Service guides
Skip hire vs grab lorry vs man and van: which do you need?
Checked against Environment Agency and gov.uk guidance.
In short
- Skip hire suits multi day jobs where you load at your own pace.
- A grab lorry is best for heavy soil, rubble and hardcore.
- Man and van is best for smaller loads where you do not want to lift.
Three services cover most jobs: skip hire, grab lorry hire, and man and van clearance. They suit different jobs, and picking the right one saves both money and hassle.
Skip hire
Best when you are working over several days and want to fill the skip at your own pace. You load it yourself, and it suits renovations, garden projects and house clear outs. Remember the permit if it goes on the road.
Grab lorry hire
Best for heavy bulk waste like soil, rubble and hardcore. A grab lorry reaches over walls and fences with its arm, loads in minutes, and takes far more than a skip. It is the go to for muck away on building and groundwork jobs.
Man and van clearance
Best when you have a smaller load and do not want to lift it. The team does the loading and you only pay for the space your waste fills, which often beats a skip for one off clearances and single rooms.
| Job | Best option |
|---|---|
| Renovation over a week | Skip hire |
| Soil and rubble removal | Grab lorry |
| A few items, no lifting | Man and van |
| Full house clearance | Man and van or skip |
Common questions
Is a grab lorry cheaper than a skip for soil?
Often yes for large amounts. A grab lorry takes far more than a skip in one go and loads in minutes, so for heavy soil and rubble it usually works out better value.
Do I load a man and van myself?
No. The team does the loading for you, which is part of why people choose it for awkward or heavy single items.