Trash Can Liner Size Chart: Gallons to Bag Size, Mil and Cost Per Liner

Updated September 3, 20264 to 60 gallon cans91 stocked liners

A 33 gallon can takes a 33 x 39 inch liner, a 13 gallon kitchen can a 24 x 33, a 55 gallon drum a 38 x 58. The chart converts can gallons to liner size, shows how to measure any can, explains low density versus high density mil, and lists every stocked liner by size, gallons, thickness, color and cost per liner.

Gallons to liner size

Trash can liners are sold by flat width and length in inches, and cans are sold by gallons, so the first job is the conversion. A liner needs to reach the bottom of the can, fold 3 to 4 inches over the rim and have enough width to open fully without stretching. The table gives the standard liner for each can size; the rule after it lets you size any can from a tape measure.

Width is half the can's circumference plus 1 to 2 inches; length is the can's height plus half its diameter plus 3 to 4 inches of overhang. Two cans of the same gallon rating can need different liners if their shapes differ.
Can size (gallons) Liner size (W x L in) Typical can
4 to 7 17 x 18 Desk-side wastebasket, bathroom bin
7 to 10 24 x 24 Small office can, kitchen under-sink
12 to 16 24 x 33 Standard kitchen can, 13 gallon tall
20 to 30 30 x 36 Office and break-room cans, 23 gallon slim
31 to 33 33 x 39 or 33 x 40 Restaurant kitchen, 32 gallon round
40 to 45 40 x 46 44 gallon round, industrial
55 to 60 38 x 58 or 38 x 60 55 gallon drum, warehouse, outdoor

How to measure a can

  1. Width. Measure the can's circumference at the rim (or 2 x length plus 2 x width for a rectangular can) and divide by two, then add 1 to 2 inches. A 32 gallon round can with a 22 in rim (69 in around) needs a 33 in liner.
  2. Length. Add the can height, half the can's diameter (so the bag has a bottom) and 3 to 4 inches of overhang. A 28 in tall, 22 in diameter can needs about 39 to 40 in.
  3. Round up to the nearest stocked size; a slightly large liner is easier to fit than a tight one, and a tight one tears at the rim when it is pulled.

Mil and resin: low density vs high density

Low density polyethylene (LLDPE) liners are the stretchy ones; they are quoted at 0.5 to 3 mil and resist punctures from corners and edges, which makes them the choice for mixed and heavy waste. High density (HDPE) liners are the crisp, thin, rustling ones; they carry the same weight at a third of the thickness and cost less per liner, but a sharp edge zips straight through them, so they are for paper and soft waste. Both are stocked in the sizes above.

HDPE liners hold the same load at roughly a third of the LLDPE thickness, which is why they are quoted in fractions of a mil or in microns.
Waste Low density (LLDPE) High density (HDPE)
Office paper, light dry waste 0.5 to 0.7 mil 0.23 to 0.31 mil (6 to 8 micron)
Kitchen and restaurant waste, wet 0.9 to 1.2 mil 0.47 to 0.63 mil (12 to 16 micron)
Mixed heavy waste, cans, glass 1.5 to 2 mil 0.86 mil (22 micron) or use LLDPE
Construction debris, sharp objects 3 mil contractor Not recommended
Medical, biohazard 1.1 to 1.5 mil red printed Not used

Stocked can liners

Live catalog on September 3, 2026. High density (HDPE) liners are thin, strong and quiet but split on sharp objects; low density (LLDPE) liners stretch around corners and edges.
Liner Size (W x L) Fits Thickness Resin Color Features Per case Case price Each
24x24 0.31 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 1000/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 0.31 mil high density natural 1,000 $50.04 0.05
24x24 0.4 Mil Black Can Liners 1000/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 0.4 mil high density black 1,000 $55.98 0.06
24x24 0.7 Mil Black Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 0.7 mil low density black 500 $42.09 0.08
24x24 1 Mil Black Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 1 mil low density black 500 $56.33 0.11
24x24 0.4 Mil Clear Can Liners 1000/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 0.4 mil high density clear 1,000 $56.41 0.06
24x24 0.7 Mil Clear Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 24 in 7 to 10 gal 0.7 mil low density clear 500 $56.41 0.11
24x24 7-10 Gallon 0.23 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 1000/Case 24 x 24 in 7-10 gal 0.23 mil high density natural 1,000 $39.14 0.04
24x31 0.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 31 in 12 to 16 gal 0.5 mil high density clear 500 $70.23 0.14
24x32 0.4 Mil Black Can Liners 1000/Case 24 x 32 in 12 to 16 gal 0.4 mil high density black 1,000 $165.79 0.17
24x32 0.7 Mil Black Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 32 in 12 to 16 gal 0.7 mil low density black 500 $62.17 0.12
24x32 1 Mil Black Can Liners 500/Case 24 x 32 in 12 to 16 gal 1 mil low density black 500 $64.52 0.13
24x33 0.31 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 24 x 33 in 12 to 16 gal 0.31 mil high density natural see product $69.16
24x33 3 Mil Clear Can Liners High Density 24 x 33 in 12 to 16 gal 3 mil high density clear see product $56.26
24x24 1.1 Mil 10 Gallon Red Biohazard Can Liners 25/Roll 24 x 24 in 10 gal 1.1 mil low density red biohazard 25 $86.31 3.45
30x36 3 Mil Heavy-Duty Contractor Trash Bags 100/Case 30 x 36 in 20 to 30 gal 3 mil low density contractor 100 $80.59 0.81
30x36 0.9 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 30 x 36 in 20 to 30 gal 0.9 mil low density black 250 $79.44 0.32
30x36 0.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 30 x 36 in 20 to 30 gal 0.5 mil high density clear 250 $73.55 0.29
30x36 1.1 Mil Black Recycled Trash Liners 250/Case 30 x 36 in 20 to 30 gal 1.1 mil low density black recycled 250 $60.05 0.24
30x36 1.1 Mil Clear Recycled Star Seal Trash Liners 250/Case 30 x 36 in 20 to 30 gal 1.1 mil low density clear star seal, recycled 250 $60.57 0.24
30x37 0.63 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 500/Case 30 x 37 in 20 to 30 gal 0.63 mil high density natural 500 $91.19 0.18
25x48 3 Mil Black Can Liners 25 x 48 in see product 3 mil low density black see product $128.23
33x39 0.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 39 in 31 to 33 gal 0.5 mil high density clear 250 $62.17 0.25
33x39 0.9 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 39 in 31 to 33 gal 0.9 mil low density clear 250 $92.11 0.37
13 Gallon White Drawstring Trash Bags 100/Case see product 13 gal see product low density white drawstring 100 $50.96 0.51
13 Gallon White Drawstring ForceFlex Trash Bags 100/Case see product 13 gal see product low density white drawstring 100 $46.23 0.46
33x40 0.5 Mil Black Heavy Duty Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 0.5 mil high density black 250 $62.17 0.25
33x40 0.7 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 0.7 mil low density black 250 $62.17 0.25
33x40 0.9 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 0.9 mil low density black 250 $92.11 0.37
33x40 1.2 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 1.2 mil low density black 250 $92.11 0.37
33x40 1.5 Mil Black Trash Liners 100/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 1.5 mil low density black 100 $42.37 0.42
33x40 1.7 Mil Black Can Liners 100/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 1.7 mil low density black 100 $78.29 0.78
33x40 2 Mil Black Can Liners 100/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 2 mil low density black 100 $78.29 0.78
33x40 1.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 33 x 40 in 31 to 33 gal 1.5 mil low density clear 250 $105.92 0.42
15 Gallon 1 Mil Black Recycled Star Seal Trash Liners 250/Case see product 15 gal 1 mil low density black star seal, recycled 250 $39.77 0.16
15 Gallon 1 Mil Clear Star Seal Trash Liners 250/Case see product 15 gal 1 mil low density clear star seal 250 $44.03 0.18
39x46 1.7 Mil Silver Can Liners 50/Case 39 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.7 mil low density 50 $62.59 1.25
40x46 0.5 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 0.5 mil high density black 250 $56.41 0.23
40x46 0.7 Mil Black Can Liners 125/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 0.7 mil low density black 125 $56.41 0.45
40x46 1.2 Mil Black Can Liners 250/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.2 mil low density black 250 $79.86 0.32
40x46 1.5 Mil Black Trash Liners 100/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.5 mil low density black 100 $56.41 0.56
40x46 1.7 Mil Black Heavy Duty Can Liners 100/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.7 mil low density black 100 $69.08 0.69
40x46 1.2 Mil Black Trash Liners 100/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.2 mil low density black 100 $105.92 1.06
40x46 0.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 0.5 mil high density clear 250 $56.41 0.23
40x46 0.7 Mil Clear Can Liners 125/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 0.7 mil low density clear 125 $70.53 0.56
40x46 0.9 Mil Clear Can Liners 250/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 0.9 mil low density clear 250 $76.87 0.31
40x46 1.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 100/Case 40 x 46 in 40 to 45 gal 1.5 mil low density clear 100 $69.08 0.69
36x58 1.5 Mil Black Can Liners 100/Case 36 x 58 in see product 1.5 mil low density black 100 $62.17 0.62
36x58 2 Mil Black Trash Liners 100/Case 36 x 58 in see product 2 mil low density black 100 $71.38 0.71
36x58 0.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 200/Case 36 x 58 in see product 0.5 mil high density clear 200 $62.17 0.31
36x58 0.7 Mil Clear Can Liners 200/Case 36 x 58 in see product 0.7 mil low density clear 200 $62.17 0.31
36x58 0.9 Mil Clear Can Liners 200/Case 36 x 58 in see product 0.9 mil low density clear 200 $69.15 0.35
38x58 2 Mil Black Can Liners 100/Case 38 x 58 in 55 to 60 gal 2 mil low density black 100 $116.28 1.16
38x58 1.5 Mil Clear Can Liners 100/Case 38 x 58 in 55 to 60 gal 1.5 mil low density clear 100 $71.38 0.71
46x50 0.67 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 200/Case 46 x 50 in see product 0.67 mil high density black 200 $95.59 0.48
46x50 1.5 Mil Black Heavy Duty Recycled Trash Liners 100/Case 46 x 50 in see product 1.5 mil low density black recycled 100 $71.45 0.71
46x50 2 Mil Black Trash Liners 50/Case 46 x 50 in see product 2 mil low density black 50 $47.62 0.95
46x50 1.5 Mil Clear Heavy Duty Star Seal Trash Liners 100/Case 46 x 50 in see product 1.5 mil low density clear star seal 100 $79.13 0.79
30 Gallon Black Drawstring Trash Bags 90/Case see product 30 gal see product low density black drawstring 90 $54.12 0.60
30 Gallon Black Drawstring Trash Bags 70/Case see product 30 gal see product low density black drawstring 70 $52.79 0.75
33 Gallon 1.5 Mil Blue Recycling Trash Liners 100/Case see product 33 gal 1.5 mil low density blue recycling 100 $50.54 0.51
33 Gallon 0.63 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 250/Case see product 33 gal 0.63 mil high density black 250 $61.72 0.25
33 Gallon 0.86 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 250/Case see product 33 gal 0.86 mil high density black 250 $82.29 0.33
33 Gallon 0.47 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 500/Case see product 33 gal 0.47 mil high density natural 500 $92.56 0.19
33 Gallon 0.67 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 250/Case see product 33 gal 0.67 mil high density natural 250 $56.19 0.22
33 Gallon 1.5 Mil Black Trash Liners Star Seal 100/Case see product 33 gal 1.5 mil low density black star seal 100 $38.78 0.39
40-45 Gallon 0.86 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 150/Case see product 40-45 gal 0.86 mil high density black 150 $76.23 0.51
40-45 Gallon 0.55 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 250/Case see product 40-45 gal 0.55 mil high density natural 250 $68.12 0.27
40-45 Gallon 1.5 Mil Black Star Seal Trash Liners 100/Case see product 40-45 gal 1.5 mil low density black star seal 100 $55.59 0.56
40-45 Gallon 1.5 Mil Clear Star Seal Trash Liners 100/Case see product 40-45 gal 1.5 mil low density clear star seal 100 $61.55 0.62
44-55 Gallon 1.25 Mil Black Trash Liners Star Seal 100/Case see product 44-55 gal 1.25 mil low density black star seal 100 $57.29 0.57
55-60 Gallon 1.4 Mil Blue Recycling Trash Liners 100/Case see product 55-60 gal 1.4 mil low density blue recycling 100 $86.00 0.86
55-60 Gallon 2 Mil Black Trash Liners Star Seal 100/Case see product 55-60 gal 2 mil low density black star seal 100 $84.58 0.85
56 Gallon 3 Mil Heavy-Duty Contractor Trash Bags 100/Case see product 56 gal 3 mil low density contractor 100 $142.91 1.43
56 Gallon 0.55 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners see product 56 gal 0.55 mil high density black see product $71.06
56 Gallon 0.67 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 56 gal 0.67 mil high density black 200 $77.55 0.39
56 Gallon 0.86 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 150/Case see product 56 gal 0.86 mil high density black 150 $76.23 0.51
56 Gallon 0.67 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 56 gal 0.67 mil high density natural 200 $66.59 0.33
56 Gallon 1 Mil Black Star Seal Trash Liners 100/Case see product 56 gal 1 mil low density black star seal 100 $46.49 0.46
56 Gallon 1.5 Mil Black Trash Liners Star Seal 100/Case see product 56 gal 1.5 mil low density black star seal 100 $62.08 0.62
56 Gallon 2 Mil Black Heavy Duty Trash Liners 100/Case see product 56 gal 2 mil low density black 100 $82.76 0.83
60 Gallon 0.55 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 60 gal 0.55 mil high density black 200 $70.50 0.35
60 Gallon 0.67 Mil Black High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 60 gal 0.67 mil high density black 200 $72.62 0.36
60 Gallon 0.47 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 60 gal 0.47 mil high density natural 200 $51.80 0.26
60 Gallon 0.55 Mil Natural High Density Trash Liners 200/Case see product 60 gal 0.55 mil high density natural 200 $64.18 0.32
60 Gallon 1.5 Mil Black Trash Liners Star Seal 100/Case see product 60 gal 1.5 mil low density black star seal 100 $66.27 0.66
60 Gallon 2 Mil Black Star Seal Trash Liners 50/Case see product 60 gal 2 mil low density black star seal 50 $42.46 0.85
Black Heavy Duty Trash Bags 100/Case see product see product see product low density black 100 $79.95 0.80
2 Mil Black Heavy Duty Trash Bags 250/Case see product see product 2 mil low density black 250 $79.44 0.32
4 Mil Clear Trash Bags 1000/Case see product see product 4 mil low density clear 1,000 $70.23 0.07
7 Mil Clear Trash Bags 250/Case see product see product 7 mil low density clear 250 $79.44 0.32
7 Mil Trash Bags Heavy Duty 50/Case see product see product 7 mil low density 50 $76.66 1.53

Choosing and using liners

  • Star seal bottoms distribute weight across the bottom and do not leak at the corners; flat seal liners hold more but leak if the seal is stressed.
  • Color. Black hides contents and is the default for public areas; clear is required where waste must be inspected (many warehouses and food plants); blue for recycling streams; red printed for biohazard.
  • Coreless rolls dispense from the bottom of the can so the next liner is ready when the full one is pulled.
  • Cost per liner is the number to compare across resins: an HDPE liner at 0.47 mil often costs half an LLDPE liner of the same size at 0.9 mil.
  • Do not overfill. A 33 gallon liner of wet waste weighs 40 pounds and tears at the rim when lifted by one hand; the mil rating assumes the bag is lifted by the neck.

Liners share the bench with the poly bags compared by mil and the mil to micron chart, which converts the fractional-mil HDPE ratings to microns.

Shop can liners and trash bagsShop janitorial suppliesBulk quote

Frequently asked questions

What size trash bag do I need for a 33 gallon can?

A 33 x 39 or 33 x 40 inch liner. For a 32 to 33 gallon round can that is about 22 inches across and 28 inches tall, that gives a full bottom and 3 to 4 inches of overhang at the rim.

What size liner fits a 13 gallon kitchen can?

24 x 33 inches for the tall 13 gallon kitchen can; 24 x 24 inches fits the shorter 8 to 10 gallon cans.

What is the difference between high density and low density trash bags?

High density (HDPE) liners are thin, crisp and quoted in fractions of a mil or microns; they are strong for paper and soft waste and cheap per liner but split on sharp objects. Low density (LLDPE) liners are thicker and stretch around edges, for mixed and heavy waste.

What mil trash bag is strongest?

Among stock liners, 3 mil LLDPE contractor bags. For most commercial waste, 0.9 to 1.5 mil LLDPE is the practical heavy grade; going thicker mostly adds cost.

How do I measure a trash can for a liner?

Width is half the rim circumference plus 1 to 2 inches; length is the can height plus half its diameter plus 3 to 4 inches of overhang. Round up to the nearest stocked size.

Related references