That's a great question! From my experience helping neighbors and chatting with folks at the hardware store, the most common and popular size for a residential outdoor trash bin is the 32-gallon container.
Think of it as the "goldilocks" size – not too big, not too small. It holds a typical week's worth of trash for a family without becoming too heavy to move on collection day. Most municipal waste services are designed around this size, and their automated truck arms fit it perfectly.
You'll also see 20-gallon bins for smaller households or 64/96-gallon carts provided by some cities, but the standard 32-gallon can is the real workhorse. It's large enough for regular needs but still manageable to drag to the curb. When in doubt, checking with your local waste collection company is always a smart move, as their guidelines are the final word!