Trash pull out layouts
Single vs double trash pull out: which one fits your cabinet
A single trash pull out holds one can and fits a 12 in opening. A double trash pull out holds two cans, usually trash and recycling, and needs at least a 15 in opening. With our six standard waste and recycle setups your opening width makes most of the decision, and how you sort your waste and the slides you buy settle the rest.
Quick answer. Your clear opening decides it. A 12 in opening takes a single: one 35 qt or one 50 qt can with a storage compartment. Openings of 15 and 18 in take two cans front to back (compact 35 qt at 15 in, 50 qt at 18 in), and 21 and 22 1/2 in openings take two cans side by side with a storage compartment (35 qt at 21 in, 50 qt at 22 1/2 in). For heavy recycling, compare slide ratings: Blum rates the MOVENTO 763 at 125 lb and the TANDEM 563H, our standard, at 100 lb.
Single bin vs double bin at a glance
| Single bin | Double bin | |
|---|---|---|
| OPENING | 12 in | 15, 18, 21 or 22 1/2 in |
| BEST FOR | A 12 in opening, often next to the sink or range | Trash plus recycling, or trash plus compost |
| CANS | One 35 qt or one 50 qt | Two compact 35 qt (15 in), two 50 qt (18 or 22 1/2 in) or two 35 qt (21 in) |
| LAYOUT | One can | Front to back at 15 and 18 in, side by side at 21 and 22 1/2 in |
| STORAGE SPACE | Built in storage compartment at the front | Built in on the side by side setups; none on the front to back setups |
| SLIDES | 21 in Blum TANDEM (our standard), Blum MOVENTO or another undermount you name | Same choices; a higher rated runner suits heavy recycling |
| BOX | Same dovetailed build, 11 5/8 in wide | Same dovetailed build, 14 5/8 to 22 1/8 in wide |
Both versions are the same Gritly box: 21 in deep, an 11 1/4 in front in Baltic Birch or 14 1/4 in in Hard Maple (Select Grade), sides that step down to 6 1/4 in at the back, a 1/2 in bottom, a lift out 1/2 in Baltic Birch retainer panel with openings cut for the cans, and the notch and hook holes for your undermount runner. The differences are the width, the openings in the retainer panel and the storage compartment, a 1/4 in Baltic Birch divider about 4 1/4 in behind the front on the single and side by side setups. Both need the same cabinet depth: at least 21 15/16 in inside for a 21 in Blum TANDEM, or 22 23/32 in with Servo Drive.
Side by side vs front to back
Pull out cans are longer than they are wide, so two of them side by side, each running front to back, need a wide box. That is why our side by side setups start at a 21 in opening for two 35 qt cans and use the 22 1/2 in opening for two 50 qt cans. In a 15 or 18 in opening the two cans turn crosswise and sit one behind the other: compact 35 qt cans at 15 in, 50 qt cans at 18 in.
Front to back fits narrower cabinets, 15 and 18 in, and the two cans use the full 21 in of box depth, so there is no storage compartment. Full extension runners bring the back can all the way out of the cabinet, so both cans are easy to reach. Side by side puts both cans near the front, behind a storage compartment for bags and liners, so either one lifts out without reaching over the other.
Which cabinet widths suit each layout
Widths are clear openings, measured inside the cabinet. See how to measure for a trash pull out if you have not measured yet.
| Clear opening | Layout we build | Cans | Box width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | Single, storage compartment | One 35 qt or one 50 qt | 11 5/8 in |
| 15 in | Two front to back | Two compact 35 qt | 14 5/8 in |
| 18 in | Two front to back | Two 50 qt | 17 5/8 in |
| 21 in | Two side by side, storage compartment | Two 35 qt | 20 5/8 in |
| 22 1/2 in | Two side by side, storage compartment | Two 50 qt | 22 1/8 in |
Each opening gets one standard drawer, the opening minus 3/8 in wide, so the width you measure picks the layout. That is 1/32 in narrower than Blum’s 42 mm inside width rule (13/32 in with 5/8 in sides), inside Blum’s +0 / −1.5 mm inside width tolerance, so the runner seats the same. A 22 1/2 in opening is the inside of a 24 in frameless cabinet. Undermount slides need the box width to match the opening, so if your opening is wider than a standard width, block out the cabinet sides with filler strips to that width so the slides mount at the right spacing. Otherwise, build a box to your exact size in the custom drawer box configurator or describe what you need on the instant quote. For inside widths and depth at each opening, see the trash pull out sizes guide.
Compost and recycling setups
Most kitchens sort into two or three streams. Here is how each one maps onto a Gritly box. In every case the retainer panel lifts out, so cleaning up a spill under the cans takes a minute.
| Setup | Layout | Smallest opening | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRASH ONLY | One can, or two in a wider opening | 12 in | In a 12 in opening, liners go in the built in storage compartment at the front |
| TRASH PLUS RECYCLING | Two cans | 15 in (compact 35 qt), 18 in (50 qt) | Front to back, put recycling in the back can; it is emptied less often |
| TRASH PLUS COMPOST | Two cans, compost can with a lid | 15 in | Add 1 in of opening height for the lid |
| TRASH, RECYCLING AND COMPOST | Three streams | Not a standard setup | Our standard setups hold one or two cans; describe a three stream layout on the instant quote |
Recycling with glass is the heaviest stream in most homes, so it is the one to think about when you pick a slide. Compost is the smelliest, so it gets the lid. We do not sell cans or caddies; buy cans in the sizes your setup names.
Slide duty
Standard duty or heavy duty slides
A trash pull out gets yanked open dozens of times a day, often with a foot or a knee, and two full cans weigh far more than one. Every box we build is prepped for a 21 in runner: the Blum TANDEM is our standard, the Blum MOVENTO is the other Blum choice, and you can name any other undermount slide. We do not publish a load rating for our boxes; the numbers below are the slide makers’ own static ratings, by model.
| Runner | Maker’s rating | How to choose it | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blum TANDEM 563H | 100 lb static, 90 lb dynamic (Blum) | Blum TANDEM, 21 in | Our standard for every setup |
| Blum MOVENTO 763 | 125 lb (Blum) | Blum MOVENTO, 21 in | Doubles that carry heavier recycling |
| Blum MOVENTO 769 | 170 lb (Blum) | Other undermount slide, type the model | Heavy duty doubles |
| Grass Dynapro Heavy Duty | 150 lb static (Grass) | Other undermount slide, type the model | Heavy duty doubles |
All of these are full extension with soft close. For the 769, the Grass runner or any other model, choose “Other undermount slide (name it below)” and type the exact model before we cut. The locking clips option appears only with the two Blum choices; with another runner, buy its locking devices separately. Want push to open? MOVENTO fitted with Blum’s TIP ON BLUMOTION unit needs a wider rear notch, about 4 15/16 in, so choose “Other undermount slide (name it below)” for that too. Shop runners and clips in our undermount slides and clips and brackets categories, and read the undermount slide guide for every runner we prep for.
How to choose in four steps
1. Measure the clear width
12 in means a single. 15 or 18 in means two cans front to back. 21 or 22 1/2 in means two cans side by side. A wider opening gets filler strips to the standard width; anything else goes to the custom drawer box configurator or the instant quote.
2. Count your streams
In a double, decide which can takes recycling or compost. In a 12 in opening, choose a 35 qt can or a taller 50 qt can; both come with the storage compartment. A third stream needs the instant quote.
3. Check the height
20 in for 35 qt cans, 24 in for 50 qt, plus 1 in with lids. Compact cans in a Hard Maple (Select Grade) box need 21 in.
4. Pick the runner
The Blum TANDEM is our standard; Blum rates the MOVENTO higher for heavy recycling. Then build yours in the configurator.
Whichever you choose, the box is dovetailed in our Las Vegas shop from Baltic Birch or Hard Maple (Select Grade), cut to the 1/32 inch, and carries a lifetime warranty on the wood box. Every trash pull out gets a 1/2 in bottom, the stiffer of our two bottom options, in Baltic Birch, or Hard Maple (Select Grade) on maple boxes. Our step by step configurator guide walks through every choice.
Single and double trash pull out questions
Is a single or double trash pull out better?
It depends on your opening more than your taste. A 12 in opening takes a single, one 35 qt or one 50 qt can with a storage compartment for liners. Openings of 15 in and wider take a double, which handles trash and recycling in one pull.
Can two trash bins fit side by side in an 18 inch cabinet?
Not in our standard setups. Pull out cans are longer than they are wide, so two side by side need our 21 in opening for 35 qt cans or the 22 1/2 in opening for 50 qt cans. In an 18 in opening two 50 qt cans turn crosswise and sit front to back.
Do I need heavy duty slides for a double trash pull out?
It depends on what goes in the cans. We do not rate the box itself; the slide maker’s rating is the one that counts. Blum rates the TANDEM 563H, our standard, at 100 lb static, the MOVENTO 763 at 125 lb and the heavy duty MOVENTO 769 at 170 lb. For a double that carries a lot of glass, step up the runner; for the 769, choose “Other undermount slide (name it below)” and type the model.
Where does the compost bin go in a trash pull out?
In a double, a lidded compost can takes one of the two spots; add 1 in of opening height for the lid. Our standard setups hold one or two cans, so for three streams in one drawer, describe the layout on the instant quote.
Can I add a storage compartment to a double trash pull out?
The side by side doubles already have one. The 21 and 22 1/2 in setups include a storage compartment, a 1/4 in Baltic Birch divider about 4 1/4 in behind the front, for bags and liners. The front to back doubles at 15 and 18 in have none, because the two cans use the full depth.
Does a double trash pull out cost more than a single?
Yes. Each can setup carries its own price, and the double setups cost more than the single ones. Build yours in the configurator and every option shows its price as you build it, so you can compare setups before you order. On the hardware side, heavy duty runners cost more than standard duty ones.
One bin or two, built for your opening
Pick the setup for your opening, your wood and your slide, and get a dovetailed trash pull out in the layout that fits. Build yours in the configurator; every option shows its price as you build it.