Simplehuman makes excellent trash cans, but the company uses custom trash bags that are somewhat confusing. The good news is that no brand’s trash bags are unique, and it’s easy to figure out what size you need… even if you don’t want a Simplehuman-brand bags.
The information here will help you find the Simplehuman trash bag refills, or what the company calls their “custom fit liners” you need for your trash bin. The chart will also show a cheaper alternative you can use if you don’t want to pay extra for the Simplehuman bags.
Which Trash Bag Do I Need?
If you don’t know which bag size you need for your Simplehuman trash can, you need to figure that out now. Look inside the trash can, usually on the bag or near the top, looking for a sticker with single letter on it. It will look like this:
The sticker will say “Liner Code” which is Simplehuman-speak for “trash bag size.” In the case of my can above, it’s a “Q” liner, which is basically a 13-gallon tall kitchen trash bag.
Simplehuman Trash Bag Finder
You can use this table by looking up your Liner Code on the left and then buying the bags using the links on the right. If you can’t find the liner code, then use the “Can Width” column to find the closets match to your trashcan.
| Bag | Liters | Gallons | Can Width | Link | Save $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.5 | 1.2 | 7.6″ Round | Buy | Save |
| B | 6 | 1.6 | 8.0″ Oval | Buy | Save |
| C | 10 | Buy | Save | ||
| D | 20 | 5.2 | 23.3″ Split | Buy | Save |
| E | 20 | 5.2 | Buy | Save | |
| F | 25-30 | 6.5-7.9 | 16.7″ Split | Buy | Save |
| G | 30 | 7.9 | 12.4″ Round | Buy | Save |
| H | 30 | 7.9 | 12.4″ Round | Buy | Save |
| J | 30 | 7.9 | 15.4″ Semi. | Buy | Save |
| K | 35 | 9.2 | 16-18″ Rect. | Buy | Save |
| L | 18 | 4.7 | 23.2″ Split | Buy | Save |
| M | 45 | 11.8 | 15.9″ Rect. | Buy | Save |
| N | 45 | 11.8 | 15.9″ Rect. | Buy | Save |
| P | 60 | 15.8 | >14.8″ Round | Buy | Save |
| Q | 65 | 17.1 | 16-18″ Rect. | Buy | Save |
| R | 10 | 2.5 | 15.6″ Rect. | Buy | Save |
| U | 55 | 18.5″ Semi | Buy | Save | |
| V | 16-18 | 19.8″ Split | Buy | Save | |
| X | 80 | 21 | >16″ Round | Buy | Save |
| Y | 115 | 30 | >17″ Round | Buy | Save |
| Z | 4 | 1.1 | 12.2″ Square | Buy | Save |
Simplehuman Bag Alternatives
If you are looking for a trash bag that will fit a Simplehuman can, things can be a little confusing at first, but using the chart above you will definitely be able to find something.
If you don’t want to do any research at all, then you can go to PlasticPlace, who sells alternative bags using the same letter codes as Simplehuman. So just open your trash can, look for the letter sticker, and then buy the bags you need. They normally sell in large counts, like 200 bags, but you’ll get a lower price per bag than from Simplehuman.
If it’s more convenient, PlasticPlace bags are sold on Amazon as well.
Amazon sells their own bags as well, using the AmazonCommercial sub-brand. You can find them here.
Simplehuman Q Liner Alternatives
If you are looking for alternative to the popular Simplehuman Q size, then you are in luck as this is an easy size to replace.
Long story short, you can use any drawstring garbage bag in sizes 13-17 gallon (40-65 Liter) with a size of about 25.25″ x 32.75″. The most popular option for Q liner alternatives will be a standard 13-gallon tall kitchen bag that you can find in any Home Depot or supermarket.
Simplehuman Q Bag Price Comparison
Simplehuman Q bags (which I use in my trash can) currently are priced as follows (taken at time of article publication):
- Simplehuman on Amazon: 60 bags for $26.79 = 45 cents/bag
- PlasticPlace: 200 bags for $41.80 = 21 cents/bag
- AmazonCommercial: 62 bags for $25.01 = 40 cents/bag
- Hefty UltraStrong 13-gallon: 80 for $11.61 = 15 cents/bag
- Glad ForceFlexPlus 20-gallon: 80 for $25.76 = 32 cents/bag
So Simplehuman bags are the most expensive by a long shot, but it turns out that Amazon’s alternatives aren’t much cheaper. Plasticplace, on the other hand, cuts the price in half, so long as you get a big enough size.
And then Hefty and Glad — major plastic bag brands — are right in the middle, depending on whether you get a bag that’s a little bit too small or a little bit too big for the Q size garbage bag. Hefty and Glad won’t sell custom bag sizes that perfectly fit the Simplehuman shapes, as Plasticplace does, but a 13-gallon “tall kitchen bag” is a close match to a the Q bag for example. Here is a test of just that scenario…
Simplehuman Z Bag Alternatives
If you have a Simplehuman Compost Caddy you’ll need Z liners, which are rather hard to find. These are 1 gallon (4 liter) bags that are compostable, which means they can be thrown right into your compost bin and will biodegrade in a few weeks.
These small, square bags aren’t available in most stores and aren’t currently sold on Amazon, Home Depot, or where most of us buy trash bags. Yes, you can buy them direct from Simplehuman at $16 for 60, but what about alternatives?
There are many compostable 1 gallon (or so) bags for sale online but our top pick is the Greener Walker 1.6 gallon. It’s a bit roomer to make up for the round shape (instead of square) but they are some nice benefits. Please note that these bags are for commercial composting only, not home composting! So if you need something for your compost bin or backyard composter, these aren’t them!
If you do home composting then we’d recommend Ecoliner bags, which work quite nicely. They aren’t our main pick because they aren’t available in as many sizes and they are a bit more expensive.
The Greener Walker bags are certified compostable (ASTM D6400 BPI Biodegradable) and you’ll get 150 bags for $14, so under half the price of the Simplehuman Z liners!