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Trash Can Decision: Size and Location

8 days ago
last modified: 8 days ago



Remodeling one wall in my kitchen. I am stuck on 3 options for my trash can.

A. 48 qt step trash can next to cabinet



B. 35 qt in cabinet with upper drawer



C. 50 qt in cabinet full height



All have pros and cons. I am used to having a trash can out in the open, which is easily accessible. I am unsure how I feel about how gross a handle would get to open the cabinet. I also get a larger lower cabinet if do the step trash can but a smaller upper.

If we decide to go with the in cabinet can, I can't decide if I want a drawer and smaller can or a full height can only. I'm worried about going down in trash can size, but we could use the extra drawer space. Will it be disgusting to have our trash below a drawer? I'm concerned about smells coming up.

We are a family of 5 and go through a lot of trash. We currently fill up a 50 qt every other day.

Comments (25)

  • 8 days ago

    Lived with exterior trash pail for years…then moved to a pail under the sink…and, finally in the remodeled kitchen in this home we moved to a little over 10 years ago, a pullout double trash bin. Would never give up the pullout trash! So convenient, and cleaner while prepping.

    I leave the drawer open while chopping/prepping, and just sweep the refuse into the pail from the cutting board above it. And, yes I have a drawer above the trash, for utensils. It is not ”gross”, as the drawer doesn’t touch the pails below.

    As for the drawer pull getting yucky, if my hands are wet/gunky, I can use one finger to pull open the drawer.

  • 8 days ago

    Thanks for the experience. We don't use this counter space for prep it's our coffee area. But I do have a 15" cabinet next to the dishwasher and sink that would be a much more convenient place for a trashcan. I wonder if the cabinet company sells the trashcan drawer that I could install in my current cabinet. It has a drawer currently so I'd have to get the smaller can or see if the we can remove the frame for the full height.

  • 8 days ago

    check into Rev a shelf® trash bin options for your cabinet size.

    Although I have found that they are always smaller than expected.

    May be a problem for your volume of trash with your family size.


    https://www.cabinetparts.com/p/revashelf-organizers-kitchen-organizers-RV514915DM117-p38354?s_qid=4e3b92e12375912c9a38271361ede1f5

  • PRO
    8 days ago

    Google trash can pullout. These have been available for many years. Your cabinet manufacturer might also offer one.

  • 8 days ago

    My preference is the pullout with the drawer above. I agree with darbuka, once you get used to the out, you never want to go back.

  • 8 days ago

    Looking more into the rev a shelf I think that would work fine on my existing cabinet. The only issue I see is that with the drawer I would only be able to fit a 35 qt trash can. Is that going to be way too small for a family of 5?


    The other option would be to do the full height cabinet on the fridge wall. But I agree that the trash can would be more useful closer to my sink.

  • 8 days ago

    I retrofitted two rev a shelves under my sink, one for trash and the other for recycle and i keep a compost bin in the cabinet next to the sink. I do not miss my rubbish bins at all. It looks and smells cleaner in the kitchen now too.

  • 8 days ago

    Could you make it 18 inch ? We have a double pull out that hangs from rails. It has a removable metal sheet above separating it from the drawer. Perfect size for our busy family.

  • 7 days ago

    In a family of 5, you have plenty of helpers to take out the trash, if the bin gets full.

    I just checked our trash can, and it's 35-qt. We are a family of 3, but Hubby cooks a lot, and we often have guests for dinner. When it's full, we take it to the bin in the garage - no big deal.

  • 7 days ago

    I am presently an empty nester but when house was a hub of activity my 35 was enough to function well.

  • 7 days ago

    I would go for the one, you picked in the first place. You have very limited kitchen storage to begin with, and I wouldnt take away that space to install a trash door. I dont like trash inside my cabinets anyway, so thats another thought. I would either do shelving or drawers in that 15 inch place.

  • 7 days ago

    The separate trash can created much bigger messes, odors and extra maintenance. Even being only 3-4 steps from the sink, there were still inevitable spills on the floor, wall, trash can lid and foot pedal as plates, pots & pans were scraped, then transferred to the sink. Changing the liner involved removing the lid and setting it on the counter and wiping everything down again.


    The handle on the pull out can get dirty after a big meal prep but it's next to the sink and easily wiped off when rinsing the sink. Wet trash develops odors which wafts across the room regardless of where it's located. If a bag isn't completely full but needs to be removed, we top it off by emptying bath, laundry and other trash cans.

  • 7 days ago
    last modified: 7 days ago

    I think the trash can under my prep cabinet would be great actually. My pots are there now and I have to squat down to pull them out and they are a tight fit. I'll be moving them to the new drawers by the fridge.


    I do currently drip nasty stuff when going from the sink to the can, didn't even think about that.


    Still a bit concerned about the 35 qt size but I think it will be okay. Thanks for the advice guys!


    Now to refigure the other cabinets since I won't need trash can there any more.

  • 7 days ago

    Do back to back or side to side pullouts for 70 qt

  • PRO
    7 days ago
    last modified: 7 days ago

    I only need a trash can big enough for one days trash and not recycling or stuff that goes in the compost so I have small one under my sink holds a small trash bag and is taken out every night . I guess it depends on what you call trash.

  • 6 days ago

    I met with the contractors today and found out my cabinet company uses rev a shelf for all their organization stuff. They said they could cut the drawer frame off my current cabinet and get a new full height door so I can have the 50 qt trashcan.

  • 6 days ago

    I am used to having a trash can out in the open, which is easily accessible.

    The simplest option is usually the best.

    I am unsure how I feel about how gross a handle would get to open the cabinet.

    Definitely gross -- and not just the handle. I mean, my trash can stands against the end of the cabinet run, and about twice a year I need to wash that cabinet end. Trash does have some splash back, and I'd rather not have that inside a cabinet, where it's hard to wash.

  • 4 days ago

    And now I've waffled back a bit. I'm not sure I can lose an entire 15" cabinet to trash compared to the 3" I'll lose from putting it in a can. I think for the time being I will go with the 33" cabinet drawers so I can put a can beside it if I want to, and then once I get the new cabinets I will see if everything can fit in the drawers without needing to use my 15" cabinet. I can install the rev a shelf at any time. This seems to give me more options for the future.

  • 4 days ago

    You can determine today what will fit in a 33" cabinet. Get the specs for the drawers that show the interior measurements (including height). Use masking tape to outline that size on your counter. Place potential items within that taped area, then measure the height.

    Do it again, with 3 more inches (representing a 36" cabinet). Better to figure this out before you actually order cabinets.

    Remember that the 3" applies to the upper cabinet and countertop as well.

    Do the same for all the drawers. In your other thread, you mentioned wanting a place for towels, bags and wraps, etc. Wide drawers can easily be divided to hold more than one category.

  • 4 days ago

    I have tape on my table right now because I've been trying to figure it out and I'm struggling. I'll keep trying, this is driving me crazy.

  • 4 days ago

    I think if I reduce the fridge area to 35" which is still enough wiggle room for a 33" fridge, I can do a 36" base and still have just barely enough space to do a 10" trash can if I decide I can't give up my 15" cabinet for a trash pullout. I need to remeasure everything. I may have an extra inch or two or the trashcan may stick out a smidge. (Our current one does.) I need to doublecheck everything.



  • 3 days ago

    I would go with the trash pullout for sure. Much cleaner look. https://seremodeling.com/how-to-remodel-a-kitchen 

  • 3 days ago

    Okay my next question is:


    Soft opening/closing or regular heavy duty ball bearing?


    The soft opening is almost double the price... Worth it or no? My other drawers are soft opening but I see mixed reviews on choosing that with a trash can.