How many skips do you need for an extension?

A typical extension generates around 3 to 5 skips across the whole project: one at the start for demolition and clearance, one or two during the build, and one at the end for final clearance. The waste does not all arrive at once, so they are spread over months.

What size skip is best for a domestic extension?

A 6-yard builder's skip is the standard choice for most extensions because it fits on a typical driveway and holds roughly 50 to 60 bin bags. An 8-yard skip holds more but is heavier and can crack block paving or tarmac that was not built for the weight.

Do I need a permit to put a skip on the road?

A skip on your own driveway or garden needs no permit, but one placed on the public road or pavement does, and the council charges a weekly fee for it. The skip hire company usually applies for the permit, so ask whether the fee is included or added on top.

Is a grab lorry cheaper than a skip for an extension?

A grab lorry is usually cheaper than a skip for heavy waste such as soil and rubble, because it loads quickly and avoids the weight limits that make heavy skips problematic. Skips remain better for mixed and bulky waste that builds up over time.

What do I need to set up on site before the builder arrives?

Before work starts you agree skip placement, access routes, material storage, and waste responsibility with your builder, and protect the parts of your home and garden that the work will pass through. Getting this settled early prevents damage, neighbour disputes, and unbudgeted costs.

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Phase 2 · Pre-Construction · Task 06 of 12

Skip Hire and Site Setup for Extensions

How many skips you need for an extension, what they cost, why grab lorries are better for heavy waste, and how to set up your site before the builder arrives.

12 min read£600-1,600 typicalUpdated 2026Premium

Infographic showing a residential property site layout with skip placement, material storage area, access route, and protected zones marked during extension construction

Prerequisites

Complete these first

Your garden is about to stop being a garden. For the duration of your build, it's a building site: mud, rubble, noise, deliveries, and a skip that will become the most important object on your property. Getting the site set up properly before work starts prevents damage to your home, arguments with neighbours, and costs you didn't budget for.

Most of this is straightforward. But there are a handful of decisions that catch people out, and some alternatives to the standard skip that can save you serious money on heavy waste.

Do this first

Your builder should be appointed and your contract signed before you start organising site setup. Several of these decisions (skip placement, access routes, material storage, waste responsibility) need to be agreed with your builder, not decided unilaterally. If your extension footprint covers utility meters, make sure you've read utility meter relocation first.

What this guide covers

01Skips: Sizes, Costs, and How Many You'll Need
02Grab Lorries: The Better Option for Heavy Waste
03Site Clearance Before Building Starts
04Access, Storage, and Logistics
05Protecting Your Property
06Waste Responsibility: Yours or the Builder's?
07Living in a Construction Zone
08Site Security
09The Day-One Checklist

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