Hiring a skip in Ireland usually costs €180 to €280 for a mini skip, €280 to €450 for a standard or builder's skip and €450 to €650 for a large 12 to 14 yard skip, as an aggregate Irish market estimate including VAT, delivery, collection and disposal. A one-tonne skip bag is the cheapest option at around €70 to €150, while a 20 yard skip for a full house clearance can cost €800 to €1,000. Dublin prices tend to sit at the top of these ranges, and a council permit is needed if the skip goes on a road with parking restrictions. Households who would rather have the rubbish taken away for them can post the job under rubbish removal and compare quotes from collectors.
Skip hire prices at a glance
The figures below are an aggregate Irish market estimate, VAT included, for a standard hire period of two to five days.
| Skip size | Roughly holds | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Skip bag, about 1 tonne | 10–15 bin bags | €70–€150 |
| Mini skip, 2–4 yards | 25–40 bin bags | €180–€280 |
| Midi or standard skip, 5–6 yards | 45–55 bin bags | €280–€380 |
| Builder's skip, 8 yards | 60–80 bin bags | €320–€450 |
| Maxi skip, 12–14 yards | 90–110 bin bags | €450–€650 |
| Large skip, 20 yards | 150–170 bin bags | €800–€1,000 |
| Extra hire days | — | €10–€25 per day |
As a real example of current pricing, one Dublin skip company lists a 4 yard mini skip at €245, a 6 yard skip at €349, a 14 yard skip at €579 and a 20 yard skip at €930, including VAT, delivery, collection and disposal (Greyhound). Prices outside Dublin are often a little lower, but rural deliveries can add a distance charge.
A worked example: clearing out a garage and garden shed in a three-bed semi. A 6 yard skip at about €280–€380, two extra days at €20–€50, and a separate charge of €20–€40 for an old mattress brings the total to roughly €320–€470. If the skip has to sit on a street with parking restrictions in Dublin city for three days, the council permit adds about €81.
Which skip size do you need?
- Skip bag: a bathroom strip-out, a small garden tidy-up or a few bulky items.
- Mini skip: a single room clear-out, a small kitchen refit or garden waste from a weekend's work.
- Midi or builder's skip: the most common choice for home renovations, garage clearances and heavy waste such as rubble and soil.
- Maxi skip: a large clear-out, a full kitchen or bathroom renovation, or a house move with a lot left behind.
- Large skip: a whole-house clearance or bulky but light waste. Heavy waste such as soil and rubble is usually not allowed in the largest skips because of the weight.
Hiring one size up is usually cheaper than paying for a second skip, but an overfilled skip will not be collected until the load is level with the sides.
Do you need a skip permit?
A skip on a driveway or other private ground does not need a council permit. A skip on a public road may. In Dublin, Dublin City Council says a permit is needed only where parking restrictions apply, such as double yellow lines, paid parking or clearways. The fee is €27 per day, or part of a day, for each 5 metres of road or footpath used, and applications must be made seven working days before the skip is delivered. On a road without parking restrictions no permit is needed, as long as the skip is placed safely and at least 3 metres of access is left for traffic.
Other councils have their own skip bye-laws and fees, so the skip company or the local council can confirm the rules before booking. Many skip companies will arrange the permit and add the fee to the invoice.
What cannot go in a skip
Most skip companies will not accept the following, or charge extra to take them:
- asbestos, which needs a licensed specialist;
- paint, solvents, oils, chemicals and gas cylinders;
- batteries, fridges, freezers, televisions and other electrical items;
- tyres and mattresses, which are usually allowed for a surcharge;
- plasterboard, which often has to be kept separate;
- clinical or medical waste.
Electrical items can usually be dropped off for free at a retailer or a civic amenity site, and paint and chemicals go to a household hazardous waste collection. Asking the skip company for its list of banned items and surcharges before filling the skip avoids extra charges at collection.
