A guide to small Cardboard Baler hire

Small Cardboard Waste Balers are hired by businesses to help them recycle cardboard. The main benefit of hiring instead of purchasing a small baler is that it can be exchanged if you need a larger machine in the future. In this guide we’ll explore the benefits of choosing a small baling machine and in what scenarios businesses decide to rent one.

Top 5 benefits renting a small recycling 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
   Compact balers need less floorspace and require a lower ceiling height than larger equivalents. This enables smaller machines to be installed in stockrooms and cellars.
3. Lower power consumption
   Mill Size balers require three phase power to propel the powerful hydraulic rams within them. Smaller sized balers have a broader range of power options including electric and compressed air. Pneumatic balers can be linked to a compressed air line negating the need to install it near to an electrical socket.
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, wires must be delivered on a pallet. 
5. Easier to deliver
   Due to the weight and size of a large baler, they often require specialist equipment in order to be delivered to your site. By contrast, delivery of a smaller baler is often easier because a smaller vehicle is required. 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 traditional 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 than 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 (subject to some geographical restrictions). 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.