Soil and clay
Spoil from foundations, footings and garden levelling.
Grab hire · Ipswich and Suffolk
Grab hire in Ipswich
A grab lorry with a crane arm that lifts soil, rubble and hardcore straight off your site. No skip to fill, no permit to wait for.
- Reaches over walls and hedges
- No skip permit needed
- Loaded and gone in about 20 minutes
Grab hire: what to expect
Grab hire is one of the most efficient ways to move heavy waste. The lorry parks on the road, the operator uses the crane arm to reach over your wall, fence or hedge, and the waste is loaded straight into the lorry. There is no skip left on your drive and no permit to apply for, because nothing stays on the highway.
Builders and groundworkers in Ipswich use grab lorries for spoil from foundations, the rubble from breaking out patios and driveways, and the soil from garden levelling. A typical 8-wheel grab lorry carries about the same as two to three builders' skips, which usually works out cheaper per tonne.
Grab hire also suits homeowners who have piled up waste during a project and want it gone in one visit, as long as the pile is within reach of the arm and is mostly soil, rubble or green waste.
What a grab lorry can take
Rubble and hardcore
Broken concrete, bricks, blocks and old patio slabs.
Mixed construction waste
Mixed loads are possible, though clean single materials cost less.
Green waste
Large volumes of hedge and tree cuttings.
Sand and stone
Surplus aggregates from a finished job.
Muck away
Larger volumes over several loads. See muck away.
Grab hire vs skip hire
| Grab hire | Skip hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Around 16 tonnes per load | Up to around 8 tonnes in a builders' skip |
| Permit needed on road? | No | Yes |
| Space needed on site | None, just a pile within reach | Room for the skip |
| Time on site | About 20 minutes | Days or weeks |
| Best for | Heavy soil and rubble | Mixed waste over time |
Booking a grab lorry
How far can it reach?
Most grab arms reach about 6 metres from the side of the lorry. Pile the waste as close to the road as you can, and tell us about walls, cables and trees when you book.
Where it parks
The lorry needs to park on a firm road or hardstanding with clear overhead space. It is wide and heavy, so narrow lanes and soft verges may not be suitable.
Keep loads clean
A load of clean soil or clean hardcore is cheaper than mixed waste because it can be reused. Keep wood, plastic and general rubbish out of soil and rubble piles.
Aggregates on the return trip
We can often deliver recycled hardcore, sand or topsoil on the same visit. See aggregates in Ipswich.
How it works
Tell us about the job
What the waste is, roughly how much, and where it is.
Fixed quote
We recommend the right service and confirm the price.
Delivery or collection
On the agreed day, with permits arranged if needed.
Sorted and recycled
Waste taken to a licensed site, with a transfer note for you.
What affects the price of grab hire
Every job is priced individually. These are the main factors.
- Material
- Clean soil or hardcore costs less than mixed waste.
- Number of loads
- Each full lorry load is priced separately.
- Access
- Waiting time or difficult access can add cost.
- Contaminated soil
- Soil containing waste or chemicals needs testing and costs more to dispose of.
Why choose Ipswich Waste
Registered waste carrier
Every collection comes with a waste transfer note, so you can prove your waste was handled legally.
Recycling first
Waste is sorted at licensed sites so rubble, metal, wood, card and green waste are recycled.
Fixed prices
Clear quotes agreed before we start, including permits and disposal.
Local and fast
Based in Ipswich, with next-day service across most IP postcodes.
Grab hire across Ipswich and nearby
We cover Ipswich and the surrounding towns, villages and business parks, including:
- Ipswich town centre
- Ipswich Waterfront
- Chantry
- Whitton
- Rushmere St Andrew
- Kesgrave
- Martlesham
- Woodbridge
- Felixstowe
- Claydon
- Bramford
- Sproughton
- Pinewood
- Copdock
- Capel St Mary
- Hadleigh
- Needham Market
- Stowmarket
- Ransomes Europark
- Futura Park
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for grab hire?
No. The lorry only parks while loading, so no skip permit is needed. It must park legally and safely.
How much does a grab lorry hold?
A typical 8-wheel grab lorry carries around 16 tonnes, roughly two to three builders' skips of heavy waste.
Can the grab reach my back garden?
If the pile is within about 6 metres of where the lorry parks, yes. For gardens further back, waste can be barrowed forward first.
Can you take mixed waste?
Yes, but clean single-material loads cost less. Avoid mixing general rubbish with soil.
Will the lorry damage my drive?
The arm reaches over, so the lorry stays on the road. If it needs to come onto your drive, tell us so we can assess it.
Can I book same day?
Often, yes, depending on lorry availability. Next-day bookings are common.
Book grab hire in Ipswich
Tell us what you need and we will confirm a fixed price.