Kitchen Bin Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Litre Capacity (10L–70L)

You've found a bin you like, the listing says 40L, and now you're stuck on two questions: is that enough, and will it fit? Litres are the headline number on a kitchen bin listing, yet on their own they tell you less than you'd expect. This kitchen bin size guide explains what they mean, why cupboard height matters as much as width, which size suits which job, and how to pick a liner that fits.

If you're still choosing between a pull-out, door-mounted, under-sink or free-standing bin, start with how to choose the right type of kitchen bin; this guide assumes you're working out the litres.

Quick answer: As a starting point, 10–15L suits a second or lightly used kitchen bin, 16–25L a main bin for one or two people, 26–40L a twin for a kitchen that cooks most days, and 41–70L heavy use or three-way sorting. For a pull out bin or under sink bin, check each bucket's litres and your cupboard's clear height, not just the total and the width.

What do the litres on a kitchen bin actually mean?

The litre figure in a kitchen bin's name is usually its total capacity: one container for a single bin, or all the buckets combined for a twin or triple. It's handy for comparing systems, but the per-bucket figure shapes daily use: how quickly each stream fills, which liner you buy and how heavy the bag is when you lift it out.

Here's how much the split can change between bins:

The two 52L bins hold the same amount but suit different homes: two equal 26L buckets work when rubbish and recycling build up at a similar pace, while one 26L bucket beside two 10L buckets suits a home with lots of general waste and two smaller streams to sort. Whenever you compare pull out bin listings, read the bucket split before the headline number.

Twin and triple buckets come in frame-mounted and door-mounted systems, and we've compared how the two mount styles open if that's still undecided.

Is a 2 × 20L bin the same as a 40L bin?

Same total, different use. A 2 × 20L system holds 40 litres overall, but each stream fills like a 20L bin and needs liners that fit a 20L bucket. A single 40L bucket copes better with bulky packaging but mixes everything together. Choose the split by how you sort, not by the total alone.

What size kitchen bin do I need for my household?

There's no single right size: it depends on how you cook, how many streams you sort and how often you empty it. Start with the quick answer, then check it against the table and calculation below.

The bands follow our collection names, so neighbouring bands share an end point and a 15L or 20L bin may sit in either. Cabinet widths come from each product's listing; where none is shown, check the product page before you order. Need more than 70L? Browse our 74L and 84–94L ranges.

Work out your own number

A quick check of your current bin beats any rule of thumb: if a 20L bucket is about half full by evening, you're producing roughly 10L a day. Multiply that by the days you'd like between emptying it.

Daily litres × days between emptying = the capacity you need

At 8L a day, emptied every three days, that's 24L, so a 30L bin leaves room for the lid to close and the bag to lift out. Use this for general waste and recycling; food scraps are worth emptying more often, whatever the bin size.

How many litres per waste stream?

In a frame of a given size, more buckets means smaller buckets: the 52L twin above gives each stream 26L, while the triple splits the same total into 26L, 10L and 10L. Only add a stream you'll actually use, then:

• Give the biggest bucket to whatever fills fastest, whether that's general waste or recycling.
• Keep food scraps small. A compact caddy emptied often, such as Brabantia's Sort & Go 6L for countertop organic waste, tends to stay fresher than a large compartment sitting half full.
• Check what your council accepts before you label buckets. Food-organics collection varies between councils; the NSW EPA explains how it's rolling out in that state.

Why can the same cabinet take a 30L or a 46L bin?

Because height changes capacity as much as width does. Kia Ora's OPTIO range fits the same 400mm cabinet at three heights:

So ask how much clear height your cupboard has, not just how wide it is. Measure from the cabinet floor to the lowest obstruction, whether that's a drawer box, a shelf, the sink bowl or a pipe, and leave room above the bucket to lift it clear of the frame.

What size under sink bin will fit?

An under sink bin often lands in a lower litre band than a bin in another cupboard of the same width, because the sink bowl, waste trap and water connections take up space. Measure the cupboard's clear internal width, depth and height, noting where the plumbing cuts into each. Allow room for the bin to slide or swing open and for each bucket to lift out, then compare your figures with the product's listed dimensions and installation details.

A low-profile twin can help where plumbing limits the space. The Wesco 30L Pullout Kitchen Bin – Shorty has two 15L buckets and measures 450mm wide, 325mm deep and 330mm high to the lid (345mm to the handle), and its listing says it's designed to fit under sink units. Compare our under sink bin range with your measurements; our under sink guide shows how to measure around the waste trap.

What size bin liner do I need?

A liner that fits stays put in the bucket and lifts out without splitting. Two checks get it right:

1. Choose liners for the individual bucket. A system with two 20L buckets needs liners that suit each 20L bucket, not the 40L total. Check the shape too: a deep, slim bucket and a shallow, broad one can need different bags.
2. Use the maker's liner where there is one. Brabantia, for example, lists a matching PerfectFit bag code for the Sort & Go 16L (code D) and the Built-in Binny 10L (code C).

Cracked a bucket? We stock replacement buckets sold by brand and litre.

Why choose The Kitchen Bins?

• A dedicated kitchen bin range you can shop by litres, cabinet width or brand.
• Sizing help before you buy. Send us your cupboard's internal width, depth and height, and we'll suggest what fits, or tell you honestly if nothing does.
• Delivery and returns. We deliver across Australia, with shipping calculated at checkout, and accept returns or exchanges within 30 days of delivery under our returns policy.

About The Kitchen Bins

The Kitchen Bins is part of The Storage Shop, an Australian-owned business operating from Lonsdale, South Australia, since 1992. It began with a cabinet maker, which is why our advice starts with your cupboard's measurements. Our range runs from bins under 10L to 94L systems, from brands including Wesco, Hailo, Hafele, Kia Ora, Blum and Brabantia. Browse our kitchen bins by size or cabinet width, or send us your measurements and we'll help you choose.

Frequently asked questions

How big is a 30 litre kitchen bin?

It holds 30 litres in total, but its size depends on the model. A single bin may have one 30L container, while a twin may split it into two 15L buckets: the Kia Ora 30L OPTIO twin, for example, measures 335mm wide, 480mm deep and 320mm high for a 400mm carcase. Compare each bucket's litres and the outer dimensions before you order.

Should I choose a 30L or 40L kitchen bin?

Let your own numbers decide. If the calculation above comes out at about 24L or less, a 30L bin leaves comfortable headroom; if it lands near 30L, step up to 40L. In a cabinet, height may settle it: Kia Ora's OPTIO range offers 30L at 320mm high and 40L at 420mm high for the same 400mm cabinet.

Can I fit more than 60L in a 450mm cabinet?

Yes. The Kia Ora VITA 66L (2 × 33L), the 450mm VITA 69L and the Blum TANDEMBOX with Wesco 64L (2 × 32L) are all listed for 450mm cabinets; the VITA 69L and Wesco's Pull Boy Z 64L also come in 500mm versions. Larger buckets are taller, so check each product's height and depth first.

What size kitchen bin is best for a family of four?

There's no fixed figure, but a twin in the 26–40L band is a sensible place to begin for a kitchen that cooks most days. Check it with the calculation above, and size up if you sort a third stream indoors.

Is a 20L kitchen bin big enough for two people?

It can be, as a single main bin. At 6L of rubbish a day, emptied every three days, you'd fill 18L and still have a little room spare. If you also collect recycling indoors, a twin of 25–30L gives each stream its own bucket.

Find the Right Kitchen Bin for Your Home

Whether you need a compact under sink bin or a larger pull out bin, The Kitchen Bins offers practical options for different kitchen layouts and household needs.

Explore our kitchen bins range to compare available sizes, configurations and cabinet requirements.