Blog>Expert Advice>Home jobs where you may need to hire a skip
Last updated: 10 February 2025
Home jobs where you may need to hire a skip
There are many home renovation jobs where you would be sensible to hire a skip. Usually those home improvement or DIY jobs where you expect lots of waste or rubbish to be accumulated. Let's see which jobs typically need a skip.
Home improvement jobs where you may need to hire a skip
Whatever home improvement job you decide to embark upon, the chances are it’ll generate waste.
Skips come in all sorts of different sizes to suit the amount of waste you’re generating, so skip hire could be the perfect option for decluttering or refurbishing a room of your home.
Here are just a few jobs that people often hire skips for.
Moving home
If you move house, you’ll probably come across many items you no longer want or need as you’re packing up.
Hiring a skip can be a great way to get rid of unwanted junk and clear out clutter, instead of moving it to your new home.
Clearing the loft
Often, the loft is where we put all the random possessions we want to keep but don’t have much use for. It’s easy to let it build up over the years. The same goes for basements or garages.
If you’ve finally decided to do something about it, a skip can help you to cull your unused possessions in one fell swoop, without having to drive back and forth to the tip.
Installing a new bathroom
With a new bathroom installation comes the ripping out of your old bathroom, which produces a lot of waste, especially if you're ripping everything out completely.
Replacing your kitchen
Similar to a new bathroom install, replacing a kitchen usually results in a lot of waste. Rubble, worktops, flooring, tiles, cupboards - there's a lot.
Installing new flooring
Whether you're replacing your carpets or installing new flooring, like tiles or LVT, you'll likely be amazed how much flooring you have to get rid of!
Furniture, rolls of carpet and old kitchen cabinets can all be bulky and hard to transport. Hiring a skip means it can all get taken away for you.
Landscaping the garden
Whether you’re clearing an overgrown garden or simply transforming it with hard landscaping, you’ll likely generate a lot of green waste and debris.
We’re talking branches, bushes, turf, soil and potentially even old fence posts or broken plant pots. Chucking it all in a skip will make the job a whole lot easier!
Building works
If you’re investing in building works, such as removing load bearing walls, adding an extension or doing a loft conversion, your contractor will almost certainly need a skip.
Usually, they’ll arrange it for you, and the price will be included in their overall quote. But it’s worth checking!
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
What can you put in a hired skip?
When you hire a skip, you’ll usually be able to choose between two types:
Mixed waste skip
Inert waste skip
Most householders tend to opt for mixed waste skips. These skips can take most household waste, from builder’s waste to household appliances, carpets, furniture and garden waste.
On the other hand, an inert waste skip will only be able to take inert waste, meaning waste from demolition and construction work. For instance, soil, sand, cement and rubble.
That said, even a mixed waste skip will have some limits as to what items you can dispose of.
What can you not put in a hired skip?
Exactly what you can put in a hired skip will vary between skip hire companies.
That said, there are some things that you should generally avoid putting in your skip. These include:
Batteries
Clinical or medical waste
Electrical appliances & equipment
Fluorescent tubes
Fridges, freezers, and air conditioning units
Gas canisters and gas bottles
Hazardous & toxic materials
Oil, petrol, and diesel
Paint and tins of paint
Plasterboard
TVs & computer screens
Tyres
Always check with your skip hire company to find out what kinds of waste they’ll accept.
Is skip hire worth it?
Skip hire comes with a whole host of benefits, especially when you compare it to taking multiple trips to the tip.
Here are just a few advantages of skip hire you can look forward to.
Convenient
Hiring a skip is arguably the most convenient and stress-free way to dispose of large quantities of waste.
Your skip will be dropped off for you in the location you choose. Then, once you’ve filled it, it will be picked up and taken away for you.
Easy to load
Your skip is usually placed as close to your home as possible – whether that’s on your drive or on the road outside (with permission from the council).
This makes loading it as easy as possible – unlike making multiple trips to the tip!
Cost-effective
If you’re generating a lot of waste, a skip can be a cost-effective way to get rid of it.
Especially when you compare it to taking several trips to the tip, which costs both fuel and time.
Flexible
You’ll usually be able to hire your skip for a one or two-week period to start with. However, most skip hire companies are very flexible and will let you extend your hire period if you need to later down the line.
You’ll also be able to choose from several different sizes so that you’re able to fit all your waste in one skip, and have it all taken away in one go.
Reduce impact on the environment
Your skip hire company will sort through all the waste you put in your skip, making sure to recycle as much as possible.
This can help to limit the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, reducing your impact on the environment.
Make your site safer
Last but not least, hiring a skip gives you an easy place to put the waste you generate, as you generate it.
This can help to make your home safer when you’re in the midst of a home improvement project, as you won’t end up with waste lying around where you’re working, waiting to be disposed of.
How much does skip hire cost?
Skip hire prices will vary depending on the size of the skip you choose and how long you hire it for.
That said, here are some rough estimates for a week’s hire, to help you budget.
Mini 2 - 3 yard skip –£125
Midi 4 -5 yard skip –£225
Builder 6 - 8 yard skip –£320
It’s always best to get at least three quotes from skip hire companies near you. That way, you can make sure you’re getting a fair and competitive price for your skip.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
How does skip hire work?
Skip hire is designed to be as simple as possible. Here are some simple steps to take if you want to hire a skip.
Work out what size skip you need
Estimate how long you’ll need it for
Decide where you’re putting your skip
Find and contact your local skip hire companies
Book your skip!
Here's more information on how skip hire works.
Find a skip hire company near you
Ready to go ahead and find a reliable skip hire company near you?
At Checkatrade, all the companies in our directory have to pass up to 12 checks and regularly receive reviews from homeowners.
In fact, we’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that if you book through us, we guarantee their work up to £1,000. Guaranteed for 12 months – Eligibility and T&Cs apply.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
More Expert Advice Articles
More Skip Hire Articles
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job