I stripped out a bathroom a few years ago that I thought would fill half a midi skip. I was wrong. By the time I had the old bath, toilet, basin, vanity unit, all the tiles off three walls (there were two layers - someone had tiled over the original), the floor tiles, the floor screed, the plasterboard behind the bath panel and a section of rotten timber studwork, I had a full midi skip and a pile of rubble in the garden that needed a second trip.
Bathrooms are deceptively wasteful. The items are small but dense, and tiles in particular are heavy - a few square metres of ceramic tile weighs considerably more than it looks.
Typical bathroom waste volumes
The waste a bathroom refit produces depends on what you are removing. This table gives a rough guide.
| Item removed | Approximate volume |
|---|---|
| Standard bath (acrylic/fibreglass) | 0.4-0.5 m3 |
| Cast iron bath | 0.3 m3 (very heavy) |
| Toilet and cistern | 0.1-0.15 m3 |
| Pedestal basin | 0.05 m3 |
| Vanity unit with basin | 0.2-0.3 m3 |
| Shower enclosure (frame and tray) | 0.3-0.4 m3 |
| Wall tiles (per m2, inc. plasterboard behind) | 0.05-0.08 m3 |
| Floor tiles (per m2) | 0.02-0.03 m3 |
| Plasterboard (one 2400x1200 board) | 0.05 m3 |
A typical 5-6m2 bathroom removing bath, toilet, basin, all tiles and floor covering: roughly 1.8-2.5 m3 total.
Which skip size?
| Scope of work | Typical volume | Recommended skip |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles and floor covering only | 0.5-1.0 m3 | Mini skip (2 yd3) |
| Full bathroom strip - standard size | 1.5-2.5 m3 | Midi skip (4-5 yd3) |
| Bathroom with extensive structural work | 2.5-4.0 m3 | Midi or small builders skip |
| Large bathroom, wet room, or en-suite conversion | 3.0-5.0 m3 | Builders skip (6-8 yd3) |
When in doubt, choose the midi. The cost difference between a mini and a midi is typically £40-70. A second collection if the mini is not enough costs significantly more than that difference, and leaves you with a pile of rubble on site while you wait.
The heavy waste issue
Cast iron baths are the exception to the volume calculation. A single cast iron bath can weigh 150-250 kg. This takes a significant bite out of the weight allowance of a small skip.
Most skip hire companies set a weight limit for the vehicle's road axle loads. For a mini skip, you may have a limit of 1.0-1.5 tonnes total. A cast iron bath plus a toilet and some rubble can hit that limit with the skip only partially full.
If you have a cast iron bath, discuss this with your skip hire company before booking. Some will handle it without issue; others will want to know it is going in and may charge a surcharge.
What about plasterboard?
Following changes in UK waste regulations, many skip hire companies now restrict or prohibit plasterboard in mixed-waste skips. Gypsum waste must not be landfilled with biodegradable waste because it produces hydrogen sulphide gas.
Check before booking. If your bathroom renovation involves significant plasterboard removal - behind the bath panel, on stud walls, ceiling boards - you may need a dedicated plasterboard skip or to bag it separately for a recycling centre.
Permits and access
If the skip needs to go on the road outside your house rather than on your driveway, you need a skip permit from your local council. The skip hire company usually arranges this, but confirm and factor in the cost and any lead time.
Midi skips are about 2.5m long - make sure there is adequate clear space on the road or driveway. They need a relatively flat surface to sit on.
My tips for bathroom skip hire
Order the skip before you start demolition. Nothing is more frustrating than a stripped bathroom with nowhere to put the debris. Book at least a few days in advance, particularly at weekends in summer when skips are in demand.
Break up the bath before it goes in. An acrylic or fibreglass bath is mostly air space. Breaking it up with a bolster and lump hammer takes 10 minutes and halves the space it takes in the skip, potentially letting you get away with a smaller size. Do not do this with cast iron unless you enjoy very heavy work.
Stack tiles flat. Loose broken tiles are the least efficient way to fill a skip. Stack them flat and you can fit significantly more per cubic metre. Box them in if possible.
Put heavy items in first. Rubble, tiles and sanitaryware go in first to form a dense base. Lighter bulky items - bath panels, plasterboard, vanity units - go on top.
Use the Skip Size Calculator to confirm the right skip for your bathroom project.