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Best bin bags 2025
Looking for the best bin bags for everyday use or heavy-duty jobs? We’ve tested a range of options, from the own-brand offerings of supermarkets such as Lidl and Tesco to big names such as Brabantia and Simplehuman, to find out which ones won’t split, sag or give up halfway to the wheelie bin.
Our testing goes further. We assess how much weight they can hold, how resistant they are to rips and punctures, and whether they leak when things get messy.
Covering sizes from 30L, 50L and 75L, we've found two outstanding Best Buys that won't tear or rip, as well as two Great Value picks that offer more strength per penny spent than any other on test.
How our tests find you the best
Tear resistance
From chicken bones to yoghurt pots, we test how well each bag stands up to sharp, spiky rubbish by measuring how much force it takes to puncture.
Weight capacity
No one wants the stress of a bin bag breaking on the way to the wheelie bin. We filled each bag bit by bit to see how much it could really carry.
Leakproofness
Bin juice ranks highly on the list of kitchen nightmares. We added water to each bag and let it stew overnight before checking for soggy patches.
We also test...
We also check how well each bag seals in smells once tied, and whether tying it up is quick and easy or more of a fiddly battle.
The 11 bin bags we tested
Only logged-in Which? members can view the bin bag test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Bin bag | Price | Score | Tear resistance | Weight resistance* | Pack size** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableFull Access first month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | 95% | ||||
| 89% | |||||
| 80% | |||||
| 80% | |||||
| 59% | |||||
| 56% | |||||
| 51% | |||||
| 51% | |||||
| 49% | |||||
| 47% | |||||
| 35% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableFull Access first month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: June 2025. Page last checked: July 2025. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*Weight resistance: how much weight the bin bag can handle relative to its capacity, and how much it stretches and deforms under heavy loads. **Pack size is based off of the pack available under the 'Price' column, although smaller and larger packs may be available.
All of the bin bags we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best bin bags from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Aldi Power Force Refuse Sacks 75L
Available from Aldi (£2.15) (in-store only)
Pack sizes available 20
Capacity 75L
Beast Super Strong Drawstring Swing Bin Bags 30L
Pack sizes available 10/100/200
Capacity 30L
Brabantia Bin Liners Code M 60L
Pack sizes available 10/40/120
Capacity 60L
Lidl Purio Swing Bin Liner 50L
Available from Lidl (£1.55) (in-store only)
Pack sizes available 30
Capacity 50L
M&S Tall & Skinny Fragranced Drawstring Bin Liners 30L
Available from Ocado (£3)
Pack sizes available 20
Capacity 30L
We’ve bagged the best liners – now find the bin to match in our best kitchen bins guide
Morrisons Drawstring Swing Bin Liners 50L
Available from Morrisons (£1.80)
Pack sizes available 20
Capacity 50L
Sainsbury's Tie Top Refuse Sacks 60L
Available from Sainsbury's (£2.75)
Pack sizes available 20/40
Capacity 60L
Simplehuman Custom Fit Liners Code M 45L
Pack sizes available 20/60/100
Capacity 45L
Tesco Swing Bin Drawstring Liners 50L
Available from Tesco (£1.58)
Pack sizes available 30/50
Capacity 50L
Tesco Tie Top Bin Bags 50L
Available from Tesco (£2.35)
Pack sizes available 20
Capacity 50L
Waitrose Extra Strong Tall Kitchen Bin Liners 30L
Available from Waitrose (£4.35)
Pack sizes available 30
Capacity 30L
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Which? Don't Buy bin bags
Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we recommend avoiding it, we call it a Don't Buy.
We've tested one bin bag that we've named a Don't Buy. It punctured incredibly easily – even double-bagging it would be unlikely to protect you from a tear – and it couldn't withstand much weight without ripping open.
To find out which they are and which bin bags earned our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, log in or join Which?.
How we test bin bags
We regularly revisit the bin bags on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do.
Tear resistance
We test how tough each bag really is by stretching a section tight and using a force gauge to pierce it. This helps us measure how well it stands up to sharp items, such as chicken bones, cracked packaging and broken jars, without splitting under pressure. The strongest we found took five times as much force as the weakest before breaking.
Weight capacity
Each bag is filled gradually with weights to see how much it can carry before it tears. We compare this with the bag’s stated litre capacity and check how much it stretches under load. This is useful for spotting bags that look strong but give way too soon, or bags that might develop holes, which nasty liquids can leak out of.
Leak proofness
We assess how watertight they are by pouring 100ml of coloured water into each bag and placing it on a paper towel overnight. The next day, we check the towel for any signs of leaks, because no one wants to deal with bin juice.
Ease of tying
Tying up a full bin shouldn’t be a struggle, so we rate how easy each bag is to secure. We also assess how well it keeps odours sealed in once tied, helping you avoid any lingering smells in the kitchen. None posed too many issues here, but a couple were a little more awkward to tie than others.
Why you can trust us: Which? is free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
Do I need different bin bags for recycling?
It depends: different councils have different rules, so what works in one postcode might not work in another.
Some councils are happy for you to use clear or transparent recycling bags, while others want everything loose in the bin. A few even provide their own colour-coded recycling sacks and expect you to use those.
One thing to avoid almost everywhere: black or coloured bin bags. These usually aren’t allowed for recycling, because waste crews can’t see what’s inside, and that could mean your whole bag ends up being rejected.
The only way to be sure is to see what your council allows on gov.uk – just type in your postcode.