Laundry Basket and Hamper Sizes: Dimensions and Capacity
Real dimensions and capacities for plastic laundry baskets, tall hampers, pop-up and divided sorters, and the pull-out hampers that fit inside cabinets, with bushel and liter conversions.
The standard plastic laundry basket is rated at 1.5 bushels (53 liters) and typically measures about 24 × 17 × 10 in (61 × 43 × 25 cm); deeper square-ish versions are about 19 × 18.5 × 13.5 in. A large 2-bushel (70 L) basket is about 27 × 19 × 12 in (68 × 48 × 30 cm). Freestanding hampers are usually 22-26 in (56-66 cm) tall and hold 60-100 L.
- 1.5-bushel basket
- about 24 × 17 × 10 in
- 1.5 bushels
- 53 L (1.87 cu ft)
- 2-bushel basket
- about 27 × 19 × 12 in
- Tall hamper
- 22-26 in tall, 60-100 L
On this page
Laundry basket sizes chart
Laundry baskets are labeled in bushels in the US, a dry-volume unit equal to 2,150.42 cubic inches (35.2 liters). Two baskets with the same rating can differ in shape: some are long and shallow, others squarer and deeper. Outside dimensions include the handles.
| Rating | Liters | Typical size (in) | Typical size (cm) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 bushel (standard, long) | 53 L | about 24 × 17 × 10 | 61 × 43 × 25 | Most households |
| 1.5 bushel (deep) | 53 L | about 19¼ × 18½ × 13½ | 49 × 47 × 34 | Carrying on the hip, narrow halls |
| 2 bushel | 70 L | about 26¾ × 19 × 12 | 68 × 48 × 30 | Large families, towels and bedding |
The bushel rating is smaller than the box the dimensions describe, because baskets taper toward the bottom and handles add length. A 24 × 17 × 10 in box would be 4,080 cu in, while 1.5 bushels is 3,226 cu in.
Bushels, liters and gallons
| Bushels | Liters | Cubic feet | US gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35.2 | 1.24 | 9.3 |
| 1.25 | 44.0 | 1.56 | 11.6 |
| 1.5 | 52.9 | 1.87 | 14.0 |
| 1.75 | 61.7 | 2.18 | 16.3 |
| 2 | 70.5 | 2.49 | 18.6 |
| 2.5 | 88.1 | 3.11 | 23.3 |
| 4.5 | 160 | 5.65 | 42.3 |
Hampers sold in Europe and online are usually labeled in liters. A 60 L hamper is 1.7 bushels, a 100 L hamper 2.8 bushels, and a 120 L hamper 3.4 bushels.
Hamper sizes
Hampers stay in the bedroom or bathroom and collect a few days of laundry, so they are taller than baskets and often have lids or removable bags.
| Type | Typical size | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall hamper with lid | 14-18 in square or round, 22-26 in tall | 60-100 L | The standard bedroom hamper |
| Pop-up mesh, round | about 15 in diameter, 24 in tall | about 70 L | Folds flat; dorms and travel |
| Slim hamper | 10-12 in deep, 18-22 in wide, 22-26 in tall | 45-70 L | Gaps beside a vanity or behind a door |
| Two-section sorter | about 24-28 in wide, 14-16 in deep, 22-26 in tall | 100-160 L | Darks and lights |
| Three-section rolling sorter | about 30-32 in wide, 16-18 in deep, 32-36 in tall | 3 × 40-50 L | Each section about one wash load |
A round pop-up hamper 15 in across and 24 in tall holds π × 7.5² × 24 = 4,241 cu in, which is 69.5 L, or about two bushels. Use that formula (radius squared × 3.14 × height) to check any round hamper's claim.
How many laundry baskets per load
Washer capacity is given in cubic feet of drum volume; basket capacity in bushels. Comparing the two:
- A 4.5 cu ft washer drum is about 3.6 bushels, or 2.4 standard 1.5-bushel baskets by volume.
- Clothes should go in loosely and fill the drum about three-quarters, not packed down. In practice, one heaped 1.5-bushel basket makes a medium load and two make a full load in a 4-4.5 cu ft machine.
- Towels and jeans weigh far more per basket than T-shirts. If the washer lists a weight limit, a full basket of wet-weight-heavy items is the one to split.
Drum sizes for current machines are in the washing machine size guide and dryer dimensions.
Built-in hampers for cabinets
Laundry rooms and bathrooms often hide the hamper in a base cabinet. There are three types, each with its own fit rule.
| Type | Unit size (W × D × H) | Cabinet needed | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-mounted pull-out (CSOHSL-18) | 18 × 14 × 20⅞ in (46 × 36 × 53 cm) | 18 in wide opening, 20⅞ in tall | 1.7-bushel canvas bag |
| Bottom-mount vanity pull-out (HRV) | 14¾ × 18 × 19⅜ in (37.5 × 46 × 49 cm) | Opening at least 14½ in wide and 20 in tall; made for 18 in vanity bases | Wire basket with bag |
| Tilt-out hamper | Built as a cabinet front | Usually an 18-24 in wide base cabinet | One or two bags |
Standard base cabinets are 34½ in tall without the countertop and 24 in deep (21 in for many vanities), with widths in 3 in steps. An 18 in wide base cabinet is the most common home for a pull-out hamper. Always compare the maker's minimum opening with the clear opening inside the face frame, which is narrower than the cabinet's nominal width. See cabinet sizes and bathroom vanity sizes for standard dimensions.
A face-frame cabinet sold as 18 in wide may have an opening of only about 15 in once the frame stiles are subtracted. That is fine for a 14½ in vanity pull-out but too narrow for a door-mounted unit that needs the full 18 in. Frameless (European-style) cabinets lose only the two side panels, about 1½ in.
Sizing a laundry bag or hamper liner
- Measure the rim. For a square or rectangular hamper, add the four sides; for a round one, multiply the diameter by 3.14.
- Halve it for the flat bag width. An 18 × 18 in hamper has a 72 in perimeter, so the bag must be at least 36 in wide lying flat.
- Add for length: hamper height + half the base width + about 3 in to fold over the rim. For 24 in tall and 18 in wide: 24 + 9 + 3 = 36 in.
- Choose a bag at least that size. Mesh and canvas stretch little, so round up.
Choosing a basket or hamper
Good choices
- 1.5-bushel rectangular basket for carrying: the largest size most people can carry comfortably when it is full of wet laundry
- Deep 1.5-bushel shapes for stairs and narrow doorways
- A sorter with one section per wash load if you do laundry by color
- Ventilated sides (slots or mesh) for damp gym clothes and towels
Watch out for
- 2-bushel baskets loaded with wet towels are heavy and awkward on stairs
- Long baskets over 26 in do not fit through tight closet doors sideways
- Lidded hampers need as much clear height above them as the lid is deep (14-18 in) to open fully
- Pop-up mesh hampers sag when full and are hard to carry
To fit a hamper in a closet, see the closet organizer size guide; for bins in the kitchen, see trash can sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average laundry basket size?
About 1.5 bushels (53 L). Rectangular plastic baskets of that rating measure roughly 22-24 in long, 16-17 in wide and 10-11 in tall (56-61 × 41-43 × 25-28 cm). Some 1.5-bushel models are squarer and deeper, around 19 × 18.5 × 13.5 in.
What is the standard size for a laundry hamper?
Most freestanding hampers are 22-26 in (56-66 cm) tall with a footprint of about 14-18 in (36-46 cm) square or round, holding 60-100 liters (1.7-2.8 bushels). Two- and three-section sorters are wider, about 24-32 in across.
How big is a 160-liter laundry hamper?
160 liters is 42 US gallons, 5.65 cu ft or about 4.5 bushels, roughly three standard laundry baskets. A box shape of 28 × 16 × 22 in (71 × 41 × 56 cm) holds that much, so 160 L hampers are almost always two- or three-compartment sorters.
What size laundry bag fits a basket or hamper 18 in wide and 24 in tall?
For an 18 × 18 in hamper, the flat bag width should be half the perimeter, 36 in, and the length about 24 + 9 + 3 = 36 in to cover the floor and fold over the rim. A bag of roughly 36 × 36 in or slightly larger fits; for a round 18 in hamper, about 28-29 in wide (18 × 3.14 ÷ 2) and 36 in long.
How many loads does a laundry basket hold?
A loosely filled 1.5-bushel basket is roughly one medium load for a 4-4.5 cu ft washer. The drum has more than twice the basket's volume, but clothes should fill it only about three-quarters full and loosely, so one to two baskets per wash is typical.