What size trash can do you need for a kitchen?
13 gallons, because that is the size tall kitchen bags are made for. Everything else is a question of where it fits and whether the lid keeps the smell in.
Quick picks
Our ranking at a glance. Tap any row for the full write-up, or the price to go straight to Amazon. Scores are ours, from published specs and what owners report after a year — we have not lab-tested these, and we say so plainly.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Glad 13 Gallon Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection The standard apartment size | The standard apartment size | 8.48.4 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | |
| 2 |  simplehuman 50 L Semi-Round Step Can Buying one bin for a decade | Buying one bin for a decade | 8.38.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $49.99View on Amazon $55.00 · 9% off |
| 3 |  SONGMICS 13 Gallon Stainless Step Can A steel bin at a sane price | A steel bin at a sane price | 8.38.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $67.99View on Amazon $79.99 · 15% off |
| 4 |  Rubbermaid Premier Series III Step-On Can Odor control without filters | Odor control without filters | 8.28.2 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring |
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Buy a 13-gallon (50-liter) kitchen trash can. It matches standard “tall kitchen” bags sold in every store, holds about three days for two people, and fits the gap beside most fridges. Smaller bins need bags you have to look for.
Sizes, matched to bags and households
| Size | Bag type | Fills in | Right for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 gal / 8–15 L | Small / grocery bags | 1–2 days | A bathroom, a desk, or a bedroom. |
| 7–10 gal / 26–38 L | Medium | 2–3 days for one person | A studio kitchenette with no room for more. |
| 13 gal / 50 L | Tall kitchen bags — sold everywhere | About 3 days for two people | The standard. Buy this for a kitchen. |
| 16–21 gal / 60–80 L | Large / contractor | 4–6 days for a family | A house with a family of four or more. |
The bag compatibility is the real reason 13 gallons dominates. Odd-sized bins need odd-sized bags, which means either paying more for a specific size or stretching a wrong-sized bag over the rim where it slips down into the bin every time you throw something away.
Where it goes, which decides the shape
Floor space in a small kitchen is usually more constrained than capacity, and bin shape matters more than people expect:
- Semi-round or rectangular sits flat against a wall and wastes no space. Fully round bins leave triangular gaps on both sides.
- Under-sink bins are usually 7 to 10 gallons, because the P-trap eats the height. Measure before you commit to this plan.
- In-cabinet pull-outs are tidy and almost always need drilling into the cabinet — a poor fit for a rental. See renter-safe changes.
- Step-pedal bins need about 4 inches of clearance in front for the pedal and lid arc. In a galley kitchen check that it does not swing into the opposite counter.
Smell, which is the actual problem in an apartment
In a studio or a small one-bedroom the bin is close to where you sleep, which makes odor control a real feature rather than a marketing one. Three approaches, in order of how well they work:
- Take food waste out daily. Unglamorous and more effective than any product. If you have a balcony or a hall chute, use it.
- A lid that actually seals. A step bin with a proper gasket keeps far more in than a swing lid, which is effectively an open bin with a flap.
- Carbon filters in the lid. They work and they are a recurring cost — roughly $10 every few months. Rubbermaid’s approach of a sealed lid with no filter achieves something similar with nothing to buy.
A cheap habit that works better than any of the above: keep a container in the freezer for meat scraps, fish skin and anything that smells, and bin it on collection day.
The other bins you need
- Bathroom: 2 to 4 gallons. Small, with a lid if it takes anything you would rather not look at. Grocery bags fit, which saves buying liners.
- Recycling: a 13-gallon equivalent, or a bag. Check your building — many apartments require clear bags or specific bins, and some sort for you. Ask before buying a dual-compartment bin you may not need.
- Bedroom or desk: 2 gallons. Optional, and genuinely useful if the kitchen bin is the only one.
The short version
- 13 gallons / 50 L, because that is what tall kitchen bags are sized for.
- Semi-round or rectangular sits flat to a wall and wastes no floor space.
- A sealing step lid beats a swing lid for smell. Filters work but are a recurring cost.
- Freeze meat and fish scraps until collection day. It outperforms every odor product.
The picks in detail
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 6, 2026
#1 · The standard apartment size
Glad 13 Gallon Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection
13 gallons is the size that matches standard tall kitchen bags, and the odor-protection filter in the lid is the feature that matters when the bin lives four feet from where you sleep.
- Fits a small kitchen
- 8.4
- Value
- 8.8
- Durability
- 7.6
- Easy to clean
- 8.4
What we like
- Takes the bags you can buy anywhere
- The filter genuinely helps in a studio
- Bag ring stops the liner slipping down
What to know
- Filters are a recurring cost
- Plastic body scuffs
- Pedal mechanism is the first thing to go
Specifications
- 13 gallon capacity — fits standard tall kitchen bags
- Clorox odor-protection filter in the lid
- Step pedal with a slow-close lid
- Bag ring holds the liner out of sight
Who it is for
Nearly every apartment kitchen.
#2 · Buying one bin for a decade
simplehuman 50 L Semi-Round Step Can
The pedal and lid mechanism is the reason people pay for simplehuman, and it is the part that fails on every cheaper can. The semi-round shape also sits flat to a wall.
- Fits a small kitchen
- 8.0
- Value
- 6.6
- Durability
- 9.6
- Easy to clean
- 8.4
What we like
- Mechanism outlasts the rest of the category
- Semi-round shape wastes no floor space
- Lid lock defeats a determined dog
What to know
- Branded liners cost real money (standard bags do fit)
- Steel shows fingerprints
- Most expensive bin here by a distance
Specifications
- 50 L / 13 gallon, semi-round to sit flat against a wall
- Steel body with a slow-close lid
- Lid lock for pets
- Takes custom-fit liners or standard bags
Who it is for
A first house you plan to stay in. Overkill for a one-year lease.
#3 · A steel bin at a sane price
SONGMICS 13 Gallon Stainless Step Can
Stainless body, inner bucket and a soft-close lid for well under the simplehuman — the sensible middle of this category.
- Fits a small kitchen
- 7.8
- Value
- 8.2
- Durability
- 8.6
- Easy to clean
- 8.6
What we like
- Inner bucket makes bag changes clean
- Fingerprint coating actually works
- Soft-close is quiet at night
What to know
- Heavier to move for cleaning
- Pedal travel is long
- Inner bucket needs rinsing periodically
Specifications
- 13 gallon with removable inner bucket
- Fingerprint-resistant stainless
- Soft-close lid
- Step pedal
Who it is for
Anyone who wants steel without the premium.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 6, 2026
#4 · Odor control without filters
Rubbermaid Premier Series III Step-On Can
Rubbermaid's lid seal and linerlock do more for smell than a replaceable filter does, and there is nothing to keep buying.
- Fits a small kitchen
- 8.2
- Value
- 8.4
- Durability
- 8.0
- Easy to clean
- 8.2
What we like
- No consumable filters
- LinerLock holds the bag firmly
- Lighter than the all-steel cans
What to know
- Plastic body looks less finished
- Seal only works if the lid closes fully
- Pedal is noisy
Specifications
- 13 gallon
- Lid seal designed to contain odor
- LinerLock bag retention
- Stainless rim on a plastic body
Who it is for
Someone who does not want a subscription to their bin.
Common questions
What size trash can is standard for a kitchen?
13 gallons, or 50 liters. It is the size that standard tall kitchen bags are made for, which is why it is worth defaulting to even if your household is small — liners for odd sizes are harder to find and slip off the rim.
Is a 13-gallon trash can too big for one person?
Capacity-wise, yes — one person might take four or five days to fill it, and food waste should not sit that long. In practice it is still usually the right buy because of bag availability. Just take it out every two or three days regardless of how full it is.
How do you stop a kitchen trash can from smelling?
Take food waste out daily, and keep meat and fish scraps in a container in the freezer until collection day. After that, a lid that genuinely seals does more than a carbon filter — and unlike a filter it is not a recurring cost.
What size trash can for a bathroom?
2 to 4 gallons. Grocery bags fit that size, which saves buying liners, and anything larger dominates a small bathroom floor. A lid is worth having.
Do I need a separate recycling bin?
Ask your building first. Many apartments require specific bags or provide shared bins, and some do not sort at all. Buying a dual-compartment bin before you know the rules is a common waste of money.
Sources
Read next
- The first-apartment kitchen checklistEverything the room needs, with a running total.
- Best dish racks for a small kitchenThe other object that lives permanently on the counter.
- The bathroom essentials checklistIncluding the small bin that goes in there.
- First apartment essentialsThe complete room-by-room list.