A loft renovation is about breathing new life into dark, dusty storage space and changing it into a calm bedroom, a quiet office or somewhere simply to escape the noise of the rest of the house. It’s an exciting project but it’s certainly a considerable process, part of which includes creating far more waste than many homeowners expect.
From building materials to years’ worth of stored belongings; rubbish can pile up quickly. That’s why choosing to hire a skip for your loft renovation is such an important part of planning everything properly. You may be wondering: what size skip should I hire for a loft renovation? Selecting the right skip size helps to keep the work organised, safe and moving forward without incurring additional problems.
At Morley Skips, we’ve supported countless loft renovations across Essex and Suffolk and we know that the right skip can make all the difference. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together this handy guide which includes everything that you need to know about renovating your loft.
A loft often acts as a ‘deal with it later’ space for items that don’t quite have a home elsewhere. Boxes, old furniture, broken decorations and unused kids’ toys tend to accumulate quietly over time. Because of this, and unlike other renovations, loft waste is often generated quickly at the start of the project, making early access to a skip especially useful. Without one, waste can spill into hallways, gardens or driveways and make the space feel chaotic before real progress has even begun.
Once work begins, the construction waste will also start piling up, such as:

Choosing the correct skip size isn’t just about cost, it’s about workflow. A skip that’s too small can interrupt day-to-day activities as you’re more likely to run out of space too quickly, which will in turn slow progress. At Morley Skips we offer a wide range of skip sizes and our friendly team are experts in matching customers with the perfect one for their loft renovation.
Here are the sizes that we recommend to customers the most:
A 4-yard skip is suitable for smaller loft projects or early-stage clear-outs. If you’re mainly removing stored items, light timber and small amounts of insulation, this size can be enough. It’s also a good option if access is limited or if you want skip that fits onto your driveway.
A 6 yard skip is one of our most popular options, primarily due to its capacity but also because it’s the largest size that can be placed on a public road. It’s big enough to take a mix of stored clutter and renovation waste, totalling approximately 50-60 bin bags of rubbish.
If your loft renovation involves structural changes, reinforced flooring or a full ceiling replacement, an 8 yard skip is usually the safest choice. It allows you to remove heavier materials without worrying about running out of space too soon. It’s unlikely that your waste will consist solely of rubble and hardcore but it’s worth noting that this is the largest sized skip that can be used solely for that purpose.
For larger properties or renovations that extend beyond the loft itself, a 10, 12 or 14 yard skip may be more suitable. These larger skips are well suited to light but bulky materials and have capacity for up to 100 bin bags.
One of the biggest advantages of hiring a skip during a loft renovation is timing. Having a skip on-site from the outset allows waste to be dealt with immediately rather than you trying to live around it and continually moving it from place to place. At Morley Skips we love loft renovations, they can truly bring a more open feel to a home, however we understand that the disruption can feel intrusive, particularly when work is happening above living spaces. A skip can help you to retain some normality by offering a single disposal point outdoors; meaning that your house can still feel like a home.
Because loft work often involves scaffolding for roof access, your driveway might not be as accessible as usual and makes planning for placement of the skip especially important.
Before delivery, it’s worth considering whether you have:
A loft renovation often feels like a turning point within a home; creating something new from something old. At Morley Skips we believe waste management should reflect that same forward-thinking mindset. All waste collected from our skips is taken to our waste transfer station, where materials are sorted and processed. Wherever possible, recyclable materials are then recovered and reused, ultimately reducing the amount sent to landfill. This means that your renovation doesn’t just improve your living space but is handled in a way that supports our planet.
It’s not uncommon for loft renovations to evolve as work progresses. What starts as a simple conversion can uncover additional materials or stored items that need removing. Our standard hire period is 14 days (which works well for most loft projects) but if your renovation takes longer, extensions and skip exchanges can be easily arranged. Similarly, if you finish earlier than expected (lovely when this happens!) we will try and collect asap. We know that renovations are an ever-changing process and our flexible services are designed to make sure that your renovation isn’t stalled by logistics.
With over 25 years’ experience running a family business, the Morley Skips team understands the realities of renovation projects; most of them we’ve even been through ourselves. Because of this, we offer straightforward, unbiased advice, reliable delivery and flexible hire options to suit projects of all sizes.
Whether you’re converting a small loft into a more streamlined storage area or creating a major new living space, we’re here to support your project from start to finish. To find out more, simply give us a call on 01621 815 287 or book your skip online here.