That's an excellent and surprisingly practical question! The weight of an empty commercial trash can isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, as it varies dramatically by size, material, and type. However, we can break down the typical ranges you're likely to encounter in a city or business district.
For the most common public litter bins—those you see on street corners—made from heavy-duty plastic or coated steel, an empty one typically weighs between 15 and 40 pounds (7 to 18 kg). They are designed to be manageable for sanitation workers to lift and empty manually.
When we talk about larger commercial dumpsters, the weight increases significantly. A standard, empty 2-cubic-yard dumpster, often seen behind restaurants, is usually made of steel and can weigh between 200 and 300 pounds (90 to 135 kg). The common 6-cubic-yard dumpster can weigh a hefty 450 to 700 pounds (200 to 320 kg) empty, due to its thick steel construction.
For the largest containers, like a 40-cubic-yard roll-off dumpster used at construction sites, the empty weight can be a massive 6,000 to 8,000 pounds (2,700 to 3,600 kg). The material is the biggest factor; plastic bins are lightest, galvanized steel is heavy and durable, and concrete or composite bins used in permanent installations are the heaviest of all. So, while there's no single number, this gives you a solid range for what to expect from an empty commercial bin.