How to Choose the Right Trash Can Size

Trash cans come in a range of sizes, so picking the right one can be daunting. Choosing the right sized trash can for your kitchen, bathrooms, and other rooms can make a big difference in functionality. It's also important to consider Types of Trash Cans, where you’ll place it, and how you plan on using it – a large kitchen trash can, small bathroom trash can, and a heavy duty outdoor trash can are all different sizes to fit their purpose. Read this guide to find a trash can to suit every room in the house.

In this guide:
Step 1: Understand the Trash Can Sizes Available
Step 2: Consider Trash Can Location
Step 3: Measure Your Space
Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1: Understand the Trash Can Sizes Available

Trash cans come in several standard sizes as pictured above. When shopping for a new trash can, we recommend considering these factors:

• Capacity: Capacity is a key consideration that will help you determine the right size for your home. How much garbage do you accumulate and what sort of trash is discarded in this particular trash can? Is it food scraps, paper waste, or bathroom debris? The capacity will also help you find the right size for garbage bags and trash can liners.
• Overall Dimensions (H x W x D): The overall dimensions will give you a clear guideline for how large the trash can is and how much space it will take up in the room you intend to use it. Small trash cans are typically suited to bedrooms and offices, medium-sized cans do well in bathrooms (especially if used by multiple people), large trash cans are ideal in the kitchen, and outdoor cans work best for refuse and accumulative household waste.
• Product Weight: Product weight can be another important factor. Heavier materials may be stronger or more durable (outdoor trash cans especially), while lighter trash cans are easier to transport.

Step 2: Consider Trash Can Location

When picking a new trash can, consider where you plan on placing the trash can and how you'll be using it. Small trash cans are 2–4 gallons for bathrooms, medium are 7–12 gallons for home offices, and large kitchen bins are 10–30 gallons. Outdoor cans are 20–35 gallons.

Kitchen Trash Cans

Most of the waste you produce will be thrown in the kitchen trash can, so your kitchen trash can should be the largest receptacle in your house. Kitchen trash cans typically range from 10–30 gallon, depending on how often you cook and how many people live in your home. For a household of two to three people, it’s best to get a trash can that holds 10–14 gallons. Families of four to five people should get one of the 15–20 gallon options, and any household with more than five members should opt for a 20+ gallon trash can. You can also choose to have more than one trash can to make lifting the bags easier.

Tip!

If you prefer to keep your trash cans out of sight, choose a pull-out trash can so it can be hidden within your cabinets. You can also choose a trash can cabinet for a discreet furniture-like option.

Bathroom Trash Cans

If you are looking for a trash can for your bathroom, we recommend a trash can that is under 2 gallons or 2–4 gallons. These small trash cans aren't as large as others because they contain mostly paper waste and fill more slowly than a kitchen trash can. They also tend to be smaller to suit the bathroom’s limited space. If you share your bathroom with multiple people, you can choose a larger option ranging between 5–9 gallons.

Home Office Trash Cans

Office trash cans sizes tend to be 7–12 gallons, which is between typical bathroom and kitchen sizes. Since these are typically used for smaller items like snack wrappers, notes, or mail, they don't need to be as big as a kitchen trash can.

Tip!

If you tend to print a lot of paper, consider also buying a recycling bin to separate the paper from food or other trash.

Outdoor Trash Cans

The largest personal-use trash can is the curbside trash can. These trash can sizes usually measure anywhere over 20 gallons and are meant to hold a week’s worth of waste until a garbage truck comes to pick up its contents. If you live alone or with a partner, we recommend a 35 gallon trash can. If you are a family of four, we recommend 50–65 gallons. If you have a household of five or more, make sure to opt for a curbside garbage can that is larger than 60 gallons. You can get separate bins for recycling and garbage and wheels to make it easier to drag your bins to the street.

Tip!

To make recycling a breeze, choose a multi-compartment trash can. Designed with either two side-by-side individual cans or one on top of the other, you can more easily dispose of your trash accordingly – plastics or recycling in one and regular household trash in the other.

Step 3: Measure Your Space

If you are choosing a pull-out trash can, or you want to place your trash can in a cabinet or between two pieces of furniture, make sure to measure the space carefully and record the measurements.

For pull-out trash cans or trash cans you plan to place under a cabinet, measure the interior of your cabinet – including the height, width, and depth – to ensure your trash can fits. We recommend leaving a few inches of space above the top of the trash can to ensure the drawer can shut if the trash can is slightly overstuffed. If you are choosing a trash can cabinet, measure the height, width, and depth of the space you want to place it to ensure it fits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size trash can for a bathroom?

Trash cans for bathrooms are typically 2–4 gallons, but you may want to opt for a larger size if the bathroom is shared by multiple people.

What size trash can for a kitchen?

Because kitchen trash cans are used frequently and prone to filling quickly, it's best to choose one based on your household. Small households can use a trash can holds 12–16 gallons, while larger households are better off with a trash can that holds 15–25 gallons.

How big is an office trash can?

Home office trash cans are often 7–10 gallons since they hold mostly paper waste and aren't used as frequently as a kitchen trash can.

What size is an outdoor trash can?

Outdoor trash cans are usually 20–32 gallons, holding up to a week's worth of household trash.

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