Skip Size Calculator

What This Calculator Does

This skip size calculator helps you choose the right skip for your waste. Enter a rough size of the pile of waste (or the area you're clearing) and it estimates the volume in cubic yards — the way UK skips are sized — and recommends a skip, from a 2-yard mini to a 12-yard maxi.

UK Skip Sizes at a Glance

• Mini (2 yd³) – small garden or single-room clear-out.
• Midi (4 yd³) – kitchen or bathroom rip-out.
• Builders (6–8 yd³) – the classic skip for general building and renovation waste.
• Maxi (12 yd³+) – whole-house clearances and large projects (for bulky, lightweight waste – not heavy rubble).

How to Use

1. Choose metric or imperial units.
2. Estimate the length, width and height of your pile of waste — or the space it will fill.
3. Add a bit extra for air gaps, since waste never packs perfectly (20% is sensible).
4. Read off the recommended skip size.

Tips

• Never overfill a skip — waste must sit level with the top or the skip firm can legally refuse to collect it. If in doubt, size up.
• Heavy rubble, soil and concrete are dense — use a smaller skip filled part-way, as weight limits are reached long before the skip looks full. See our excavation calculator for soil volumes.
• You'll need a permit if the skip sits on a public road rather than your driveway.
• Some items (mattresses, fridges, plasterboard, tyres) may need separating out — check with your skip provider.