You open a kitchen trash can more often than almost anything else in the room, usually with full hands. Three things are worth paying for: a lid that opens without hands, a lid that closes without a bang, and a bag that stays put. The rest is size and where the can has to stand.
We compared the 104 kitchen trash cans in our catalog on capacity, opening mechanism, dimensions, warranty and owner ratings, then kept one for each situation: a steel step can, a cheaper plastic one, a motion-sensor can, an extra-large can and an under-counter pull-out. We have not lived with all five, so this is a comparison of listing data and owner ratings, not a durability test. Prices change daily and are not printed; the buttons open the live Amazon page.
How we picked
- Kitchen size. Freestanding picks hold 13 to 20 gallons. Bathroom-size cans and countertop compost bins share the category and were excluded.
- Hands-free opening. Four picks open by pedal or sensor. The fifth hides inside a cabinet and slides out.
- A closing lid that is quiet. Every freestanding pick has a soft-close or controlled-close lid.
- Thousands of ratings. Each pick has more than 8,000 owner ratings, and four of the five average 4.5 stars or better.
The picks
simplehuman 50 Liter / 13.0 Gallon Rectangular Kitchen Step Trash Can, Brushed Stainless Steel
The rectangular simplehuman has the longest warranty and the highest owner rating of the step cans here. The steel pedal is engineered for more than 150,000 steps, which the maker works out as 20 steps a day for 20 years. The lid is damped so it lowers slowly and without noise, and it can be set to stay open while you clear plates or peel vegetables. Because the hinge is inside the body, the lid does not swing back into the wall, so the can stands flush against it. The brushed steel has a fingerprint-proof finish, and the 50-liter size has built-in wheels. The warranty is ten years, and owners rate it 4.7 stars across more than 14,000 ratings.
- Pedal engineered for more than 150,000 steps
- Lid closes slowly and silently
- Internal hinge, so the can sits right against the wall
- 10-year warranty and 14,300+ ratings at 4.7 stars
- The most expensive freestanding can here
- Custom-fit code Q liners are the intended bag
- At 16.5 lb it is heavy to carry, though it has wheels
For a budget closer to $50 than $150 at the time of writing, this can keeps the parts that matter from the steel one: the steel pedal rated for 150,000 steps and the damped lid that closes slowly and quietly. The body is plastic, made with 75 percent post-consumer recycled material in the black version, with a flat back that sits against the wall and a bumper that protects the wall when the lid swings up. A slide lock on the lid holds it shut against pets and small children. More than 29,000 owners rate it 4.5 stars, and it carries a 5-year warranty.
- Slide lock keeps dogs, cats and toddlers out
- Same 150,000-step steel pedal and silent-close lid as the steel can
- Flat back sits flush against a wall
- 29,000+ ratings at 4.5 stars
- Plastic body, so it will not match stainless appliances
- Warranty is 5 years, half that of the steel can
- Custom-fit code P liners are the intended bag
A sensor can helps when your hands are covered in raw chicken and you do not want to touch anything. The iTouchless lid opens when its infrared sensor detects movement and lowers itself with a soft close. There is no inner bucket, so the bag uses the full 13 gallons, and iTouchless says that gives 25 percent more room than a standard bin. A built-in carbon filter absorbs odors, and a manual lock keeps pets out. It is the most-reviewed can we list, with more than 57,000 ratings. The 4.2-star average is below our other picks; the sensor cans in our catalog mostly sit between 3.8 and 4.4 stars, under the best step cans.
- Lid opens when you wave a hand or a plate over it
- Built-in carbon odor filter
- Manual Pet Lock keeps the lid shut
- 57,600+ ratings, the most of any trash can in our catalog
- 4.2 stars is the lowest average on this page
- Our listing data does not state the power source, so check what is in the box
- Replacement odor filters are an ongoing cost
A large household can fill a 13-gallon bag in a day. The Glad holds 20 gallons, so the bag goes out less often, and its listed footprint is 16 inches square. It is a step can with a soft-close lid and a fingerprint-resistant steel body. Glad builds Clorox odor protection into the lid and frame, and adds two practical touches: a compartment at the back that stores spare bags, and rings that grip the liner and tuck the excess out of sight. Owners rate it 4.6 stars across more than 24,000 ratings. Remember to buy larger bags to match.
- Seven more gallons than a standard kitchen can
- Spare bags store in a compartment at the back
- Bag rings hold the liner and hide the overhang
- 24,100+ ratings at 4.6 stars
- Needs 20-gallon bags, not standard 13-gallon ones
- A 16 in square footprint and 29 in height take real floor space
- Weighs 17.6 lb empty
Rev-A-Shelf Double Pullout Garbage Trash Cans for Kitchen Cabinets, 35 Qt
If you would rather not see a trash can at all, put it in a cabinet. The Rev-A-Shelf is a chrome wire frame that mounts to the cabinet floor and carries two 35-quart bins on full-extension ball-bearing slides, one for trash and one for recycling. It is designed for an 18-inch base cabinet and needs an opening at least 14.5 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 19.5 inches high. The maker puts installation at about 15 minutes, with hardware included, and a rear basket adds storage. Lids are extra, as is the door-mount kit for attaching the frame to the cabinet door. Owners rate it 4.7 stars over 8,100 ratings, and the warranty is limited lifetime.
- Hides trash and recycling behind a cabinet door
- Two bins, so sorting needs no extra floor space
- Chrome heavy-gauge wire frame on full-extension slides
- 8,100+ ratings at 4.7 stars
- Needs a free 18 in base cabinet and a little installation
- Lids and the door-mount kit are sold separately
- Opening a cabinet door is not hands-free
Compare the picks
| Product | Capacity | Opens by | Size (in) | Owner rating | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| simplehuman Rectangular Steelsimplehuman | 13 gal | Step pedal | 19.8 x 12.8 x 25.7 | 4.7 / 14k+ | 9.4 | See price |
| simplehuman Semi-Round Plasticsimplehuman | 13 gal | Step pedal | 18.7 x 14.4 x 26.2 | 4.5 / 29k+ | 9.0 | See price |
| iTouchless Sensor CaniTouchless | 13 gal | Motion sensor | 12.7 x 10.8 x 27.3 | 4.2 / 57k+ | 8.4 | See price |
| Glad 20 Gallon StainlessGlad | 20 gal | Step pedal | 16 x 16 x 29 | 4.6 / 24k+ | 9.2 | See price |
| Rev-A-Shelf Double PulloutRev-A-Shelf | 2 x 35 qt | Cabinet pull-out | 14.21 x 21.65 x 19.05 | 4.7 / 8.1k+ | 9.4 | See price |
What to look for in a kitchen trash can
Start with the bag. Thirteen gallons, or 50 liters, is the standard tall kitchen bag, and it is the right size for two to four people. Go to 20 gallons only if the bag fills daily, and accept that you will be buying bigger liners.
Step or sensor. A pedal is mechanical: there is nothing to charge and little to fail, and simplehuman rates its pedal for 150,000 steps. A sensor lid is more convenient with messy hands but adds a motor and electronics. The ratings in our catalog reflect that: the step cans here average 4.5 to 4.7 stars and the sensor can 4.2.
Look at the hinge and the lid height. A lid that swings backward needs clearance behind the can, and one that opens tall can hit a counter overhang. An internal hinge, as on the rectangular simplehuman, lets the can stand against the wall.
Inner bucket or not. A removable bucket makes it easy to carry the trash out and wash the inside, but it takes up room. Bucket-free cans such as the iTouchless use the whole body for the bag.
Odor control. A lid that closes fully does most of the work. Beyond that, the iTouchless uses a replaceable carbon filter and the Glad builds odor protection into the lid and frame.
Pets and children. If a dog has learned to work a pedal, you need a lock. The plastic simplehuman has a slide lock and the iTouchless a manual pet lock. A cabinet pull-out removes the problem altogether.
Fitting out a whole kitchen? Our guides to microwaves, air fryers and toaster ovens use the same approach.
What size trash can is best for a kitchen?
For most homes, 13 gallons (50 liters). It takes the standard tall kitchen bag and suits two to four people. Large families may prefer a 20-gallon can such as the Glad, which needs bigger bags. For a cabinet pull-out, two 35-quart bins give 8.75 gallons each.
Are touchless trash cans worth it?
They are convenient when your hands are full or dirty, because the lid opens to a wave. The trade-off is a motor and a sensor that can fail. In our catalog the iTouchless sensor can averages 4.2 stars, while the step cans on this page average 4.5 to 4.7. If reliability matters most, choose a step can.
Do I have to buy simplehuman liners for a simplehuman can?
simplehuman sells custom-fit liners, code Q for the rectangular steel can and code P for the semi-round plastic one, and designs the cans around them. Both cans are 50 liters, the same volume as a standard 13-gallon kitchen bag, and an owner review in our data for the semi-round can reports that 13-gallon bags fit.
How do I keep my dog out of the kitchen trash?
Use a can with a lid lock or hide the trash in a cabinet. The simplehuman semi-round plastic can has a slide lock, the iTouchless has a manual pet lock, and the Rev-A-Shelf pull-out sits behind a cabinet door.
Will the Rev-A-Shelf pull-out fit my cabinet?
It is designed for an 18-inch base cabinet. The listing gives a minimum cabinet opening of 14.5 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 19.5 inches high, for face-frame and frameless cabinets. Measure the clear opening, including any hinges or pipes, before you order.
Bottom line
For a can that will be stepped on twenty times a day for years, the simplehuman rectangular steel can is the safest choice, with a 10-year warranty and a 4.7-star average. The plastic semi-round simplehuman gives most of that for far less money. Pick the iTouchless if you want a lid that opens by itself, the Glad if 13 gallons is never enough, and the Rev-A-Shelf if you want the trash out of sight.
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