How Much Can You Put in a Rubbish Skip? Why “Level Load” Really Matters
One of the biggest problems we see with skip hire isn’t what people put in the skip – it’s how much. More and more skips are being filled right over the top, with waste piled high and items hanging over the sides. It might feel like you’re “getting your money’s worth”, but in reality it creates safety issues, legal problems and usually ends up costing you more.
When you hire a skip, it must be filled to a level load. That means the waste should sit no higher than the top edge of the skip. Nothing sticking out, nothing balanced on top, nothing leaning over the sides. If you look across the rim, you should be able to see a flat, contained load.
There are a few reasons this isn’t just us being awkward. First, an overfilled skip is illegal to transport. Our drivers can’t take a skip onto the road if there are loose items above the sides that could fall off while it’s being lifted or moved. If the load isn’t safe, they must refuse collection. That means delays for you, and potentially extra charges if a second visit is needed.
Second, it’s a genuine safety risk. Things like wood, metal, rubble, tiles, furniture and other bulky items can shift when the lorry lifts the skip. If they’re above the rim, they’re far more likely to fall. That’s dangerous for our staff, for other road users and for anyone nearby when the skip is being loaded.
Third, overfilling can damage the skip and the lorry. Skips are rated for a certain weight, and when heavy waste such as soil, bricks or hardcore is heaped up, that weight can creep up very fast. The lifting gear on the truck and the structure of the skip are designed for sensible loads, not overstuffed ones. If the skip is damaged because it has been misused, those costs don’t just vanish.
So what does an acceptable load actually look like? A properly filled skip is loaded evenly, with heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top. Everything is contained within the metal sides. If we needed to put a cover or net over it, we could do so with no issues. There shouldn’t be mattresses poking out, doors sticking up, bags perched above the top, or rubble mounded like a small hill.
If any part of the waste is higher than the top edge, it’s not a level load – and we can’t legally take it.
A common situation is when someone underestimates how much rubbish they’ll generate. Halfway through a clear-out or renovation, the skip is already full but there’s still a pile of waste left. The temptation is to cram it in, jump on it, squash it down and stack things wherever they’ll balance. That’s exactly how you end up with a skip we can’t move.
The right answer is simple: if you’ve got more waste than expected, you either need a bigger skip, an exchange (full skip collected and an empty one dropped off), or an extra bag or second skip for the overflow. It is always cheaper and quicker to size the job properly than to overload a skip and have a failed collection.
It’s also worth remembering that even a level load has practical limits. Not all skip sizes are suitable for being completely filled with very heavy materials. For example, small skips are ideal for soil and rubble; larger skips are better for mixed, lighter household waste and bulky items. If you’re digging out a garden, knocking down walls or ripping up concrete, it’s worth asking in advance what’s appropriate so you don’t create something that’s simply too heavy to lift.
To put it bluntly: if it’s above the rim, it’s too much.
If it’s balanced on the edge, it’s not acceptable.
If it looks unsafe, it won’t be collected.
A flat, level load means we can collect your skip on time, safely and without extra hassle. If you’re ever unsure which size skip you need or how to load it correctly, ask before you start filling – it’s far easier to get it right from the beginning than to argue with an overloaded skip on collection day.
