Skip sizes and prices explained

Available skip sizes, waste categories and prices

All displayed skip prices exclude VAT. Delivery, collection and tipping are included in the price. Heavy soil, rubble and hardcore are restricted to 2- and 4-yard skips. Ton bags and skip bags are quoted separately.

DJ Recycling currently lists 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-yard skips. The lowest published skip price is £100 plus VAT for a 2-yard hardcore-only load. Green waste and mixed waste have different tariffs.

These are nominal capacities in cubic yards, not guaranteed external dimensions. 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 that are not part of the published fleet

People also search for a 3-yard skip or 5-yard skip. Neither is included in DJ Recycling’s published standard size list; the guides explain practical alternatives. Large roll-on roll-off containers are not confirmed as an available service.

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?

The lowest listed conventional skip tariff is £100 plus VAT for a 2-yard container holding approved hardcore-only waste. Mixed and green waste are priced separately.

Does seven days include collection?

The published 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. DJ Recycling lists soil, rubble and hardcore for approved 2- and 4-yard loads only because heavier waste must be controlled.

Start by separating the waste into three price categories

A skip can look like a single product, but the material inside determines what happens after collection. 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. Putting several streams together may move the entire load into a different price category.

Make three quick lists before calling: what is definitely masonry or rubble, what is clean vegetation, and what consists of other general material. Then ask whether each item is accepted and whether any portion needs a different collection. For electrical appliances, batteries and upholstered domestic seating, do not assume a general-waste skip is suitable. Our waste acceptance guide explains why these materials need specific checks.

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 DJ Recycling directs approved dense material to the smaller 2- and 4-yard sizes rather than its 6- or 8-yard containers.

For a building job, list dense material separately from bulky packaging. A few large flat panels may use volume quickly even if they weigh little. Loose vegetation often compresses, while timber with nails, glass, or treated coatings may need separate handling. Do not try to make a smaller skip work by loading items over its rim or compacting material unsafely. The published prices and restrictions take precedence over a rough estimate from photos.

How to assess 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 questions often decide whether a delivery is feasible.

For tight spaces, ask DJ 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 photographs taken from both the street and the intended placement position, and include any gates or road restrictions. It can be better to choose a collection service when the waste can be safely carried out but there is nowhere suitable for a container.

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 operator needs the relevant county licence, and extra parking controls may apply. 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. Give DJ Recycling the exact road and proposed placement before a booking is confirmed. 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 have published hardcore-only tariffs, so they are usually the first comparison when the waste is dense. 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 material matters just as much: clean hardcore, green waste and mixed waste do not share the same tariff.

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-yard or 8-yard skip can be more suitable

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 may help with bulky, relatively light house-clearance items; a 6-yard skip can serve a medium-size project with approved mixed material or green waste. But neither should be used to take soil or rubble under DJ Recycling’s published rules.

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 explain the relevant price bands.

Hiring for the right length of time

The published standard hire period 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 the order of work to avoid double-handling material or obstructing vehicle access. Any additional hire period should be agreed in advance and confirmed in the quotation.

Ensure the load is ready by the arranged collection time and leave clear access for the vehicle. If the site cannot be reached or the skip contains material outside the agreed category, a return visit or revised arrangements may be needed. Let the team know about access or material changes as soon as possible rather than leaving them until 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 may suit smaller amounts, subject to bag weight, waste acceptance and lifting access. 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 be relevant on some suitable jobs but must be checked with the provider. Never assume a single solution is the lowest-priced option without describing the actual waste and loading conditions.