Skip hire has stood the test of time as one of the most stable waste disposal methods due to simplicity and practicality.
However, the cost of hiring a skip can differ for a number of reasons.
This latest guide, courtesy of 123 Skip Hire, looks into the cost of hiring a skip and the options available to you:
Why Hire a Skip?
With their simple and versatile design, ease of use and often low cost, “Cheap skip hire” remains one of the most popular google searches today. “How much it costs to hire a skip”, is also a question we are asked daily, so we have produced a handy guide for anyone wanting to know the average cost of a skip across the UK.
What are the cheapest locations to hire a skip?
If you live in the Midlands or the North West of England you could be in luck!
The eight locations found below in table 1. are the cheapest options available when hiring a skip in the UK.
Table.1
| Location | 4-Yard Skip | 6-Yard Skip | 8-Yard Skip | 12-Yard Skip | Average |
| Skip Hire Coventry |
£150 | £183 | £221 | £264 | £205 |
| Skip Hire Wolverhampton | £145 | £179 | £247 | £287 | £215 |
| Skip Hire Liverpool |
£168 | £213 | £223 | £279 | £220 |
| Skip Hire Manchester |
£187 | £195 | £210 | £289 | £220 |
| Skip Hire Nottingham |
£150 | £215 | £235 | £300 | £225 |
| Skip Hire Derby |
£139 | £215 | £238 | £326 | £229 |
| Skip Hire York |
£187 | £201 | £260 | £282 | £235 |
| Skip Hire Birmingham | £145 | £255 | £247 | £293 | £235 |
(The rates you see above are all including VAT, however the cost of Skip Permits and parking is not included. All prices correct as December 2020)
As you would expect the price of the container plays a big role in the cost. This is driven by the waste being disposed of and charged per tonne. The larger the container, measured in cubic yards, the more tonnes of waste it can hold, resulting in a higher disposal cost.
However this isn’t always the case and skip hire companies will often consider other factors that make up skip hire costs. This could be anything from availability, local competition, hire periods and general demand which can often inflate skip costs for smaller size skips.
The 8-yard builders skip is often the most popular amongst trades due to versatility – hence the nickname ‘builders skip’. This generally places it in higher demand and sometimes drives up the cost. It’s not uncommon to see its 12-yard counterpart offered at a cheaper rate.
On average, the cheapest location to hire a skip is Coventry. This is closely followed in joint second place by Wolverhampton and Liverpool.
The most expensive locations to hire a skip
Sadly, if you happen to live in and around the locations listed in table 2. then your cost for rubbish removal could be much more expensive.
Table 2.
| Location | 4-Yard Skip | 6-Yard Skip | 8-Yard Skip | 12-Yard Skip | Average |
| Skip Hire Bristol |
£173 | £233 | £234 | £320 | £240 |
| Skip Hire London |
£192 | £236 | £216 | £323 | £241 |
| Skip Hire Slough |
£155 | £278 | £266 | £302 | £250 |
| Skip Hire Leeds |
£155 | £28 | £234 | £361 | £257 |
| Skip Hire Newcastle |
£228 | £238 | £241 | £328 | £258 |
| Skip Hire Ipswich |
£190 | £251 | £261 | £357 | £264 |
| Skip Hire Cheltenham |
£130 | £241 | £328 | £387 | £271 |
| Skip Hire Bournemouth |
£183 | £328 | £292 | £460 | £315 |
(The rates you see above are all including VAT, however the cost of Skip Permits and parking is not included. All prices correct at December 2020)
Whilst a lovely place to visit, Bournemouth comes out on top as the most expensive place to
Not surprisingly the London borough of Slough is featured together with Newcastle and Leeds.
What are the most popular skip sizes available?
Skips come in a variety of containers so choosing the right skip for you can help you save some cash. To get you started, here’s a little bit more about each skip size:
Our 4-yard ‘mini’ skip is a small but compact waste container. It is ideal for the smaller domestic refurbishments, DIY projects and small garden clearances.
It might be a mini skip, but did you know it can hold around two-and-a-half car boots full of waste? So you can be sure this small, compact and easy-to-load skip can handle most domestic refurbishments.
Our 6-yard ‘small’ builders skip offers the perfect solution to store waste when carrying out a medium-sized domestic project. It’s the perfect option when you are tackling domestic refurbishments, home clear-outs or even small construction works.
Although it’s known as a small builders skip, it fits on most driveways and is great for bulkier items.
The traditional builders skip is the most popular skip size we offer and is the largest size available for soils and rubble due to weight limits.
The 8-yarder is ideal for most, if not all, projects including general construction works and large domestic clearances.
The 12-yard skip is our largest size available to purchase online. A huge skip that’s suitable for bulky items of waste that are still light in weight!
Although it’s not suitable for soils and heavy rubble, it’s an ideal option for major constructions works.
All of our four skip size options are suitable for most waste streams, including general waste, mixed waste, garden waste and construction waste. However not all materials are suitable for skips, so be sure to check out our list of restricted items
