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

Skip hire / London

The 5 best skip hire companies in London

London has hundreds of skip listings, but many are booking sites that pass your order to another firm. We focused on companies that run their own lorries and, in most cases, their own yards or transfer stations, then weighed them on reviews, licensing, recycling and service.

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

London skip hire / at a glance

PosCompanyOur scoreGoogle
1Skip It Waste ManagementEpsom, Surrey (serves most of London)
8.8
4.8 (418)
2London Local SkipsEdmonton, North London
8.4
4.8 (68)
3NJB RecyclingWimbledon, South West London
7.9
4.6 (42)
4White Skip HireDagenham, East London
7.5
4.3 (133)
5Link2LondonGreenford, West London
7.2
4.5 (104)

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

Skip It Waste Management

Epsom, Surrey (serves most of London)

Our score 8.8 / 104.8 from 418 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 1

The strongest review record of any London skip firm we checked: 4.8 stars from more than 400 Google reviews, with customers praising easy booking, polite drivers and same or next day delivery. The company has traded since 1999 and runs its own wait and load and grab lorries.

Skip sizes
2 to 40 yard
Recycling
Says it has recycled more than 10,000 tonnes of hardcore
Credentials
Registered skip operator with the London Borough of Bromley
Extras
Wait and load with two hour collection slots, grab hire, rip outs
Covers
Most London postcodes plus Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Worth knowingIts base is just outside Greater London in Epsom. Prices are by quote only, and no waste carrier number is published on its website.
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London Local Skips

Edmonton, North London

Our score 8.4 / 104.8 from 68 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 2

A genuine local operator with its own Environment Agency permitted transfer station on Eley Road, Edmonton, where waste is sorted on a trommel and picking line. Reviews are excellent, although there are fewer of them than for our number one.

Skip sizes
Domestic and commercial range (ask for sizes)
Recycling
Waste sorted on site at its own permitted transfer station
Licences
Waste carrier CBDU242036 and site permit WE5751AC, both published
Covers
North and East London
Worth knowingOnly 68 Google reviews so far, and sizes and prices are not set out clearly online.
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NJB Recycling

Wimbledon, South West London

Our score 7.9 / 104.6 from 42 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 3

A Wimbledon operator on Richmond's registered skip company list, with its own screening facility and grab lorries. It offers one of the widest size ranges in south London, from 4 yard skips to 40 yard containers.

Skip sizes
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 and 40 yard
Recycling
Claims more than 75% of waste is recycled
Extras
Two hour collection slots, 32 tonne grab lorries, basement soil removal
Covers
South and South West London and Surrey
Worth knowingOnly 42 Google reviews, and licence numbers are not published on its website.
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White Skip Hire

Dagenham, East London

Our score 7.5 / 104.3 from 133 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 4

Runs its own licensed waste transfer station in Dagenham and publishes the permit number, which few London firms do. It appears on Waltham Forest's approved skip company list and claims a 90% recycling rate.

Recycling
Claims 90% of waste is recycled
Licences
Transfer station permit EPR/DB3307GX, published
Extras
£10 million public liability cover
Covers
East London, Barking, Dagenham, Romford and Essex
Worth knowingA 4.3 Google rating is a little behind the firms above, and a few online reviews mention slow handling of trade accounts.
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Link2London

Greenford, West London

Our score 7.2 / 104.5 from 104 Google reviews

Why it ranks number 5

A west London operator on Ealing Council's approved skip company list, with FORS Bronze accreditation for its fleet and more than 100 Google reviews averaging 4.5.

Credentials
Ealing approved skip company, FORS Bronze accredited
Covers
Greater London and the Home Counties, with a West London focus
Worth knowingNo recycling figure is published, and two Trustpilot reviews complain about property damage (a very small sample).
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Skip permits in London

Your London borough. Varies by borough. Camden charges £71.50 for two weeks or £103.68 for four weeks (2026/27). Kensington and Chelsea charges £153 for a one month licence.

Every borough runs its own skip licence scheme, and in most of them only the skip company can apply. If the skip will sit in a parking bay you may also need a bay suspension. Several boroughs, including Waltham Forest, Ealing and Richmond, publish lists of approved skip operators, which is a useful check.

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 London

None of our London top 5 publish a full price list online, so ask for a written quote that includes VAT, the permit and any charges for items such as mattresses or tyres.

  • Ask for the firm's waste carrier number and check it on the Environment Agency 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 / London

We started with every business appearing in Google's local results for skip hire in London, 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 London 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? Tell us through our contact form.

Skip hire in London / FAQs

Do I need a permit for a skip in London?

Only if the skip goes on a public road or pavement. Varies by borough. Camden charges £71.50 for two weeks or £103.68 for four weeks (2026/27). Kensington and Chelsea charges £153 for a one month licence. Every borough runs its own skip licence scheme, and in most of them only the skip company can apply. If the skip will sit in a parking bay you may also need a bay suspension. Several boroughs, including Waltham Forest, Ealing and Richmond, publish lists of approved skip operators, which is a useful check.

How much does skip hire cost in London?

None of our London top 5 publish a full price list online, so ask for a written quote that includes VAT, the permit and any charges for items such as mattresses or tyres. 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 London?

On our research, Skip It Waste Management ranks first in London, followed by London Local Skips and NJB Recycling. 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 London, or for a few bulky items, the best junk clearance companies in London.

Every waste service in London

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

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?.