Grab Hire vs Skip Hire
Which one's right for your job? A plain comparison.
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Which one's right for your job? A plain comparison.
If you've got more than two skip-loads' worth of material (soil, rubble, hardcore, anything that comes from a building site), grab hire is almost always cheaper, faster and less hassle than skip hire. One grab lorry takes 16 tonnes in a single trip, parks for 20–40 minutes, doesn't need a council permit, and you don't have to load it yourself.
Skip hire wins for small jobs you're filling slowly: a kitchen rip-out, a weekend of garden clearance, a loft conversion that's going to drag on. If you can't have all the material ready at once, a skip lets you fill it over a couple of weeks.
| Grab Hire | Skip Hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity per visit | 16 tonnes (≈ two 8-yard skips) | 4, 6, 8 or 12 yards typical |
| Time on site | 20–40 minutes | 1–14 days |
| Loading | Hydraulic crane loads it for you | You fill it manually |
| Council permit needed? | No (the lorry doesn't stay) | Yes, if on public highway (~£30–£60) |
| Tight access? | Crane reaches over walls and fences | Skip needs ground-level access |
| Weight limit | 16 tonnes regardless of bulk | Skip "fill line": overweight loads refused |
| Best for | Excavations, demolition, garden strip-outs, large clearances | Slow-fill jobs, kitchens, single-room renovations |
| Pricing model | Charged by the load (from £150) | Fixed fee per skip plus permit |
House extension foundations in Crawley. Roughly 14 tonnes of clay coming out of a 4-metre footprint dig. One grab lorry, one trip, in and out before lunch. A skip would have meant 2× 8-yard skips plus permits, plus you or the builder loading it.
Garden landscaping in Hove. Removing a 30 m² concrete patio and bringing in 8 tonnes of Type 1 sub-base. Single load swap with the grab lorry: old patio out, fresh aggregate in, on the same visit.
Kitchen rip-out in Brighton. Old units, tiles, plasterboard, cabinets, a bit of timber. Bulky but light. Maybe 1.5 tonnes total, gradually pulled apart over a weekend. Cleanest fit for a 6-yard skip on the drive.
For jobs of two skip-loads or more, almost always yes. One grab lorry load (16 tonnes) is roughly equivalent to two 8-yard skips, but you're only paying for one trip. Add the cost of a council permit to the skip and the gap widens further.
For a single 4-yard skip's worth of material or less, skip hire is usually cheaper because the fixed cost of bringing the grab lorry out doesn't get amortised over enough material.
Most Sussex jobs can be fitted in within a few days. Same-day is sometimes possible if Ady has a gap in the schedule. Phone is the fastest way to find out. Leave a message if he's driving and he'll call back.
Mostly yes. Grab lorries handle soil, clay, hardcore, broken concrete, brick rubble, chalk, flint, garden waste and dung. They can't take hazardous waste, asbestos, plasterboard, tyres, fridges or chemically-contaminated material. Skips can sometimes take a wider mix of light items but follow the same restrictions on hazardous waste.
Not always. As long as the material is already piled in an accessible spot and Ady can reach it with the crane (over a wall, through a gate, on a driveway), he can crack on without you being there. Worth a quick chat first to confirm access.
Ring Ady and describe the job. He'll tell you straight away whether grab hire makes sense, or whether you'd be better off with a skip from someone else. He's not interested in selling you the wrong thing. Most of his work is repeat customers and word of mouth, and that only happens if he's honest.