Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The Glad ForceFlex Plus is both strong and flexible. Read More
At an affordable price, you can get a great trash bag from Amazon Basics that is sturdy and flexible. Read More
Made from plants, the Hippo Sak is the best sustainable trash bag for its durable design and ability to hold up to 60 pounds. Read More
The Hefty Ultra Strong is a great option because it’s very durable and simple to use. Read More
The Glad ForceFlex contains odors like a champ and is very stretchy. Read More
It’s easy to underestimate the value of a great trash bag—that is, until you have to take out the garbage in a weak, leaky bag. Even if you're sold on the necessity of a good garbage bag, it's tough to know which to buy. As they don't come in sample sizes, trying out a new brand of trash bag could mean that you’re stuck using month’s worth of bags less than impressed with.
Fortunately, we're here to help.
After spending weeks researching and testing the most popular trash bags on the market, as well as some notable store brands, we’re confident the Glad ForceFlex Plus (available at Amazon) are the best option, for most people. They tie up easily and can accommodate large, heavy loads. If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, you'll want to check out the Amazon Basics (available at Amazon). They're durable and you're getting a ton of bags in the box.
The Glad ForceFlex Plus trash bags are both durable and strong.
The Amazon Basics trash bags are affordable, and sturdy.
If you're looking for a sustainable trash bag, the Hippo Sak is the best option.
Strong
Moderate flexibility
Comes with a lot of bags
Drawstrings don't cinch up as tightly as others
None that we could find
Thin
Flimsy
Drawstrings are easy to work with
Decent flexibility
Don't support much weight
Sturdy drawstrings
Don't support much weight
Not that flexible
Decent strength
Surprisingly flexible
Seals up tightly
Not many bags per box
To determine the relative strength of each bag, we designed a test to push the limits of each bag until it broke.
I'm Samantha Mangino, a staff writer at Reviewed covering the home section. I review appliances and products so you can rest assured you're buying the best stuff out there. Living in an apartment, I want a sturdy trash bag that won't leak or break in the hallway or on the way to the garbage bin.
Dave Ellerby, the Chief Scientist in the Reviewed labs, assisted in these trash bag tests. He oversees our lab testing, develops tests for new products, and updates tests to ensure they’re as meaningful as possible.
Kevin Oliver and Georgia Kral were the original testers and writers of this buying guide.
To find the best available trash bag, we put each bag in this guide through a series of practical tests. While kitchen trash bags can range in size from 12 gallons to 16 gallons, we tested the most common size kitchen trash bags, which is 13 gallons.
First, we inserted each bag into a 13-gallon trash can and, throughout the week, used it as, well, a trash bag to toss garbage into. We paid special attention to how easily each bag fit into our trash can, how difficult it was to tie while still in the can, and how cumbersome it was to remove a full bag from the can once tied.
To determine durability, we turned to Reviewed’s chief scientist, David Ellerby, at our labs in Cambridge, MA. We tested the maximum weight capacity of each trash bag, by adding dumbbells to each bag in five-pound increments until the bag finally surrendered under its load and broke. Most of the bags gave way under 30 pounds of weight. Others couldn’t hold more than 25 pounds.
When we redid our testing, we tested the durability of the trash bags through water weight. We held the bags up with a lift and filled them with water until they broke, noting the weight at which the bags faltered.
While not all trash bags are the same, you can expect certain characteristics to be present in each.
Size: If your trash bag hangs over the receptacle by four inches, it’s too long. It’s way more bag than you realistically need. Ideally, you’d want the trash bag to hug the circumference of the barrel by an inch or two. You don’t want to waste money on a bag that’s way too big.
Material: Most trash bags available today are made out of low-density polyethylene, which is a lightweight plastic that’s relatively tough and tear resistant. This type of plastic takes years to degrade, though, so it’s not very eco-friendly. If you’d rather go the biodegradable route, we’d recommend checking out reusable trash bags.
Durability: For kitchen barrels and outdoor bins, you’ll want to go with a low-density trash bag. They’re thicker and more durable than most run-of-the-mill trash bags. Not only are they able to hold heavy loads, but they can also withstand objects with sharp or pointed edges like cardboard or wood. A more durable trash bag also lends itself, potentially, fewer liquid leaks.
While different types of plastics can end up in the recycling, are trash bags recyclable? No, trash bags are not recyclable so it's not recommended that you use them to bag up your recycling.
Kevin Oliver is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.
In her career as a journalist, Kral has reported on topics ranging from restaurants and food to parenting and education. She lives in Montclair, N.J., with her husband and two children.
Samantha Mangino is a self-proclaimed homebody. Conveniently she is a home staff writer at Reviewed, covering cleaning, appliances, furniture, and home furnishings and décor. She knows her way around a house and has tested everything from furniture, sponges, steam irons, to Legos. She’s always on the hunt for the latest internet trends and wants to help make your home cleaner and cozier.
Dr. Dave Ellerby
Chief Scientist
Dave Ellerby has a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester. He has 25+ years of experience designing tests and analyzing data.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
