Need to hire a skip for a project? A little planning before the skip arrives can make a real difference to what you pay. Here are the practical ways to save money on skip hire, from choosing the right size to loading it properly.
How to save money on skip hire
Most of the savings come from avoiding the things that push the cost up: a skip that is too small, a second delivery you did not plan for, a permit you did not need, or items in the load that have to be removed and charged separately. Each of the tips below tackles one of those.
Choose the right size first time
A larger skip costs less per cubic metre than a smaller one. If you have the space and enough waste, one bigger skip is usually better value than two small ones, because every extra delivery and collection adds to the bill. For household clear-outs and garden jobs, a 4 tonne midi skip is the most popular choice. For renovation work, heavy rubble or soil, an 8 tonne builders skip is the safer bet.
Heavy waste matters as much as volume. Soil, hardcore and concrete fill a skip’s weight allowance long before they fill the space, so tell us what you are throwing away and we will match the size to the load.
Share a skip with your neighbours
If you do not have enough waste to fill a bigger skip, consider teaming up with a neighbour who has a clear-out of their own. Splitting the cost of one larger skip is cheaper than two separate hires. Agree beforehand who is putting what in, so nobody runs out of room.
Keep it off the road if you can
If there is space on your driveway, put the skip there. A skip on a public road needs a council permit, which adds to the overall cost. Where a road placement cannot be avoided, we arrange the permit for you, and our guide on whether you need a permit to place a skip on the road in Lancashire explains when one is required.
Have everything ready before it arrives
Plan the work so the skip is filled steadily and collected promptly. Clearing items into one area beforehand, and booking the skip for when the bulk of the waste will actually be produced, avoids paying to keep a skip on site while it sits half empty.
Separate your waste
A standard skip takes mixed general waste, so most things can go in together. Some materials, such as scrap metal, cardboard and clean green waste, are easy to recycle and can sometimes be taken separately. Keeping them out of the skip frees space for the waste that really needs it.
Keep banned items out
Items that cannot go in a skip, such as paint, oils, gas bottles, batteries, tyres and asbestos, have to be removed before the skip can be processed, which can mean extra charges. Check our guide to waste that does not belong in a skip before you start loading.
Break down bulky waste
Skips are hired at a set price rather than by how much you put in, so the more you fit in, the better the value. Break up furniture, cut timber into shorter lengths, flatten boxes and fill gaps with smaller items. Put flat, heavy items in first and lighter waste on top.
Do not overfill it
Do not load past the top edge of the skip. An overfilled skip cannot be lifted safely, so the excess may have to be removed or charged for. Our guide on how high a skip can be filled covers the rules.
Use a licensed local provider
A cheap quote from an unlicensed carrier can cost far more if your waste is fly-tipped, because you remain responsible for it. Our skip hire duty of care guide explains what to check. Everything we collect goes back to our own recycling centre, as set out on our environmental and recycling page.
Martlands Skip Hire
To order a skip, call the friendly Martlands Skip Hire office on the local number below for a quote tailored to your project, or contact us online. We’ll be pleased to help you save money on skip hire.
Ormskirk Skip Hire 01704 779345
Southport Skip Hire 01704 779345
Skelmersdale Skip Hire 01695 769123
Bamber Bridge Skip Hire 01772 364 399
Chorley Skip Hire 01257 752399
Leyland Skip Hire 01772 364399
