what costs will be featured.
How Long You Need to Hire
It goes without saying that skip hire costs depend on how long you intend to hire your desired skip. If it's only for a couple of days, this is where a minimum fee may come into play. However, most people require them for 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the job.
As such the end cost will be higher, but for a point of reference our estimates are based per week (although discounts may be available if you need to hire for a longer period of time).
Where You Live
Skip hire prices can also vary depending on your location. Generally, costs tend to be lower outside of the South East, with prices generally cheaper in the North.
In London, however, skip hire costs are typically 12-17% above the UK average. To get a clearer idea of local pricing, it’s always a good idea to search for "skip hire cost near me" to find rates specific to your area.
Size/Type of Skip
As shown in the opening section, the size and type of skip are the main cost factors. While you may pay £100 or less to hire a 2-yard skip, you'd be looking at paying somewhere in the range of £480 to £850 to hire an 18-yard skip.
As for skip types, regular skips tend to be the cheapest depending on type with larger roll-on roll-off skips coming with a higher price tag. Lockable skips tend to cost somewhere in between.
Skip License
If you have a front garden or driveway, then check there is enough room to fit a skip on your property as this can help avoid having to pay for a skip license as it will be left on private property.
.However, if a skip needs to be placed on a public road, blocking a walkway or placed within council owned property, a skip license will need to be applied for. Thankfully most skip hire companies will usually deal with this on your behalf, but if that is not the case, you'll need to contact your local council.
More information on a skip license for England and Wales can be found via gov.uk. It usually costs between £15 and £70, although prices may vary depending on your local council. This fee will apply whether you obtain a skip license yourself or as an added expense on your bill if the skip hiring company gets the license for you, where necessary.
Number of Tradespeople
The cost of hiring a skip can also be influenced by the number of tradespeople involved, which often depends on the size and type of skip required. For example, larger or specialized skips may require extra staff in addition to just the driver.
Duration
The longer it takes to drop off and collect the skip can impact on the cost. The duration may be in the form of excess mileage charges too. The skip hire cost may be higher if there are issues such as ease of access that prolong the drop-off or collection of the skip. It's unlikely that it will really have much if any of an impact but it's certainly possible.
Types of Skip
This section will take a closer look at the various skip types based on size. Let's discuss these options and look at their pros & cons.
2 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Generally, a 2-yard skip is the smallest option you'll be able to find and therefore tend to be the cheapest type of skip available. You'd hire a 2-yard skip if you wanted to dispose of a small quantity of waste.
Many homeowners go with this choice if they're undertaking garden clearance and waste removal. On average, you'd fit about 20-30 standard size bin bags in a 2-yard skip with the assumption they are filled to capacity.
It costs approximately £100 to £200 to hire a 2-yard skip.
Pros:
- Lowest cost of skip hire
- Drop off and collection is easier
- Perfect for removing garden waste
Cons:
- Unsuitable for more waste removal jobs
- Very small skip hire
4 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Next, we've got 4-yard skips. You'd get about 30-40 bin bags in a 4-yard skip. This is a good option if you're still looking for a small skip but one with a bit more room than a 2-yard skip.
On average, the price of hiring a 4-yard skip is £130 to £280.
Pros:
- More room than a 2-yard skip
- Cheap skip hire
Cons:
- Still might be a little too small in terms of skips for hire
- You may hire a 4-yard skip then realise that a 2-yard skip was enough
6 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Though still a relatively small skip, this is the largest option before you get to 'mid-sized' options. In fact, it can hold up to 60-75 bin bags. This choice is especially popular among builders.
It costs around £180 to £320 to hire a 6-yard skip.
Pros:
- Largest of the small skip options
- Perfect for construction work
- Great option for removing old appliances and fittings
Cons:
- May be a little too big for what you need
- The dearest price tag of the small skip size options
8 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Perhaps the most common choice is an 8-yard skip and can hold about 75-85 bin bags. Just like with a 6-yard skip, medium-sized skip is often used for building projects.
It's also a smart choice if you're undertaking a landscaping project in a large garden or need to arrange a house clearance and it's a large property.
You'll pay about £210 to £385 for an 8-yard skip.
Pros:
- Perfect for clearing a large house or garden
- One of the most popular options
- Mid-sized skip
Cons:
- Could be expensive, even more than £300
10 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Moving along to a larger mid-sized option, a 10-yard skip will allow you to dispose of around 100 to 120 bin bags in total.
Despite being a mid-range choice, a 10-yard skip is one of the largest options that may be suitable for an ordinary project, although in most cases it will be too large.
In fact, a 10-yard skip would be one of the smaller options that are well suited for a commercial and industrial clearance project.
On average, a 10-yard skip costs between £270 and £475.
Pros:
- Small but often suitable option for commercial/industrial waste disposal
- Can be a good choice for some larger domestic projects
Cons:
- Can be a good choice for some larger domestic projects
- Not well suited to the vast majority of household/garden clearance projects
12 Yard Skip Hire Cost
A 12-yard skip is unsuitable for most projects. It is often employed for commercial and industrial cleanups. You'd get about 120 to 140 bin bags in a 12-yard skip.
The average cost of a 12-yard skip is £325 to £575.
Pros:
- Ideal for large projects
- Well suited to commercial and industrial clearance
Cons:
- May end up being more than £400
14 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Next, we have a 14-yard skip, and by now we're getting into large skip territory. This option will hold between 140 and 170 bin bags on average and usually costs £400 to £685 to hire.
Pros:
- Large option
- Can hold up to 170 bin bags or more
Cons:
- May be expensive, possibly more than £400
16 Yard Skip Hire Cost
Another large option is a 16-yard skip. It generally costs £445 to £800 to hire this type of skip, showing that the cost range of hiring a skip doesn't increase too much by the time you're getting to skips that are this large.
A 16-yard skip can hold around 170 to 200 bin bags in total.
Pros:
- Very large option
- Good for many industrial/commercial projects
Cons:
- Costs can head toward £500.
18 Yard Skip Hire Cost
This large skip can be used to dispose of bulky items and generally come with particularly high sides. It is about as tall as the average person. 18-yard skips usually cost around £480 to £850, meaning that it is the most costly conventional skip yard offered by the majority of skip providers.
You're looking at getting 200 bin bags or more into an 18-yard skip.
Pros:
- Good for throwing out bulky objects
- Largest conventional skip type generally offered
Cons:
- Can be costly, up to about half a grand
Roll-on Roll-Off Skip Hire Cost
Hiring a roll-on roll-off skip is normally associated with being used on a construction site or in other industrial and commercial situations. As such, it's unlikely you will need to hire one for domestic use due to the nature of their size and operational features.
The cost of hiring a roll-on roll-off skip is generally about £550 to £1,300, but sometimes they can cost more depending on how large the skip is that you hire. They can hold between 220 and 440+ bin bags on average.
Pros:
- Well suited for commercial/industrial projects
- Often used on construction sites
Cons:
- Can be expensive
- Not suitable for the vast majority of domestic projects
Lockable Skip Hire Cost
As the name suggests, this type of skip can be concealed. You may hire a lockable skip if you're concerned about the risk of adverse weather creating a mess or people either throwing items into your or taking items from it.
The average cost of a lockable skip is £300 to £600. The number of bin bags it will hold will depend on the sizes which can vary significantly.
Pros:
- More secure
- Staves off the risk of a mess being created from adverse weather
- Prevents people from throwing items into your skip
Cons:
- Can be more expensive than a conventional skip of a given size
FAQs
What can I use a skip for?
A: Skips are ideal for disposing of waste such as household clearances and general junk, garden waste, construction and renovation work, as well as commerical and industrial waste disposal.
Is there anything that can't go in a skip?
Sometimes there are certain restrictions, including hazardous waste disposal such as highly flammable or toxic materials. There may also be other exclusions including electrical goods. It's therefore always best to check with the skip supplier for clarification to ensure you are not adding any contraband or disallowed items.
Q: Which skip size should I get?
A: Choose a skip size based on how much waste you are anticipating to have, although remember you can potentially also use it as an opportunity for getting rid of other items that aren't directly linked to your current project. Although if you are unsure, it's always best to hire one size bigger than you're estimate in order to avoid over filling.
Q: What skips are considered medium?
A: Based on standard sizes, a 6-yard, 8-yard and 10-yard skip would all be consisederd medium sizes.
Q: Can I arrange next day skip hire?
A: It depends on the company and the current demand and also the opening ours. If you need a skip urgently, you should get on the phone with several local providers right away and ask if they can provide you with a next day drop off. Although it is possible, this isn't something that can guaranteed and may come at an additional cost.
Sources
- https://skipandbin.com/faq/hiring-a-skip/
- https://skiphirecomparison.co.uk/best-skip-hire-prices/
- https://www.anyjunk.co.uk/blog/2020/03/20/average-skip-hire-prices/
