Searching for the best kitchen bin? This important purchase doesn't just carry your rubbish – and keep it out of sight from guests – but it adds to the look of your entire kitchen. Whether it's tucked into a corner or maybe it lives at the end of an island? Either way, one thing's a definite: a kitchen bin needs to be both pretty and practical. Which is why we're here with our best kitchen bins guide. Get browsing and upgrade yours now.
Whether it's a sensor-activated bin or a pedal bin you are after, perhaps you are more focused on capacity than looks? We've got something for all size kitchens – and all size budgets – below. From everywhere including Brabantia, Swan, Made.com and even Habitat and Argos. Plus, there's the fact that kitchen bins are always a little pricey, so you might as well spend more on one you want than opt for a cheaper option that will probably break after a few months of use (we've been there!).
Giving your kitchen a makeover? Head to our best cleaning products guide for help when it comes to getting your place looking spick and span.
The best kitchen bins
For those who can't be dealing with pedal bins and frequently have messy hands while in the kitchen, opt for this sensor touch bin by Morphy Richards. Featuring a contemporary design and available in a choice of black, cream or stainless steel to fit in with your kitchen decor, the bin has a steel body with non-corrosive colour coating and a retainer ring for easy replacement of bin liners. It's available in two different sizes to suit small households or large families alike, and its sensor-activated lid closes on its own after five seconds of inactivity. Another thing to note is that it's square, so it fits in a kitchen corner quite nicely. Tried and tested by the Real Homes team, it's the best kitchen bin you can spend your money on, we think.
The Brabantia Bo Touch Bin opens silently with the lightest touch, and it introduces a whole new world of waste separation. The bin's interior can be your choice of one of three configurations; one large compartment; two compartments comprising one small one and one medium-sized; or three of the same small-sized compartments. The bin's space-efficient shape is flat, meaning you'll waste no premium kitchen space, and it sits on perfectly heightened legs to give that modern vibe. It comes in eight different colours to suit any kitchen scheme (Daisy Yellow is our fave, what a statement!). Finally, it's fingerprint-free, so you don't have to worry about your toddler wiping their hands all over it. An innovative way to look at storing waste, we think this is the best kitchen bin you can buy if you have a modern kitchen.
As space-saving solutions for the kitchen go, this Joseph Joseph bin is a real winner, and its ability to hold up to 90 litres in the footprint of a 30-litre bin earns it our top spot. Its trick is quite amazing: just pull out and up on the integrated handle, and push down on the seemingly full bin to compact the rubbish for three times more space. It also aims not to stretch or tear your bin liners, and the replaceable odour filter stops unpleasant smells from reaching the rest of the kitchen. Our pick of the best kitchen bin for convenience, compactness, and cleverness.
If you’re the proud owner of a retro style kitchen and don’t want a huge unsightly receptacle overshadowing it, the Swan Retro 45ltr bin should be your go-to. It comes in a range of vintage-look pastel shades with chrome trim, and looks very sleek indeed, thanks in no small part to the lack of bulky pedals or handles. Instead, the bin’s clever sensor opens when the user is 5-15cm away, so you don’t have to risk the spread of germs, and the helpful bin bag retainer ring means no awkward bits of bag to give the game away, either. The best kitchen bin for retro kitchens!
Looking for a kitchen bin that you can hide inside the cupboard under your sink? Bingo. These Brabantia bins are different in colour so that you can use one for general waste and the other for recycling – or whatever else. Better yet, they sit inside your cupboard, away from eyes and the floor, so there's no need to constantly clean the space under or around your bin. Winning! Each bin has a handy carry handle for when it comes to emptying, and they should leave plenty of space inside your cupboard for cleaning products and kitchen roll, too. The only downside: you'll need to find 12L bags for each bin, and from Brabantia they can be expensive. Rest assured you can find 12L bags in supermarkets, though.
- See our kitchen storage ideas page for clever tricks to save space
Like to recycle but no room in the kitchen for a second (and third) bin, or just trying to avoid a cluttered look? Go for this Habitat three-in-one pedal bin, which keeps waste separated into three hygienic compartments. Plus, the colour-coding makes it easy to remember which is which, and the sleek and simple brushed metal container looks very neat. Each compartment is on the smaller side at 15-litres each, so while it, unfortunately, may not be the best solution for big families who would rather keep trips to the outdoor bin to a minimum, for smaller households that don’t generate much waste, it’s a great buy.
- Score a saving on this and more products with our Habitat discount code
The brushed stainless steel Simplehuman 38L bin is sure to look very elegant in all manner of kitchens, but its simple design hides bags of features intended to make life more efficient, an always-intriguing prospect for busy families. Its fingerprint-proof finish needs no upkeep, its silent-close lid and non-skid base keep things steady, and its removable inner bucket for drip-free disposal is frankly genius. It also packs a decent capacity in a relatively small footprint, and can be tucked flush against the wall thanks to the internal hinge. No fuss, no mess – in our opinion it's the best kitchen bin for families.
This Habitat bin is stylish yet simple, with a sizeable 50L capacity – and a pedal for easy opening. It's made of steel with a non-slip base, plus it boasts a handle on its inner bucket for easy emptying. Though rounded, it's square in shape so as to slot in nicely into a kitchen corner. Cream in colour, too, it's nice and subtle and shouldn't draw unwanted attention all whilst being a better option than your average boring kitchen bin.
Classic homewares brand Brabantia can always be trusted to come up trumps with a top-quality item, and this 30-litre kitchen bin is no exception. Made from durable materials in a fabulous range of colours – Pansy Purple is a particular favourite of ours, as well as Daisy Yellow – and with a 10 year Brabantia guarantee, it’s certainly engineered to last. Its removable stainless steel lid for easy bag replacement and silent, soft-touch lid are added bonuses. A solid investment, and the best kitchen bin for those who are after something a little different colour-wise.
A pink kitchen bin? We're here for it. Who says that your kitchen bin has to only be practical? Definitely not us, and in the case of this Dunelm bin, you can more than make a statement with your kitchen bin. Available in pink, grey and cream, this 30-litre bin is rounded so as to take up a small amount of floorspace in your kitchen. It's also ideal for smaller households or those with small (and inquisitive) children since it has a soft-close lid. Press the pedal to open it and empty the inside bucket with ease thanks to its carry handle. Just wipe it clean with a cloth every now and then. Oh, and did we mention that it's budget-friendly, too?
If you prefer the look of a trash can bin, and you don't mind picking up the lid each time you want to add to your rubbish pile, then this Habitat option is great. Undeniably stylish, this metal bin is made of galvanised steel and if you buy more than one, they are great for separating your bottles and glass from your cardboard and paper waste. Even if they are for tucking away in the corner of your kitchen, or using in your garage, they will make recycling a breeze. With a 49-litre capacity, they take any standard bag. They have handles, as does the lid, so there's no need to worry about replacing batteries or ending up with a faulty pedal. Attractive and practical, this Habitat kitchen bin ticks all our boxes.
Great for keeping your recycling in check, this Made.com bin even comes in several colourways to match your kitchen decor. From Sage Green to Off White and Sand, there are plenty of options to choose from. In terms of size, it features two compartments – each 30-litres. It has two stainless steel pedals for accessing each compartment, whilst the bin itself is made of powdered steel so as to last and last – even inside a busy kitchen. Simply tuck it into the corner of your kitchen and you're all set. What more could you want?
For storing your food waste in fashion – and minus any unpleasant odours – this Brabantia bin ticks all our boxes. It's compact so it can sit nicely on your kitchen worktop in a corner, otherwise you can pop it in the cupboard under your sink out of the way. The best part about it? It's made of a mix of ABS plastic and stainless steel, making it dishwasher safe. Because let's be honest: cleaning out any bin is a task we would rather avoid. Choose from dark grey or mid grey, and buy rest assured that you are doing your bit for the planet – by using your food waste bin and because these bins are sustainable.
- Redesigning your kitchen? Visit our kitchen ideas page for all of the inspiration you need
What is the best kitchen bin?
In terms of the best all-rounder kitchen bin, our top pick is the Morphy Richards Chroma Sensor Bin with Infrared Technology because it ticks all the boxes. It's affordable, sleek, available in lots of different colours and it opens when you wave. It's also square-shaped so it fits nicely into a corner and it's available in two different capacities for different size kitchens.
How to buy the best kitchen bin?
Quick links to buy the best kitchen bin
Size
Depending on the size of your household and how much rubbish you generate, you’ll have to think about the capacity that would be useful to you. Anything between 15 and 30 litres should be just fine if you live alone or with one other person and don’t throw away an above-average amount of stuff; a 30 to 40-litre bin is generally advisable for families of three whose bin gets taken out quite frequently, while 40 to 50 litres is the best bet for four or more or those who don’t want to take out the rubbish any more than they have to.
Style
After that, it’s all a matter of style. If you think all bins are a bit of an eyesore, then think again, because a big kitchen bin needn’t necessarily disrupt your interior scheme. From sleek modern designs to the odd bit of vintage charm, we have it all, so read on for a good dose of what we like to call 'binspiration'.
