Choosing the right skip size before delivery saves more time and money than most people expect. If the skip is too small, it fills before the job is done. Then you wait for a swap or pay for a second hire. If it is too large, you pay for space that sits empty on the drive. This guide covers the practical choices, so you can book the right skip size with confidence.
The skips we offer and what each one suits
We offer four skip sizes for different scales of project. The right choice depends on what you are throwing away, not just how much of it there is.
The 4 tonne midi skip
The 4 tonne midi skip is our most popular choice for homes. It suits household clear-outs, garden tidies and kitchen or bathroom strip-outs. It also handles light renovation work.
The midi fits on most driveways and needs only modest access. For a single room refit with plasterboard, tiles, old fittings and packaging, it is usually the right skip size.
The 8 tonne builders skip
The 8 tonne builders skip is the standard choice for bigger jobs. Typical examples include extensions, loft conversions and full kitchen refits. It also suits commercial fit-outs where several trades produce waste at once.
This skip takes the heavy mixed loads that building work creates. Concrete, bricks, timber, plasterboard and packaging can all go in together. If your project will produce waste for more than a day or two, the builders skip is usually cheaper overall. After all, it removes the risk of filling up halfway through.
Roll on roll off skips
For large commercial sites, demolition or high-volume clearances, our roll on roll off skips offer far more space. The 20 yard RoRo holds what would otherwise need four or five standard swaps. Meanwhile, the 40 yard RoRo suits the largest demolition and clearance jobs. Our RoRo guide explains when these containers make sense.
Why waste type matters when picking the right skip size
Volume is the obvious question. However, the type of waste matters just as much, and people often forget to think it through.
The key difference is between light bulky waste and heavy dense waste. Garden waste such as cuttings, turf and soil is awkward to stack. As a result, it fills a skip by volume long before it reaches the weight limit.
Heavy inert waste does the opposite. Concrete, bricks, hardcore and subsoil can reach the weight limit when the skip is only half full. In that case, you still pay the full hire, and you may face an overweight charge too.
Balancing a mixed load
Some jobs combine both types. For example, a garden clearance might also involve breaking up an old path. In that case, mix the heavy rubble with lighter waste, so the weight spreads evenly. If you have a large amount of rubble, a separate arrangement for it is often cheaper.
Mixed renovation waste loads well and is the most common load we see. It includes plasterboard, timber, tiles, packaging and carpet. Usually, a midi or builders skip handles it without weight problems.
The one exception is plasterboard. Keep it apart from food and green waste where you can. On larger projects, a separate pile or small skip for plasterboard improves recycling and can lower costs.
How to estimate volume before you book
The easiest way to estimate volume is to picture the waste piled up. A standard wheelie bin holds about 0.24 cubic metres, which gives a rough reference. Even so, a better approach is to walk around the job. Think about how much floor space the waste would cover and how high it would stack.
For household clear-outs, count the rooms and judge how full they are. A room with old appliances and built-in units creates far more waste than a lightly furnished one. For renovations, the depth of the strip-out matters most. A full strip back to brick creates much more waste than a cosmetic refresh. For gardens, think about the area you are clearing and how much soil you will dig out.
If in doubt, go one size up
If your estimate is uncertain, choose the next size up rather than down. The price gap between sizes is usually much smaller than the cost of a swap. In short, a skip with spare room at the end beats one that fills too early.
Want to talk it through first? Call our team on 01704 779345. We will give you a practical answer based on your job, rather than simply suggesting the largest option.
Site access and placement
The right skip size also depends on your site. A skip only helps if the lorry can deliver it where you need it.
Driveway placement is the most common and simplest option. Still, measure the width before you book. Our lorries need room to manoeuvre, and the skip must not block your access or your neighbours’. On older streets in Ormskirk and Southport, access is often tighter than it looks, so talk to us first.
If the skip has to go on a public road, the council must issue a permit before delivery. We handle permit applications as part of the booking. Our Lancashire permit guide explains the process, and GOV.UK sets out the national rules on skip permits. On narrow streets, the smaller midi skip is generally easier to place than a builders skip.
Covering the full West Lancashire area
We deliver across West Lancashire and Merseyside. That includes Ormskirk, Southport, Burscough, Formby, Skelmersdale, Leyland, Chorley, Bamber Bridge, Crosby and the nearby villages. Customers in Southport and Skelmersdale get the same range and the same sizing advice.
Projects vary across the area. Large Victorian homes in Southport often produce big clear-outs. By contrast, industrial sites around Skelmersdale regularly use builders skips and RoRo containers.
For small extensions and renovation jobs, our article on choosing an 8 yard builders skip goes into more detail.
With over a century of skip hire experience in West Lancashire, we know what each kind of job produces. To book the right skip size, contact our team online or call 01704 779345 for Ormskirk and Southport, 01695 769123 for Skelmersdale, or 01772 364399 for Leyland and Bamber Bridge.
