How Many Liters in Kitchen Trash Bags? Size, Dimensions and Capacity
Knowing the size and capacity of your kitchen trash bags in liters can help you select the right bags for your household's waste needs. Tall kitchen trash bags are a popular choice for their increased capacity over standard bags - but just how much can they hold?
What are Tall Kitchen Trash Bags?
Tall kitchen trash bags are designed to be larger and hold more trash than standard kitchen bags. Standard kitchen bags are usually around 20-25 inches tall, while tall kitchen bags are approximately 30-35 inches in height.
This extra height and size allows tall kitchen trash bags to accommodate more food scraps, food packaging, and other household waste compared to regular kitchen bags.
Typical Dimensions of Tall Kitchen Trash Bags
While dimensions can vary slightly by brand, most tall kitchen trash bags measure about 30-35 inches tall, 20-25 inches wide, and .55-.70 mm thick.
Paying attention to the height is key - this is what gives tall kitchen bags their expanded capacity over standard kitchen bags. Brand, type, and specific use (e.g. food waste) can impact the exact size.
Trash Bag Capacity and Volume
Now that we know what sets tall kitchen bags apart, let's look at how much they can actually hold in terms of capacity and volume.
Capacity in Gallons
Tall kitchen trash bags have an estimated capacity of 13-16 gallons before being filled to the top. This is approximately 2-3 times the capacity of a standard 6-8 gallon kitchen bag.
Having this large gallon capacity allows tall kitchen bags to contain a lot more food scraps, packaging items, and other trash than regular bags before needing to be taken out.
Converting Gallons to Liters
To convert the gallon capacity to liters, we simply multiply the gallons by 3.785 (the conversion ratio between the two units).
For example: A 16 gallon tall kitchen trash bag x 3.785 = 60.56 liters
So if we estimate a tall kitchen bag capacity range of 13-16 gallons, converted this equals approximately 50-60 liters.
Capacity in Liters
Based on the typical gallon capacity and the gallons to liter conversion, tall kitchen trash bags can generally hold 50-60 liters (13-16 gallons) of trash before being filled to the top.
This 50-60 liter capacity range is the best estimate for these tall kitchen bags. But as we'll see next, there are some variables that can impact the exact capacity.
Key Factors That Impact Capacity
While 50-60 liters is a reasonable estimate, there are a few key factors that can influence the real-world capacity of a tall kitchen trash bag.
Trash Bag Brand
Different brands may have small variations in their size and capacity. One brand's "tall kitchen bag" might hold a couple more or less liters than another brand's version.
Check the package specs or manufacturer website for a brand's exact capacity if you need a more precise estimate.
Trash Bag Type
There can also be some capacity differences within a brand based on the specific type of bag - scented, drawstring, eco-friendly, etc. Again, check the stated capacity for the type you use.
How Full the Bag Is
Also keep in mind that the cited capacity is for a completely full bag. In reality, most bags are probably changed when there is still some room at the top.
So the typical volume of trash you discard is likely less than the absolute maximum capacity.
Typical Uses and Capacity Needs
When selecting tall kitchen trash bags, think about your typical uses and capacity needs:
- Do you produce a lot of food waste and packaging?
- How often do you take the trash out currently?
- Would a standard 8-10 gallon bag be sufficient or do you need more capacity?
Understanding your kitchen's trash patterns and capacity requirements will help determine if tall kitchen bags are right for your bin size, use frequency, and waste volume.
To summarize, tall kitchen trash bags have an estimated capacity of 50-60 liters or 13-16 gallons.
This is approximately 2-3 times the capacity of a standard kitchen trash bag. All else equal, the extra height of tall kitchen bags is what allows them to contain much more trash.
But remember that capacity can vary based on the specific brand, bag type, and fullness. Check manufacturer specifications if you need a more precise estimate.
Knowing the typical liter capacity will allow you to decide if tall kitchen bags match your household waste volume and trash removal frequency. With this guide, you can select the right size bag to hold the amount of waste your kitchen generates.
Density of Trash in the Bag
The density or compactness of the trash inside the bag can impact how many total liters it holds. With lightweight trash like paper, the bag may hold more liters. With dense, heavy trash like food waste, the capacity in liters may be reduced.
Shape and Compression of Trash
Similarly, tightly packed, compressed trash lets the bag contain more liters versus loose, billowy trash which takes up more space per liter.
Brand and Quality of Trash Bag
Higher density, quality trash bags can potentially hold more liters of trash compared to cheaper, lower density bags of the same dimensions.
Environment and Altitude
The surrounding environment can also impact capacity. At higher altitudes, the decreased air density allows more expansion and liters per bag.
Tall kitchen trash bags are designed for high food waste and packaging content from the kitchen. Other specialty bags are geared to different typical usages.