Trash bags to cubic yards
Convert a bag count into cubic yards and back. Useful when your job is bagged household waste and you have no idea how that maps onto a container size.
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This calculator needs JavaScript. The reference table below covers the same ground.
How many trash bags fit in a dumpster? One cubic yard is 201.97 US gallons, so a 33 gallon bag is about 6.1 to the yard if you could pack them perfectly. Real loose-packed bags leave void space, so plan on 4 to 6.
The formula
One cubic yard is 201.97 US gallons, so a 33 gallon bag is about 6.1 to the yard if you could pack them perfectly. Real loose-packed bags leave void space, so plan on 4 to 6.
Worked example
60 bags of 33 gallon household waste is roughly 10 to 15 cubic yards once void space is counted — a 15 yard container, not the 10 the theoretical number suggests.
Assumptions
- Bags are assumed loose-packed, not compacted. You cannot compact a rental container and the hauler cannot either
- The range accounts for void space between bags, which is real and is why the theoretical figure misleads
Reference table
| 33 gal bags | Theoretical yd³ | Realistic yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 25 | 4.1 | 6.0 |
| 50 | 8.2 | 12.0 |
| 75 | 12.3 | 18.0 |
| 100 | 16.3 | 24.0 |