Skip Size Estimator

Estimate the size of skip bin that you need

Estimating the size of skip bin required for a particular job is often difficult especially if the material is distributed around the house, rather than having been placed in a measurable pile.

Skip bin sizes are always expressed in cubic metres (never tonnes). The following information should serve as a rough guide to help you estimate the size of skip bin that you require.

The table below shows approximate equivalences of cubic metres to the well known sizes of a box trailer and a wheelie bin.

Cubic Metres	Standard Trailer	Wheelie Bin
2 Cubic Metre	2 *	8 *
3 cubic metres	3 *	12 *
4 cubic metres	4 *	16 *
6 cubic metres	6 *	24 *

Typical Jobs

From our experience we have found that the sizes often required for typical jobs are as follow:

Bathroom renovation

Skip Bin 3m3 You are normally going to be disposing of cabinetry, old shower screen, curtain rail, some floor tiles, some wall tiles, possibly a bath tub and the packaging that your new materials were shipped in. Over the course of hundreds of bathroom renovation jobs we have found that the most commonly used size is a 3 cubic metre skip.

Kitchen renovation

Skip Bin 4m3 The volume generated by kitchen renovations varies more than that of bathroom renovations because the size of kitchens is more variable than that of bathrooms. The waste generated generally consists of cabinetry and old bench tops, possibly a stove and dishwasher, floor coverings such as tiles or vinyl, wall tiles and packaging that your new materials arrived in. We have found the most commonly used sizes of skip are 3 or 4 cubic metres.

Moving house (large cleanup)

Skip Bin 6m3
If you are moving and plan on throwing out any furniture or whitegoods bikes or exercise equipment and the like, as well as general junk items, you will probably need a 4 to 6 cubic metre skip.

Moving house (small cleanup)

Skip Bin 4m3
If you are only throwing out general junk items, you will probably need about a 3cubic metre skip.

Deceased estate

Skip Bin 6m3
If you are clearing out a house completely, you will often require total capacity of more than 20 cubic metres to remove all the material.

Excavation projects

• Excavation projects If you are excavating material such as soil to be put in a skip bin, it is relatively easy to estimate the quantity. As a rule of thumb work out the volume of the undisturbed excavated material by multiplying length * width * and then multiply again by 1.3 to allow for packing inefficiency. Note: soil tends to weigh in order of 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre, so if in doubt please check with us first to make sure that the maximum lifting capacity of the truck is not exceeded.

Excavations tend to (rather inconveniently) not be in a the shape of regular rectangular prism but, don't worry too much about the exact volume, as the packing efficiency is always going to be approximate anyway. Just use your best guess as to the dimensions. Often if you are cutting away a region of lawn for instance, you will need to estimate the average depth of cut.

Demolished brickwork or concrete

• Demolished brickwork or concrete Multiply length * width * depth to get the volume demolished then multiply again by 1.5 to allow for packing inefficiency. Note: brickwork and concrete tend to weight in order of 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre.