The best garbage can for your kitchen should fit its assigned spot, hold the bags you want to use, and make food-prep cleanup easier. A 13-gallon step can is a useful starting point, but a narrow gap, a pet that investigates leftovers, or a need to separate recycling can change the choice. These 10 picks cover single-bin pedal cans, two motion-sensor options, and larger sorting units. Start with the space and waste streams you have; then weigh the lid, liner system, and cleaning access against the features you will use daily.
We prioritized usable capacity, floor footprint, bag retention, lid operation, and access for emptying and cleaning. A removable bucket earns its place by simplifying messy bag changes; a stay-open mode matters when clearing a counter. Locks and separate compartments serve narrower but important needs. Product-listing specifications describe designs and manufacturer claims, not guaranteed performance in every kitchen. The scores are editorial judgments of each can for its intended buyer, so a compact plastic can can be a stronger choice for a narrow or pet-accessible space than a larger stainless model.
Top-rated Comparison
For everyday kitchens that need easy bag changes and a stay-open lid; its 50-liter interior is one compartment.
For cooks who want bags kept close and tucked in place; its odor-protection treatment is not a substitute for changing food-waste bags.
For a standard 50-liter kitchen bin with a removable bucket; check your bag fit because no retaining-ring system is listed.
For households that need a slide-lock lid and flat-back placement; its plastic body and custom-fit liner recommendation may not suit everyone.
For a tight space beside cabinetry: its 9.8-inch width saves side-to-side room, but its 19.43-inch depth still needs checking.
For touch-free disposal with a manual stay-open option; it needs three C batteries, and its listed shape should be confirmed before buying.
For a 50-liter touchless can without an inner bucket taking up space; bag changes lack a removable bucket's convenience.
For households separating trash and recycling in one pedal can; each removable bucket holds eight gallons, not a full kitchen bag's 13 gallons.
For a household that needs separate 13-gallon trash and recycling sides; its 28.2-inch width demands substantial floor space.
For a compact 12-gallon plastic step can with a lockable lid; choose another pick if a documented soft-close mechanism is essential.
For a conventional kitchen, the EKO Madison EK9361MT-50L offers the most useful combination: a 50-liter capacity, step pedal, removable inner liner, soft-close lid, and stay-open operation. Its single compartment will not sort recycling. The Glad GLD-74522 instead emphasizes bag handling, with retaining rings and rear bag storage; its Clorox odor-protection feature concerns the lid and frame, not a promise that food waste will never smell. Choose the Glad slim can when width is the constraint, simplehuman CW1355 when a slide lock matters, or NEWBULIG ST60L when trash and recycling need separate, moderately sized buckets. The two sensor picks avoid pedal use but add batteries to the upkeep.
Start with usable capacity, then measure the intended spot. The 50-liter EKO Madison and Amazon Basics models provide a single roughly 13-gallon waste space. The 45-liter Glad slim can gives up some capacity to achieve a 9.8-inch width, but it extends 19.43 inches front to back. That matters beside a projecting appliance or in a walkway. For sorting, NEWBULIG’s 16-gallon total is split into two eight-gallon buckets; neither side holds 16 gallons. Lovewind provides two full 13-gallon sides but spans 28.2 inches. Allow space above any can for its lid to open and for a bucket or bag to lift clear.
A pedal keeps hands off the lid without requiring batteries. The EKO Madison combines that simple operation with a removable liner and stay-open setting, useful when several scraps are going in at once. A sensor trades pedal use for an automatic lid: Ninestars adds a manual mode for longer cleanups, while the EKO touchless can uses a liner-free interior. Both introduce batteries and electronics. For food odors, distinguish containment from treatment. A closed, well-fitted lid can help contain smells; Glad’s Clorox protection addresses the lid and frame, and EKO’s deodorizer compartment holds a deodorizer. None eliminates the need to remove waste.
| Profile | Recommended Product | Why It Fits | Avoid If |
|---|---|---|---|
| An everyday cook who wants one main kitchen bin | EKO Madison EK9361MT-50L | The 50-liter EKO Madison pairs a removable liner with a pedal and stay-open lid. | You need built-in recycling separation or have not allowed room to lift the liner out. |
| Someone filling a narrow gap beside cabinetry | Glad GLD-74532 Slim | The Glad slim model is 9.8 inches wide and has bag rings and a stay-open lid. | The available space cannot accommodate its 19.43-inch depth. |
| A household with a pet that investigates the trash | simplehuman CW1355 Semi-Round | The simplehuman CW1355 has a slide lock and flat back for wall placement. | You require stainless steel or do not want to check the fit of ordinary liners. |
| A cook who prefers a motion-sensor lid | Ninestars DZT-50-25 | Ninestars DZT-50-25 pairs touch-free opening with a manual mode for extended cleanup. | You do not want battery upkeep or cannot confirm the can’s shape before ordering. |
| A household sorting two moderate waste streams | NEWBULIG ST60L Dual Compartment | NEWBULIG ST60L provides two separately removable eight-gallon buckets. | Either stream needs its own full 13-gallon compartment. |
| A larger household wanting full-size trash and recycling sides | Lovewind 23BXXWT-01 Dual Bin | Lovewind provides two removable 13-gallon buckets. | A 28.2-inch-wide unit would obstruct cabinets or circulation. |
Compare width and depth separately, then check height with the lid open—not just the closed height. The EKO Madison’s manufacturer dimensions for its 50-liter version are 16.8 inches wide, 14.3 deep, and 25.4 high; the product listing rounds those dimensions differently. (ekousa.com) For Ninestars DZT-50-25, the product listing says oval but manufacturer documentation identifies the same model as rectangular. Confirm the shape and measurements on the exact item before ordering for a close-fitting location. (ninestarsusa.com) Finally, compare each compartment’s capacity and how its bag is secured rather than assuming a can’s total gallons describe one uninterrupted space.
Check where the pedal lands relative to cabinets and whether a raised lid will meet a counter overhang. A removable bucket, as on the Amazon Basics GF43050L or EKO Madison, can make a soiled interior easier to reach. Glad’s bag rings tuck excess plastic away; its GLD-74522 also stores spare bags at the rear, which is most useful if that area remains accessible. The manufacturer describes a removable liner ring for Ninestars DZT-50-25, so its bag can be held in place without an inner bucket. (ninestarsusa.com) Fit the sensor cans with the battery type stated for the exact model before choosing their permanent position.
Choose an interior you can reach and clean, especially if bags sometimes leak. The removable buckets in the EKO Madison, Amazon Basics, NEWBULIG, and Lovewind cans separate that task from wiping the outer shell. A fingerprint-resistant finish may reduce visible marks, but spills and residue still need wiping. Keep liquid away from the controls and battery area of a sensor lid. Plastic is lighter to move; clean a plastic interior promptly after leaks rather than relying on its lid to contain lingering smells. simplehuman publishes cleaning guidance for its plastic cans and lists a replacement slide-lock lid among the support parts for this 50-liter family. (simplehuman.com)
Look for model-specific support and clearly described mechanisms, not just large pedal-cycle figures. simplehuman identifies black CW1355 as the 50-liter semi-round plastic can and states a five-year warranty. (simplehuman.ca) EKO describes the Madison’s pedal as tested for more than 200,000 steps; that is a manufacturer durability claim, not a prediction of any individual can’s service life. (ekousa.com) A soft-close description tells you how a lid is intended to move, not how long its hinge will last. For a sensor model, also consider how easily you can reach its battery compartment and remove the bag without contacting the electronics.
Match any owner account to the exact model, compartment layout, and use case before applying it to your kitchen. A comment about a different Ninestars sensor can may not resolve the DZT-50-25 shape discrepancy; a report about a dual bin’s total capacity may say little about whether either individual bucket fits your bag. For simplehuman CW1355, look for the 50-liter plastic slide-lock version, not another semi-round finish or size. Favor descriptions that specify bag size, cabinet clearance, lock use around a pet, or sensor placement. Those details are more actionable than an impression of how a can looks.
Do not assume a 13-gallon label guarantees a neat fit with every 13-gallon bag. Bucket shape, rim design, and liner-retention hardware affect fit; simplehuman lists custom-fit Code P liners for CW1355, so check your preferred bag before stocking up. Do not mistake the Glad slim can’s narrow width for shallow depth, or Lovewind’s 26-gallon total for a compact footprint. A slide lock helps only when engaged, and odor-control treatments cannot replace timely bag changes. Finally, distinguish a stay-open function from a soft-close lid: the first helps during repeated disposal, while the second governs how the lid closes.
Will a standard 13-gallon kitchen bag fit all of these cans?
No single bag fit is assured across different rims and bucket shapes. The Lovewind listing specifies standard 13-gallon bags for each side, and BestOffice is not among these picks. For the selected single-bin models, compare your bag’s opening and length with the inner bucket or retaining ring. simplehuman recommends custom-fit Code P liners for CW1355; that recommendation does not establish that other bags are impossible to use.
Is a step can or sensor can better for food preparation?
Choose a pedal if you want hands-free opening without batteries. Choose a sensor if waving a hand is easier in your workspace and you can accommodate its battery and placement needs. Ninestars DZT-50-25 also has a manual mode for jobs that involve repeated disposal.
Which pick keeps pets out?
The simplehuman CW1355 has a slide lock, while the Hefty 12-gallon can has a lockable lid. Check that the lock is engaged after use. A close-fitting lid without a lock should not be treated as equivalent pet protection.
Should I choose two eight-gallon buckets or two 13-gallon buckets?
Choose NEWBULIG’s two eight-gallon buckets when separate streams matter more than maximum capacity per side. Choose Lovewind’s two 13-gallon buckets when both streams fill quickly and your kitchen can accommodate its 28.2-inch width. Measure the location and check the bags you plan to use for each bucket.
The EKO Madison EK9361MT-50L is the best starting point for a single kitchen garbage can: its 50-liter capacity, removable liner, step pedal, and stay-open lid address daily disposal and bag changes without batteries. If your available gap is narrow, choose the 9.8-inch-wide Glad GLD-74532 Slim instead—but measure its depth first. For separate trash and recycling, NEWBULIG ST60L offers two removable buckets, provided eight gallons per side is enough.
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