Most urban trash cans are about 18 to 24 inches wide at the base or widest point—roughly 45 to 60 cm. Some larger square combo bins and recycling stations can be closer to 30 inches wide. So yes, a trash can can physically fit on a narrow sidewalk, but “fit” is not the same as “leave a safe, legal clear path.
If you’re looking at a genuinely narrow sidewalk, I’d measure the actual clear width first, not just the sidewalk’s total width. In many places, pedestrian access rules—especially ADA-related guidance—call for around 36 inches of unobstructed clear width, and some local standards are stricter or depend on pedestrian volume. A 22-inch can on a 5-foot sidewalk leaves about 38 inches if it’s perfectly flush to the edge. That can work, but it’s tight. A 24-inch can on the same sidewalk leaves only 36 inches, which is right at the minimum in many jurisdictions and too close for comfort once you add poles, doors, curb ramps, snow, or delivery activity. On a 4-foot sidewalk, even an 18-inch slim can leaves only 30 inches, which is usually not enough for a comfortable accessible path.
For narrow sidewalks, slim rectangular bins around 18 to 20 inches wide are usually the best bet. Place them tight against the curb edge or building line, not in the middle, and leave a buffer so people don’t brush against them. Wall-mounted or recessed bins can be even better where the building line allows it. If the sidewalk is truly constrained, relocating the can to a corner, bulb-out, or wider spot is often smarter than forcing it into the narrowest section.
Before installing one, check your local public works or DOT sidewalk clearance rules, fire egress requirements, and any business-frontage restrictions. Then measure the can’s widest point, subtract it from the clear path, and ask whether a wheelchair user, parent with a stroller, or two people passing could still move comfortably. Short answer: many urban cans will fit on a narrow sidewalk, but only the slimmer models—and only if they still preserve a safe clear path.