Skip hire vs grab hire vs man and van: which is best?

Skips are not the only way to clear waste. Depending on what you are getting rid of and how much help you want, grab hire or a man-and-van service might suit you better. Here is how the three compare.

Skip hire

You hire the skip, it is dropped at your property, and you load it at your own pace before it is collected.

• Best for: renovations and projects that run over days or weeks, where you want to load gradually.
• Watch out for: you do the lifting, and you may need a permit if it goes on the road.

Grab hire

A grab lorry with a hydraulic arm scoops waste straight from your site, often from a pile on the driveway or verge.

• Best for: large volumes of heavy muck, soil and rubble, cleared quickly without a permit.
• Watch out for: the lorry needs room to park and reach the waste, and it suits heavy materials more than mixed household clutter.

Man and van clearance

A team arrives, loads everything for you, and takes it away in one visit.

• Best for: one-off clearances and bulky items when you do not want to lift anything yourself.
• Watch out for: you are paying for labour as well as disposal, so it can cost more per load.

Quick comparison

• Want to load at your own pace? Skip hire.
• Lots of heavy soil or rubble in one go? Grab hire.
• Don't want to lift a thing? Man and van.

The bottom line

For most home and renovation jobs, a skip is the flexible, cost-effective choice. Compare skip sizes to find the right fit, or get a free quote and let local providers price your job.