The 10 Very Best Trash Cans

Dimensions and capacity: 9.45 by 7.68 by 12.6 inches, 2.5 gallons | Material: Plastic and wood | Compartments: One | Type: Open-top, built-in handle | Price: $

Japanese housewares label Yamazaki is known for minimalism (see its shoe rack and wall ladder), and the Como is no exception. Its most notable feature is a wide wooden handle on one side that reminds me of a modern sand bucket and will make it easier to empty. Mary Cornetta of Organized Overall, an avowed minimalist herself, keeps hers under the kitchen sink to collect recyclables, including empty paper towel-rolls and finished snack boxes. (The trash can matches the Yamazaki storage caddy she uses to hold her cleaning supplies.) It also has the Strategist seal of approval: Editor Maxine Builder has one in her office.

Dimensions and capacity: 15 by 11.54 by 26.7 inches, 8 gallons | Material: Steel with plastic interior bucket | Compartments: One | Type: Soft-close lid, step-pedal | Price: $$

Brabantia’s Newicon is another fan favorite, also appearing on our list of the best kitchen trash cans. Because of its columnlike appearance, it creates “a design moment for trash,” explains Alessandra Wood, a design historian and former vice-president of style at Modsy. Liz Lipkin, an interior designer, goes “so far as to call this one ‘cute.’” Thompson recommends getting two in different hues to separate trash from recycling and make “an otherwise mundane function” slightly more visually appealing. I’ve tried this one myself, filling it with all sorts of messes, from splashes of tomato sauce to not-quite-cooked rice. But cleanup always goes smoothly and there are no lasting blotches to report. I like that you don’t need to put much pressure on the pedal — the lid swings open (and then closes softly) with the littlest encouragement.

Dimensions and capacity: 11.4 by 12.7 by 6.5 inches, 2.5 gallons | Material: Stainless steel | Compartments: One | Type: Quiet-close lid, step-pedal | Price: $

“Does anyone want to see what gets thrown away in the bathroom?” asks Lisa Zaslow, owner of Gotham Organizers, who suggests this bin from fixtures-maker Kohler. Its compact size hits a “Goldilocks sweet spot — large enough that you don’t have to empty it constantly, but small enough that you don’t let the trash pile up,” she says. And the thoughtfully designed hinged lid allows you to put the can right against the wall — as opposed to having somewhat of a gap, Zaslow points out. Ro is another convert; she bought two in 2021 and is still using them. “They’re slim and square,” as opposed to “your typical round bathroom trash can, which means they fit into narrow spaces better,” she wrote in a past Strat Haul. The matte white blends in with her bathroom tile, too. Strategist kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman is another fan: She uses the larger 13-gallon version in her kitchen and appreciates that it hides the overhanging trash bag from sight (the 2.5-gallon version also has built-in tabs for the task).

Dimensions and capacity: 10.4 by 23.3 by 26 inches, 10.6 gallons | Material: Brushed stainless steel with recycled-plastic inner buckets | Compartments: Two | Type: Butterfly lid, step-pedal | Price: $$$

You might recognize this Simplehuman trash can from our previous coverage. Elbert introduced us to it, explaining that when the butterfly-style lid is open, “it only takes up a few inches — versus some cans, when the whole lid pops up, it’s almost a foot tall.” She applauds the can’s slimness for smaller spaces, a detail that content creator Carrie Carrollo also appreciates, because it means the can is not a “roadblock in the kitchen.” If you do have a little more space, another more architectural choice from the Simplehuman brand is this rectangular step can, which gives you the option to add a compost caddy for an additional $50. Tanner calls it one of the best she’s ever seen.

Dimensions: 7.09 by 7.09 by 12.99 inches, 2.5 gallons | Material: Resin | Compartments: One | Type: Slanted, interlocking opening | Price: $$

Another one of Zaslow’s recommendations is the Veil from Yamazaki. It’s made of tough resin and is well-suited for workspaces, offering a sturdier alternative to mesh and rattan styles that are mostly meant for paper and don’t account for the “not-quite-empty coffee cups, sandwich remnants, and messy candy wrappers” that are tossed in instead. Plus, small items like staples and paper clips won’t escape through the Veil, Zaslow assures. (It’s a common problem with mesh styles.) The slanted top also “guides your trash into the bin” and hides the bag too, she adds.

Dimensions and capacity: 11 by 11 inches, 3 gallons | Material: Plastic | Compartments: One | Type: Open top | Price: $

The Fniss has the distinction of being the cheapest trash can on this list, coming in at $2. Though it’s constructed from plastic, Elbert likes that it doesn’t scream, “Look at me! I’m a hideous trash bin.” It’s even a little sculptural, with horizontal ridges molded into the plastic. It’s “functional, affordable, and simple,” she says. “What more do you need?” Ikea also has the $9 Hållbar with a hidden handle (from our small-apartment solutions guide). Or consider the $20 Sortera, which can even double as a storage bin, as I learned from Tanner, who uses hers to hold items she is saving for donation.

Dimensions and capacity: 7.99 by 7.99 by 10 inches, 1.88 gallons | Material: Steel | Compartments: One | Type: Swing-top | Price: $

Swing-top trash cans tend to be ugly and more associated with commercial use. But this one from Target’s in-house Threshold line is discreet — it almost could be mistaken for an objet. Tanner calls out its clean, streamlined look as well as its sturdiness: The weighty metal prevents it from tipping and spilling if bumped.

Dimensions and capacity: 10.6 by 10.6 by 23 inches, 16 gallons | Material: Stainless steel with plastic interior buckets | Compartments: Two |Type: Soft-close lid, step-pedal | Price: $$$

The genius of this trash can is in its two step-pedals — one for each compartment — “so if there is a big mess, you won’t have to worry about it falling into the other side,” says Naeemah Ford Goldson, owner of Restore Order Professional Organizing. To get her two sons in the habit of recycling, she color-codes the two compartments with different garbage bags, and she notes that the fingerprint-resistant finish is much appreciated, as the boys “touch absolutely everything.” And once it’s time to actually take out the trash, there are handles to hold onto on top of the sides.

An honorable mention goes to the less-expensive NYIS Step-On Multi-Compartments Trash & Recycling Bin, which is currently out of stock ( but you could sign up to be notified once it’s back). Natalie Schrier, founder of Cut the Clutter, calls it a “space-saving trash and recycling solution” for its stacked design, with a bottom basket that pulls out to store recyclables.

Dimensions and capacity: 9.8 by 17.7 by 19.1 inches, 9.2 gallons, | Material: Steel frame, plastic bins | Compartments: Two | Type: Pull-out | Price: $

This sliding Simplehuman also earned a spot in our kitchen trash cans piece — with Elbert and Zaslow recommending it again for this guide. Elbert reiterates how easy the duo of cans is to install, requiring only four screws to mount it inside a cabinet. Zaslow emphasizes the quality of the bins themselves, which “glide out fully,” making them easy to access. Beth Penn, founder of Bneato Organizing, likes the unlidded design for that reason, since its in-cabinet setup means trash is still tucked out of sight. (A number of her clients also champion this related model, which hangs on the inside of a cabinet door.)