How Many Liters Is a Kitchen Trash Can?

On this page (8 sections)

1. How many liters is a kitchen trash can in gallons?
2. What size kitchen trash can fits your household?
3. How do liters and dimensions work together?
4. What bag size goes with each can size?
5. Which can size suits a step can versus a hands-free can?
6. How much floor space does each liter range need?
7. How many liters do you actually need per person?
8. Which size is right for you?

A standard kitchen trash can holds about 45 to 50 liters, which is 12 to 13 gallons, and takes a 13 gallon bag. Most households land in that range because it holds two to three days of trash without taking up much floor space.

Smaller kitchens often drop to 30 to 40 liters, while large families may want 60 liters or more. So the honest answer is "45 to 50 for most homes," with the exact figure set by your space and how often you empty it.

Liters and gallons measure the same thing, but bag makers sell in gallons while many can makers list liters. Knowing how the two line up saves you from buying a can that no bag in your cupboard will fit.

How many liters is a kitchen trash can in gallons?

A kitchen trash can is usually sold in liters, and 1 gallon equals about 3.79 liters. That means a 13 gallon can works out to roughly 49 liters, and a 45 liter can is about 11.9 gallons.

The two numbers describe the same bin, just in different units.

This matters because bags are labeled in gallons almost everywhere in the US. A can marked 45 L takes the same 13 gallon bag as a can marked 13 gallons.

If you see 50 L, it's about 13.2 gallons, so the same bag fits with slightly less slack above the rim.

Rounding causes most of the confusion. A maker may call a 49 liter can "13 gallon" because it's close enough.

A 45 liter can is a hair under 12 gallons but still takes a 13 gallon bag, since bags are made with a little extra width and height. A 20 liter can is about 5.3 gallons, and a 60 liter can is about 15.9 gallons, so the conversion tells you which bag aisle to shop in.

What size kitchen trash can fits your household?

For most homes, 45 to 50 liters is the sweet spot. That size takes the common 13 gallon bag, holds a few days of kitchen waste, and still fits under a counter or beside a cabinet.

Household size is the biggest factor. One or two people can usually get by with 30 to 40 liters and fewer trips to the curb.

A family of four or more tends to fill a 45 to 50 liter can in two to three days, which matches most trash pickup schedules.

Cooking habits matter too. A household that cooks from scratch most nights produces more packaging and food scraps than one that eats out.

If you compost food waste separately, the can fills more slowly and a smaller size may be fine. Pets and diapers push you bigger, since those households often need 50 liters or more to avoid emptying twice a day.

How do liters and dimensions work together?

Liters tell you volume, not footprint, so two 45 liter cans can take up very different floor space. A tall, narrow can holds the same as a short, wide one, but fits a different corner.

A rectangular can makes better use of a wall or cabinet gap than a round one of the same capacity.

The simplehuman 45 L Rectangular Step Can measures 15.9 inches long, 13.3 inches wide, and 25.8 inches high, a shape that tucks against a counter. Height matters as much as liters when the can sits under a counter overhang.

Check how tall is a kitchen trash can before you buy, since a 25 inch can won't clear a 24 inch opening no matter how many liters it holds. Measure the floor space and the opening height first, then match liters to your household.

What bag size goes with each can size?

Match the bag to the can's gallon rating, which is the liters divided by 3.79. A 45 to 50 liter can takes a 13 gallon bag, a 30 to 40 liter can takes an 8 to 10 gallon bag, and a 60 liter can needs a 15 to 16 gallon bag.

Undersized bags slip down when the trash gets heavy, and oversized bags waste plastic and hang loose over the rim.

Drawstring bags grip better than flat-top bags in a can without a liner rim. A liner rim or a locking ring holds the bag tight, so the fit matters less than it does in a plain open can.

Our guide to what size trash bags for kitchen walks through the fit for each can style. If you already buy 13 gallon bags in bulk, stick to a 45 to 50 liter can.

Switching can sizes to match a bag you like is easier than switching bags to match a can.

Which can size suits a step can versus a hands-free can?

Step cans and sensor cans come in the same liter ranges, so capacity isn't the deciding factor. A 45 liter step can and a 45 liter sensor can hold the same amount; the difference is how the lid opens.

Step cans are simple and don't need batteries.

The SONGMICS 13 Gal Stainless Step Can is a 50 liter rectangular bin with a pedal and a soft-close lid, so it holds slightly more than a 45 liter can. Hands-free cans cost more but keep your hands off the lid.

For a black finish that hides scuffs, see our roundup of the best black kitchen trash can options and compare their liter ratings side by side. A pedal can needs floor space in front for your foot, while a sensor can needs clear space above the lid so the sensor doesn't trip on a cabinet.

How much floor space does each liter range need?

Expect a 45 to 50 liter can to take up roughly 2 square feet of floor, based on a footprint around 16 by 13 inches. A 30 to 40 liter can needs a little less, and a 60 liter can needs more.

Floor space is the constraint most people forget. A can rated for the right liters can still block a drawer or a cabinet door if it's too wide.

Measure the gap you plan to use before you fall for a size online. If you want the can out of sight, a pull-out cabinet bin changes the math.

Cabinet bins are often rated in quarts or liters and sized to the cabinet opening, so measure the interior width before you buy. Our guide to the best 13 gallon trash can for kitchen covers cans that fit tight spots.

How many liters do you actually need per person?

Plan on about 10 to 12 liters per person in the household. Two people land near 20 to 25 liters on paper, but a 30 to 40 liter can gives useful slack between pickups.

Four people fit comfortably in 45 to 50 liters.

These numbers assume daily cooking and average packaging. If you cook a lot, add 10 liters.

If you compost and recycle heavily, subtract a little. A household that empties the can every day can live with 30 liters, while one that empties weekly needs 50 liters or more to avoid overflow.

Who should choose the simplehuman 45 L?

Choose the simplehuman 45 L if you want a standard 45 liter capacity with a liner rim that holds the bag in place. The rectangular shape tucks against a counter, and the lid closes slowly and quietly on its own.

The liner pocket stores a pack of liners inside the can, so a refill is within reach when you tie off a full bag. simplehuman backs it with a 10 year warranty.

Who should choose the SONGMICS 13 Gal?

Choose the SONGMICS 13 Gal if you want a 50 liter can with a bit more room than a 45 liter bin. It opens by pedal or by hand, and the inner bucket lifts out for emptying.

It measures 15.9 by 13.2 by 24.6 inches, close to the simplehuman's footprint but a little shorter. The fluted stainless body resists rust, and the removable inner bucket makes liner changes cleaner when the bag leaks.

Which size is right for you?

Pick 45 to 50 liters for most households, and drop to 30 to 40 liters only for a small kitchen or one or two people. The standard 13 gallon bag fits the larger range, so bag shopping stays simple.

Go with the simplehuman 45 L if you want a liner rim that holds a 13 gallon bag tight and a lid that closes quietly.

Choose the SONGMICS 13 Gal if the extra 5 liters matters more to you than the liner system. For a small kitchen, a 30 to 40 liter can saves floor space and is easier to empty often.

Confirm the liter rating and the bag size together before you buy, using our bag size guide to what size trash bags for kitchen to lock in the fit.

Frequently asked questions

Is 50 liters the same as 13 gallons?

Close. 50 liters is about 13.2 gallons, so a 50 liter can is slightly bigger than a true 13 gallon one.

Bags sold as 13 gallon fit both, though a 50 liter can leaves less slack at the rim.

What size trash can fits a 13 gallon bag?

A can rated 45 to 50 liters takes a 13 gallon bag. Leave a little extra bag above the rim so the drawstring can grip the can.

A bag much smaller than the can will slip down when the trash gets heavy.

How many liters should a kitchen trash can be for a small kitchen?

For a small kitchen or a one or two person household, 30 to 40 liters is enough and takes up less floor space. You'll empty it more often than a 45 to 50 liter can, so bag changes add up over the week.

Does a bigger trash can mean fewer bag changes?

Usually, yes. A 45 to 50 liter can holds more than a 30 liter one, so you tie off fewer bags.

A bigger can also needs more clearance to open and takes more floor space, so measure before you size up.

Can I use a smaller bag in a large kitchen trash can?

You can, but the bag will slip below the rim and may fall in. Match the bag to the can's liter rating, or look for a can with a liner rim that grips the bag in place.