Skip Hire Guide
What Size Skip Do I Need for a House Clearance?
Last updated: June 2026
A house clearance is one of the biggest waste disposal challenges a homeowner faces — whether you're decluttering before a sale, clearing a loved one's estate, or having a full clear-out before moving. For most house clearances, an 8 yard skip is the recommended starting point, with a 12 yard skip needed for larger properties or full estate clearances.
Recommended
8
Yard Skip
70-90 bin bags
Quick Answer
For a standard house clearance (2–3 bed house), hire an 8 yard skip (holds 70–80 bin bags). Larger properties (4+ bed) or full estate clearances need a 12 yard skip. For a single room or loft clearance, a 4–6 yard skip is sufficient.
easySkip arranges house clearance skip hire in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and 1,000+ UK postcodes — same reliable service, same transparent pricing.
What Types of Waste Does a House Clearance Generate?
A house clearance generates a much wider variety of waste than a typical renovation project. From bulky furniture and white goods to loft contents and garden equipment, knowing what you'll be clearing out helps you choose the right skip size from the start.
Furniture & Bulky Items
Sofas, beds, wardrobes, dining tables, mattresses and shelving units make up the bulk of most house clearances. Large items should be broken down where possible before loading to maximise skip space.
White Goods & Appliances
Washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and fridges are common in house clearances. Note that fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and cannot go in a standard skip — these require separate collection.
Carpets & Flooring
Old carpets, underlay and vinyl flooring can go in a standard skip. Roll carpets tightly before loading to save space.
Clothing, Bedding & Textiles
Damaged or contaminated clothing, bedding and curtains can go in the skip. If items are in good condition, consider donating to a local charity before skipping.
Loft & Garage Contents
Old boxes, sports equipment, tools, toys and general accumulated clutter from lofts and garages are among the most common house clearance waste streams.
Garden Furniture & Equipment
Old garden furniture, pots, planters and non-electrical garden equipment can go in a standard skip as part of a house clearance.
General Household Clutter
Books, toys, kitchenware, broken electronics packaging and miscellaneous household items make up the remainder of most house clearance loads.
Recommended Skip Size for a House Clearance
Choose the right skip size for your house clearance below. The size you need depends on your property size and how much is being cleared — from a single room or loft all the way through to a full estate clearance.
6Yard Skip
Best for partial clearances — clearing one or two rooms, a loft, or a garage.
Holds ~55–65 bin bags.
8Yard Skip
The most popular choice for standard 2–3 bed house clearances. Large enough for furniture, bulky items and general household contents.
Holds ~70–80 bin bags.
Recommended
Book 8 Yard →12Yard Skip
Best for larger properties (4+ bedrooms) or full estate clearances where significant furniture, white goods and general household contents need to go.
Holds ~110–120 bin bags.
14Yard Skip
**For very large properties or commercial clearances. Often used where extensive renovation waste is also present.
**
Can hold ~140–180 bin bags.
Key Considerations for House Clearance Skip Hire
Before your skip is delivered, a few practical considerations will help the hire go smoothly and keep your house clearance on track.
Access and Positioning
House clearance skips are typically larger than renovation skips — an 8 or 12 yard skip needs adequate space on the driveway or hardstanding. Make sure there is clear vehicle access for delivery, as easySkip's trucks require a minimum width of around 3 metres. Check for overhead cables or low branches before confirming placement.
Permits and Road Placement
If the skip cannot fit on private property, it can be placed on the public road with a council skip permit. easySkip can advise on permit requirements and costs when you book. Please note: permit fees are non-refundable if your booking is cancelled.
Duty of Care
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, you have a legal Duty of Care to ensure your household waste is disposed of correctly. Always use a licensed waste carrier and retain your Waste Transfer Note as proof of correct disposal. Replacement Waste Transfer Notes are available at £15 + VAT. This is particularly important for estate clearances where large volumes of waste are involved.
POPs — Upholstered Furniture
Sofas, armchairs and upholstered seating may contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under UK Environment Agency regulations. These items must not be placed in a general skip without prior declaration. Declare any upholstered seating at booking so the correct disposal route can be arranged. Undeclared POPs items incur a minimum surcharge of £100 + VAT per item.
Neighbour Consideration
A house clearance skip is often larger and on site for longer than a typical renovation skip. If the skip will affect a shared access, pavement or narrow road, let your neighbours know in advance and ensure road-placed skips have the required safety lights and cones fitted by easySkip as standard.
Timing Your Clearance
For estate clearances, coordinate your skip delivery with probate timelines and property handover dates. For moving house clearances, book your skip to arrive on the day you start clearing — not weeks in advance — to avoid unnecessary hire days.
How Long Can I Keep the Skip?
easySkip's house clearance skip hire is designed to give you enough time to work through the property at your own pace, whether you're clearing over a weekend or managing a full estate clearance across several days.
Standard Hire Period
Your hire period will be confirmed in your booking confirmation email and is designed to give you enough time to work through the property at your own pace. Estate clearances and larger properties may need the full hire period, particularly where items need to be sorted, donated or sold before the remainder goes in the skip.
Extended Hire & Swap-Outs
If your clearance takes longer than expected — common with full estate clearances involving probate or property handover delays — contact easySkip to extend your hire. Extensions are subject to availability and are charged from £15 + VAT per day. Swap-out skips can also be arranged if the property generates more waste than the first skip can hold.
Flexible Collection
Once your skip is full and you are ready, book your collection online or by phone. There is no need to wait for the end of your hire period, so you can collect early and free up the driveway as soon as the clearance is complete.
Fit-to-Clearance Planning
For moving house clearances, book your skip to arrive on the day you start sorting — not weeks before completion. For estate clearances, coordinate delivery with your solicitor's timeline and property access dates to avoid paying for unused hire days.
Restricted Waste Streams in House Clearances
A standard house clearance skip accepts most general household waste, but certain materials are restricted by UK law and cannot be mixed with your regular skip load. These items require separate disposal routes — declare them at booking to avoid surcharges or rejected loads.
POPs — Upholstered Seating
Sofas, armchairs and upholstered seating may contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under UK Environment Agency regulations. These cannot be placed in a general skip without prior declaration. Declare these items at booking so the correct disposal route can be arranged. Undeclared POPs items incur a minimum surcharge of £100 + VAT per item.
Fridges & Freezers
Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases which are controlled under UK environmental regulations. These must not go in a standard skip and require separate collection via a licensed WEEE facility or your local council.
Electrical Appliances (WEEE)
Washing machines, tumble dryers, televisions, computers and microwaves cannot be placed in a standard skip. These must be recycled separately via your local council or a licensed WEEE facility.
Hazardous Household Chemicals
Old paint tins, solvents and cleaning chemicals cannot be placed in a standard skip. Dispose of these via your local household hazardous waste collection point.
Gas Appliances
Old gas cookers and boilers must be disconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer before removal and cannot go in a standard skip.
What Can & Can't Go in Your House Clearance Skip
Important — Pre-Notification Required for Some Waste Types
POPs upholstered seating (sofas, armchairs, upholstered chairs), fridges and freezers, WEEE electrical appliances, and hazardous household chemicals are not accepted in a standard house clearance skip. If your clearance generates these materials, you must tell easySkip at the point of booking so the waste type can be amended and the correct disposal route arranged. Under our terms and conditions, loading undeclared restricted items into a standard skip incurs a minimum surcharge of £100 + VAT (and from £250 + VAT for hazardous waste), and the load may be rejected on collection.
✓ Can Put In
- Furniture — beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs (non-upholstered)
- Carpets and rugs
- Bedding, curtains and soft furnishings
- Books, magazines and general paper waste
- Clothing (bagged)
- Kitchenware — pots, pans, crockery
- Garden furniture and non-electrical garden equipment
- Non-electrical toys and sporting equipment
- Mirrors (wrapped safely)
- Bicycles (uncheck for WEEE — manual bikes are fine)
✕ Can't Put In
- White goods — fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers (WEEE)
- TVs and monitors
- Electrical items of any kind
- Mattresses (specialist disposal required)
- Hazardous chemicals — paint, solvents, bleach
- Asbestos
- Gas canisters or cylinders
- Batteries
- Tyres
- Clinical or medical waste
- POPs upholstered seating — sofas, armchairs (must be declared at booking)