I stripped out a kitchen I estimated would fill roughly half a midi skip. Old MDF carcasses, a couple of lengths of laminate worktop, some floor tiles. I booked a midi skip. When the skip arrived and I started loading it, the worktop sections alone took up a significant chunk of space - they are large, flat and awkward, and they do not pack down. By the time I had added the units, tiles and the old vinyl flooring (which I had forgotten to factor in), I had a full skip and three bags of debris sitting in the garden.
Kitchen skips consistently run bigger than people estimate. Flat pack units compress better than old solid carcasses, but worktops and flooring take up far more volume than their weight suggests.
Kitchen refit waste: what comes out
| Item | Approximate volume |
|---|---|
| Standard base unit (600mm) | 0.05-0.08 m3 |
| Standard wall unit | 0.04-0.06 m3 |
| 3m worktop section (25mm) | 0.06-0.10 m3 |
| Old vinyl flooring (10m2) | 0.08-0.15 m3 |
| Old ceramic tiles + adhesive (10m2) | 0.15-0.25 m3 |
| Old plaster (if walls being re-plastered, 15m2) | 0.20-0.35 m3 |
| Packaging (new appliances, units) | 0.20-0.40 m3 |
| Pipework offcuts, fixings, sundries | 0.10-0.20 m3 |
Typical total volumes
| Kitchen type | Estimated waste volume | Recommended skip |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen, units only, vinyl floor | 2.5-3.5 m3 | Midi (3.4 m3) |
| Standard kitchen (12 linear m), vinyl floor | 3.5-5.0 m3 | Midi to builders |
| Standard kitchen with tiled floor | 4.5-6.0 m3 | Builders (5.35 m3) |
| Large kitchen, tiles, replastering | 6.0-8.0 m3 | Builders to maxi |
| Full kitchen extension refit | 7.0-10.0+ m3 | Maxi (8.41 m3) or 2 loads |
These figures assume the old kitchen is being completely removed (not reused or sold).
Items that need separate disposal
Kitchen refits often involve items you cannot put in a standard skip:
WEEE items (cannot go in skip):
- Fridge-freezers
- Dishwashers
- Ovens and hobs (electric or gas)
- Extractor fans
Most councils offer WEEE collection, and retailers are required to take back equivalent items when delivering new appliances.
Asbestos (cannot go in skip): Pre-1985 Artex ceilings or floor tiles may contain asbestos. If in doubt, have them tested before removing. Asbestos removal requires a licensed contractor.
Fluorescent tubes: Under-cabinet fluorescent lights cannot go in a general skip. Recycle at a household waste centre.
Getting more into the skip
Kitchen waste packs badly because of large flat sheets (worktops, cabinet sides, doors). To maximise skip use:
- Break up carcasses. An MDF carcass broken into flat sheets takes half the space of an assembled box.
- Cut worktops. A 3m worktop cut into sections packs into corners and gaps.
- Lift out flat packaging. Cardboard boxes from new appliances should be flattened and stacked at the sides of the skip.
- Heavy materials at the bottom. Tiles, mortar-backed materials at the base; lighter items (packaging, vinyl) fill the gaps.
- Do not overfill. Skips must not be filled above the top edge - it is a legal requirement and the skip company will charge an overfill surcharge.
My tips for kitchen refit skip hire
Book the skip to arrive the day before demolition. Nothing slows a strip-out faster than waiting for somewhere to put debris. Have the skip on the drive the day before you start.
Plan your prohibited items route in advance. Know who is collecting the fridge before you disconnect it. If the council WEEE collection has a wait, book it early - or ask the appliance retailer to take it when they deliver the new one.
A skip on the drive beats a skip on the road. Avoid the road permit cost and hassle by clearing enough space on the drive. Even a double-width drive with a car moved can usually accommodate a midi skip.
Weigh up a skip vs a man-with-van. For a kitchen-only refit with no heavy materials and no major structural work, a small skip hire may be competitive with two trips from a clearance service. Get quotes for both.
Use the Skip Size Calculator to get a personalised recommendation based on your specific project.