Measure the pile, then allow for air
Skip bins are sold by volume, so the job is to estimate the volume of what you are throwing away. Measure the pile, or imagine the waste stacked in a corner of a room, and multiply length by width by height. Then be honest about how it packs. Flat sheets, boards and flattened boxes stack tight. Broken plasterboard, smashed tiles, old cabinets and pulled-out framing do not, and a bin full of that is a third air, which is why the calculator adds 30 percent for broken-up waste.
volume (m³) = length × width × height × 1.3 if it does not stack
| Bin | Approximate size | Trailer loads | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 m³ | 1.8 × 1.3 × 0.9 m | 4 | Small clean-up, a bathroom strip-out, heavy waste |
| 3 m³ | 2.4 × 1.5 × 0.9 m | 6 | Kitchen strip-out, garden clear-up |
| 4 m³ | 2.5 × 1.5 × 1.1 m | 8 | Room renovation, largest usual heavy-waste bin |
| 6 m³ | 3.6 × 1.5 × 1.2 m | 12 | Two-room renovation, deck demolition |
| 8 m³ | 3.6 × 1.5 × 1.5 m | 16 | Whole-house declutter, big renovation |
| 10 m³ | 4.0 × 1.7 × 1.5 m | 20 | Large clear-out, light bulky waste |
Dimensions vary between companies; these are typical. Trailer loads are at half a cubic metre per 6 × 4 trailer.
Weight is the real limit for heavy waste
The truck that delivers the bin has to lift it back on full. A 6 m³ bin of general builders' waste weighs about a tonne and a half. The same bin full of soil or brick rubble weighs eight tonnes and the truck cannot lift it, which is why heavy waste is only accepted in 2 to 4 m³ bins, and why a general bin with a layer of bricks hidden under the timber attracts a surcharge when it is weighed at the tip. Book a heavy-waste bin for soil, concrete, bricks, tiles and sand, keep it to those materials, and book more than one if the calculator says so.
What cannot go in
Asbestos is never accepted in a general bin. Any house built before 1990 may have it in eaves, wet-area linings, vinyl floor backing and fences, and it needs a licensed removalist and a dedicated bin. Tyres, mattresses, gas bottles, paint, chemicals, batteries, fluorescent tubes and food waste are refused or charged extra by most companies. Ask when you book and get the answer in the confirmation.
Placing the bin
A bin on your own driveway needs nothing but room for the truck to get in and lift it off. A bin on the nature strip or the road needs a council permit, which the bin company can usually arrange for a fee, and there may be rules about lights and cones. Give the truck a clear run: an overhanging tree or a low carport roof will send the driver away with the bin still on the truck.
Worked example
Stripping a bathroom and a laundry: broken tiles, plasterboard, a vanity, a bath and the framing of a stud wall, piled roughly 3 × 2 × 1 m. That is 6 m³ of pile, and because none of it stacks, 7.8 m³ in the bin, so an 8 m³ general bin. The tiles and the old concrete bath hob are heavy, so they go in a separate 2 m³ heavy-waste bin, and the general bin drops to 6 m³.
Common questions
What size skip bin do I need?
Measure the pile, add 30 percent if it does not stack. 2 m³ for a small clean-up, 4 for a room strip-out, 6 to 8 for a renovation, 10 for a big clear-out of light waste.
How many trailer loads in a bin?
About two per cubic metre: a 4 m³ bin is eight 6 × 4 trailer loads.
Can soil or concrete go in?
In a heavy-waste bin, usually 2 to 4 m³, never mixed into a general bin.
What is not allowed?
Asbestos, and usually tyres, mattresses, gas bottles, chemicals and batteries. Ask when booking.
Bin sizes, weight limits and restricted items vary between companies and councils. Confirm with the company when you book.