Cans, lids and liners
What trash cans fit a pull out cabinet drawer
If you are buying cans for a trash pull out, or wondering whether the can under your sink will work in one, this page is the answer. We build our trash pull outs around the three can sizes the cabinet trade uses, 35 qt, 50 qt and compact 35 qt, and cut the retainer panel for the one your setup names: sizes, lids, bags, where to buy them and how to keep the drawer clean.
Quick answer. A pull out trash drawer takes one of three cans. The 35 qt can is about 14 by 10 1/2 in at the rim and 17 7/8 in tall; the 50 qt can is about 14 3/4 by 10 3/4 in and 21 3/4 in tall; the compact 35 qt can is about 14 1/4 by 9 3/16 in and 17 1/2 in tall. A 35 qt can needs a cabinet opening at least 20 in tall and a 50 qt can at least 24 in, plus 1 in with a lid. Each of our six setups names its can and we cut the lift out retainer panel for it, so buy that size. We do not sell cans or lids.
Ready to build it? The configurator prices every choice live and draws your box, panel and cans in 3D before you order.
The three can sizes a trash pull out is built around
Pull out cans are rectangular, taper toward the base and are longer than they are wide. Three sizes cover nearly every kitchen. The rim sizes below are the makers’ published figures for the common cans, Rev-A-Shelf’s RV-35 and RV-50 polymer containers and Knape & Vogt’s QT35 compact bin; other brands run close but not identical, so measure any can you already own before you pick a setup.
| Can | Rim, about | Height, about | Gallons | Our setups that use it | Min opening height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 QT | 14 x 10 1/2 in | 17 7/8 in | 8 3/4 | One can, 12 in; two side by side, 21 in | 20 in, 21 in with lids |
| COMPACT 35 QT | 14 1/4 x 9 3/16 in | 17 1/2 in | 8 3/4 | Two front to back, 15 in | 20 in; 21 in in a Hard Maple (Select Grade) box |
| 50 QT | 14 3/4 x 10 3/4 in | 21 3/4 in | 12 1/2 | One can, 12 in; two front to back, 18 in; two side by side, 22 1/2 in | 24 in, 25 in with lids |
The layout follows the opening: in the 12 in setup the can runs front to back behind the storage compartment, at 15 and 18 in the two cans turn crosswise and sit one behind the other, and at 21 and 22 1/2 in they sit side by side behind the compartment. The retainer panel openings follow the same layout. Box widths and inside widths for every opening are on the trash pull out sizes guide.
How the lift out retainer panel holds the cans
The panel is a loose 1/2 in Baltic Birch sheet that rests near the top of the low back section of the box, with one opening per can. The can drops through and stands on the 1/2 in drawer bottom; the panel steadies it part way up, so it cannot tip or slide when the drawer stops, and the rim stays above the panel so the bag folds over it.
Because a pull out can tapers, the opening is cut to the can’s size where it passes through the panel, not at the rim. A 50 qt can will not drop through a 35 qt opening and a 35 qt can rattles in a 50 qt one, which is why the 35 qt, compact 35 qt and 50 qt setups each get their own panel. Lift the panel out with the cans and the drawer bottom is open for a wipe.
Lids, and the extra inch they need
A lid holds smells in and keeps a curious dog out, and it adds 1 in to the opening height you need: 21 in for 35 qt cans and 25 in for 50 qt cans, measured from the cabinet floor to the underside of the countertop or the rail above. The lid sits on the rim above the retainer panel and rides with the can; Rev-A-Shelf makes lids for its 35 and 50 qt cans. In a double, most people lid the trash or compost can and leave the dry recycling open.
Which trash bags fit a pull out can
Bags are sold in gallons and pull out cans in quarts, and 4 qt make a gallon: a 35 qt can holds 8 3/4 gal and a 50 qt can 12 1/2 gal, which is why the 50 qt can takes the standard 13 gal tall kitchen bag.
| Can | Capacity | Bag that fits | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 QT | 8 3/4 gal | 8 to 10 gal kitchen bag; a 13 gal bag folded over works | Fold the extra over the rim |
| COMPACT 35 QT | 8 3/4 gal | Same as the 35 qt | Fold a tall bag down first so it does not bunch under the panel |
| 50 QT | 12 1/2 gal | 13 gal tall kitchen bag | The everyday bag, with a little to fold over |
Buying cans and replacement bins
We do not sell cans or lids, so buy them from a cabinet hardware supplier or a home center before the box arrives, in the size your setup names. Rev-A-Shelf’s RV-35 and RV-50 and Knape & Vogt’s QT35 are the common ones, and Rev-A-Shelf prints the size on the bottom of its bins, so a replacement is a matter of turning the old one over. Buy two of the same model for a double so the bags, lids and openings match. A free standing kitchen can is taller and rounder and will not pass through a retainer opening; do not plan a drawer around one.
Keeping a trash pull out clean and odor free
- Lid the smelly can. Trash or compost gets the lid; recycling can stay open. A closed drawer does more for odor than anything in a can.
- Line every can. A bag folded over the rim keeps the can clean and lifts out in one piece. Tie it off before you lift it over the 6 1/4 in back of the box.
- Wash the cans, not the drawer. Pull out cans are polymer, so they go in the sink or out to the hose. Dry them before they go back.
- Lift the panel out. The drawer bottom is a 1/2 in Baltic Birch or Hard Maple (Select Grade) panel that wipes clean with a damp cloth and dish soap; do not let water pool on it. Baltic Birch boxes ship finished, and an unfinished Hard Maple (Select Grade) box wants a coat of finish before it meets trash.
- Catch spills early. A bag that leaks under a can is the usual source of a smell. Lift the can, lift the panel, wipe, done.
Compost caddies and the storage compartment
On the 12, 21 and 22 1/2 in setups a 1/4 in Baltic Birch divider about 4 1/4 in behind the front makes a storage compartment as wide as the inside of the box: 10 3/8 in in the 12 in setup, 19 3/8 in at 21 in and 20 7/8 in at 22 1/2 in. It is sized for a roll or a box of liners; a compost caddy fits only if it is under about 4 in front to back, and most countertop pails are deeper, so give a real compost stream one of the two cans with a lid. The front to back setups at 15 and 18 in have no compartment, because the two cans use the full depth. The single vs double guide covers trash, recycling and compost layouts.
What to pick in the configurator for your cans
Decide on the cans first, then open the trash pull out configurator: the “Trash can setup” field names the can and the opening together, and the live 3D preview draws see through cans in the layout, with a Show bins toggle to hide them.
| Cans you will use | Choose in “Trash can setup” | Opening height to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| One 35 qt | “One 35 qt can, storage compartment, 12″ opening” | 20 in, 21 in with a lid |
| One 50 qt | “One 50 qt can, storage compartment, 12″ opening” | 24 in, 25 in with a lid |
| Two compact 35 qt | “Two compact 35 qt cans, front to back, 15″ opening” | 20 in; 21 in with “(Select) Hard Maple”; add 1 in for lids |
| Two 50 qt, narrow cabinet | “Two 50 qt cans, front to back, 18″ opening” | 24 in, 25 in with lids |
| Two 35 qt, side by side | “Two 35 qt cans, side by side, storage compartment, 21″ opening” | 20 in, 21 in with lids |
| Two 50 qt, side by side | “Two 50 qt cans, side by side, storage compartment, 22 1/2″ opening” | 24 in, 25 in with lids |
Under “Select Your Wood Type”, “(Select) Hard Maple” gives the 14 1/4 in front, which is why the compact can setup needs 21 in in maple. Cans and lids are not included, so order the box, then buy cans of that size while we build it. Our configurator guide covers every field.
Know your cans? Build your trash pull out and watch the drawing of your exact box update as you choose, with a red warning that stops any box we cannot build; it ships free, built to order in our Las Vegas shop. Cans of another size or shape? Send us a photo and the rim measurements on the instant quote.
Trash can and lid questions
Can I use any 13 gallon kitchen can in a pull out trash drawer?
Usually not. A free standing 13 gal can is taller and rounder than a pull out can, so it will not pass through the retainer panel opening and often will not clear the countertop. Pull out cans are rectangular and tapered: the 50 qt can holds 12 1/2 gal and takes a 13 gal bag, which is the closest match. If you have a can you love, measure its rim and height against the table above.
Do lids fit in a trash pull out drawer?
Yes, with 1 in more opening height: 21 in for 35 qt cans and 25 in for 50 qt cans. The lid sits on the rim above the retainer panel and rides with the can. Rev-A-Shelf makes lids for its 35 and 50 qt cans; for another brand, add the lid’s height to the can’s.
What size trash bag fits a 35 qt or 50 qt pull out can?
A 35 qt can holds 8 3/4 gal, so an 8 to 10 gal bag fits, or a 13 gal bag with the extra folded over the rim. A 50 qt can holds 12 1/2 gal and takes the standard 13 gal tall kitchen bag; fold it over the rim so it stays put.
Where do I buy the cans for a trash pull out?
From a cabinet hardware supplier or a home center; we do not sell cans or lids. Look for the 35 qt, compact 35 qt or 50 qt pull out can your setup names, such as Rev-A-Shelf’s RV-35 and RV-50 or Knape & Vogt’s QT35; Rev-A-Shelf prints the size on the bottom of its bins.
How do I clean under the bins in a trash pull out?
Lift the cans out, lift the retainer panel out, and wipe the 1/2 in drawer bottom, Baltic Birch or Hard Maple (Select Grade) in a maple box, with a damp cloth and dish soap; do not let water sit on it. Drop the panel back in and the cans through it.
Do the bins rattle when the drawer closes?
They should not. Each can passes through an opening cut to its size, so the panel holds it upright and the rim stops it dropping, and the soft close on the runner ends the travel gently. A can that rattles is the wrong size for the panel, or has a bag bunched under its base.
Can I swap a 35 qt can for a 50 qt can later?
The 12 in box is the same 11 5/8 in box for both, but the retainer panel is cut for one can size, and a 50 qt can needs 24 in of opening height instead of 20. If your opening is at least 24 in tall and you may want the bigger can later, order the 50 qt setup now; for a new panel cut for different cans, describe it on the instant quote.
Related reading
- Trash pull out sizes by cabinet width: box and inside widths and opening height per setup.
- Single vs double trash pull out: one can or two, and where compost goes.
- Narrow trash pull outs for 12 in cabinets: what fits the smallest opening.
- How to install a pull out trash can drawer: runners, clips, the door and the panel.
- Types of pull out trash cans compared: wood drawer, wire kit, door mount.
- Trash pull out drawers: the six setups, what is included and the warranty.
Pick your cans and we cut the panel for them
Choose the setup for your cans and we build the dovetailed box with the retainer panel cut for them in our Las Vegas shop, with a lifetime warranty on the wood box. Build yours in the configurator; every option shows its price as you build it.