Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information only, not medical advice. Choice, fitting and changing of a drainage bag belong to the clinician or nurse responsible for the person using it.
Overview: what is a urine collection bag called?
A urine collection bag attached to a catheter is usually called a catheter bag, a urinary drainage bag or, when worn on the leg, a leg bag. US federal regulation names the device group “urine collector and accessories” and defines it as “a device intended to collect urine,” made up of tubing, a suitable receptacle and connectors (21 CFR 876.5250, checked 2026-11-01). The regulation itself uses the terms “drainage bag” and “leg bag for external use.”
Most “types” come down to three questions: is the bag connected to an indwelling catheter or to an external device, where is it worn or hung, and how much does it hold? This page sorts the common bags by those three questions. For anatomy and parts, see what a urinary drainage bag is.
Types table: name, what it is, typical use, limits
| Bag | What it is | Typical use | Limits stated by the sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed urine drainage system and drainage bag | Bag connected to an indwelling catheter as a closed system; regulated as Class II (special controls) | Urine collection from an indwelling catheter | CDC guidance is to maintain a closed drainage system |
| Leg bag | Smaller bag worn on the thigh or calf with straps, a holster or garment, or a pocket sewn into clothing | Worn on the leg during the day; has a tap at the bottom | Holds between a quarter pint and two pints depending on size (Bladder and Bowel Community); a closed-system leg bag is described there as sterile |
| Belly bag | Bag fastened around the waist, generally with a woven belt or similar | Suprapubic catheters | Has a tap at the bottom to empty it |
| Night bag | Larger bag attached to the leg bag outlet tap overnight | Connected to the leg bag outlet tap overnight | Holds up to 3 pints; described as held on a night bag stand off the ground |
| Leg bag for external use | Bag for a device not connected to an indwelling catheter, such as a urosheath-type device; Class I (general controls) | External (penile sheath) systems | The charity page says a sterile bag is not required with a sheath system |
Note that the regulation does not list bedside collectors or urine meters by name. For measuring urine output, see urimeter.
Urinary leg bags are used for what?
A leg bag holds urine from a catheter while the person is up and about. It is worn on the thigh or calf, held by straps, a holster or garment, or a pocket sewn into normal clothing, and it has a tap at the bottom. For night use the leg bag outlet tap connects to a larger night bag, which holds up to 3 pints.
How the regulation splits the bag types
21 CFR 876.5250 recognises two kinds of urine collector. A collector intended to connect to an indwelling catheter, which includes the urinary drainage collection kit and the closed urine drainage system and drainage bag, is Class II (special controls). One not intended to connect to an indwelling catheter, which includes the corrugated rubber sheath, pediatric urine collector, leg bag for external use, urosheath-type incontinence device and paste-on incontinence device, is Class I (general controls). A Class I device that is not labeled or represented as sterile is exempt from the quality management system requirements of part 820, except records and complaint files under 820.35.
For the catheter side, see what a Foley catheter is and suprapubic catheters; for the external side, see male external catheter types.
Where each bag type is used
| Setting and source | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Home and community (Bladder and Bowel Community) | Leg bag by day, night bag overnight; belly bag for suprapubic catheters; closed-system leg bags are sterile; sheath systems do not need a sterile bag |
| Hospital and clinic (CDC/HICPAC CAUTI guideline) | The guideline sets out hospital practice for keeping the drainage system closed and the collecting bag below the bladder and off the floor |
Compare catheter options in urinary catheter types and selection.
What the labels and standards tell you
- Closed system. The CDC guideline calls for a closed drainage system (Category IB), and the FDA regulation lists the closed urine drainage system and drainage bag among catheter-connected collectors.
- Position and storage. The CDC guideline says the collecting bag is kept below the level of the bladder and not rested on the floor (Category IB). The charity page describes a night bag held on a stand off the ground.
- Sterile label. Whether the pack is labeled sterile matters: under the regulation, a Class I collector not labeled sterile is exempt from part of the manufacturing quality rules.
- Maker’s instructions. Follow the instructions for use supplied with the product and the clinician responsible for the person using it.
Securing devices are covered in catheter strap, and facility-level practices in the CAUTI prevention bundle.
FAQ
What is a urine collection bag called?
It is called a urinary drainage bag or catheter bag; worn on the leg it is a leg bag, and the larger overnight bag is a night bag. In US regulation the device group is “urine collector and accessories” (21 CFR 876.5250).
Urinary leg bags are used for what?
They collect urine from a catheter or external device, worn on the thigh or calf, with a tap at the bottom.
How much does a drainage bag hold?
Per the Bladder and Bowel Community, leg and drainage bags hold between a quarter pint and two pints depending on size, and night bags hold up to 3 pints.
Does a sheath system need a sterile bag?
The same charity page says penile sheath systems do not require a sterile bag, whereas closed-system leg bags are described as sterile.
Sources
- 21 CFR 876.5250, Urine collector and accessories: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-876/subpart-F/section-876.5250, checked 2026-11-01.
- CDC/HICPAC, Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (2009, updated 2019): https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/media/pdfs/Guideline-CAUTI-H.pdf, checked 2026-11-01.
- Bladder and Bowel Community, Drainage Bags: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bladder/bladder-incontinence-products/drainage-bags/, checked 2026-11-01 (patient charity; supporting source for sizes and wear).
