How Much Can You Put in a Skip?
Most people choose a skip by how much space they think they need. That works for household junk, garden waste and old furniture. It does not work for soil, rubble, bricks or concrete. With heavy waste the skip reaches its weight limit long before it looks full.
If you are digging out a patio, knocking through a wall or clearing a garden bed, weight is the thing to plan around.
Why weight matters more than space
A skip lorry lifts the skip on chains using hydraulic arms. Every lorry has a safe lifting limit, and every road has legal weight limits. If a skip is too heavy, the driver cannot lift it safely. They will ask you to take some waste out before they can collect it.
Loose soil and rubble weigh roughly 1.1 to 1.5 tonnes per cubic yard, depending on how wet and compacted they are. An 8 yard skip filled to the brim with wet soil could easily weigh 10 tonnes or more. That is well past what can be lifted.
Weight limits by skip size
| Skip size | Roughly holds | Approximate weight limit | Heavy waste? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 yard mini skip | 20 bin bags | 2 tonnes | Yes |
| 4 yard midi skip | 40 bin bags | 3 tonnes | Yes |
| 6 yard builders skip | 60 bin bags | 5 tonnes | Yes |
| 8 yard builders skip | 80 bin bags | 8 tonnes | Yes, the practical maximum |
| 12 yard maxi skip | 120 bin bags | Light waste only | No |
| 20 and 40 yard RoRo | 200 to 400+ bin bags | Light waste only | No |
The bigger skips are designed for bulky, light waste such as packaging, timber offcuts and furniture. They are not built to carry a load of hardcore.
Choosing a skip for soil and rubble
For heavy waste, a smaller skip filled properly usually works out better than a big skip filled halfway. A 4 or 6 yard skip is ideal for most garden and patio jobs. If you have a lot of heavy material, two smaller skips, or one skip exchanged when full, is safer than one oversized skip.
If the job is mostly soil, it is also worth asking about muck away. A grab lorry can take large volumes of soil without the weight limits of a skip. Our guide on skip hire vs grab hire vs man and van compares the options.
The level load rule
Nothing should stick up above the top edge of the skip. This is about safety and the law. A skip carried on a public road with waste piled above the sides can shed its load. Drivers can refuse to move a skip that is overfilled, so keep it level with the rim. Our guide to greedy boards and overfilled skips explains more.
Five ways to avoid an overloaded skip
- Tell us what you are throwing away. If it is mainly soil or rubble, say so when you book and we will suggest the right size.
- Keep the rain out. Wet soil and plasterboard soak up water and get heavier. Cover the skip with a tarpaulin if rain is forecast.
- Spread heavy waste evenly. Do not pile it all at one end. An uneven load is harder to lift and can tip.
- Mix heavy and light waste with care. A layer of rubble at the bottom with light waste on top is fine in a builders skip. A maxi skip is not the place for rubble.
- Book an exchange early. If you can see the skip filling fast with heavy waste, book a swap before it gets too heavy.
What happens if a skip is too heavy?
The driver will not risk lifting an unsafe load. You will usually be asked to remove some of the waste before collection, which means a return visit. That can add a charge and delay your job. Check your hire terms for the exact policy.
Not sure which size you need?
Our skip size guide covers every size in detail. If you are still unsure, call us and tell us what the job is. We would rather help you pick the right skip first time than send a lorry back.