Garbage bag sizes are quoted as flat width by length in inches, with a capacity in litres or gallons and a thickness in mils or microns, and the three numbers do not always agree from one maker to the next. This guide puts the sizes on our Canadian listings in one chart, shows how to match a bag to your bin, and explains what the strength words on the box do and do not tell you.
Every figure below is copied from a live listing on our store. The thickness test comes from ASTM D1709-22, and the lifting guidance from CCOHS.
- The capacity on the box is each maker's own rating, not a measured volume: our listings show a 26 x 36 in bag rated 45 L by one maker and 75.7 L by another.
- To fit a round bin, the bag's flat width must be at least half the bin's circumference and its length at least the bin height plus half the diameter, before any overhang.
- Grade words such as Regular, Strong and X-Strong are not a shared scale: on our listings Strong runs from 0.85 mil to 3 mils depending on the maker.
- Mil is a thickness, not a strength: ASTM D1709 measures film failure under dart impact, so compare mils and grade together and ask the maker for test data when a load is critical.
What Are the Standard Commercial Garbage Bag Sizes?
The chart below gives example listings for each common size, from 17 x 20 in (15 L) to 48 x 60 in (246.05 L), with capacity and thickness exactly as the maker prints them. Widths and lengths are in inches; some makers list length first, so the chart puts width first throughout.
| Width x length (in) | Rated capacity (as printed) | Thickness / grade (as printed) | Example listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 x 20 | 15 L | Regular | Glad X-Small 15L Roommate |
| 20 x 20 | 25 L | Regular | Glad Small 25L |
| 20 x 22 | 23 L (6 gal) | Utility, 0.64 mil | RMP Utility |
| 24 x 22 | 26 L (7 gal) | High density, 8 microns | Polykar High Density Utility |
| 24 x 28 | 45 L | Regular | Glad Tall 45L |
| 26 x 33 | 74 L | Regular | Glad 74L |
| 26 x 36 | 45 L (12 gal) | X-Strong, 1.2 mils | RMP X-Strong 1.2 mils |
| 26 x 36 | 75.7 L (20 gal) | 2X Strong (mils not stated in title) | Alte-Rego Premium Liners 2X |
| 30 x 33 | 90 L | Regular | Glad 90L |
| 30 x 38 | 88 L (20 gal) | X-Strong, 1.2 mils | RMP X-Strong 1.2 mils |
| 33 x 38 | 121.13 L (32 gal) | Strong, 0.9 mil, clear | Alte-Rego Sure-Tie |
| 35 x 50 | 194 L (44 gal) | X-Strong, 1.2 mils | RMP X-Strong 35 x 50 |
| 42 x 48 | 242 L (55 gal) | X-Strong, 1.2 mils | RMP X-Strong 42 x 48 |
| 42 x 48 | 151.41 L (40 gal) | 3X Strong (mils not stated in title) | Alte-Rego Premium Liners 3X |
| 50 x 50 | 227.12 L (60 gal) | Strong, 0.95 mil | Alte-Rego Industrial |
| 50 x 50 | 242 L (55 gal) | X-Strong, 1.5 mils | RMP X-Strong 50 x 50 |
| 48 x 60 | 246.05 L (65 gal) | X-Strong, clear (mils not stated in title) | Alte-Rego EcoLogo |
Pack quantity and price differ by listing, so open the listing for bags per case before you compare cost. The collection currently holds 92 listings.
Why Does the Same Bag Size Carry Different Capacity Ratings?
Because the capacity is each maker's own rating, not a measured volume: the chart lists two 26 x 36 in bags rated 45 L (12 gal) and 75.7 L (20 gal), and two 42 x 48 in bags rated 242 L (55 gal) and 151.41 L (40 gal).
The gallon figures do not convert cleanly either. An Alte-Rego contractor liner rated 44 gal is 166.55 L, which is 3.785 L per gallon, while RMP's 44 gal bag is 194 L, or about 4.4 L per gallon. Match on flat width and length, and treat the capacity as a rough label.
How Do You Choose a Bag Size for Your Bin?
Measure the bin, then pick a bag whose flat width is at least half the bin's circumference and whose length is at least the bin height plus half its diameter, plus any overhang you want over the rim. The steps:
- 1. Measure the bin: Record the height and, for a round bin, the diameter; for a rectangular bin, record the length and width.
- 2. Work out the minimum bag width: For a round bin, multiply the diameter by 3.1416 and divide by 2. For a rectangular bin, add the length and the width.
- 3. Work out the minimum bag length: Add the bin height to half the diameter (or half the shorter side), then add the overhang you want over the rim.
- 4. Pick the nearest listed size: Choose the size in the chart that clears both numbers, then check its thickness and grade.
Worked example, with made-up measurements: a round bin 24 in across and 36 in high has a circumference of 75.4 in, so the bag needs at least 37.7 in of flat width, and at least 36 + 12 = 48 in of length before overhang. With 4 in of overhang you need 52 in. In the chart, 42 x 48 clears the width but is too short, and 48 x 60 clears both.
These formulas assume a flat-folded bag listed by width and length, like those in the chart. Measure your own bins; the numbers above are an example, not a recommendation for any bin.
What Do Regular, Strong and X-Strong Mean?
They are each maker's own grade words, not a shared scale: on our listings Strong runs from 0.85 mil to 3 mils depending on the maker. Here is what the titles print for each word:
| Grade word | Thickness printed on our listings |
|---|---|
| Regular | Ralston 0.65 mil · RMP 0.7 mil · RMP 0.75 mil |
| Strong | Ralston 0.85 mil · RMP 0.9 mil · Alte-Rego 0.9 and 0.95 mil · Polykar Green Home 3 mils |
| X-Strong | Ralston 0.92 to 1.17 mils · Alte-Rego 1.2 and 1.5 mils · RMP 1.2 and 1.5 mils |
| 2X Strong | RMP Contractor 1.9 mils · Alpha Poly 2.2 mils |
| 3X Strong | Ralston 2.7 mils · RMP 3 and 3.0 mils |
| 4X Strong | Alpha Poly 6 mils |
Thickness is only one property. ASTM D1709-22 measures the energy that makes plastic film fail when a free-falling dart hits it, which is a different test from measuring thickness. The listing titles give thickness and a grade word, not a test result, so when a bag must carry a heavy or sharp load, ask the maker for its test data.
How Do Mils Convert to Microns?
One mil is one thousandth of an inch, which is 25.4 microns, so divide microns by 25.4 to get mils.
Polykar's high-density utility bags are rated in microns: 8 microns is about 0.31 mil, 13 microns about 0.51 mil and 16 microns about 0.63 mil. Convert before you compare them with a bag rated in mils.
How Heavy a Bag Can Staff Lift?
Size the bag to the load a person can lift, not just to the bin: CCOHS cites the NIOSH load constant of 23 kg (about 51 lb) as the baseline under ideal conditions, with a lower recommended limit for frequent lifts or loads held away from the body.
If crews carry full bags by hand, a smaller bag changed more often may keep each load inside that limit. Weigh a typical full bag from your own site before you standardize on a size.
Do These Sizes Apply to Compostable and Regulated-Waste Liners?
The width-and-length method works for any flat bag, but bio-hazard and asbestos liners are for regulated waste, so choose them by the rules for that waste and the maker's label, not by this chart.
Compostable bags are in the same collection; Polykar's certified compostable range lists sizes from 10 L (3 gal) to 242 L (55 gal). Confirm that your hauler or municipal organics program accepts the bag before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a 10 litre garbage bag?
On our listings, bags rated 10 L (3 gal) measure 17 x 16 in (Glad compostable) and 17 x 17 in (Polykar certified compostable). Both are listed in the garbage bag collection.
How many litres is a 55 gallon garbage bag?
It depends on the maker. Our RMP listings rate a 55 gal bag at 242 L (about 4.4 L per gallon), while an Alte-Rego listing rates a 40 gal bag at 151.41 L (3.785 L per gallon). Match on width and length, not on the gallon figure.
What is the difference between mils and microns?
Both measure film thickness. One mil is one thousandth of an inch, or 25.4 microns, so divide microns by 25.4 to get mils. Polykar's high-density utility bags are rated in microns, while most other listings use mils.
How do you tell what size garbage bag you need?
Measure the bin's height and its diameter (or length and width), work out the minimum flat width and length with the steps above, then pick the nearest listed size that clears both numbers.
What specifications should a garbage bag listing show?
Flat width and length, thickness in mils or microns, the maker's grade word, colour and rated capacity. Not every listing prints every item, so check the listing before you order.
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