Guide
Skip for soil and rubble
Heavy waste breaks the usual rule: bigger is not better. Here is how to size a skip for soil, rubble and concrete, and when to use a grab lorry instead.
The short answer
For soil, rubble and concrete, a small skip is almost always the right choice, because heavy waste reaches the skip weight limit long before it fills the space. A 2 or 4 yard skip suits most heavy loads. For a large volume of loose heavy waste, a grab lorry is usually the cheaper route.
The weight trap
Heavy waste fills by weight, not volume
Every skip has both a volume and a weight limit, and with light waste you reach the volume first. Soil, rubble, concrete, brick and hardcore are dense, so you reach the weight limit while the skip still looks half empty. Fill a large skip with rubble and it becomes too heavy to lift and collect safely, which means a wasted trip and a rebooking.
That is why bigger is not better for heavy waste. A small skip, filled level, holds as much weight as you can legally move, and it costs less than a large skip you cannot fill. It is one of the few times where sizing down is the smart move rather than a compromise.
Choosing a size
The right skip for heavy waste
Size down for weight, not up for the job.
A load that is mostly soil, rubble or concrete.
A mix of heavy waste and some general material.
To weigh up the options.
For a large volume
When a grab lorry wins
If you have a lot of loose heavy waste, from a driveway dig-out, a landscaping job or a demolition, a grab lorry is usually cheaper and faster than repeat skips. The grab arm loads the material straight from a pile, so there is no filling a skip by hand and no weight-limit juggling. Tell us the volume and we will say whether a skip or a grab is the better call.
Also worth knowing
Two points on heavy waste
- Do not mix contaminated soil in. Soil that may hold asbestos, fuel or chemicals is hazardous waste and cannot go in a general skip. Ordinary soil is fine.
- Keep it level. Heavy waste must sit below the top edge of the skip. An overfilled heavy skip cannot be collected legally.
Related
Useful next steps
For a large volume of loose heavy waste.
For the full list including soil and rubble.
To see prices for your area.
Common questions
Frequently asked
What size skip do I need for soil and rubble?
A 2 yard mini skip for a load that is mostly heavy waste, or a 4 yard midi skip for a mix. Because soil and rubble are dense, a small skip is the right choice: you reach the weight limit before you fill a larger one. Compare on our skip sizes hub.
Why can I not use a big skip for rubble?
Because heavy waste reaches the skip weight limit long before it fills the space. A large skip full of rubble is too heavy to lift and collect safely, so it cannot be moved. A smaller skip, filled level, is the correct tool.
Is a skip or a grab lorry better for soil and rubble?
For a small amount, a small skip. For a large volume of loose heavy waste, a grab lorry is usually cheaper and faster, because the grab arm loads it straight from a pile. See grab lorry hire, or tell us the volume and we will advise.
Can I mix soil and rubble in the same skip?
Yes, ordinary soil, rubble, brick and concrete can go in the same skip. Just keep the total weight in mind and the load level. Contaminated soil is the exception and needs a specialist route.
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