Honestly, there isn’t one universal size, but there is a pretty clear pattern. If you’re asking about the wheeled bins that municipal sanitation departments issue or service for household and commercial collection, the closest thing to an international standard is the 240-liter bin—about 64 US gallons. That size shows up again and again in Europe, Australia, and many Asian cities because it holds a useful amount without getting too heavy for crews and lifters. In the U.S. and Canada, though, automated curbside programs often use 95-gallon carts, especially for single-family homes. Some cities use 64-gallon carts for smaller households and 95-gallon carts for larger ones, so both are common.
If you mean public litter bins on sidewalks and in parks, those are smaller—usually around 32 to 55 gallons, or roughly 120 to 210 liters. A 32-gallon street bin is common because it’s manageable for manual collection, fits on sidewalks, and doesn’t get too heavy when full. You’ll also see 45- or 55-gallon models in busy areas.
So the short answer is: 240 liters (64 gallons) is the most common municipal wheeled bin size internationally, while 95-gallon carts are very common in North American automated collection, and public street bins usually fall in the 32–55 gallon range. The “right” size depends on the truck, lifting equipment, pickup frequency, and how much waste the area generates.