A Guide to Small Cardboard Baler Hire

Compact, versatile and surprisingly robust, small balers are becoming an increasingly popular way of making workplace recycling more efficient. Chosen by shops, pubs and warehouses, these compact waste balers are designed to fit seamlessly into workplaces without taking up too much space.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about renting a small baler, including the different types available and the key advantages compared with larger machines.

What is a small baler?

A small baler is a compact waste baling machine designed for situations when a mill size machine may not be practical or feasible. Often referred to as vertical balers, small balers typically have a footprint of less than 1m x 1m.  

Top 5 benefits renting a small baler:

1. Cheaper hire price
   Small balers have lower rental costs than larger balers. Balers with a small footprint are available to hire from QCR from only £16+VAT per week in 2026 with the hire cost also including free delivery and routine servicing by a SafeContractor™ endorsed QCR Baler Engineer.
2. Less space required
   Small waste balers require less floorspace to operate than larger equivalents. This neater footprint enables them to be installed in small warehouses and stockrooms.
3. Lower power consumption
   Mill Size balers require three phase power to propel the powerful hydraulic rams within them. Small balers require less energy and can be powered by 13A plug or compressed air. 
4. Cheaper consumables
   The cost of baler banding is cheaper than baler wire which is used by larger mill size machines. In addition to this, 9mm baler banding can be sent in the post whereas due to their size, baling wires must be delivered on a pallet. 
5. Easier to deliver
   Due to the weight and size of a large mill size baler, they need specialist delivery equipment. By contrast, small balers can be delivered on a small truck . An example of this is seen in London where some areas have schemes which control the movement of heavy goods vehicles over a certain weight on specific roads at specific times.

WHAT SCENARIOS ARE SMALL CARDBOARD BALERS BEST?

Scenario 1: For crushing small boxes

A baler with a small aperture is often a better match for your workplace than one with a larger aperture if the cardboard boxes you want to bale are small. Small hydraulic cardboard balers can crush corrugated cardboard boxes with ease despite being much smaller than a mill size baler.

Scenario 2: For sites with multiple waste streams

A bale of cardboard must only contain cardboard therefore to prevent contamination some businesses choose to rent a dedicated baler for each type of waste. If the amount of cardboard waste you produce is less than the amount of plastic, installing a smaller baling machine for cardboard is likely to be the best choice compared to hiring two machines of the same size.

Scenario 3: For a new site opening

Hiring a small baler is a better solution for businesses than buying one when you cannot predict the amount of cardboard you will produce. This makes rental an attraction option for new businesses, rapidly growing businesses or established businesses installing a baler for the first time.

TOP TIP: One of the key advantages of a Small Baler Rental Service offered by QCR is the opportunity to upgrade your baler size mid-contract without any penalties. This standout feature within the rental agreement is there to ensure that QCR baler hire customers have the optimum size of baler installed at all times.

Scenario 4: For premises without a Forklift or Pallet Truck available

The bales of cardboard ejected by a small baler are more manageable than those produced in a larger machine. QCR's baling experts recommend that large cardboard bales are placed on a pallet because it makes them easier to move and it also helps to keep them dry because they are raised off the ground. If you don’t have a forklift or pallet truck already at your premises, this could be an unforeseen additional expense of choosing a large machine. 

Conclusion

In short, this guide demonstrates that large businesses should not overlook the benefits that a smaller baling machine can deliver for their waste management. QCR offer a wide range of compact cardboard balers for hire and in most cases can offer a free small cardboard baler trial to businesses in the UK (t&cs apply). By having a broad range of machine sizes available, QCR can confidently match a machine to your waste, budget and available space. 

Article updated January 2026.