What Size Skip Do I Need? A Practical Guide
Picking the wrong skip costs money either way. Too small and you end up booking a second one. Too big and you pay for space you never fill. This guide goes through the sizes SkipNow offers, roughly what each one holds and the jobs it usually suits.
The sizes on offer depend on your address, so enter your Eircode on the price page to see the ones available where you are, with prices.
How skip sizes are measured
Skips are sized in cubic yards. One cubic yard is a space of about 3ft by 3ft by 3ft. The bag counts below are approximate and based on standard refuse bags. Bulky items like sofas, doors or bikes take up more room than the bag count suggests, so allow extra space for them.
Mini skips: 2 to 3 yards
The smallest skips. A 2-yard mini skip fits on a standard driveway or a single parking space.
2 yard: approx. 10-15 refuse bags, about 5ft x 4ft x 3ft. Suits small DIY jobs, garden waste, a bathroom strip-out or a light household clear-out.
2.5 yard: approx. 15-20 refuse bags, about 6ft x 4ft x 3ft. Suits small renovations, a garage clear-out or garden waste.
3 yard: approx. 20-25 refuse bags, about 6ft x 4ft x 3ft. Suits a kitchen strip-out, a loft clearance or small garden landscaping.
Midi skips: 4 to 5 yards
4 yard: approx. 25-35 refuse bags, about 6ft x 5ft x 3ft. Suits a bathroom or kitchen renovation, a bigger garden clean-up or a house move clear-out.
5 yard: approx. 35-45 refuse bags, about 8ft x 5ft x 3ft. Suits medium renovations, small extension waste or decluttering several rooms.
Standard and builder's skips: 6 to 7 yards
The 6-yard skip is our most popular size.
6 yard: approx. 50-60 refuse bags, about 10ft x 6ft x 4ft. Suits home renovations, construction waste, garden landscaping or an office clear-out.
7 yard: approx. 60-70 refuse bags, about 10ft x 6ft x 5ft. Suits larger construction jobs and landscaping.
Maxi skips: 8 to 9 yards
8 yard: approx. 70-80 refuse bags, about 12ft x 6ft x 5ft. Suits major renovations, patio and driveway removal, construction debris or site clearance.
8.5 yard: approx. 75-85 refuse bags, about 12ft x 6ft x 5ft. Suits larger site clearances and heavy construction waste.
9 yard: approx. 80-90 refuse bags, about 12ft x 6ft x 5ft. Suits a whole-house clear-out, garage demolition or light commercial waste.
Large skips: 10 to 14 yards
10 yard: approx. 90-100 refuse bags, about 14ft x 6ft x 5ft. Suits construction projects, demolition waste and light commercial work.
12 yard: approx. 100-120 refuse bags, about 14ft x 6ft x 6ft. Suits large construction sites, whole-property renovations and commercial clear-outs.
14 yard: approx. 120-140 refuse bags, about 14ft x 7ft x 6ft. Suits major demolition and large construction sites.
14 yard Mixed C&D: a specialist 14-yard skip for mixed construction and demolition waste such as builder's site waste and rubble.
Roll-on skips: 25 to 40 yards
For industrial sites, commercial demolition and large clear-outs. A 25-yard skip holds roughly 200-225 refuse bags, a 35-yard 280-320 and a 40-yard, our largest, 320-360.
Quick match: common jobs
Bathroom strip-out: 2 or 4 yard
Kitchen strip-out: 3 or 4 yard
Garage or loft clear-out: 2.5 or 3 yard
Bigger garden clean-up: 4 yard
Home renovation: 6 yard
Patio or driveway removal: 8 yard
Whole-house clear-out: 9 yard
Before you book
If you are torn between two sizes, the bigger one usually works out cheaper than ordering a second skip.
A skip on your own driveway needs no permit. On a public road or footpath you apply to your council for one. See our skip permit guide.
Delivery, collection and disposal are included, and the standard hire period is 4 days. Standard delivery takes 1-4 working days.
Rather not do the lifting? Junk removal loads everything straight into the van, with no skip and no permit.
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