Waste Removal Cost Calculator
Skips are not always cheapest. This compares a skip, a grab lorry and wait-and-load for what you are actually throwing away.
Open the calculator →Compare your waste options in 30 seconds
4 steps. Waste type, volume, where it stands and region.
How this calculator works
Skips are priced by volume but limited by weight. That is the whole reason a grab lorry beats a skip on soil, concrete and hardcore: fill a builders skip with rubble and you hit the weight limit well below the rim, then pay £50–£150 on top for the privilege.
Where the skip stands is the other lever people forget. On your own driveway there is no permit at all. On the road the council charges £30–£80 a week, and it is worth agreeing up front who is arranging and paying for it.
On duty of care: the liability for fly-tipped waste stays with the person who produced it. Ask any carrier for their licence number and check it on the Environment Agency register yourself.
Waste removal options compared (2026)
| Option | Typical 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mini / midi skip (2–4 yd) | £115–£275 | Small clear-outs, light waste |
| Builders skip (6–8 yd) | £245–£600 | The standard renovation skip |
| Maxi / RoRo (12–40 yd) | £350–£810 | Whole-house strip-outs |
| Grab lorry, per load | £180–£350 | Soil, concrete, hardcore |
| Wait-and-load | £120–£300 | No permit, priced by the hour |
| On-road skip permit | +£30–£80 per week | Varies by council |
| Overweight / heavy rubble | +£50–£150 | Why grab beats skip on dense waste |
| Plasterboard separation | +£15–£60 | Must be kept separate by law |
Figures match our skip hire cost guide and waste management guide.
Waste removal calculator FAQs
For soil, concrete and hardcore, a grab lorry almost always wins — a skip full of rubble triggers a £50–£150 overweight charge. For mixed light waste the skip is normally better value.
Only if it stands on a public road, where the council charges £30–£80 a week. On your own driveway you need nothing.
Fridges, freezers, mattresses, tyres, paint tins and anything hazardous. Plasterboard must be kept separate. Most attract a £5–£30 surcharge rather than a refusal.
Yes — duty of care stays with whoever produced the waste. Check the carrier licence on the Environment Agency register before they take it.
Related cost guides
- Skip hire costs — every size priced
- Skip permits — when the council needs asking
- Concrete removal — why grab beats skip
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