Trash Can Size Calculator
Trash volume and cart size for weekly pickup.
What it does
Carts size from weekly volume: bags times bag size times weeks between pickups, matched to the smallest standard cart that holds it. This page runs gallons with US carts or liters with metric carts.
The default is 4 thirteen gallon bags weekly. Volume is 52 gal, which beats the 35 and fits the 64 gal cart. Metric uses 50 L bags for 200 L, fitting the 240 L cart.
Bag size decides truth. Kitchen tall bags run 13 gal while contractor bags run far larger, and half full bags waste cart space the same as full ones. Count real set outs for two weeks before upsizing.
Streams split carts. Trash, recycling, and yard waste each need their own volume pass since towns collect them apart and ban mixing.
How to use
- Pick imperial or metric first.
- Enter bags per week.
- Enter bag size.
- Enter weeks between pickups.
- Read volume first, then the cart.
Formula
- bags
- Bags set out per week.
- bag size
- Gallons or liters per bag.
- weeks
- Weeks between pickups.
Standards used are 35/64/96 gal and 120/240/360 L; haulers vary by town so confirm cart menu locally. Volume assumes full bags; loose trash and pizza boxes pack worse than math.
Worked example
Example: family of four
4 bags of 13 gal weekly (metric 50 L).
- Volume: 4 x 13 x 1 = 52 gal.
- Fit: 52 beats 35, fits 64.
- Carts: 1 cart (64 gal).
- Metric: 4 x 50 = 200 L, fits 240 L.
- Tool shows 52 gal imperial and 200 L metric.
Reference table
| Bags | Volume | Cart |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 gal | 35 gal |
| 2 | 26 gal | 35 gal |
| 4 | 52 gal | 64 gal |
| 6 | 78 gal | 96 gal |
| 8 | 104 gal | 2 carts |
Limits
- Standard carts assumed. Menus vary by town.
- Full bags assumed. Loose packs worse.
- One stream per pass.
- Overflow and bulk excluded.
Common mistakes
- Sizing on bag count without size.
- Mixing gallons with liters.
- Forgetting biweekly doubles volume.
- Counting recycling in trash.
- Reading cart size as bag count.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
2 bags of 13 gal?
26 gal in a 35 gal cart.
8 bags of 13 gal?
104 gal needs 2 carts (96 gal) since 104 beats 96.
Questions
Weekly volume?
Bags times size times weeks. Here 52 gal.
Which cart?
Smallest standard that fits. Here 64 gal.
What is that in metric?
200 L in a 240 L cart.
Cart sizes?
35, 64, 96 gal (120, 240, 360 L).
biweekly pickup?
Yes. Set pickup every 2 weeks to double volume.
All streams?
No. Recycling and yard waste need their own carts.