Trash Bag Sizes Chart: Standard Garbage Bag Sizes and Dimensions

Posted by PlasticMill on Nov 11, 2026

Trash bag sizes compared: 4 gallon and 13 gallon white cans with white bags next to 33 gallon and 55 gallon gray cans with black trash bags

Trash bags are sold by gallon size, but the number on the box only tells half the story. Two "13 gallon" bags can have different widths and lengths, and a bag that is too narrow will not stretch around your can. This trash bag sizes chart lists the standard garbage bag sizes from 2 to 100 gallons, with the dimensions (width x length, in inches) that fit each can.

Trash Bag Sizes Chart

Bag size	Dimensions (inches)	Common cans and uses
2-3 gallon	14.75x20	Car, vanity and tiny desk bins
4 gallon	17x16, 17x18	Bathroom and bedroom cans
5-6 gallon	17x20, 18.7x20, 16x28, 20x22	Bathroom, office and under-desk cans
7-10 gallon	22x22, 24x23, 24x24, 21x28, 24.4x28	Small kitchen, office and classroom cans
12-16 gallon (13 gallon kitchen)	24x27, 24x31, 24x33	Tall kitchen cans
20-30 gallon	30x36, 30x37	Large kitchen, garage and utility cans
32-33 gallon	33x39	Standard outdoor and commercial cans
35 gallon	33x40	35 gallon wheeled carts
40-45 gallon	40x46, 40x48, 33x46, 33x48	Commercial cans, leaves and contractor cleanup
50-60 gallon	38x58, 36x58, 40x50	55 gallon drums and large commercial cans
64-65 gallon	50x60, 50x48	64-65 gallon rollout carts
75 gallon	58x60	Large containers and bulk cleanup
95-96 gallon	61x68	Curbside toters
100 gallon	67x79	96-100 gallon carts, with room to tie

What Do Trash Bag Dimensions Mean?

Bag sizes are written as width x length. The width is the bag laid flat, so the opening of the bag is twice the width all the way around. A 24x31 bag has an opening of about 48 inches, which fits a kitchen can that measures about 44-46 inches around the top. The length is how tall the bag is. It should be the height of the can plus half its width, plus 3 to 4 inches to fold over the rim.

Want the exact size for your can? Use our trash bag size calculator.

Standard Trash Bag Sizes

Standard kitchen trash bag size: 13 gallon, usually 24x27 to 24x33. See 13 gallon trash bags.
Standard bathroom trash bag size: 4 to 6 gallon, usually 17x18 to 20x22. See small trash bags.
Standard outdoor trash bag size: 33 gallon, 33x39. See 33 gallon trash bags.
Standard contractor bag size: 42 gallon, 33x48. See contractor bags.
Largest trash bag size: 100 gallon, 67x79. See 100 gallon trash bags.

Drawstring Trash Bag Size Codes

Many drawstring bags are sold by a letter code that matches a brand of can. Here are the codes we carry:

Code	Size	Dimensions
Code C	3 gallon	14.75x20
Code D	5 gallon	16x28
Code E	5 gallon	18.7x20
Code F	5-6 gallon	Fits Code F cans
Code L	4-5 gallon	16.65x24.6
Code J	10 gallon	21x28
Code K	10 gallon	24.4x28
Codes M, N and Q	13 gallon	Tall kitchen sizes

Thickness Matters Too

Size tells you if a bag fits. Thickness tells you if it holds. Light office trash only needs a thin high density bag, while kitchen trash needs about 1 to 1.5 Mil and construction debris needs 3 Mil or more. Read our guide to trash bag thickness to learn more.