This leaf bag holder is easy to make and is such a fantastic addition to our yard work tools. The bag holder is essentially a frame for holding the big plastic yard bags. I’ve tried stuffing the yard debris directly into the plastic trash bag, but the bag doesn’t really stay open. You need 4 hands or someone to hold the bag. And no one I know wants to just stand around holding the bag. You can put the plastic bag in a big garbage can, but then you can’t easily pull the bag out of the can when it is full of debris. The bag usually rips and makes a mess.

The leaf bag holder stand is the perfect answer to these problems. Who knew that something so simple could be incredibly useful? The bag holder is easy to build, easy to use, and budget friendly. PVC pipe, pvc elbows, pvc tees, and pvc end caps are all you need for the project. We purchased our PVC supplies at Lowes.

uses for bag holder

In addition to yard work, the bag holder is also useful as at trash bag holder for camping trips. You can use the bag holder anytime that you want to clean out an area and put things in a plastic bag (I.e. closets that haven’t been gone through in a while). The bag also lays on it side so that you can rake leaves directly into the bag.

In addition, the bag holder is portable to store (if you make it right). More on that below.

How to Make the Bag Holder

Leaf Bag Holder

DIY

Total Time3

Equipment

Hack Saw
Tape Measure
Lawn Bag

Materials

PVC

14 Feet 3/4 inch PVC pipe We used 3/4 inch pipe. Any size will work. We bought 2 10 foot pipes and have 6 feet leftover for another project.
4 pieces 3/4 inch PVC elbows
4 pieces 3/4 inch PVC tees
4 pieces 3/4 inch PVC end caps

Instructions

Measure Leaf Bag and Determine sizes for PVC

Measure width and length of your bag. Ours was 32.5 " (width) X 36 " (tall)
Determine size of top frame. The top frame circumference needs to be less than to total circumference of your bag so that the bag may be stretched over the frame.
° Our total bag circumference is 65 " (32.5 " width X 2 sides).
° The circumference of our top frame is 69" (20.5 + 20.5 + 14 + 14):
° long side is 20.5 " (18" pipe + 2.5 " for 2 elbows)
° short side is 14" (6" pipe + 4" pipe + 2" tee + 2" for 2 elbows)
Determine length of leg: There are two options for the length of the stand:
1. If you are going to put really heavy items in the bag, you may want the bag to drag the ground.
OR 2. You can have the bag hang from the frame above the ground.
We went with option 2. The length of our bag is 36". We used a 32" pipe with a tee at the bottom and a tee at the top for a total length of 35". The bag wraps around the top frame, which takes up another 2-3 inches.
Determine length of bottom pipes for stand: The short sides of the top frame contains the tees for the legs. So the bottom of the legs will be below the short side of the top frame, this is what the legs stand on. (see picture below). The short side of the frame is 14", so we made the bottom of the leg stand 26.5" (12" pvc + 12" pvc +2.5" for 1 tee and 2 end caps.)

Cut PVC and label PVC Pieces. We cut the PVC using a hack saw.

Cut Pieces for Top Frame and label each piece with the part number (A1…). Label each piece as noted beside the item. These part numbers will be used in the assembly.
° Two 18" pieces pipe (A1 & A7)
° Two 6" pieces (A3 & A9)
° Two 4" pieces (A5 & A11)
Cut Pieces for Legs and label each piece
° Two 32" pieces (B1 & C1)
Cut Pieces for bottom of Legs (horizontal pieces for stand) and label
° Four 12" pieces (B1,B5,C1,C5)
Label elbows and tees
° Elbows are A2, A6, A8, and A12
° Tees are A4, A10, B2, C2
° End caps are C4 and C6

Assemble Top Frame

Create the first long side: Insert an 18" pipe (A1) into elbow (A2) on one end and elbow
(A12) on the other end.
Create the first short side: Insert a 6" pipe (A3) into elbow (A2) on one side and tee (A4)
on the other side. Insert a 4" pipe (A5) into tee (A4) and elbow (A6)
Create the last long side: Insert an 18" pipe (A7) into elbow (A6) and elbow (A8)
Create the last short side: Insert a 6" pipe (A9) into elbow from step 3 (A8) on one side and tee (A10) on the other side. Insert a 4" pipe (A11) into tee (A10) and elbow (A12)

Assemble Left Leg and Attach to Frame

Create the bottom for the leg: insert 12" pipe (B5) into end cap (B6) on one end and tee (B2) on the other end. Insert 12" pipe (B3) into tee (B2 on one end) and end cap (B4) on the other end.
Create the leg and attach to Frame: insert 32 " pipe (B1) into tee from step 1 (B2) on one end and into tee on the top frame (A4)

Assemble Right Leg and Attach to Frame

Create the bottom for the leg: insert 12" pipe (C5) into end cap (C6) on one end and tee (C2) on the other end. Insert 12" pipe (C3) into tee (C2 on one end) and end cap (C4) on the other end.
Create the leg and attach to Frame: insert 32 " pipe (C1) into tee from step 1 (C2) on one end and into tee on the top frame (A10)

Notes

We do not recommend gluing the pieces together. This will allow you to fold the holder for compact storage.

In order to fold the holder, the tees on the top frame must be off set.

bag holder is Compact

As noted above, the leaf bag holder can be folded for more compact storage. Follow our instructions when you assemble the top frame and you will create a foldable stand (the pvc tees on the top frame must be offset for the bag holder to be foldable).

using the Leaf Bag Holder

To use the leaf bag holder, you just stretch the plastic bag over the top frame. We use clips to clip the bag to the holder to insure that the bag doesn’t pull out if something heavy is thrown in the bag. Once your bag is full, un-clip the bag and it easily slides out (no tugging like you have to do with the garbage cans).

As previously stated, the leaf bag holder is very easy to assemble (actually a lot of fun, somewhat like tinker toys). Also, it helps a lot if your pet can help you with the assembly. This is Sophie helping me:

I hope you enjoy making and using the bag holder!!! Let us know if you find other great uses for the bag holder.