What skip size do I need for soil and or hardcore

If you need a skip for soil or hardcore (bricks) it is important to know which skip size will best suit your needs. This will reduce the need to hire a second skip unnecessarily. Hiring one larger skip rather than multiple skips of the same size will always save you money.

We are often asked this question at Findaskip, customers ask us via our live chat or telephone us before they order.

The first thing that you will need to consider is the type of waste that the skip will be used for?

What’s the biggest size skip I can have for soil?

If you have heavy inert (soil,  sand, shingle, hardcore, bricks, concrete) materials, the biggest skip you will be able to use would be a 6 yard, although this will also depend on the company and the size of lorries that they are using.

Larger skips such as 12 or 14 yard maxi skips must be used for light weight only (light bulky waste) as they can become too heavy for the skip lorry to pick up once it has been loaded or may cause damage the driveway, pavement or road.

If you have just one type of inert waste it is worth discussing this with the skip hire company, as it is typically cheaper and easier to dispose of than household waste and you may be able to get a discounted price.

How much weight will the skip hold?

There is a simple rule of thumb guide to knowing how much soil or hardcore your skip will accommodate. Try to remember that your skip will take roughly the same amount of tonnage as it will yardage. Therefore, a 4 yard skip will hold 4 tonnes worth of soil.

How can I calculate the size of the skip I need?

It is a common mistake to assume that if you are digging out 2 cubic yards of soil, you would only need a 2 yard skip. This is often not the case. Once you have excavated the soil, it has been churned up and aerated. As a result of this, you could be needing up to 2X the amount of space than that of which the soil came from.  We always suggest doubling up on your calculation to allow for this.

You can save space by trying to compress the soil down as much as possible. You can do this by using a sturdy board and intermittently placing it on the top of the soil in the skip and pushing down so that it is more packed down. Remember, an overloaded skip (where it is filled higher than the sides of the skip) may incur an overload charge, and the driver has the right to refuse to move the skip until it has been levelled.

Please give FindaSkip a call if you are thinking of hiring a skip for soil and or hardcore but are not sure on prices or which skip size to book.  You will find our skip size guide very helpful and informative. We are here to help with any questions regarding skip hire and which skip size will best suit your requirements.