COST GUIDES
How much does rubbish removal cost in 2026?
Updated 05/26
Whether you’re undertaking building works, replacing your old furniture, or just having a good old clear-out, we all need to get rid of rubbish every now and again. But what's the cost of rubbish removal?
Fast Facts
The average cost of rubbish removal is around £335 all together
Rubbish removal can also be quoted at an average of £60 per hour, or £75 per cubic yard of waste
If you have a large amount of waste, it may work out cheaper to hire a skip or a grab lorry
Let's take a look at rubbish removal prices and the different methods available, so you can plan your waste clearance budget for your project.
How much does rubbish removal cost?
| Item | Unit | Cost - low | Cost - high | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubbish removal specialist | Per project | £75 | £595 | £335 |
| Fridge removal | Per item | - | - | £75 |
| Rubbish removal labour | Per hour | - | - | £60 |
| Rubbish removal by volume | Per cubic yard | - | - | £75 |
| Skip hire | Per skip | £175 | £360 | £270 |
| Man with a van | Per hour | £64 | £94 | £79 |
| Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | ||||
On average, rubbish removal will cost between £75 and £595 per project. The average cost is £335 overall.
Ultimately, the least you can realistically expect to pay for rubbish removal is £75. At the other end of the scale, you’re probably looking at roughly £595 for a larger ‘man in a van’ service that would be able to take around a skip’s worth of waste.
How rubbish removal prices work
Rubbish clearance services will often charge you based on the number of cubic yards of waste being collected. The average price is £75 per cubic yard. (For reference, a skip holds between 2-8 cubic yards.)
Others will charge by the hour, which will cost an average of £60 per hour.
Some rubbish removal services will include a set volume allowance or set amount of labour, and will charge you extra if you go over it.
Many will also have set fees for certain items. For example, the typical cost of removing a fridge is £75.
What's included in a rubbish removal quote?
A rubbish removal quote is the price a clearance company charges to go to your home, load the rubbish into their vehicle, and dispose of it safely. This is in contrast to a service like a skip hire, in which you'd load the rubbish yourself.
As we saw above, it's usually charged either by the cubic yard of waste or by the hour.
The quote will often be different depending on what kind of rubbish you need clearing. For example, there may be different prices for:
General household waste
Office or commercial waste
Appliances and electricals, including white goods
Garden clearance or green waste
Hazardous waste (e.g. asbestos, medical waste)
Construction waste and rubble - more on this below
Additional costs to budget for
Bear in mind that you may need to pay extra for things like:
Bulky items, e.g. fridges and mattresses
Unusually heavy rubbish
Different types of waste, e.g. green waste
Hazardous waste
Additional labour or loading time
Urgent or emergency call-outs
Find a trusted rubbish removal service near you
Rubbish removal hourly rates
The average hourly rate for rubbish removal is £60 per hour.
Typically, most rubbish removal services are priced based on the type of waste needing to be removed and the size, weight or quantity of the waste.
Some services for general house clearance can start from as low as a £27 call-out fee, with an additional charge based on the amount of waste to be removed.
Rubbish removal hourly rates may also vary depending on your location. Prices tend to be higher in London and the South East.
Rubbish removal cost calculator
Rubbish removal costs vary hugely depending on what method you use. For instance, are you looking for a removal specialist who operates a ‘man with a van’ type service? Or would a skip hire be better suited to your job?
If you opt for a removal specialist, the price will vary based on things like:
How many items need to be removed and their weight
How awkward the items are to move: For instance, three full bin bags will be easier to handle than one sofa
What type of waste needs removing: Builders' waste will need to go to a special facility
How easy your space is to access: For example, are there flights of stairs? And if so, how many?
Your location: Is parking outside your site free and easy?
Try the job estimate calculator
Why not give our job estimate tool a go? All you need to do is type in a bit of information about the rubbish you need removing, and the calculator will use Checkatrade data to give you an approximate quote - so you have a better idea of what prices to expect.
Job Estimate Calculator
How much does it cost to hire a skip?
Skips, which typically range between 2-8 cubic yards, can cost between £175 and £360 to hire.
Just remember that if you opt for this form of rubbish removal, you’ll need to fill the skip yourself. In contrast, a rubbish removal service will normally enter your home to pick up your rubbish, saving you a job.
Read our skip hire cost guide for more detailed information about skip prices.
How much does it cost to remove rubble?
If there's a lot of rubble to remove, it might be cheapest to hire a skip or even a grab lorry (hiring one grab lorry will often be more cost effective than hiring several skips). Grab lorry hire costs around £275 for 7-9 tonnes of waste.
However, if you're dealing in smaller amounts, you could consider using a man with a van service. The average cost of a man with a van is between £64 - £94 an hour depending on the number of workers required. Just bear in mind that you may need several trips.
The cost of rubble removal will depend on a number of factors, such as:
What type of rubble it is and its weight
Material type such as bricks, stone, rocks, patio slabs, plasterboard, tiles or wood
You'll usually need to pay more for builders' waste to be removed because it will need to be transported to a special facility.
Your rubbish removal checklist
To get an accurate quote for your rubbish removal, use our handy checklist to work out exactly what kind of waste you have.
Your rubbish removal checklist
Get a rubbish removal quote
If you have some rubbish that you're looking to have taken away, then it's time to get some quotes. With any job or project, it's always a good idea to get multiple quotes. This allows you to compare the different prices and services on offer.
Finding trusted local tradespeople is as easy as entering your postcode into our search bar below - or using our request a quote service. Just submit the details of your project and available tradespeople will get in touch.
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FAQs
That depends on what type of waste you need to get rid of and how much you have. By getting a number of quotes for both skip hire and rubbish removal, you can find out what the most cost-effective option is for you.
A skip might be cheaper if you’re moving a lot, but if it’s a smaller amount, it could be cheaper to get a rubbish removal specialist. Equally, remember that opting for a rubbish removal specialist will mean less work for you.
On average, a medium-sized house clearance will cost around £400.
For more details and a full breakdown, see our guide to house clearance costs.
In some cases, yes. If you have large waste items, such as an old appliance or sofa to get rid of, you may be able to arrange a rubbish pick-up from most councils.
For a large amount of waste, however, help from the council is not always available.
Take a look at your local council's website to find out what's possible in your area.
Yes, anyone who transports, buys, sells, or disposes of waste in the UK must register as a waste carrier.
When you're hiring a rubbish removal service, make sure your chosen tradesperson or company holds the right licence!
Hiring a rubbish clearance service is your best bet for getting rid of a large amount of rubbish.
If you have a particularly large amount, however, you may even need to hire a skip or a grab lorry.
Yes, it's illegal to put waste in someone else's skip in the UK - it's considered fly-tipping, which carries a maximum fine of a whopping £1,000. That's a much higher price than hiring your own skip!
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