Kitchen bins under the sink: sizes, litres and what really fits
Pull out bins, swing out bins and bins behind a door, with the cabinet widths and litres makers publish. And why the sink trap decides more than the cabinet does.
By the Ajusteur teamUpdated 4 minute read
Three ways to fit a bin
Bins hide in base units in three ways.
What fits a 450, 600 or 900 mm cabinet?
A few examples from our library of maker data.
Source: Hailo: Euro Cargo 600
Why the sink trap decides
Under a sink, the trap and pipes take the top of the cabinet. A tall bin will not fit beneath them. Low bin units are made for this space: one maker's low unit needs 370 mm of height, against 490 mm for its taller version. A drawer cut around the trap, called a sink drawer, keeps the space above usable too.
Tell us where the waste pipe leaves the wall when we visit. It decides which bin fits and how high the drawer can be.
Measure the sink cabinet in three numbers
Before you fall for a bin, take three measurements inside the sink cabinet. Width, from side panel to side panel, not the door. Depth, from the back of the door to the back panel, less anything that sticks in, such as the waste pipe where it enters the wall. And the clear height under the trap, measured from the cabinet floor to the lowest point of the pipework.
Write them down as inside sizes. Makers quote their bins against inside sizes too, so you can compare like with like. A cabinet that reads 600 mm on the plan has about 564 mm inside once two 18 mm sides are taken off, and a bin made for a 600 mm cabinet is drawn for that.
Then look at the door. A bin fixed to the door swings out as the door opens and needs the full door to clear the cabinet next to it. A bin on runners behind the door needs the door open past 90 degrees, or the frame catches the door edge on the way out. Both are fine, and both decide the hinge.
How many litres do you need?
Count a day's rubbish and how many streams you sort. A family that cooks every day fills a 40 l bin fast. If you separate recycling, choose a unit with a large bin and one or two smaller ones, such as a set of 40, 6 and 1.2 l.
Check the depth as well. Many pull out bins need about 450 to 530 mm inside the cabinet, so a bin under a shallow worktop needs a shallower model.
Finding the right one
Our waste and recycling bins page lists each one with its cabinet widths and litres, and you can filter by width. Sketch your kitchen in the planner and the sink cabinet is the first place to start.
Quick questions
What size bin fits a 600 mm kitchen cabinet?
Many do. One maker's 600 mm pull out holds two 38 l bins plus small ones, and another holds 40, 6 and 1.2 l. Check the depth and the space under the sink trap.
Can a pull out bin go under the sink?
Yes, if it is low enough to clear the trap. Low bin units are made for it; one maker's needs 370 mm of height.
How do I measure for an under sink bin?
Measure the inside width between the side panels, the inside depth from the back of the door to the back panel, and the clear height from the cabinet floor to the lowest pipe. Compare those with the maker's inside sizes.