10 of the best kitchen bins

But given how vital it can be in keeping your kitchen clean, tidy and safe, it's worth doing your research. To help you find a bin that's worth the price and will suit your family, we have scoured the market, put top sellers to the test and asked the parents in our Top Tester's Club to weigh in on what they look for when choosing a kitchen bin, and which ones they use and recommend.

If you're struggling for space in your kitchen, you may also want to take a look at our kitchen cupboard storage ideas our the best cutlery trays.

Best kitchen bins at a glance

• Best stacked bin: Joseph Joseph Totem Max 60L Waste & Recycling Bin, £199
• Best budget kitchen bin: Habitat 30 Litre Domed Pedal Bin, £30
• Best high technology bin: Simplehuman Rectangular Sensor Bin 58L, £269.95
• Best under the counter bin: Carron Phoenix Linea 332 Under Control 3 Section Pull-Out Kitchen Waste Bin 32L, £127
• Best stylish kitchen bin: EKO Ecofly Recycling Bin Titanium Blue 20+20L, £179.99
• Best kitchen bin for large families: NETTA 70L Rectangular Sensor Bin Stainless Steel, £129.99
• Best kitchen bin for sorting rubbish: Habitat 45 Litre Triple Compartment Recycling Bin, £61
• Best food caddy bin: OXO Compost Bin 2.8L, £16
• Best kitchen bin for a secure lid: Simplehuman 40 Litre Plastic Slim Pedal Bin Grey, £45.95
• Best small kitchen bin: Black and Decker 5L Slimline Soft Close Pedal Bin, £15.99

What to consider when choosing a kitchen bin

Capacity – If you don't want to be constantly taking your rubbish out, then you need to make sure the bin you choose is the right capacity for your family. You might not want a huge bin, purely because of space. However, it's important to ensure it can hold a minimum of a day's worth or rubbish so you're not having to constantly empty it.

Size – If you only have a small kitchen or a small space to keep a bin, then choose one of the slimmer or smaller options. However, if you have a large space then you can get a slightly bigger bin if you think your family will fill it quickly enough.

Hands-free opening – It can be difficult to open a bin when you have your hands full of rubbish, or you may find touching the bin feels unhygienic, especially in the middle of cooking. If so, we advise opting for a hands-free model. A hands-free bin means you don't have to worry about struggling to open the bin whilst carrying all your rubbish. You could opt for a pedal bins, a voice activated or a sensor activated bin.

Compartments – Some of the bins on this list have more than 1 compartment or section so you can separate general waste from recycling, or separate out a certain type of waste (such as food waste).

Odour control – We all know bins can let off unpleasant odours, especially if you're dealing with things like soiled nappies. If you struggle with this and hate the smell of your bin at the moment, then an odour controlled bin may be the thing you never knew you needed. Some bins have actual odour filters, while others just ensure they close fully to prevent any odours escaping.

Ease of emptying – Emptying bins is not anyone's favourite job, so why not buy a bin that makes this gruelling task a little bit easier? Some bins have built-in compactors or buckets you can remove to make the job easier. You'll also want to look at how easy it is to change the bag (and indeed how easy it is to find bags to fit)

Style – Your bin may be on show in your kitchen, so style may play a big factor in your choice. There are lots of different types of bins available in various colours and materials, but do make sure you balance style with practicality. An boring-looking bin that's easy to use is going to be much better than an attractive one you dread emptying.

Our pick of the best kitchen bins for your family

1. Joseph Joseph Totem Max 60L Waste & Recycling Bin, £199

– Best stacked bin

Capacity: 60L (2 x 30L) | Size: W39cm x D36.6cm x H81.4cm | Compartments: 3 (including mini food caddy)

This totem bin is an excellent choice if you want a large capacity but don't have lots of room. The bin is still quite large in size, but instead of being wide and taking up floor space, the regular bin and the recycling bin are stacked on top of each other like a totem pole.

I have this bin and have a fairly small kitchen (pictured above) and I feel it offers the right capacity so I don't have to constantly go to the outside bin, but also fits into the space and looks quite compact. I have also received many compliments on how sleek and stylish it looks - not what you would expect from a bin.

As well as the 2 x 30 litre compartments, it also features a 3-litre removable food waste caddy with a lid. This is useful to place on the worktop when cutting or peeling vegetables, and then place back into the bin for storage when you're done.

You don't need to worry about the bin smelling either. It has an integrated odour control carbon filter. You receive 1 with the bin and then you will need to buy replacements, it's recommended to change this every 3 months or so.

The bin also comes with some liners too. Although these liners do fit the bin well, they're slightly more expensive and supermarket liners fit the bin just fine.

The bin is easy to clean, just wipe it down with a damp cloth. My only issue is the metal press bar does show fingerprints and needs cleaning quite regularly.

Pros: large capacity, fairly compact, stylish, 2 compartments and a mini food caddy, integrated odour control, available in variety of colours
Cons: Quite pricey, fingerprints show up easily on the press bar, not hands-free opening

Available from: Joseph Joseph, John Lewis and Amazon

2. Habitat 30 Litre Domed Pedal Bin, £30

– Best budget buy

Capacity: 30L | Size: W29cm x D29cm x H67cm | Compartments: 1

If you don't want to pay too much but still want a durable bin that performs well and looks smart, then this Habitat bin might be perfect.

The cylindrical black bin is made from sturdy steel and has a plastic inner bin inside. Although affordable, it's still a stylish-looking bin thanks to its matte black sleek design.

The foot pedal opening mechanism means the bin has hygienic hands-free opening, while the soft close feature means the bin closes gently and silently.

To clean the bin, you can wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth, and take the inner bin our for a deeper clean. This also makes emptying the bin quick and easy too.

Pros: Affordable, sleek look, doesn't take up too much room, hands-free opening, soft close
Cons: Only 1 compartment, capacity is not huge

Available from: Argos

3. Simplehuman Rectangular Sensor Bin 58L, £269.95

– Best high technology bin

Capacity: 58L | Size: W47cm x D33cm x H63cm | Compartments: 2

This bin is so clever it has features you never knew you needed. It has high-performance voice and motion control for hygienic and easy disposal. The bin has 3 microphones which triangulate sound for voice recognition accuracy.

To get the bin to open simply say, "open can" or, if you want the bin to stay open you can request it to "stay open" and when you're finished, say "close can".

MFM Head of Consumer Content Christy tested this bin and said, "Perhaps I've been at home with a toddler for too long, but I have to say we had great fun setting this up and using both the motion sensor and voice command to open and shut it. It kept my 2 year old enchanted for a good 15 minutes!"

You may think all this clever technology will make the bin big and bulky. However, that is not the case as all the technology fits neatly into the hinge of the bin.

It's not only easy to fill your bin, there's also technology to keep the liner secure too. All you have to do is put the liner in and then the rim will automatically close around it, keeping it secure and the edges out of sight until it's time to empty.

The bin also has a liner pocket where you can store a 20-pack of custom fit liners, and the inside dispenser will present one when needed to speed up the process. The stainless steel has an invisible silver-ion coating which resists fingerprints and the spread of germs without taking away from the sleek steel sheen.

Christy's overall opinion of the bin was great: "The bin is expensive, but if you can afford it, it's a pleasure to use. As a mum of 3 I'm often very busy when using the kitchen and I love the fact I can wave the lid open, throw something in and leave the lid to close itself as I rush past without breaking my stride. I find the voice activator responds even when I'm a few feet away which is useful if you're in a hurry".

Pros: Very clever technology, hands-free opening, bin liner storage and dispenser inside, stainless steel resists fingerprints
Cons: Pricey, only 1 lid for both compartment, have to buy their bin liners to make use of all functions, required power outlet/batteries

Available from: Amazon and John Lewis

4. Carron Phoenix Linea 332 Under Control 3 Section Pull-Out Kitchen Waste Bin 32L, £127

– Best under the counter bin

Capacity: 32L (1 x 16L 2 x 8L) | Size: W43.8cm x D33cm x H34.5cm | Compartments: 3

No matter how sleek and stylish a bin may look, some people would rather it be completely hidden away. If this sounds like you, then an under the counter bin like this one may be be a great idea.

It has 3 compartments (1 x 16L and 2 x 8L) so you can keep your rubbish organised however you wish.

The bin is easy to install in any cabinet, but it does need to be at least 500mm wide, and you will of course be losing storage space if you fit your bin inside a cupboard.

It's easy to take the bins out as they are all separate buckets. The cover over the top of the bin will also help to contain odours from getting out.

Pros: Out of the way under the counter, has 3 compartments, has a cover to contain odours
Cons: Compartment capacity quite small, need to install, need cupboard space

Available from: John Lewis

5. EKO Ecofly Recycling Bin Titanium Blue 20+20L, £179.99

– Best for style

Capacity: 40L (2 x 20L) | Size: W53cm x D8cm x H95.5cm | Compartments: 2

We've got some sleek bins on this list but if style is one of the most important factors for you when choosing a bin then this may be your perfect match. The bold titanium blue bin will look great in any kitchen and makes a change from the black or silver chrome finishes on most designs.

Inside the bin are 2 colour coded compartments (20L each) to help you organise your rubbish. The slim rectangular design fits flat against a wall, island or counter, and is made from fingerprint-resistant material.

The bin has an interesting butterfly lid, meaning both sides open sideways rather than one lid lifting up, and the pedal mechanism means it has hands-free opening. This one also has a built-in deodoriser.

A nifty feature we like is the built-in wheels and hidden handle, which make emptying the bin quick and easy – you could roll it all the way out to the wheely bin.

Pros: Stylish, bold titanium blue, fits flat against wall or counter, 2 compartments, hands-free opening, fingerprint-resistant, built-in deodoriser
Cons: Pricey, only available in 1 colour

Available from: Lakeland

6. NETTA 70L Rectangular Sensor Bin Stainless Steel, £129.99

– Best for large families

Capacity: 70L (2 x 35L) | Size: W54.2cm x D33cm x H67.1cm | Compartments: 2

This 70L bin is the largest on the list, making it ideal for larger families. It has 2 x 35L compartments to help you separate your rubbish and your recycling.

It also has motion sensor activation. The infrared technology can detect when your hand's approaching and automatically open the lid for you. It's also possible to manually open the bin if you wish too. Due to the motion sensor the bin is battery operated and requires 4 D-size batteries (not included). Obviously, this will add to the cost.

Thanks to the automatic lid, you don't need to worry about the bin being left open and all the bad odours escaping. The automated system will always ensure the bin is shut securely.

Much like the other stainless steel bins included in this list, this also has fingerprint-resistant finish.

Pros: Large capacity, 2 compartments, motion sensor activation, lid will automatically close, fingerprint-resistant finish
Cons: Need batteries to operate

Available from: Wayfair

7. Habitat 45 Litre Triple Compartment Recycling Bin, £61

– Best for sorting rubbish

Capacity: 45L (3 x 15L) | Size: W60cm x D37cm x H48.5cm | Compartments: 3

Other than the under counter bin, which has a smaller capacity, all the bins included in this list have 2 compartments. This one has 3 large compartments and is brilliant for helping you organise your rubbish into 3 different sections: great if your local council requires you to sort your recycling into multiple bags.

The bin has pedal-operated hands-free opening, and the pedals are different colours so you and your family can easily identify what rubbish should go in which compartment.

The durable bin is made from stainless steel with close-fitting lids to keep odours sealed.

Pros: 3 compartments, hands-free opening, slim shape, different coloured pedals
Cons: Quite wide to place in kitchen, each compartment only 15L capacity

Available from: Argos

8. OXO Compost Bin 2.8L, £16

– Best food caddy bin

Capacity: 2.8L | Size: W19.4cm x D20cm x H18cm | Compartments: 1

This mini compost bin is great for storing vegetable peelings and food scraps. It's just the right size to be placed on a countertop to be later transferred to a big composter or food bin outside.

The flip-up lid can be opened and closed with just one hand – a far cry from the tricky handle-lock caddies provided by most local authorities.

The bin has a sturdy handle, making it easy to carry the bin from the counter to your composter or food bin. To empty, you can take off the removable lid and just tip the contents out.

Pros: Good as a food bin, suitable size for a countertop, sturdy handle
Cons: Not big enough to use a general bin, no hands-free opening

Available from: John Lewis, Lakeland

9. Simplehuman 40 Litre Plastic Slim Pedal Bin Grey, £45.95

– Best for a secure lid

Capacity: 40L | Size: W26cm x D48.7cm x H65.5cm | Compartments: 1

The best thing about this bin is the secure slide lock. This is a lifesaver if you have pets or children who love to try and get into the bin.

Parent tester Emma has this bin and said, "I love that this bin has a lock. My dog always tries to get into the bin and it just puts your mind at ease knowing they can't get anything they shouldn't be eating out of the bin. We also find it fits along one of our really small walls well and doesn't take up much room at all".

This bin is cleverly designed to fit in tight awkward spaces, such as between cabinets. To lock the bin just slide in the lock and to open, pull out.

The wheels are also a really useful feature making it easy to transport to take the rubbish out or pull the bin out to clean around it. It has a strong steel pedal with hands-free opening and a silent-close lid.

Pros: Has a lock, has a space-efficient design, hands-free opening, wheels for easy manoeuvring, good capacity
Cons: Only 1 compartment, not the most attractive looking bin

Available from: Amazon

10. Black and Decker 5L Slimline Soft Close Pedal Bin, £15.99

– Best small kitchen bin

Capacity: 5L | Size: W14cm x D29cm x H30cm | Compartments: 1

If you're after a smaller bin and don't mind having to take the rubbish out often then this Black and Decker one is a nice option at a good price.

It's rectangular for a snug fit next to cabinets or in small spaced, and has a pedal, meaning it has hands-free opening.

The bin has a soft-close lid and the stainless steel on the exterior of the bin features a fingerprint-resistant design.

When it comes to emptying the bin you can easily remove the inner bucket and carry outside with its useful carry handle.

Pros: Small, hands-free opening, soft-close lid, fingerprint-resistant material, carry handle on inner bin, affordable
Cons: Very small capacity, only 1 compartment

Available from: Robert Dyas and Amazon

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