Mini Skip Hire Cost (2 Yard): Prices, Size, and What It Holds
Mini Skip Dimensions and Capacity
What a Mini Skip Holds
Good projects for a mini skip
- Small garden clearout: hedge trimmings, bags of leaves, small branches
- Single room declutter (bedroom, home office)
- Small bathroom strip-out: old tiles, cistern, sink, boarding
- Garage or shed clearout of accumulated junk
- Carpet and underlay from one or two rooms
Projects too big for a mini skip
- Full kitchen refit (even a small kitchen generates 40-50 bags)
- Multiple rooms simultaneously
- Anything with significant rubble, soil, or concrete volume
- Full bathroom refit with structural work
- Garden landscaping involving turf or large soil volumes
Mini Skip vs Skip Bag (Hippo): Which Is Better?
| Factor | Mini Skip (2yd) | Hippo Bag (Midibag) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £70-120 | £90-140 (1.5yd bag) |
| Capacity | ~30 bin bags (1.5m³) | ~15 bin bags (0.75m³) |
| Permit needed on road | Yes (same as any skip) | No (treated as a sack) |
| Hire period | 7-14 days included | Fill and leave until ready |
| Heavy waste | Up to 200kg | Similar limits apply |
| Best for | Mixed household waste, room clearouts | Very small loads, no driveway space |
For most clearout projects, the mini skip offers better value because it holds twice the volume. The skip bag makes sense if you genuinely have a very small volume (10-15 bags maximum) or if you have no driveway and don't want the hassle of a road permit. See our full skip alternatives guide for more comparisons.
Mini Skip Hire Cost by Region
| Region | 2-Yard Mini Skip Price |
|---|---|
| London | £100 - £150 |
| South East | £85 - £135 |
| South West | £80 - £125 |
| Midlands | £70 - £120 |
| North West | £65 - £110 |
| North East | £60 - £105 |
| Scotland | £60 - £105 |
| Wales | £65 - £110 |
For detailed city-by-city prices, see our regional price guide.
Tips for Hiring a Mini Skip
- Break down items to use space efficiently - flat packs take less space than bulky whole items
- Don't mix heavy rubble with light waste - the weight limit is reached quickly and you waste space
- If you have more than 25 bags of waste, a midi skip (4-yard) at £100-180 is a better investment
- Place the skip on your driveway to avoid needing a road permit (saves £17-60)
- Get at least two quotes - prices vary significantly between local skip companies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest skip you can hire?
A 2-yard mini skip at £70-120 is the smallest and cheapest standard skip available. For even smaller loads, a Hippo bag (skip bag) at £100-150 including collection may work out cheaper if you have a very light load. The cheapest option overall is a council tip run if you can transport the waste yourself in a car or van.
Does a mini skip fit on a standard driveway?
Yes. A 2-yard mini skip measures approximately 4ft x 3ft x 2.5ft (1.2m x 0.9m x 0.75m), which fits on virtually any UK residential driveway. No permit is required if it stays entirely on your private property. The delivery lorry needs reasonable access to place it - a standard residential road provides sufficient space.
Is a mini skip or skip bag better value?
It depends on your load. For very light waste (garden trimmings, a few bags of household junk), a skip bag at £100-150 can work out cheaper because you only pay for what you fill. A mini skip at £70-120 offers more flexibility and capacity for mixed waste, and tends to work out better value if you are doing any kind of room clearout or small renovation.