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Puncture, burst, and drawstring strength. Consumer Reports measures each with a force gauge and water until the bag fails.

Price doesn't predict strength. A cheap bag did well in Consumer Reports' tests and some big brands did poorly.

Fit. The 13 gallon tall kitchen size fits most kitchen bins. Unscented bags work as well; Consumer Reports tested unscented ones.

Trash bags

Reli. SuperValue 13 Gallon Trash Bags

Did well in Consumer Reports' strength tests and was the cheapest of nine best-selling brands.

13 gal

Find on Amazon

Worth knowing

Sold in large bulk packs. Check whether a listing is drawstring or flat before buying.

What we ruled out

Compostable or 'degradable' bags for landfill trash. The FTC says landfills don't let bags decompose within a year, so unqualified degradable claims there are deceptive. Consumer Reports found a compostable bag cost more and was far weaker.

Glad ForceFlex. Near the bottom in Consumer Reports' instrument tests, though Reviewed's hands-on test liked it. Also scented.

Amazon Basics Tall Kitchen Drawstring Bags. Near the bottom in Consumer Reports' 2024 test. Reviewed rated it best value in 2022, so results conflict.

Also good

Great Value Tall Kitchen Trash Bags (Walmart). Tied for top in Consumer Reports' 2024 test. Sold at Walmart, not Amazon.

Sources

Best trash bags for your buck, KSAT (reporting Consumer Reports) (2024)
The best trash bags, Reviewed (2022)
16 CFR 260.8: Degradable claims (FTC Green Guides), US Federal Trade Commission (2012)

Trash bags

Goes with

Facial tissues

Dish soap

Laundry detergent

Scouring cleaner (steel, sinks, pans)