What Size Skip Do I Need? A Plain-English Guide for Dublin Homeowners
Skip Sizes: The Complete Reference Table
| Skip | Capacity | Bin Bag Equiv. | Best For | Greyhound Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Bag (1 Tonne) | ~0.75m³ | ~15 bags | Attic clear-out, small garden tidy | €75 |
| 4 Yard Midi | ~3m³ | ~40 bags | Bathroom refit, small bedroom clearout | €245 |
| 6 Yard Standard | ~4.5m³ | ~55 bags | Kitchen refit, garden clear-out, flooring | €349 |
| 14 Yard Maxi | ~11m³ | ~100 bags | Full house clearance, extension | €579 |
| 20 Yard Large | ~15m³ | ~160 bags | Large construction, demolition | €930 |
📏 The “size up” rule: If you’re genuinely uncertain between two sizes, choose the larger one. You can always fill a skip less than full — but you can’t fill it more. An overfull skip cannot be legally collected.
The Skip Bag: When Is It Enough?
Greyhound’s 1-tonne skip bag holds around 15 domestic bin bags and costs €75. It’s a great option for:
- Clearing out an attic or loft (light boxes, old clothes, small furniture)
- A small garden tidy (cuttings, bags of soil, old plant pots)
- One-room clear-outs where waste is light and low-volume
The skip bag cannot be filled with heavy materials like soil, rubble, concrete, or tiles. For heavy waste, you’ll need a steel skip.
4-Yard Midi Skip: The Flat-Pack Favourite
Greyhound’s 4-yard midi skip holds around 40 bin bags and is the most popular choice for single-room renovation projects. It fits on most Dublin driveways and is ideal for:
- A bathroom or kitchen refit (tiles, plasterboard, old fixtures)
- A bedroom or living room clear-out
- Garden waste — one big weekend’s worth of work
- Flooring removal in one or two rooms
The 4-yard skip measures roughly 6ft long × 4ft wide × 3ft high. It will fit in a single car parking space.
6-Yard Standard (Builders’) Skip: The Most Popular Size in Dublin
The 6-yard standard skip is the workhorse of the Irish construction and renovation industry. It holds around 55 bin bags and is right for the majority of Dublin home projects:
- Full kitchen or bathroom renovation
- Garden landscaping or large clearance
- Moving house — clearing years of accumulated clutter
- Flooring replacement throughout a house
- Moderate construction or extension waste (lightweight materials)
The 6-yard skip measures approximately 11ft long × 6ft wide × 4ft high and fits in most Dublin driveways. This is the skip size Greyhound recommends when in doubt.
14-Yard Maxi Skip: For Serious Clear-Outs
The 14-yard maxi skip holds around 100 bin bags — enough for a full house clearance or a significant building project. It’s commonly used for:
- Complete house clearances (furniture, appliances, accumulated waste)
- Major renovation projects covering multiple rooms
- Light construction on home extensions
- Commercial fit-outs and office moves
⚠️ Note on heavy waste in the 14-yardThe 14-yard skip is designed for bulky waste. For heavy materials, use the 4-yard or 6-yard which are rated for heavier loads per volume.
20-Yard Skip: Big Projects Only
Our 20-yard skip is designed for large-scale construction, demolition, or commercial projects. At €930 including delivery and collection, it’s the most cost-effective way to manage large volumes of light waste. Most residential customers won’t need this size.
The Heavy Waste Rule: A Common Mistake
This catches many customers out. If you’re disposing of heavy materials — soil, rubble, concrete, bricks, tiles, or stone — the rules are different:
- Heavy waste can only be filled to a level load (flush with the skip sides) — never above
- Heavy waste is weight-limited, not just volume-limited
- A 4-yard or 6-yard skip is usually more appropriate for heavy waste than a larger “maxi” skip
When booking, tell us your waste type and we’ll make sure you get the right skip.
Quick Decision Guide: Which Skip for Which Job?
| Your Project | Recommended Skip |
|---|---|
| Attic or small room clear-out | Skip Bag or 4-Yard Midi |
| Bathroom renovation | 4-Yard Midi |
| Kitchen refit | 6-Yard Standard |
| Garden clearance (light waste) | 4-Yard or 6-Yard |
| Garden clearance (soil/rubble) | 4-Yard (heavy waste rated) |
| Full house clearance | 14-Yard Maxi |
| Home extension build | 6-Yard (light) or RORO (heavy) |
| Moving house, big declutter | 6-Yard or 14-Yard |
| Office or commercial fit-out | 14-Yard or 20-Yard |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many bin bags fit in a 6-yard skip?
What’s the most popular skip size in Dublin?
Can I mix different types of waste in the same skip?
What if I fill the skip and still have waste left over?
Found the right size? Book now.Order any size skip online in under 60 seconds. Delivery across Dublin, collection included.
