About
About TipYard
TipYard is a free website for people doing building, refit and clear-out jobs in the UK. It started with three tools: a skip size helper, a building VAT checker, and Greater Manchester tip and van-permit rules. There are now also a skip-permit costs page for Greater Manchester, and plasterboard, brick, concrete and rubble-sack calculators.
What this site is, and is not
- It is a static website. It runs in your browser, with no account and no server of our own, so it has no running cost and does not need secret keys.
- It is not tax advice, legal advice, or a waste-carrier service. You are responsible for checking the official pages and for disposing of waste legally.
- VAT results are a plain-language guide to HMRC VAT Notice 708 and VAT Notice 708/6. Always read the linked GOV.UK section, or ask a VAT-registered adviser or HMRC, before you charge or pay a rate.
- Council tip rules change. Each Greater Manchester page is marked “last checked 15 Nov 2026”. Follow the official link if anything might have moved on.
- Price ranges for skips, grab lorries and man-and-van clearances are published estimates from named sources, not quotes. They vary by postcode, waste type and access.
- We do not quote a single weight for a pile in kilograms, because density varies too much to do that honestly.
Disclaimer
TipYard, and anyone who helped build it, accept no liability for loss, cost or legal action arising from use of these tools. Rules, prices and opening hours can change. Confirm with the skip firm, the council, HMRC or a qualified adviser before you spend money or take waste anywhere.
You must not take trade waste to a household recycling centre. If you carry waste as part of a business, you need to follow duty of care and, where required, be registered as a waste carrier.
Affiliate links and adverts
Later versions may include affiliate links for skip hire, van hire and rubble sacks, and may show adverts. This version has clearly marked empty slots only. There are no live affiliate links and no adverts. If that changes, this page will say so.
Main official sources
- VAT Notice 708
- VAT Notice 708/6
- DIY housebuilders’ scheme
- GOV.UK skip licence
- GOV.UK, Dispose of waste to landfill
- Recycle for Greater Manchester van permit
- Recycle for Greater Manchester find a centre
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority, recycling centres
- Wigan Council waste and recycling centres
Privacy and offline use
The tools run in your browser. Your measurements and answers are not sent to a TipYard server, because there is not one. If you add the site to your home screen, a service worker can keep a copy so the pages still work offline. That cache lives on your device.