A yellow skip filled with waste on a residential street in Edinburgh

Skip hire / Edinburgh

The 5 best skip hire companies in Edinburgh

Most of the skip firms serving Edinburgh work from yards just outside the city, especially around Loanhead in Midlothian. The top two stand out for their own facilities and, in Enviroworx's case, published prices.

  • Checked 3 November 2026
  • 9 firms shortlisted
  • No paid placements

Edinburgh skip hire / at a glance

PosCompanyOur scoreGoogle
1Midlothian Skip HireLoanhead, Midlothian
8.6
4.8 (203)
2EnviroworxLoanhead, Midlothian
7.9
5.0 (24)
3M McKenzie Skip HireOld Pentland, Loanhead
7.5
4.8 (40)
4Buchanan Skip HireLivingston, West Lothian
7.0
4.7 (41)
5Hamilton Waste & RecyclingEdinburgh
6.5
4.5 (42)

Our score is out of 10. Google ratings and review counts as at 3 November 2026.

Midlothian Skip Hire

Loanhead, Midlothian

Our score 8.6 / 104.8 from 203 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 1

The best reviewed skip firm serving Edinburgh, with 4.8 from more than 200 Google reviews, and its own licensed waste transfer station at Eldin Industrial Estate in Loanhead, where you can also tip waste yourself.

Service
Skip hire, cage load collections, on-site tipping
Recycling
Own licensed waste transfer station
Covers
Edinburgh and the Lothians
Worth knowingPrices are not published online.
Visit website

Enviroworx

Loanhead, Midlothian

Our score 7.9 / 105.0 from 24 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 2

A family-run firm at Ramsay Colliery in Loanhead with the most transparent pricing in Edinburgh, including delivery and collection. It also offers wait and load and roll on roll off.

Skip sizes
2 to 16 yard (£150 to £375 plus VAT), plus 20 and 40 yard roll on roll off
Recycling
Claims 98% of waste is recycled
Credentials
States it is SEPA licensed
Extras
Same day often available, wait and load, permits arranged
Covers
Edinburgh (EH1 to EH17) and the Lothians
Worth knowingOnly 24 Google reviews so far.
Visit website

M McKenzie Skip Hire

Old Pentland, Loanhead

Our score 7.5 / 104.8 from 40 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 3

A family business that has worked from the Old Pentland Sawmill since entering the timber trade in 1948, and has recycled wood on site since the 1970s. Reviews are strong at 4.8.

Service
Domestic and commercial skip hire
Recycling
Wood recycling on its own site
Covers
Edinburgh and Midlothian
Worth knowingOnly 40 Google reviews, and limited detail online.
Visit website

Buchanan Skip Hire

Livingston, West Lothian

Our score 7.0 / 104.7 from 41 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 4

Trading as a limited company since 2002 from Deans Industrial Estate in Livingston, Buchanan scores 4.7 and customers mention careful placement on tight driveways.

Service
Domestic and trade skip hire
Covers
West Lothian and west Edinburgh
Worth knowingIts Livingston base suits west Edinburgh best.

Website not listed. Search the company name to find contact details.

Hamilton Waste & Recycling

Edinburgh

Our score 6.5 / 104.5 from 42 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 5

An Edinburgh waste and recycling firm with more than 15 years of trading and 4.5 from 42 Google reviews.

Service
Skip hire and waste recycling
Covers
Edinburgh
Worth knowingWe could find little detail on its sizes, prices or licensing, so ask before you book.

Website not listed. Search the company name to find contact details.

Skip permits in Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council. No fee is published on the council's road occupation page.

Skips on a public road need a road occupation permit. The application pack is emailed to roadpermits@edinburgh.gov.uk, and you pay online once you have a reference. Most skip firms will handle this for you.

A skip on your own drive or private land does not need a permit. Read the council's skip permit guidance.

Before you book a skip in Edinburgh

Enviroworx publishes prices from £150 plus VAT for a 2 yard skip to £375 plus VAT for 16 yard, including delivery and collection.

  • Ask for the firm's waste carrier number and check it on the SEPA public register.
  • Confirm the price includes VAT, delivery, collection, tipping and the permit.
  • Ask what cannot go in the skip and what extra items such as mattresses or tyres cost.
  • Check the hire period and the charge for keeping the skip longer.
  • Ask for a waste transfer note, which shows where your waste is going.
  • Do not overfill the skip. Waste above the sides can lead to a refused collection or extra charges.

How we ranked / Edinburgh

We started with every business appearing in Google's local results for skip hire in Edinburgh, then checked each one's website, Companies House record, published licence and permit numbers, council approved operator lists and review platforms. We removed booking sites and brokers that pass your order to another firm, companies that are dissolved or facing strike off, and firms we could not confirm actually supply skips. We may also leave out any company at our editorial discretion.

Each remaining firm was scored out of 10 using the same weighting in every city:

35%Customer reviewsRating and volume on Google, plus Trustpilot, Checkatrade and others where available
25%Operator and licensingOwn skips, lorries and yard; published waste carrier and site permit numbers
15%RecyclingOwn sorting facility and stated recycling or landfill diversion
15%Service and transparencySize range, wait and load, published prices, clear terms
10%Track recordYears trading, company records and accreditations

Other Edinburgh firms we assessed

Recycling rates are the companies' own claims. Licence and permit numbers are as published by each company; we have not checked every one against the regulator's register. Think we have missed a firm or got something wrong? Email hello@bestwastecompanies.co.uk.

Skip hire in Edinburgh / FAQs

Do I need a permit for a skip in Edinburgh?

Only if the skip goes on a public road or pavement. No fee is published on the council's road occupation page. Skips on a public road need a road occupation permit. The application pack is emailed to roadpermits@edinburgh.gov.uk, and you pay online once you have a reference. Most skip firms will handle this for you.

How much does skip hire cost in Edinburgh?

Enviroworx publishes prices from £150 plus VAT for a 2 yard skip to £375 plus VAT for 16 yard, including delivery and collection. Prices depend on skip size, the type of waste, how long you keep it and where you are, so always get a written quote.

What cannot go in a skip?

Most firms will not take asbestos, fridges and freezers, TVs and other electricals, gas bottles, batteries, paint and solvents, or tyres. Plasterboard and mattresses are often accepted for an extra charge. Check with the company before you fill the skip.

Who is the best skip hire company in Edinburgh?

On our research, Midlothian Skip Hire ranks first in Edinburgh, followed by Enviroworx and M McKenzie Skip Hire. The best choice for you also depends on your location, the skip size you need and whether you want wait and load.

Skip hire in other cities

LondonBirminghamManchesterGlasgowLeedsLiverpoolEdinburghBristolSheffieldCardiffNewcastle

Clearing a whole property? See the best house clearance companies in Edinburgh, or for a few bulky items, the best junk clearance companies in Edinburgh.

Every waste service in Edinburgh

See our number 1 for every type of job, local prices, permits and free council options on one page: the best waste companies in Edinburgh.

House clearance Junk clearance Office clearance Garage clearance

Useful guides: What Size Skip Do I Need for My Project?, Do I Need a Permit to Put a Skip on the Road?, What Can and Cannot Go in a Skip?.