Obviously, you want it far enough away from rooms you normally occupy so as not to deal with odor -- so the size of the garbage can you buy is an important consideration since it needs to fit in the space you allocate for it.
Standard Size Depends on Needs
A 32-gallon trash can, measuring about 44 inches in height, holds several full kitchen trash bags. A trash can of this size with a lid may work well if you live in a small house or row house without much exterior space; you can place a trash can of this size in the garage or basement. If you live in large single-family home with a driveway on a sizable lot, you could buy a trash can twice that size and set it outside the home, as long as it has a secure lid. The average 14- to 28-quart, office-size trash can -- the kind you might put under a desk -- measures between 12 and 15 inches high.
The Drip Cap
- If you're pressed for space, figuring out where you're going to put your garbage can may be difficult.
- If you live in large single-family home with a driveway on a sizable lot, you could buy a trash can twice that size and set it outside the home, as long as it has a secure lid.