Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions The Surprising Real Sizes
A standard Slim Jim trash can measures 20 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 30 inches tall for the 23-gallon model. That signature 11-inch width is what makes the entire Slim Jim line famous it slides into gaps most rectangular trash bins can’t touch. Understanding slim jim trash can dimensions before you buy can save you a return trip to the store and a lot of frustration in a tight hallway or under a counter.
This guide breaks down every common Slim Jim trash can size, from the compact 8-gallon model up to the 23-gallon under-counter version, with real height, width, and depth numbers for each. We’ll also cover gallon-to-liter conversions, a side-by-side comparison table, and where these narrow bins show up most in homes, offices, and restaurants.
One detail a lot of comparison pages skip: the “slim” in Slim Jim refers almost entirely to the depth, not the length. Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions Most people assume the whole can is small, but a 23-gallon Slim Jim is actually 30 inches tall as tall as a toddler while staying narrow enough to tuck beside a doorway.
How Big Is a Slim Jim Trash Can?
The full lineup of Slim Jim trash can dimensions spans four main capacities: 8, 12, 16, and 23 gallons, with a specialty under-counter version also built on the 23-gallon frame. Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions Every size keeps roughly the same 11-inch width, which is the defining feature of the entire product family. Length and height are what change as the gallon capacity goes up.
Rubbermaid Commercial Products, the manufacturer behind the original Slim Jim line, designed the shape specifically for narrow aisles, food-service prep lines, and hallways where a round or square trash can wouldn’t fit. Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions That rectangular, space-saving trash can profile is why janitorial and facility maintenance teams have relied on it for decades.
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Below, we’ll walk through each size in detail, but here’s the short version: as capacity goes up, height goes up first, length second, and width barely moves at all.
Quick Conversion Table
Slim Jim trash can capacity is usually listed in gallons, but if you’re comparing bins internationally or shopping from a metric spec sheet, here’s how the sizes convert.
| Slim Jim Size | Gallons | Liters | Cubic Inches (approx.) | Cubic Feet (approx.) |
| Compact | 8 gal | 30.3 L | 1,848 in³ | 1.07 ft³ |
| Small | 10 gal | 37.9 L | 2,310 in³ | 1.34 ft³ |
| Standard | 12 gal | 45.4 L | 2,772 in³ | 1.60 ft³ |
| Mid-size | 16 gal | 60.6 L | 3,696 in³ | 2.14 ft³ |
| Large | 23 gal | 87.1 L | 5,313 in³ | 3.07 ft³ |
| Under-Counter | 23 gal | 87.1 L | 5,313 in³ | 3.07 ft³ |
These slim jim trash can measurements are rounded for readability. Actual usable capacity can run slightly lower once you factor in a liner bag and the space needed for a swing lid.
Quick Reference Table
Use this Slim Jim trash can size chart to compare all six common models at a glance before you scroll down to the full breakdown.
| Model | Approx. Dimensions (L x W x H) | Closeness to “Standard” Bin (X/10) | Best Situation/Use |
| 8-Gallon Slim Jim | 11″ L x 11″ W x 20″ H | 4/10 | Bathroom, small office, desk-side |
| 10-Gallon Slim Jim | 15″ L x 11″ W x 20″ H | 5/10 | Break room, hallway nook |
| 12-Gallon Slim Jim | 21.5″ L x 11.5″ W x 23.5″ H | 6/10 | Kitchen, classroom, small retail |
| 16-Gallon Slim Jim | 22″ L x 11″ W x 25″ H | 8/10 | Office corridor, medical facility |
| 23-Gallon Slim Jim | 20″ L x 11″ W x 30″ H | 10/10 | Restaurant, warehouse, event venue |
| 23-Gallon Under-Counter | 22″ D x 15.8″ W x 30″ H | 9/10 | Commercial kitchen prep line |
Slim Jim Trash Can Sizes at a Glance

8-Gallon Slim Jim Trash Can
The smallest common Slim Jim garbage can dimensions come in around 11 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 20 inches tall, according to Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ compact receptacle line. It’s built for spaces where even the 12-gallon model feels oversized, like a single-person office or a narrow bathroom corner. Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions This size still keeps the brand’s signature rectangular profile, just scaled down.
Why it matters: an 8-gallon Slim Jim trash can size fits places a round wastebasket can’t, like flush against a cabinet edge. It’s also light enough to lift one-handed when full, which makes it a favorite for janitorial staff doing quick room-to-room rounds.
10-Gallon Slim Jim Trash Can
At roughly 15 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 20 inches tall, the 10-gallon Slim Jim splits the difference between the compact 8-gallon and the taller 12-gallon models. This Slim Jim waste bin size shows up often in break rooms and shared hallway nooks where moderate daily volume needs a slightly bigger footprint than a desk-side can.
Key distinction: unlike the 8-gallon version, the 10-gallon size can usually accommodate a standard 10-13 gallon kitchen liner without excessive bunching at the top, which cuts down on liner waste and makes bag changes faster for facility staff.
12-Gallon Slim Jim Trash Can
The 12-gallon model measures approximately 21.5 inches long, 11.5 inches wide, and 23.5 inches tall, per commercial supplier listings for Rubbermaid’s Slim Jim container line. It’s one of the most common sizes for classrooms, small retail counters, and home kitchens that want a taller can without stepping up to the full 16 or 23-gallon commercial units.
Why it matters: this Slim Jim trash bin dimension sits right at the point where a household kitchen liner (13-gallon) fits without much slack, making it one of the easiest sizes to restock from a regular grocery-store bag box instead of ordering commercial liners.
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16-Gallon Slim Jim Trash Can
Hubert.com, a commercial food-service supplier, lists the 16-gallon Slim Jim at 23 3/8 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 24 7/8 inches tall (commonly rounded to 22″ x 11″ x 25″ across other retailers). Slim Jim Trash Can Dimensions This mid-size option is a popular pick for office corridors, hospital wings, and medical facilities that need frequent waste pickup without a bulky footprint.
Something no competitor explained clearly: the 16-gallon size uses the exact same venting-channel lid system as the 23-gallon can, so facilities that stock both sizes can share replacement lids and swing-top covers, cutting down on spare-parts inventory.
23-Gallon Slim Jim Trash Can (Standard)
This is the size most people picture when they search slim jim trash can dimensions in inches. Multiple commercial retailers, including Clean Freak and Home Depot, list it at 20 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 30 inches tall, holding a standard 20 to 30-gallon liner bag. It’s the workhorse of the entire Slim Jim recycling bin dimensions and trash bin lineup, common in restaurants, warehouses, and large event venues.
Why it matters: at 30 inches tall, this is the size where the “slim” branding earns its name most visibly it’s taller than most kitchen counters but still narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway without turning sideways, which isn’t true of most 23-gallon round bins.
23-Gallon Under-Counter Slim Jim Trash Can
Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ spec sheet lists the under-counter variant at 22.06 inches deep, 15.8 inches wide, and 30 inches tall, with an angled opening designed to sit flush beneath a countertop edge. This indoor Slim Jim trash can dimensions variant holds the same 23-gallon capacity as the standard model but trades footprint shape for reach it’s built so staff can drop waste in from an angle instead of straight down.
Why it matters: commercial kitchens use this size specifically because it doubles the usable opening space compared to a traditional slim container, which speeds up prep-line waste disposal during high-volume service hours.
Where Does the Slim Jim Trash Can Appear in Daily Life?

Once you know the actual Slim Jim trash can measurements, you start noticing the bins everywhere. Fast-food assembly lines use the 23-gallon standard model at the end of the counter. Hospitals and office buildings lean on the 16-gallon size for hallway waste stations. Butcher shops and grocery delis often choose the under-counter version so staff can clear scraps without stepping away from the cutting board.
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Home organization projects have also picked up on the trend. Because the 11-inch width fits beside a refrigerator or inside a narrow pantry gap, smaller Slim Jim models (8 to 12-gallon) have become a common pick for households replacing a bulky round kitchen trash can with something that reclaims floor space.
FAQ’s
What are the dimensions of a Slim Jim trash can?
A standard 23-gallon Slim Jim trash can measures approximately 30 inches high, 22 inches long, and 11 inches wide. Exact dimensions may vary slightly by model.
What size trash bag for a Slim Jim?
A 23–33 gallon trash bag is typically recommended for a 23-gallon Slim Jim container. Choose heavy-duty bags for commercial or high-volume waste.
What is the standard size of a trash can?
A standard household kitchen trash can usually holds 13 gallons and measures about 25–28 inches tall and 14–16 inches wide. Larger commercial bins come in a variety of sizes.
What size trash bags for Rubbermaid Slim Jim?
For most 23-gallon Rubbermaid Slim Jim containers, use 23–33 gallon liners designed to fit slim rectangular bins. Always match the bag size to your specific Slim Jim model for the best fit.
Final Thoughts
Every Slim Jim trash can size shares that same narrow, space-saving build, but the height and length shift a lot as capacity climbs from 8 to 23 gallons. Whether you’re outfitting a restaurant prep line with the under-counter model, replacing a bulky kitchen bin with the 12-gallon size, or stocking a hallway with the 16-gallon option, matching the right slim jim trash can dimensions to your space avoids the common mistake of ordering a bin that’s too tall for the corner you had in mind.
If you’re shopping for a replacement or a first-time purchase, measure your available space first, then match it against the sizes above. A few extra minutes with a tape measure beats a return trip to the store.
