Get the Commander 4 mil: the thickest film here, flap ties, 32 bags, made in the USA. For a 3 mil bag from the same plant, Ultrasac. To hang the bag on a doorknob while you load it, Hefty Load & Carry and its handle flaps.
Top pick: Commander 4 mil$39.99 at AmazonPrice as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
All three are 42-gallon black contractor bags with tie flaps, 3 mil or thicker. All were new and in stock on Amazon on Oct 23, 2026, and each scores 7.0 or higher.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How the three compare on our spec score
Five checks from each maker’s spec sheet, product page and box, equal weight. Rules and inputs are in the method section.
PlumbingPicks spec score out of 10, from ALUF Plastics’ and Hefty’s published specs and boxes, read Oct 23, 2026. It is not a tear test of our own or a customer rating.
The checks are what separate one black 42-gallon bag from another on paper: how thick the film is, whether the flaps double as handles, whether the maker states recycled content and where the bag is made, and whether the maker backs it with a guarantee to you, the buyer.
None of the three makers publishes a load rating in pounds, so weight isn’t a check. The planner below handles weight a safer way: by how much a person should lift.
Each contractor bag, in detail
What each maker prints on the box and spec sheet, what it means on a tear-out, and where each lost points.
Best for sharp debris
Commander 4 mil
Commander 42 Gallon 4 Mil Black Heavy Duty Contractor Bags with Flaps, 32 count
42 gal4 mil (101.6 µm)33 × 45.5 in.Flap ties32 bagsMade in USA
Buy it if
You’re bagging broken cast iron, tile, lath or anything with an edge, and want the thickest film here.
Skip it if
You mostly bag drywall scraps and insulation; a 3 mil bag is plenty and the box is lighter.
Commander is a brand of ALUF Plastics, a bag maker with sites in New York, Texas and Ohio, and this is the bag I’d stock for demolition. I’ve used it.
ALUF’s spec sheet for part COMMANDER 42-32 4Mil lists 42 gallons, black, a gauge of 4, 32 bags per case, 20% post-consumer content and USA as the country of origin. The barcode on the sheet matches the Amazon listing’s UPC, so this is the same product.
ALUF’s contractor bag table gives the flat size as 33 × 45.5 inches. The box agrees: 2 ft 9 in by 3 ft 9.5 in by 4 mil, which it also prints as 101.6 microns, and says the bags fit cans up to 42 gallons.
The box and listing photos show tie flaps, and the box says “with flaps.” ALUF’s sheet also says the bags dispense one at a time and are made from up to 90% recycled material.
Where it lost points: the flaps are plain flaps, not handles, which scored 7. ALUF’s published return policy covers invoiced trade customers, with an authorization needed within 7 days, not a buyer guarantee, which scored 7.
The extra mil is the reason to buy it. A 4 mil film is a third thicker than 3 mil. My call: that’s the margin you want when a jagged piece of no-hub or a fistful of tile shards sits against the side of the bag.
It’s also the heaviest box here. ALUF lists the case at 13.38 pounds shipped, about twice the 3 mil 20-count case.
ALUF also makes a 2 mil Commander 42-gallon bag and a clear 33 × 48-inch contractor bag, so check the part number on the box before you reorder.
My call: double-bag anything with lead paint on it, as EPA advises, even in a 4 mil bag.
Best 3 mil flap-tie bag
Ultrasac 3 mil
Ultrasac 42 Gallon 3 Mil Heavy Duty Contractor Bags with Flap Ties, 20 count
42 gal3 mil (76.2 µm)33 × 45.5 in. (box)Flap ties20 bagsMade in USA
Buy it if
You want a made-in-USA 3 mil bag with tie flaps for drywall, insulation, boxes and general tear-out.
Skip it if
You bag a lot of sharp metal or tile; the Commander 4 mil gives you more film.
Ultrasac is ALUF Plastics’ retail contractor bag, and it’s the 3 mil bag I’d grab for drywall and general cleanup. I’ve used it.
ALUF’s spec sheet for part UL CONTRACTOR 20 4FLAP v2 lists 42 gallons, black, a gauge of 3, 20 bags per case, 20% post-consumer content and USA as the country of origin. The barcode matches the Amazon listing.
ALUF’s product page adds that the bag is made from reprocessed resin with a flat bottom seal, ships as a flat pack, and is made in the USA. The “4FLAP” in the part number is the four tie flaps at the top.
Here’s the catch. ALUF’s contractor table lists this part at 32.75 × 44.5 inches, and so does the Amazon title. The box in the listing photo prints 2 ft 9 in by 3 ft 9.5 in, which is 33 × 45.5. Either way it fits a 42-gallon can; I list the box size because that’s what you’ll hold.
The box also prints 3 mil as 76.2 microns and says “made with 90% recycled materials.” The spec sheet’s 20% figure is post-consumer content only, so the two numbers measure different things.
Where it lost points: 3 mil scored 7 against Commander’s 4, the flaps aren’t handles, and ALUF’s return policy is written for trade customers, not a guarantee to you.
ALUF’s table lists this bag in 20- and 50-bag cases, plus a shorter 33-gallon Ultrasac contractor bag, and Ultrasac’s own site sends shoppers to Home Depot. This listing is the 20-bag box.
ALUF lists the 20-bag case at just over 6 pounds shipped, under half the weight of the Commander 4 mil case.
My call: for drywall and insulation, 3 mil is the right thickness, and a 20-count box fits behind a truck seat.
42 gal3 mil (76.2 µm)32⅝ × 46 in. (box)Handle flaps26 bagsModel E24536
Buy it if
You’re loading alone and want the bag to hang open from a doorknob or hook while you fill it.
Skip it if
You care where the bag is made or what it’s made from; Hefty doesn’t say.
Hefty’s Load & Carry is the bag I’d use when I’m cleaning up alone, and I’ve used it. Hefty’s product page calls it the only contractor bag with flaps that have handles.
Hefty says the bag is 3 mil thick, comes in 42 gallons and black, and has extra-long flap ties, 1.25 inches longer, that are easier to tie. Its page says you can hang the bag from a hook or doorknob by the handles to load it, then lift and carry it out.
The box prints the size: 2 ft 8⅝ in by 3 ft 10 in, which is 32⅝ × 46 inches, and 3 mil as 76.2 microns. That’s the longest bag here, which helps when you need to tie off an overfilled load.
Hefty’s page also says the bag should not be recycled and is not compostable, while the box is recyclable. The Amazon listing, written by Hefty, carries a 100% satisfaction guarantee with a hotline number on the package.
One listing slip: the Amazon text says “3 millimeter plastic.” Hefty’s page and box both say 3 mil, which is a thousandth of an inch. A 3 millimeter bag would be about 118 mil.
Where it lost points: 3 mil scored 7 against Commander’s 4, and Hefty doesn’t state recycled content or a country of origin, which scored 7 each.
Hefty also sells plain Hefty Contractor bags, which its page lists at 2 mil in 42, 45 and 55 gallons. Those are a different, thinner bag; this listing is the 3 mil Load & Carry, model E24536.
My call: the handles matter most on the carry, not the load. Two hands on two handles keep the bag off your legs on the stairs.
The three bags side by side
From the makers’ spec sheets, product pages and boxes. Scroll sideways on a phone.
All three are 42-gallon black bags. Green marks a strength and amber a gap. ALUF Plastics makes both Commander and Ultrasac.
How many bags will your tear-out fill?
Pick the debris, how much, and how heavy you want each bag. It answers from the makers’ published weights.
Why weight and not gallons: a 42-gallon bag holds about 5.6 cubic feet (42 × 0.1337), but you’ll hit a safe lifting weight long before you fill it with cast iron. A 10-foot length of 4-inch no-hub pipe weighs 76 pounds per Charlotte Pipe, more than any one bag should carry.
My call: cut stacks into pieces of 2 to 3 feet with a cast iron pipe cutter and bag them a few pieces at a time.
What common plumbing debris weighs
From the makers’ own data. Use it to keep each bag liftable.
Debris
Weight (maker)
Fits a 40 lb bag
4 in. no-hub cast iron pipe
76.0 lb per 10 ft (Charlotte Pipe)
About 5 ft
3 in. no-hub cast iron pipe
54.0 lb per 10 ft (Charlotte Pipe)
About 7 ft
2 in. no-hub cast iron pipe
35.0 lb per 10 ft (Charlotte Pipe)
About 11 ft
1½ in. no-hub cast iron pipe
28.5 lb per 10 ft (Charlotte Pipe)
About 14 ft
½ in. Sheetrock UltraLight drywall
1.25 lb per sq ft (USG)
About 32 sq ft
Empty bag, Commander 4 mil
13.38 lb per 32-bag case (ALUF)
Under ½ lb per bag
Charlotte Pipe notes its bundle weights are approximate and for shipping, so treat these as close, not exact. Older service-weight hub pipe is heavier than no-hub; Charlotte lists it separately. Standard ½-inch drywall weighs more than the UltraLight panel USG lists here, so standard board fills a bag sooner.
How heavy should a full bag be?
None of these makers publishes a pound rating. Here’s the number I use instead.
OSHA has no standard that limits how much one person may lift, per a 2013 OSHA interpretation letter. That letter points to the NIOSH lifting equation, which starts from a maximum load of 51 pounds and lowers it for how often you lift, twisting, height, reach, carry distance and grip.
A full contractor bag scores badly on most of those: it’s floppy, low to the floor and hard to hold close. My call: plan around 40 pounds a bag, and 30 when you’re carrying up stairs or making many trips to a curb.
Situation
My bag target
Why
Short carry to a dumpster, a few bags
40 lb
Under the NIOSH 51 lb maximum with room for a bad grip
Stairs or many trips
30 lb
NIOSH lowers the limit for frequent lifts and awkward holds
Two people with handle flaps
Up to 51 lb
Better grip; still the NIOSH ceiling
Cast iron with sharp ends
40 lb, double-bagged
Weight plus puncture risk
What mil means, and the “3 mil (eq)” trap
A mil is a thousandth of an inch. The boxes print it in microns too.
Gauge
Inches
Microns
Where you’ll see it
2 mil
0.002 in.
50.8 µm
Plain Hefty Contractor bags, per Hefty
3 mil
0.003 in.
76.2 µm
Ultrasac and Hefty Load & Carry boxes
4 mil
0.004 in.
101.6 µm
Commander 4 mil box
Some listings sell a bag as “3 mil (eq),” meaning equivalent. ALUF’s own Commander 3MCON20 is one: the Amazon title says “3 MIL (eq),” and ALUF’s spec sheet for that part lists a gauge of 2. ALUF’s materials page explains why a maker does that: some linear low-density resin blends can be made about 20% thinner, and its strongest up to 50% thinner, while matching a thicker standard film.
My call: that may be true in a lab, but it isn’t a 3 mil bag. If the title says “eq,” check the maker’s sheet. All three picks here are true 3 or 4 mil on the maker’s own paperwork.
Bag size: gallons, flat size and fit
Hefty’s size guide puts contractor bags at 42 to 55 gallons.
Hefty size class
Gallons
Use
Small and medium
4 and 8
Bathrooms, offices
Tall kitchen
13
Kitchen cans
Large multipurpose
30 and 33
Outdoor cans
Lawn and leaf
39
Yard waste
Contractor
42, 45 and 55
Construction and big cleanups
A bag’s flat size is width by length laid flat. The three picks run 32⅝ to 33 inches wide and 45.5 to 46 inches long. My call: the extra length matters more than the width, because it’s what lets you tie off a full bag. Hefty’s 46-inch bag is the longest here.
All three are sized for a 42-gallon can, which is the common contractor can size. For a 55-gallon drum, buy a 55-gallon bag; a 42 won’t fold over the rim.
Flap ties, handle flaps or drawstring?
How you close the bag decides how you carry it.
Closure
How it works
Picks here
Flap ties
Flaps at the top tie in a knot
Commander, Ultrasac (4 flaps)
Handle flaps
Flaps have cut-out handles; hang the bag to load, carry by the handles
Hefty Load & Carry
Hand tie (plain top)
Gather and knot the top
Amazon Basics 3 mil (left out)
Drawstring
Pull cord closes the top
Kitchen and large bags, not these picks
Flaps are standard on contractor bags because a heavy, overfilled bag is hard to knot from a plain top. My call: drawstrings are fine for kitchen trash, but on a 40-pound load of debris the cord is the first thing to cut into your hand or tear out. Handle flaps fix the carry; plain flaps are fine with gloves on. Our work gloves guide covers those.
What the bags are made of
What each maker says about its film.
Maker
Material
Recycled content
Recycle the bag?
ALUF (Commander, Ultrasac)
Reprocessed resin, flat bottom seal
20% post-consumer (spec sheet); up to 90% recycled (sheet and box)
Not stated
Hefty Load & Carry
Not stated
Not stated
No: “bag should not be recycled,” per Hefty; box is recyclable
ALUF calls its repro film a blend of its own virgin resin and outside recycled content, and says it may look slightly cloudier than standard liner film. That doesn’t matter in a black bag.
The two ALUF numbers aren’t a contradiction. “Post-consumer” counts plastic that was used and thrown out; “recycled” can also count factory scrap. My call: if recycled content is your reason to buy, Commander and Ultrasac state theirs; Hefty doesn’t.
Lead paint and asbestos: what changes
Old houses are where most plumbing tear-outs happen.
If you suspect asbestos, don’t bag it yourself. EPA says pipe, furnace and boiler insulation can contain it, you can’t tell by looking, and removal must be done by a trained and accredited asbestos professional.
For lead paint, EPA’s lead-safe renovation guide is specific about bags. It says to put trash in heavy-duty plastic bags daily, seal each bag securely with duct tape, consider double bagging to prevent tears, and bag and seal all waste before it leaves the work area. Large pieces get wrapped in plastic sheeting and taped.
EPA also says to mist protective sheeting before folding it dirty side in, then tape it or seal it in heavy-duty bags. My call: a 3 mil or 4 mil contractor bag is the heavy-duty bag that guide has in mind, and doubling two 3 mil bags gives you 6 mil of film. Wear a half-face respirator with the right filters for the dust.
1
Mist, don’t sweep dry
EPA’s guide has you mist debris and sheeting to keep dust down.
2
Bag inside the work area
Seal every bag before it leaves the room.
3
Seal with duct tape
Twist the neck, fold it over, tape it, per EPA.
4
Double-bag the sharp stuff
EPA suggests double bagging to prevent tears.
5
Wipe the outside
EPA wants the outside of waste containers free of dust before they leave.
Jobsite debris rules from OSHA
OSHA 1926.252 covers waste on construction sites. Whether it applies depends on your work.
Rule
What it says
1926.252(a)
Material dropped more than 20 feet outside the building needs an enclosed chute
1926.252(b)
Debris dropped through floor holes without a chute needs barricades at least 42 in. high, 6 ft back, with signs
1926.252(c)
Scrap and rubbish are removed from the work area as work progresses
1926.252(d)
Burning debris must follow local fire rules
1926.252(e)
Solvent waste, oily rags and flammable liquids go in fire-resistant covered containers
Rule (e) is the one plumbers miss. Rags with primer, cement or cutting oil don’t go in a contractor bag; they go in a covered metal can. My call: bag as you go to meet rule (c), and never throw bags out a window; that’s what (a) is about. For the liquid side of a job, our spill kit guide covers containment.
How to load a contractor bag so it doesn’t split
My call on the order, from tear-outs.
1
Line the bottom
A flat scrap of drywall or cardboard in the bottom spreads the load.
2
Sharp ends point in
Lay pipe and lath lengthwise, ends toward the middle.
3
Stop at your weight
Use the planner; stop well before the bag is full of heavy debris.
4
Leave room to tie
Keep the flaps clear so they knot over the load.
5
Lift from the bottom
One hand under the bag, one on the knot or handles.
Don’t drag a loaded bag across concrete; that’s how most bags split. Set it in a wheelbarrow or on a dolly instead. Our shop vac guide covers the fine dust left after the big pieces are bagged.
Contractor bags we checked and left out
These came up on Amazon and in Google’s results.
Bag
What we found
Why it’s out
Commander 3MCON20 “3 mil (eq)”
ALUF’s spec sheet lists gauge 2
Not a true 3 mil bag
Commander 42-20 3 mil
Same maker and gauge as Ultrasac
Ultrasac’s flap count is documented
Amazon Basics 3 mil, 50 count
Hand-tie top; no flat size or origin listed
Thin maker detail; no flaps
Husky HK42WC022B
2 mil; 2 left from a third-party seller
Thinner; stock and seller
Brute Super Tuff 42 gal
2 mil
Thinner than our 3 mil floor
Warp’s HB4220
Maker site showed a certificate error
Couldn’t read maker specs
Iron-Hold, Svel, Reli, Delxo
Many listings
No maker spec sheets found
How to choose in four questions
Question
If yes
If no
Could it be asbestos?
Stop; call an accredited pro
Keep going
Bagging cast iron, tile or lath?
Commander 4 mil
Keep going
Loading alone, hauling far?
Hefty Load & Carry
Keep going
Want made in USA and recycled content?
Ultrasac 3 mil
Any of the three
Questions people ask
What is a contractor trash bag?
A large, thick bag for construction and cleanup debris. Hefty’s size guide puts contractor bags at 42 to 55 gallons.
How thick are contractor bags?
The three picks here are 3 or 4 mil. Hefty’s plain Contractor bags are 2 mil, so check the box.
What does mil mean on a trash bag?
A thousandth of an inch. 3 mil is 0.003 inch, or 76.2 microns.
What does 3 mil (eq) mean?
Equivalent: a thinner film the seller claims matches 3 mil. ALUF’s Commander 3MCON20 is sold as 3 mil (eq) and its spec sheet lists gauge 2.
What size are contractor bags?
Usually 42 gallons; Hefty also lists 45 and 55. The picks here are about 33 × 45.5 to 46 inches flat.
How much weight can a contractor bag hold?
None of these three makers publishes a pound rating. My call: load to about 40 pounds, under the NIOSH 51-pound lifting maximum.
What are contractor bags made of?
ALUF says its bags use reprocessed resin. Hefty doesn’t state its material.
Can you recycle contractor bags?
Hefty says its Load & Carry bag should not be recycled; the box can be.
Where can I buy contractor trash bags?
Hardware stores and Amazon. All three picks here were in stock on Amazon on Oct 23, 2026.
How do you dispose of contractor trash bags?
Follow your local hauler’s rules. Lead-paint debris should be sealed and double-bagged per EPA; asbestos needs a pro.
Can contractor bags hold cast iron pipe?
Yes, cut into 2- to 3-foot pieces. A 10-foot length of 4-inch no-hub weighs 76 pounds, so cut it and use a 4 mil bag.
Are contractor bags waterproof?
None of these makers rates them for that. My call: they hold wet debris fine, but a puncture will leak.
Why are contractor bags black?
None of these makers says. My call: black film hides the contents and the recycled resin color.
How we picked these
Why trust me
I’m Isaac Daniels, a licensed journeyman plumber in Georgia (license #JP507711), and I’ve used all three picks. Specs come from ALUF Plastics’ spec sheets and product table, Hefty’s product page, and each maker’s box, read Oct 23, 2026. Where I add advice of my own, it’s labeled as my call.
How I pick
One kind of product: 42-gallon black contractor bags with tie flaps, 3 mil or thicker on the maker’s own paperwork, new and in stock on Amazon, checked through Amazon’s product data the same day.
Each listing was matched to the maker’s part number; the two ALUF bags by barcode.
Each card’s spec score comes from the five checks below. All three score 7.0 or higher.
Where the listing and the maker disagree, the maker’s number is used.
The spec score, check by check
Each check scores 0 to 10 and counts one fifth. It’s our score from maker documents, not a customer rating or a test of our own.
Check (weight)
How it’s scored
Film gauge (⅕)
10 for 4 mil or more on the maker’s paperwork; 7 for 3 mil
Carry handles (⅕)
10 when the maker says the flaps have handles; 7 when not
Recycled content (⅕)
10 when the maker states it; 7 when not
Country of origin (⅕)
10 when the maker states it; 7 when not
Buyer guarantee (⅕)
10 when the maker offers buyers a satisfaction guarantee; 7 when not
Total
Average of the checks, to one decimal
Pick
Gauge
Handles
Recycled
Origin
Guarantee
Score
Commander 4 mil
10 (4 mil)
7
10
10
7
8.8
Ultrasac 3 mil
7 (3 mil)
7
10
10
7
8.2
Hefty Load & Carry
7 (3 mil)
10
7
7
10
8.2
Sources
ALUF Plastics, contractor bags product table, and spec sheets for COMMANDER 42-32 4Mil, UL CONTRACTOR 20 4FLAP v2, COMMANDER 42-20 3Mil and 3MCON20; materials page; Ultrasac returns and warranty page. Read Oct 23, 2026.
Hefty, Load & Carry Contractor Bags and Contractor Bags product pages; “What are the different sizes of trash bags?” FAQ (updated July 20, 2026). Read Oct 23, 2026.
Charlotte Pipe, Cast Iron catalog DC-CI (no-hub pipe weights per 10-foot length).
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.252, Disposal of waste materials; OSHA standard interpretation, June 4, 2013 (NIOSH lifting equation, 51 lb).
EPA, Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting; EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos.
Brand-written Amazon listing text and box photos for B08N1MDLDF, B00DH4IT7C, B07NWC11T6, B07PXHFDFX, B083Z2BZXC and B07SPFBQ64, read through Amazon’s product data, Oct 23, 2026.
Google results for “contractor trash bags”: seen Oct 23, 2026. Search volumes from Semrush, Oct 23, 2026.
