The guide to
RoRo skips
14–40 cubic yards, delivered by hook-loader. For sites and serious clearances — quoted per job.
| Size | Footprint | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 14–16 yd³ | ~4.0 × 2.3 × 1.6 m | Big strip-outs and shopfits where a 12-yarder is too small but space is tight |
| 20 yd³ | ~6.1 × 2.4 × 1.5 m | The standard site container: construction and demolition waste, bulky commercial loads |
| 25–30 yd³ | ~6.1 × 2.4 × 1.8 m | High-volume light waste: joinery, packaging, retail and warehouse clearances |
| 35–40 yd³ | ~6.1 × 2.4 × 2.4 m | The biggest open container: major clearances and ongoing commercial waste contracts |
List prices run £250–£1,140 ex VAT depending on size and waste type, with disposal either billed by the tonne on top or wrapped into an all-in rate — always quoted per job. Many of the larger firms in our town directories carry RoRos; mention access and what's going in when you call.
RoRo, builder's skip or wait-and-load?
If the job fits in 12 yards or less, a standard skip is cheaper and fits on a driveway — see theskip size guide. If there's nowhere to put a container at all,wait-and-load solves the space problem. For ongoing commercial waste, start with the commercial skip hire guide.
Common questions
What is a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) skip?
An open-topped container from 14 to 40 cubic yards, delivered on a hook-loader lorry that rolls it on and off the truck bed — unlike a standard skip, which is lifted by chains. RoRos are for commercial sites and major clearances, not driveways.
How much does RoRo skip hire cost?
Published 2026 list prices run roughly £250–£490 for 14 yards, £440–£870 for 20 and £465–£1,140 for 40, excluding VAT — RoRo is trade-priced, so the quoted figure usually is. The spread within a size comes from waste type rather than distance. Check the basis before comparing two quotes: some firms price the exchange alone and bill disposal by weight afterwards, others quote all-in with a tonnage allowance. Tell the firm what’s going in and ask which of the two you are being given.
How much space does a RoRo skip need?
A 20-yard RoRo is about 6.1 m long, and the lorry needs roughly 9 m of clear length in front of it plus height clearance to load. That's why RoRos live on sites, yards and car parks rather than domestic driveways.
Can I put heavy waste in a RoRo skip?
Yes — but heavy inert waste (soil, rubble, hardcore) usually goes in a smaller 20-yard (or dedicated inert) container so the lorry can lift it legally, and disposal is charged by the tonne. Mixed heavy loads are where a per-job quote matters most.
Do I need a permit for a RoRo skip?
On private land — a site, yard or car park — no. On a public road you'd need a council permit like any skip, but most councils won't permit containers this size on the highway, so plan for it to sit on your own ground.
Related: skip hire prices · weight limits ·what can go in a skip