How Much Rubbish Can a Man & Van Rubbish Collection Take?

Man & Van rubbish collection is one of the most flexible and cost-effective ways to get rid of household, garden, and light commercial waste — without the hassle of hiring a skip. But one of the most common questions we hear is:

"How much rubbish can I actually fit into one van collection?"

At JUSTHIRE, we make it easy to understand exactly how much waste can be taken, what it looks like in real terms, and how to choose the right load size for your clearance needs.

Load Sizes Explained – From Small to XL

We offer four main van load sizes, designed to suit everything from a quick de-clutter to a full house or office clear-out. Here’s how they compare:

Small Load (Up to 250kg / 5–6 bin bags)

Great for:

• A quick garage tidy-up

• A few pieces of flat-packed furniture

• Light garden trimmings or cardboard waste

Van Space: About 1 cubic yard (similar to the size of a washing machine)

Medium Load (Up to 500kg / 10–12 bin bags)

Perfect for:

• Room clearances (bedroom, utility room, garden shed)

• Broken furniture, carpet rolls, or small appliances

Van Space: Around 3–4 cubic yards (a small builder’s skip equivalent)

Large Load (Up to 750kg / 15–18 bin bags)

Ideal for:

• House or flat clearance

• Old sofas, wardrobes, bed frames

• Mixed household and garden waste

Van Space: About 6–8 cubic yards, like a small removals van

XL Load (Up to 1,000kg / full van)

Best for:

• Full property clearance

• Office or retail strip-outs

• Multiple bulky items or white goods

Van Space: Roughly 12–14 cubic yards (a medium skip lorry equivalent)

Not Sure What Load You Need?

We understand it’s hard to estimate waste by the cubic yard. That’s why we:

• Let you upload photos at booking

• Offer honest guidance before your collection

• Confirm the final quote before any work begins

This ensures you only pay for what you need, and nothing more.

What We Can’t Take in a Full Load

Our Man & Van service is incredibly flexible, but there are limits for weight and legal restrictions:

• Heavy rubble, hardcore, soil (best suited to skip hire)

• Hazardous waste (paint, asbestos, chemicals, etc.)

• Commercial quantities of building materials (ask us for skip options)