Choosing the right grab lorry depends on three main things: how much waste you have, what the material consists of and whether the vehicle can safely access the collection point.
For most substantial soil, rubble and construction-waste collections, an eight-wheel grab lorry offers the best value. It can typically carry approximately 14 to 16 tonnes of suitable material in one load.
A six-wheel grab lorry has a smaller payload but may be more appropriate for narrow streets, restricted entrances and sites where a larger vehicle cannot manoeuvre safely.
The right choice is not always the biggest vehicle. Access, legal weight limits and the density of the waste all need to be considered before booking.
Grab Lorry Sizes at a Glance
| Grab lorry | Typical payload | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| 4-wheel grab lorry | Approximately 7–9 tonnes | Small clearances and highly restricted access |
| 6-wheel grab lorry | Approximately 12–14 tonnes | Residential streets and medium-sized projects |
| 8-wheel grab lorry | Approximately 14–16 tonnes | Large excavations, construction sites and bulk removal |
Payload figures are approximate. The amount a vehicle can legally carry varies according to its specification, equipment and the type of material being transported.
Grab Lorries Hire primarily uses six-wheel and eight-wheel vehicles, allowing us to match the collection to the volume of waste and site access.
What Is an Eight-Wheel Grab Lorry?
An eight-wheel grab lorry is the standard choice for large-volume muck-away and construction-waste collections.
It combines:
- A large tipper body
- A hydraulic lifting arm
- A grab bucket
- A trained driver and operator
- A substantial legal payload
An eight-wheel lorry can typically carry approximately 14 to 16 tonnes of soil, rubble, concrete or hardcore.
It is commonly used for:
- Extension excavations
- Driveway removals
- Large garden projects
- Basement excavations
- Demolition rubble
- Commercial site clearance
- Groundworks
- Utility projects
- Multiple-load muck-away operations
Because of its capacity, an eight-wheel grab lorry usually provides the lowest collection cost per tonne when there is enough material to justify a full load.
What Is a Six-Wheel Grab Lorry?
A six-wheel grab lorry is smaller and generally easier to manoeuvre than an eight-wheel vehicle.
It can typically carry around 12 to 14 tonnes, although the exact payload depends on the vehicle and material.
A six-wheel lorry may be suitable when:
- The road is narrow
- The site entrance is restricted
- The turning area is limited
- The amount of waste is moderate
- Parked vehicles reduce the available space
- An eight-wheel vehicle cannot operate safely
- The ground may not be suitable for a larger vehicle
Although the carrying capacity is lower, a six-wheel grab lorry may be the only practical option for certain residential and restricted-access sites.
What Is a Four-Wheel Grab Lorry?
A four-wheel grab lorry is the smallest commonly available grab vehicle. It may carry approximately 7 to 9 tonnes, depending on its specification.
These vehicles can be useful for:
- Smaller waste piles
- Restricted residential streets
- Tight driveways
- Limited-access building sites
- Jobs where a larger lorry cannot turn
- Smaller landscaping projects
However, four-wheel grab lorries are not offered by every operator. They may also be less economical if several journeys are required to remove a large quantity of material.
If access permits, one larger vehicle can often remove the waste more efficiently than two smaller collections.
How Much Does an Eight-Wheel Grab Lorry Hold?
An eight-wheel grab lorry can typically remove approximately 14 to 16 tonnes of suitable material.
In volume terms, this can be around 12 cubic metres, but weight rather than physical space often determines how much can be carried.
One full eight-wheel grab load may be comparable to approximately three or four large skips of heavy material.
This does not mean that every load will look completely full. Dense waste may reach the lorry’s legal weight limit before the tipper body reaches its maximum volume.
Weight and Volume Are Not the Same
Customers often estimate waste by looking at the size of the pile. However, grab lorries must operate within both weight and volume limits.
Different materials can occupy the same amount of space while weighing very different amounts.
For example:
- Wet clay is extremely heavy
- Dry soil is lighter than wet soil
- Concrete is dense and heavy
- Broken bricks contain air gaps
- Green waste is bulky but relatively light
- Mixed construction waste varies considerably
- Timber can fill the body before reaching the weight limit
A vehicle carrying wet clay may reach its legal payload while the body still appears to have space available. A load of branches and lighter garden waste may fill the body without coming close to the same weight.
This is why photographs, measurements and an accurate description of the material are needed before recommending a vehicle.
How Many Cubic Metres Is a Grab Lorry?
As a broad guide:
| Vehicle size | Approximate carrying volume |
|---|---|
| 4-wheel grab lorry | Around 5–7 cubic metres |
| 6-wheel grab lorry | Around 8–10 cubic metres |
| 8-wheel grab lorry | Around 10–12 cubic metres |
These figures vary between vehicles and should only be used as general guidance.
For heavy waste, legal payload is normally reached before the maximum cubic capacity. For lighter waste, volume may become the limiting factor.
What Size Grab Lorry Do I Need for Soil?
An eight-wheel grab lorry is normally the most economical choice when removing a substantial quantity of soil.
Soil becomes heavier when it is:
- Wet
- Clay-rich
- Mixed with stones
- Compacted
- Excavated from deeper ground
An eight-wheel load may carry approximately 14 to 16 tonnes, but the volume of soil this represents will vary according to its density and moisture content.
A six-wheel lorry may be better if the amount is smaller or access is restricted.
Do not assume that a large-looking pile will fit into one load. Soil expands when excavated because it is no longer compacted in the ground. This is often called bulking or a swell factor.
A hole measuring six cubic metres can therefore produce considerably more than six cubic metres of loose excavated soil.
What Size Grab Lorry Do I Need for Rubble?
For a large pile of bricks, blocks, concrete and hardcore, an eight-wheel grab lorry will usually provide the best value.
Rubble is heavy, but broken pieces contain gaps. The weight of a load therefore depends on:
- The proportion of concrete
- The size of the broken material
- Whether soil is mixed in
- Moisture content
- Whether timber or general waste is present
A six-wheel vehicle may be sufficient for a smaller residential renovation or driveway project.
Make sure the rubble is suitable for mechanical collection. Very large reinforced-concrete sections may need to be broken down before the grab arm can lift them safely.
What Size Grab Lorry Do I Need for Garden Waste?
The correct size depends on whether the waste is mainly soil or lighter green material.
Heavy garden-waste loads may include:
- Soil
- Turf
- Clay
- Stones
- Roots
- Small tree stumps
Lighter loads may include:
- Branches
- Hedge cuttings
- Shrubs
- Leaves
- Plants
An eight-wheel lorry is useful for a large landscaping clearance, but bulky branches should be cut down so they can be loaded efficiently.
Tree trunks and very large stumps should be discussed before booking. The operator will need to confirm whether the grab equipment can safely lift them.
What Size Grab Lorry Do I Need for an Extension?
Extension projects frequently produce large quantities of soil from:
- Foundation trenches
- Drainage works
- Ground-floor reductions
- Patio removal
- Landscaping changes
- Access paths
One eight-wheel load may be sufficient for a modest excavation, but larger rear or side extensions can require several loads.
Your builder or groundworker may be able to provide excavation measurements. Alternatively, send photographs and the approximate length, width and depth of the excavated area.
Remember that excavated soil takes up more space after being dug out.
For projects producing several loads, scheduled collections can be arranged to keep the site clear and prevent the waste pile from obstructing ongoing work.
Can a Grab Lorry Reach Over a Wall or Fence?
Yes. One of the main advantages of a grab lorry is its ability to collect loose material from behind walls, fences and hedges.
A typical grab arm can reach approximately six metres, although the exact reach depends on:
- The lorry
- The arm specification
- The weight being lifted
- The height of the obstruction
- The position of the waste
- Operating conditions
The arm’s full advertised reach may not be available for every lift. Heavy material, high walls and obstacles can reduce the practical working distance.
Send photographs showing the pile, boundary and road so the operator can assess whether the material is safely reachable.
How Much Access Does a Grab Lorry Need?
Grab lorries are large commercial vehicles. Sufficient access is required for the vehicle to arrive, stop, operate and leave safely.
The access assessment should consider:
- Road width
- Vehicle width and length
- Turning space
- Low bridges
- Weight restrictions
- Gate width
- Parked vehicles
- Street furniture
- Overhanging trees
- Overhead cables
- Ground stability
- Parking controls
- Space for the hydraulic arm
An eight-wheel grab lorry may be unsuitable for a narrow residential road even if it offers the ideal carrying capacity. A six-wheel vehicle could be a safer and more practical alternative.
Can a Grab Lorry Drive Onto My Driveway?
This depends on the driveway’s width, construction, slope and load-bearing capacity.
A loaded grab lorry is extremely heavy. Residential paving, drains, inspection covers and decorative surfaces may not be designed to support it.
Where possible, the lorry will normally remain on a suitable road or hard-standing area and use the hydraulic arm to reach the waste.
Do not direct the driver onto a driveway, lawn or unmade surface unless the operator has assessed and approved it. The driver retains responsibility for deciding whether an area is safe for the vehicle.
How Do I Estimate the Number of Loads?
You can make an initial estimate by measuring the waste pile.
Record its approximate:
- Length
- Width
- Average height
Multiply these measurements to estimate the volume in cubic metres:
Length × width × height = approximate cubic metres
For example, a pile measuring four metres long, two metres wide and one metre high has an estimated volume of eight cubic metres.
However, this calculation is only a starting point. Irregular piles, air gaps, moisture and material density can significantly affect the actual quantity and weight.
For excavations, you must also allow for the soil expanding after it is removed from the ground.
What Information Should I Provide When Booking?
To help us recommend the correct vehicle, provide:
- Your collection postcode
- The type of material
- Approximate pile measurements
- Clear photographs of the waste
- A photograph showing the road and collection point
- Details of walls, fences or hedges
- Information about overhead cables or trees
- Any road, parking or weight restrictions
- Your preferred collection date
- Whether more waste will be produced
A short video can be particularly helpful when the pile is large or access is difficult.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Grab Lorry
Underestimating excavated soil
Soil expands after excavation and frequently produces more loads than expected.
Estimating only by volume
A pile may physically fit in the lorry but exceed the legal weight limit.
Failing to declare mixed waste
Timber, plastic, plasterboard and general rubbish can change the waste classification and disposal price.
Ignoring vehicle access
The largest lorry offers no benefit if it cannot safely reach or operate beside the site.
Positioning waste beneath cables
The hydraulic arm cannot be used safely near overhead electrical or communication cables.
Leaving parked vehicles beside the pile
The operator needs enough space to stop and use the grab arm without risking damage.
Assuming all waste can be collected
Hazardous and restricted materials require specialist disposal and must not be hidden within the pile.
Six-Wheel or Eight-Wheel Grab Lorry?
Choose an eight-wheel grab lorry when:
- You have a large quantity of waste
- Access is suitable for a larger vehicle
- The material is heavy
- You want the best cost per tonne
- Several skips would otherwise be required
- The project may need multiple collections
Choose a six-wheel grab lorry when:
- The road or entrance is restricted
- Turning space is limited
- The waste pile is moderately sized
- A larger vehicle cannot operate safely
- Manoeuvrability is more important than maximum payload
If both vehicles can access the site and you have enough waste, an eight-wheel lorry will normally be more economical.
Book the Right Grab Lorry for Your Project
You do not need to calculate the exact weight before contacting us.
Send Grab Lorries Hire photographs of the waste, approximate measurements and your collection postcode. We will assess the likely quantity, access and material type before recommending the most suitable vehicle.
We provide grab lorry hire for homeowners, builders, landscapers, groundworkers and commercial contractors across London and the surrounding Home Counties.
Same-day and next-day collections may be available depending on your location, material and vehicle availability.
Call 020 3355 9233 or request a free quote online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common grab lorry size?
The eight-wheel grab lorry is commonly used for bulk soil, rubble and construction-waste removal because it provides a large legal payload and competitive cost per tonne.
How many tonnes can an eight-wheel grab lorry carry?
An eight-wheel grab lorry can typically carry approximately 14 to 16 tonnes. The exact legal payload depends on the vehicle and its equipment.
How many tonnes can a six-wheel grab lorry carry?
A six-wheel grab lorry may carry approximately 12 to 14 tonnes, although vehicle specifications vary.
How many skips equal one grab lorry?
One eight-wheel grab load can be comparable to approximately three or four large skips of suitable heavy waste. The exact comparison depends on the skip size and material.
Will one grab lorry clear my garden?
It depends on the size and contents of the waste pile. A moderate garden excavation may fit into one load, while large landscaping projects can require several collections.
Is an eight-wheel grab lorry too large for a residential street?
Not necessarily. Eight-wheel vehicles regularly operate on residential projects, but the road must provide enough width, turning space and safe operating room. A six-wheel lorry may be recommended where access is restricted.
Can I book a grab lorry for less than a full load?
Part-load collections may sometimes be available. The price will depend on the material, location and whether the collection can be combined with another suitable job.
Does the grab lorry have to park beside the waste?
It must park within safe working reach. A typical grab arm reaches approximately six metres, allowing collection from behind many walls, fences and hedges.
Can the grab lorry collect bagged waste?
The service is primarily designed for loose material. Bags can interfere with loading and waste processing, so discuss them before booking. You may be asked to empty suitable material into an accessible pile.
What happens if the load is heavier than expected?
The lorry cannot exceed its legal weight. Any remaining material will require an additional collection, which is why accurate photographs and descriptions are important.