admin@adelaidehookliftbins.com.au

Size Guide

What Size Hooklift Bin Do I Need?

Choosing too small means a second hire; choosing too big wastes a little money but rarely much — which is why the honest advice is: when in doubt, go one size up. The step up in price is small compared to a second delivery.

Here's every size matched to the jobs it actually suits, using the rule of thumb that 1m³ ≈ one 6×4 trailer load.

Quick answer by job type

All prices are all-in: delivery, 7-day hire, collection, and the stated disposal weight (1.5t on the 9m³ up to 4.5t on the 40m³). Excess weight is $340/t.

Your jobRight sizePrice from
Shed or garage clear-out9m³$850
Single bathroom or kitchen reno9m³$850
Multi-room renovation / landscaping12m³$1,150
Full home renovation15m³$1,450
Whole house clear-out / deceased estate20m³$1,750
House demolition / commercial strip-out30m³$2,100
Industrial / major demolition / ongoing site40m³$2,750

Volume vs weight — the trap that catches people

Every bin, from 9m³ to 40m³, has the same 10-tonne maximum. For light renovation waste that never matters. For concrete, brick, tiles, or soil it matters enormously: concrete weighs about 2.4t per cubic metre, so even the 9m³ bin hits its 10t ceiling at less than half full.

For heavy waste, choose the size by weight, not volume — a low-sided 9m³ or 12m³ bin filled part-way is the right tool, and it loads easier too. Our overweight-charges guide has the full maths.

Mixed load with some concrete or soil? Put the heavy material in first, spread flat across the floor, and keep it under roughly a third of the bin. Email us the details and we'll sanity-check your size choice free.

Sizing a clear-out: the trailer-load method

Walk the site and count in 6×4 trailer loads — most people can picture one. A typical single garage of accumulated stuff is 8–10 loads (9m³ bin). A cluttered 3-bedroom house clear-out runs 15–20 loads (15–20m³ bin). A full house plus shed plus garden is 20m³ minimum.

  • Furniture bulks up fast but compresses if you break it down — flatpack everything you can
  • Green waste halves in volume when branches are cut to under a metre
  • Plasterboard and tiles stack tight — they take less room than they seem, but weigh more

Still between two sizes?

Go up. The gap between sizes is $200–400, while a second bin hire starts at $850. In two years of Adelaide jobs the regret is almost always 'should have got the bigger one'. Or email photos of the job to admin@adelaidehookliftbins.com.au and we'll pick for you — that's the free option.

Size Guide — FAQs

What's the most popular hooklift bin size in Adelaide?
The 15m³ Large at $1,450 — it fits a full home renovation's waste with the 2.5t included disposal covering typical mixed reno loads.
What if I fill my bin and still have waste left?
Email us and we'll swap the full bin for a fresh one — you pay standard hire on each bin, no penalty. But sizing right the first time is cheaper, which is why we'd rather help you choose before you book.
Can I get a bin just for concrete or soil?
Yes — dedicated heavy-waste loads are common. Use a 9m³ or 12m³ bin filled to the weight limit rather than a big bin you can't legally fill. Email us for a tailored heavy-waste quote.
Is it cheaper to hire two small bins or one big one?
One big one, almost always. Two 9m³ bins cost $1,700; one 20m³ bin with more combined volume costs $1,750 with double the included disposal weight of a single 9m³ — and one delivery to coordinate instead of two.

Still Not Sure? We'll Pick For You

Email your job details or photos — we'll confirm the right size and an all-in price within 2 hours. No obligation.