Skip sizes guide

Getting the right skip size first time saves money and hassle. This guide covers all nine sizes we offer in Scarborough, Filey, Whitby, Pickering, Malton and Kirkbymoorside, from a compact 2 yard mini skip up to a 40 yard roll-on roll-off container.

All dimensions below are approximate external measurements. Actual sizes vary slightly between manufacturers.

2 yard mini skip

The 2 yard mini skip is the smallest option available. It holds roughly the same volume as a large wheelbarrow and sits comfortably on any driveway or front garden without blocking access.

It works well for small, contained jobs: a bathroom strip-out, a garden tidy-up, or clearing a single room of clutter. If you are doing anything beyond one small room, step up to the 4 yard.

4 yard midi skip

For smaller domestic jobs, the 4 yard midi is the most common choice. It is large enough for a kitchen or bathroom renovation, a shed clearance, or a moderate garden landscaping project.

At 1.8 metres long it still fits on a standard single-width driveway. If your waste includes bulky items like furniture or large sheets of plasterboard, they will fit flat in the base with room above for bags and loose material.

6 yard skip

At 4.6 cubic metres, the 6 yard sits between the smaller domestic skips and the larger builders sizes. It covers full-room renovations, medium garden projects, and larger furniture disposal jobs where a 4 yard would be tight.

The 1.2 metre sides are high enough to contain most household items without stacking above the rim. For mixed domestic waste with some soil or rubble, this size can take it as long as heavy material stays below two-thirds full.

8 yard builders skip Most popular

For both domestic and trade work in Scarborough, the 8 yard builders skip is the most popular size. It handles a full kitchen or bathroom renovation, a loft conversion, or a large garden clearance without needing a second load.

At 3.7 metres long it takes up roughly one and a half parking spaces on a driveway. A drop door is available on this size: a hinged panel on one end that swings open at ground level, letting you wheel barrows or carry heavy items straight in rather than lifting everything over the sides. On renovation jobs where you are shifting rubble or old timber, it saves a lot of lifting.

10 yard skip

With 7.6 cubic metres of capacity, the 10 yard handles whole-house clearances, commercial refurbishment projects, and jobs producing large volumes of mixed waste. It is slightly longer and taller than the 8 yard at 3.7 metres long and 1.5 metres high.

The taller sides make it harder to load heavy items by hand, so consider whether you will need a ramp or can break bulky waste down before loading.

12 yard maxi skip

The 12 yard maxi skip is one of the largest skips that fits on a standard skip lorry. At 1.8 metres high, the sides sit above head height for most people, so a drop door is particularly useful on this size for walk-in loading.

This size handles major renovations, shop or office strip-outs, and large-scale property clearances. If you are clearing a multi-room project and expect a mix of plasterboard, timber, old carpets and general waste, this size avoids the cost and delay of a second skip.

14 yard skip

The 14 yard skip is typically the largest size delivered on a standard skip lorry. It is slightly longer than the 12 yard, adding around 1.5 cubic metres of extra capacity.

This size is mostly used on larger construction and commercial clear-out jobs. For domestic projects, a 12 yard usually covers the same job for less. If you need more than 14 yards, the next step up is a roll-on roll-off container.

20 yard roll-on roll-off

The 20 yard roll-on roll-off (RORO) is an open-top container delivered and collected by a specialist hook-loader vehicle. It is significantly wider and longer than a standard skip and needs clear, level access for the lorry to set it down.

You will mostly see these on demolition sites, large commercial clear-outs, and construction projects producing high volumes of waste. The lower sides compared to the 40 yard make it easier to load by hand or with a small digger.

40 yard roll-on roll-off

The 40 yard roll-on roll-off is the largest container available. At 30 cubic metres it holds double the volume of the 20 yard, and is used for full demolitions, major construction sites, and industrial-scale clearances.

The container needs significant space for delivery and a hard, level surface to sit on. Access for the hook-loader lorry is the main consideration: check that the site entrance and any turns are wide enough before booking.

Skip sizes at a glance

Size	Capacity	Bin bags	Price from	Drop door
2 yard mini	1.5 m³	~20	£120	No
4 yard midi	3 m³	30-40	£190	No
6 yard	4.6 m³	50-60	£230	No
8 yard builders	6 m³	60-80	£285	Yes
10 yard	7.6 m³	80-100	£355	No
12 yard maxi	9.2 m³	100-120	£405	Yes
14 yard	10.7 m³	120-140	£475	No
20 yard RORO	15 m³	200-250	Contact us	N/A
40 yard RORO	30 m³	Up to 450	Contact us	N/A

All prices include delivery and collection within our service area covering Scarborough, Filey, Whitby, Pickering, Malton and Kirkbymoorside. Final pricing depends on waste type and access. Request a quote for a fixed price.

Frequently asked questions