Bulk Bags

Mick George bulk bags weigh approximately 800kg. Each bag is filled to that weight rather than to the brim, so the fill level looks slightly different between products.

Dense materials such as sand, gravel and Type 1 sit lower in the bag, while lighter materials such as slate fill it closer to the top.

At 800kg a bulk bag cannot be lifted or moved by hand, so it needs to be dropped as close as possible to where the material will be used.

Mick George bulk bags measure approximately 90cm x 90cm x 90cm and hold around 0.6 cubic metres of material. As a guide, one bag covers roughly 10 to 12 square metres at 50mm depth, or 5 to 6 square metres at 100mm.

Lighter materials such as bark and slate chippings go slightly further than sand, gravel or Type 1. For a material-specific figure, use the bulk bag calculator on this page – Bulk Bags page.

Measure the length, width and depth of the area in metres and multiply the three figures together to get the volume in cubic metres. Divide that by 0.6, the approximate volume of one bag, and round up to the next whole bag. For example, an area 4m long by 3m wide at 50mm deep is 0.6 cubic metres, so one bag.

The Mick George online bulk bag calculator does this for you by material, and it is worth allowing around 10% extra for settlement and uneven ground.

Bulk bags are delivered on a 26-tonne Hi-ab lorry with a rear-mounted crane. The driver lifts each bag off the vehicle and lowers it into position, so there is no unloading for you to do.

The crane arm reaches 6 to 8 metres from the lorry and can generally lift bags over obstacles up to around 6ft high, at the driver’s discretion.

The lorry is around 15m long and needs a minimum of 2.6m clear access width. Deliveries are usually made within 1 to 5 working days, dependent on demand.

Bulk Bags are placed on private property only, within reach of the crane arm, which is 6 to 8 metres from where the lorry can safely park.

Mick George vehicles cannot drive over raised kerbs, manhole covers or grass, and a driveway or hardstanding is the ideal drop point. If you would like the bag in a particular spot, or there are walls, fences or gates to lift over, inform the Mick George team when you order so they can confirm it is possible.

Where a delivery cannot be made as intended because of site restrictions, a wasted journey charge may apply.

No. Provided the driver can reach the delivery address and there is a suitable place to put the bulk bag, delivery will be made without anyone being present.

Highlight your preferred position and any access details when you order, and the driver will place the bag as close to that spot as is safe. If you do want to be there, you can request a delivery date at the point of ordering and delivery will be made on an all-day slot.

Mick George Hi-ab lorries carry up to 14 bulk bags per load, so most domestic and trade orders arrive on a single delivery.

Larger orders are split across more than one vehicle or drop. If you are ordering several bags of the same material and a tipper can reach your site, it is worth checking whether a loose load would work out better value.

Bulk bags are better for smaller scale projects typically requiring less than 5 tonnes of aggregates or where access does not allow for an alternative method.

For larger projects, loose loads will considerably reduce your overall costs, by reducing the price per tonne of the material.

Bulk Bags can be moved manually, although this is not advised. Mick George Bulk Bags typically weigh around 800kg, depending on the material. Once delivered, it shouldn’t be moved manually.

Moving a full Bulk Bag requires suitable mechanical equipment, such as a forklift or telehandler, operated by someone competent to do so. If a bag has been placed in the wrong spot, contact Mick George on 0800 587 3329 as soon as possible.

Leave the bag on firm, level, well-drained ground and cover it with a tarpaulin if it will be outside for more than a few days. Sand, topsoil and Type 1 in particular hold water and become heavier and harder to work when soaked, and decorative chippings stay cleaner under cover.

Keep the bag out of prolonged direct sunlight where possible, as UV light weakens the fabric and lifting loops over time, and do not stack bags. Stored this way, aggregates keep indefinitely.