A liner that is two inches too narrow will not go over the rim. One that is too thin splits when the bag is lifted out. Most complaints about bin bags trace back to these two numbers, so getting trash bag sizes and thickness right is the first job in any liner order.
The good news is that you can work out both from the bin and the waste in front of you. No catalogue needed.
How bag sizes are written
Liner sizes are given as width by length, for example 24 x 28 inches or 60 x 80 cm. Width is the flat width of the bag, which is half its opening circumference. Length runs from the opening to the bottom seal. Capacity in gallons or litres is a useful shorthand, but two bins with the same capacity can have very different shapes, so measure where you can.
Measuring a bin in four steps
- Find the opening circumference. For a round bin, multiply the diameter by 3.14. For a square or rectangular bin, add all four sides.
- Halve it. That is the flat bag width you need.
- Measure the bin height, then add half the base diameter (or half the base depth for a square bin) so the bag can sit flat on the bottom without stretching.
- Add 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) of overhang so the bag folds over the rim. The total is your bag length.
A worked example: a round bin 16 inches across and 26 inches tall has a circumference of about 50 inches, so the bag needs to be 25 inches wide. Length is 26 + 8 + 4 = 38 inches. Round up to the nearest standard size rather than down. A slightly loose liner works; a tight one tears at the rim.
For reference sizes by bin capacity, see the Hanpak trash bag size chart.
Mil and micron: reading the thickness figure
Thickness appears in two units. A mil is one thousandth of an inch. A micron is one thousandth of a millimetre. One mil is about 25.4 microns, so a 1 mil bag is roughly 25 microns thick.
The unit usually tells you the resin. Low-density liners (LDPE and LLDPE) tend to be quoted in mil; high-density liners (HDPE) in microns. That matters because the two films behave differently. HDPE is stiffer and stronger for its weight, so a 15 micron HDPE bag can carry the same office waste as a much thicker LDPE bag. LDPE stretches before it breaks, which is why it copes better with sharp or heavy loads. Comparing an HDPE and an LDPE bag by thickness alone will mislead you.
Matching gauge to the load
The table gives typical starting points. Resin quality and seal type move the real figure up or down, so treat these as a brief for sampling rather than a final spec.
| Waste | Usual film | Typical thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Office paper, light dry waste | HDPE | 8 to 13 microns |
| Household kitchen bins | HDPE or LLDPE | 13 to 20 microns HDPE, or 0.7 to 0.9 mil LLDPE |
| Restaurants, wet and heavy waste | LLDPE | 1.2 to 2 mil |
| Building debris, sharp items | LLDPE | 2.5 to 3 mil and above |
At the top end, heavy-duty contractor bags are made for loads that would puncture a standard liner. For light-to-medium waste in high volume, thin HDPE star seal bags on roll keep cost per bag down, and the star seal spreads the load across the bottom so there are no weak corners. Retail buyers often add drawstring trash bags in the kitchen sizes, where the closure helps them sell.
A useful check is to agree a target bag weight alongside the thickness, for example grams per 100 bags. Weighing a carton sample on arrival takes a minute and shows straight away if film has been run thin, which a single micrometer reading can miss. If you are trying to reduce gauge, we usually suggest sampling the new thickness against your current bag with the same waste, rather than comparing the two numbers on paper.
From the Hanpak team
Before you order
Send Hanpak your bin dimensions or target sizes, the waste type and your packing (bags per roll, rolls per carton), and you will have a quote within 48 hours. MOQ is flexible and quoted per size and design. A first order of bags takes 4 to 6 weeks and a repeat order 3 to 4 weeks, counted from sample approval. Every pack carries a lot number, so any query can be traced to its production run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bag fits a 13 gallon kitchen bin?
Most standard 13 gallon kitchen bins take a bag of about 24 x 27 or 24 x 28 inches. Bins with an unusual shape or a wide opening may need a wider bag, so measure the rim if liners keep slipping in.
Is a thicker bag always stronger?
No. A thin HDPE liner can outperform a thicker LDPE one on dry, non-sharp waste, and good resin matters as much as gauge. Test samples with the waste your customers actually throw away.
Get liners sized for your bins
Browse our trash bag products, then request a quote or samples or send your sizes to the team on WhatsApp. Stock samples are free, so you can compare gauges before committing.