Skip hire alternatives
Grab vs skip
Big pile of loose soil or rubble: grab. Mixed waste over days or weeks: skip.One grab load carries what three or four skip exchanges would.
Head to head
| Grab lorry | Skip hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £170–£420 per load (£200–£300 common) | £150–£300 for a 6–8 yd builder’s skip |
| Capacity per unit | ~14–16 yd³ / up to ~8 tonnes per load | 6–8 yd³ / up to ~8 tonnes |
| Loading | The lorry loads itself (hydraulic grab arm) | You load it by hand or machine |
| Permit needed | No — the lorry doesn’t stay on the road | Only if the skip sits on a public road |
| Timescale | Cleared in one visit, often same/next day | Skip sits on site 1–2 weeks |
| Waste type | Loose soil, rubble, hardcore, muck-away | Mixed general and inert waste |
| Access needed | Room for an 8-wheel lorry + reach for the arm | Space for a skip and delivery lorry |
Typical UK figures including VAT, reviewed July 2026. Regional skip prices:UK price index.
The muck-away maths
Grab lorries win on density. Soil and rubble weigh roughly 1.2–1.5 tonnes per cubic yard, so an 8-yard skip hits its weight limit long before it's full of muck — you're paying for volume you legally can't use. A grab takes up to ~8 tonnes in one lift, loads itself, and needs no permit. That's why groundworkers price muck-away by the grab load, not the skip.
Where the skip still wins
Grabs need the waste loose, piled, and reachable by a big lorry's arm. If your waste is mixed (wood, plaster, packaging), accumulates over the course of a job, or sits behind a gate the arm can't reach over, a skip is the practical answer — and for anything under a few tonnes it's the cheaper one too. Wait-and-load skips split the difference for urgent jobs: see wait-and-load skip hire.
Common questions
Is grab hire cheaper than a skip?
For volume, yes. One grab load (£170–£420) holds roughly what three 8-yard skips (£450–£900 total) would, so for big piles of soil or rubble the grab is much cheaper per tonne. For smaller amounts, or waste that accumulates over days, a single right-sized skip costs less.
What does a grab lorry cost in the UK?
Typically £170–£420 per load in 2026, with most domestic jobs around £200–£300. Watch for waiting-time fees (£25–£50/hour) if the site isn’t ready when the lorry arrives.
Do I need a permit for a grab lorry?
No. The lorry loads and leaves rather than occupying the road, so no council skip permit is needed — one reason grabs suit urgent muck-away jobs. If the material sits on the public highway before collection, other rules can apply, so keep the pile on your land.
Grab or skip for a garden landscaping job?
If the waste is mostly soil or hardcore in one accessible pile, get a grab — it clears in minutes and takes the weight. If the job produces mixed waste gradually (turf one day, fence panels the next), a skip on the drive for a week fits how the work actually happens.
Related: hippo bag vs skip ·man & van vs skip ·commercial & RoRo skips ·find local firms — many larger skip companies also run grab lorries.