Grab lorry hire in London typically costs between £250 and £500 per load, although the exact price depends on the material being collected, the size of the load, your location and access to the waste.
A straightforward collection of clean soil, concrete or hardcore will normally cost less than mixed construction waste because separated inert materials are easier and cheaper to recycle. Collections in Central London or from sites with restricted access may cost more.
At Grab Lorries Hire, we provide a clear quotation before confirming your collection. Loading, transportation and disposal at a licensed facility are included, so you know what the job will cost before the lorry arrives.
Average Grab Lorry Hire Prices in London
The following prices can be used as a general guide:
| Type of collection | Indicative price per load |
|---|---|
| Clean soil or clay | From approximately £250–£350 |
| Concrete, bricks and hardcore | From approximately £250–£375 |
| Soil mixed with rubble | From approximately £300–£400 |
| Garden soil and green waste | From approximately £300–£450 |
| Mixed construction waste | From approximately £350–£500+ |
| Multiple grab lorry loads | Quoted according to volume and location |
These prices are indicative rather than fixed. Disposal charges differ according to the material, its weight and the waste facility receiving it.
The quickest way to obtain an accurate price is to send us:
- The collection postcode
- A photograph or video of the waste
- A description of the material
- An estimate of the pile’s dimensions
- Details of any walls, fences, cables or access restrictions
We can then estimate how many loads you will need and provide a price for the complete job.
What Is Included in the Price of Grab Hire?
A professional grab hire quotation should cover more than simply sending a lorry to your property or construction site.
Our quotations include:
- Delivery of the grab lorry to your location
- A trained driver and grab operator
- Mechanical loading of the waste
- Transportation from your site
- Disposal or recycling at a licensed facility
- A waste transfer note for your records
Always check what is included when comparing quotations. A low initial price may not include disposal fees, waiting time, additional weight or charges associated with the type of material being collected.
You should also ask whether VAT is included in the advertised price.
What Affects the Cost of Grab Lorry Hire?
Several factors determine the final price of grab lorry hire in London.
1. The type of waste
The material being removed is one of the most important pricing factors.
Clean, separated inert waste is generally the least expensive to collect. This includes:
- Soil
- Clay
- Bricks
- Concrete
- Paving slabs
- Rubble
- Hardcore
- Sand and stone
Mixed waste usually costs more because it must be sorted and processed at a licensed waste facility.
Mixed construction waste might contain:
- Timber
- Plastic
- Packaging
- Insulation
- Metal
- General building waste
Separating clean soil, concrete and hardcore from other materials before collection can therefore reduce your disposal costs.
Certain materials cannot be included in an ordinary grab load. Asbestos, chemicals, paint, oils, batteries, gas cylinders and contaminated soil require specialist handling. Plasterboard must also be declared and normally kept separate from other waste.
2. The amount of waste
Most grab hire collections are priced by the load rather than by the hour.
A standard eight-wheel grab lorry can generally carry around 14 to 16 tonnes, depending on the density and type of material. That can represent approximately three or four large builders’ skips of heavy waste.
However, the lorry cannot always be filled to the top. Dense materials such as soil, clay and concrete may reach the vehicle’s legal weight limit before the body is physically full.
Lighter mixed waste may fill the available space before reaching the maximum permitted weight.
If you only have a small amount of waste, ask whether a smaller six-wheel grab lorry or a part-load collection is available. Availability and pricing will depend on the location and material.
3. Your location
The collection postcode affects the price because it determines:
- The distance travelled by the lorry
- The nearest suitable waste-transfer facility
- Fuel and operating costs
- Local traffic conditions
- Congestion or road-user charges
- The time required to complete the collection
Sites close to our usual operating routes may receive a more competitive price. Collections in Central London, restricted streets or locations further outside the M25 may cost more.
We cover all 32 London boroughs as well as surrounding areas including Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
4. Access to the waste
The grab lorry must be able to park close enough for its hydraulic arm to reach the material safely.
A grab arm can typically reach approximately six metres, allowing it to collect waste from behind many:
- Garden walls
- Fences
- Hedges
- Driveways
- Site hoardings
The cost may increase if access is difficult, the loading process takes longer or specialist arrangements are required.
Before booking, tell the operator about:
- Narrow roads
- Parking restrictions
- Low bridges
- Weight restrictions
- Controlled parking zones
- Overhead cables
- Trees or street furniture
- Walls or fences between the lorry and the waste
- Soft or unstable ground
Sending photographs of both the waste and the access route helps us assess the job accurately.
5. Whether the waste has been prepared correctly
A loose, accessible pile can normally be collected quickly. Waste packed into bags, spread around the site or mixed with prohibited materials will take longer to assess and load.
For the fastest collection:
- Place the material in one accessible pile
- Keep soil and hardcore separate from mixed waste
- Remove bags and unnecessary packaging
- Keep the waste away from parked vehicles
- Check for prohibited or hazardous materials
- Make sure the lorry can stop safely beside the site
- Keep the area beneath overhead cables clear
Preparing the waste properly can prevent delays and unexpected charges.
6. The number of loads required
Large excavations and commercial clearances may require several lorry movements.
If you are removing soil from foundations, a basement, landscaping works or a substantial driveway excavation, it is worth asking for a price based on the complete estimated volume rather than arranging one collection at a time.
Scheduled multiple-load collections can sometimes provide better value because routes, tipping and vehicle availability can be planned more efficiently.
How Much Waste Fits in One Grab Lorry?
An eight-wheel grab lorry can typically carry approximately 14 to 16 tonnes of suitable material.
The actual amount depends on the material’s density, moisture content and how it has been excavated. Wet clay, for example, is much heavier than dry green waste.
As a broad guide, one grab load may be suitable for:
- Soil from a moderate garden excavation
- Waste from digging extension foundations
- Rubble from a residential renovation
- Concrete and hardcore from a driveway removal
- A substantial garden and landscaping clearance
- Several large skips’ worth of loose heavy waste
It is difficult to estimate weight by looking at a pile. Excavated soil also expands after it is removed from the ground, so the loose pile may occupy considerably more space than the original excavation.
Send us a photograph with approximate length, width and height measurements, and we can help estimate the number of loads required.
Is Grab Hire Cheaper Than Skip Hire?
For large quantities of soil, rubble or concrete, a grab lorry is often more economical than hiring several skips.
A grab lorry offers several potential savings:
- The driver loads the waste mechanically
- One load can replace several skips
- The waste is removed during the same visit
- You do not need to keep a container on site
- A road permit is usually unnecessary
- Less manual handling is required
- There is no need to wheelbarrow every load into a skip
A skip may still be suitable when waste is being produced gradually and you need somewhere to store it over several days.
Grab hire is usually the stronger option when the waste is already in a loose pile and ready to be removed in one visit.
Do I Need a Permit for a Grab Lorry?
You will not normally need a skip-style permit because a grab lorry does not remain parked on the road for days. It arrives, loads the waste and leaves.
However, the lorry must still be able to stop legally and safely. Special arrangements may be required if the collection involves:
- Parking on a red route
- Closing or obstructing a road
- Suspending parking bays
- Working in a highly restricted street
- Blocking a pavement
- Operating within a managed construction site
Tell us about any restrictions when requesting your quote. We can advise whether additional arrangements may be needed.
How Long Does a Collection Take?
A straightforward grab lorry collection commonly takes around 20 to 30 minutes once the vehicle is safely positioned.
It may take longer when:
- The material is spread across a large area
- Access is restricted
- The waste is difficult to reach
- Different materials are mixed together
- Parked vehicles block the loading area
- The lorry must be repositioned
- The pile contains undeclared items
Having the waste prepared before the lorry arrives helps the collection remain quick and cost-effective.
How Can I Reduce the Cost of Grab Hire?
There are several practical ways to keep the price down.
Separate the waste
Keep clean soil, concrete, bricks and hardcore away from timber, plastic, plasterboard and general rubbish. Separated inert material is normally cheaper to process.
Provide accurate information
Send clear photographs and describe the waste honestly. This allows the operator to quote for the correct material and vehicle.
Prepare one accessible pile
Place the waste within reach of the road or hard-standing area. Avoid positioning it beneath cables, trees or other obstructions.
Book several loads together
If you know the project will produce multiple loads, request a price for the complete clearance.
Avoid last-minute access problems
Reserve the required space, move parked vehicles and check road restrictions before the lorry arrives.
Combine collection with aggregate delivery
If you need Type 1, sand, ballast, gravel or topsoil, ask whether aggregate delivery can be coordinated with the waste collection. Combining movements may save time and transport costs.
Why Extremely Cheap Grab Hire Can Be Risky
Price is important, but it should not be the only consideration when selecting a waste carrier.
If waste is fly-tipped after being collected, the person or business that produced it may be asked to show that reasonable checks were made before handing it over.
Before booking, check that the company:
- Is registered as a waste carrier
- Uses licensed disposal or transfer facilities
- Provides a waste transfer note
- Clearly identifies the materials being collected
- Has suitable insurance
- Provides traceable business and contact details
A legitimate operator should be able to explain where your waste is being taken and provide the appropriate paperwork.
Grab Lorry Hire for Homeowners
Homeowners commonly use grab lorries for:
- Garden landscaping
- Patio removal
- Driveway replacement
- Extension foundations
- Renovation rubble
- Soil and clay removal
- Concrete and paving clearance
You do not need to know the exact weight of the material. Send us photographs and approximate measurements, and we will help assess the most suitable collection.
Grab Lorry Hire for Builders and Contractors
We also provide scheduled grab hire and muck-away services for:
- Builders
- Groundworkers
- Landscapers
- Property developers
- Demolition contractors
- Civil-engineering companies
- Utility contractors
- Commercial site managers
Single collections, regular site visits and multiple-load clearances can be arranged around the project programme.
Waste transfer notes are supplied to support your site records and waste-management responsibilities.
Get a Grab Lorry Hire Quote in London
The exact cost of grab lorry hire depends on what you need removed, how much material you have and where it is located.
For a fast quotation, send Grab Lorries Hire:
- Your collection postcode
- Photographs of the waste
- Approximate pile measurements
- A description of the material
- Photographs of the access and loading area
- Your preferred collection date
We offer grab lorry hire across London and the surrounding Home Counties, with same-day and next-day availability subject to location and vehicle capacity.
Call 020 3355 9233 or request a free quotation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an eight-wheel grab lorry in London?
An eight-wheel grab lorry will typically cost between £250 and £500 per load in London. The final price depends on the waste type, collection postcode, access and disposal charges.
What is the cheapest material to remove?
Clean, separated inert materials such as soil, bricks, concrete and hardcore are usually cheaper than mixed construction or general waste.
Is grab lorry hire charged by weight or by load?
Grab hire is commonly quoted per load, but the vehicle must remain within its legal weight limit. Dense materials may reach the maximum permitted weight before the lorry body is completely full.
Can I book half a grab-lorry load?
Part-load collections may sometimes be available, but they are not always priced at exactly half the cost of a full load. Transport, labour and disposal-facility costs still apply.
Can soil and rubble go in the same load?
Soil and clean rubble can often be collected together, but you must describe the complete mixture when requesting a quote. Adding timber, plastic, plasterboard or general rubbish can change the waste classification and price.
Does the price include loading?
Yes. The grab operator uses the vehicle’s hydraulic arm to load loose material into the lorry. You do not need to load it manually.
Is disposal included?
Loading, transportation and licensed disposal should be confirmed as part of your quotation. Grab Lorries Hire provides a clear price before the collection is booked.
Will I receive a waste transfer note?
Yes. A waste transfer note records the movement of the waste and provides evidence that it was handed to an authorised carrier.
Can a grab lorry collect waste from behind a fence?
Usually, provided the material is within the grab arm’s reach and there are no unsafe obstructions. The arm typically reaches around six metres, but photographs should be supplied before booking.
Is same-day grab hire available in London?
Same-day collections are often available when booked early, subject to your postcode, waste type and vehicle availability. Calling before 10am provides the best chance of securing a same-day slot.