Honorable mentions
The 12-gallon Simplehuman Rectangular Brushed Stainless Steel Step Can was one of the best-looking trash cans we’ve tested. We also appreciated its extra-long foot pedal, which made it easy to open the lid from multiple angles. Its back pocket is designed to store extra bags, which can be pulled through the inner can (like tissues from a box) when it comes time to fit a new bag. However, if you don’t plan to use Simplehuman’s expensive custom-fit bags (Code M bags), you’ll be left with a hole in the back of the can, which could attract fruit flies and allow odors to escape.
Step cans
We used to recommend the Simplehuman Slim Step Can for tiny kitchens, but after years of long-term testing, we found its narrow shape wasn’t as well suited to small spaces as we had originally thought. It has a surprisingly bulky shape for such a narrow can. Also, its slender opening made it awkward to slide vegetable trimmings off of a cutting board and into the bin when it was positioned in the tight space between a cabinet and a fridge.
We like the locking lid on the Simplehuman plastic Semi-Round Step Can, which is great for keeping pets from getting into your trash, even if they manage to knock the bin over. However, the base isn’t weighted enough to prevent the can from sliding around when it’s empty. We still think this is a great can if you want to spend less than you would on our main pick, or if you need a locking lid to keep pets out. But keep in mind that this model’s semi-round shape takes up more space.
Simplehuman’s plastic Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket has a smooth step and a design that hides trash bags. However, it lacks a locking lid, a stay-open switch, and a removable liner. Its lightweight base would also be easily knocked over by kids or midsize dogs.
The iTouchless SoftStep 50 Liter Stainless Steel Step Trash Can is one of the few manually operated bins sold by iTouchless, makers of an array of automatic trash cans. The lid on this can will hit the wall behind it, and it makes a weird noise that almost sounds like a rainstick when it closes. The lid also gets in the way when you remove the inner bucket, which makes fitting bags more difficult.
We liked the compartment for holding extra bags on the GLAD GLD-74506 Stainless Steel Step Trash Can, but this can’s thin metal arms weren’t very effective at holding garbage bags in place. This trash can also doesn’t have a plastic insert, so if your garbage leaks, it will seep into the deep, hard-to-clean grooves on the bottom of the bin.
The lid on the AmazonBasics Rectangle Soft-Close Trash Can hits the wall behind it when opened. Even if you pull the trash can a few inches from the wall, it will slowly scoot back each time you press the foot pedal. Plus, the plastic insert gets caught on the lip of the lid when you pull it out to fit a new bag.
The soft-close lid mechanism on our Kohler 13-Gallon Step Can broke after only a few uses, causing the lid to slam shut with a loud bang. Also, when you open this model using the foot pedal, the whole collar around the rim of the can pops up slightly.
We like that the Umbra Brim Trash Can comes in three colors and aims for a more upscale look than most budget trash cans. We dismissed it because its pedal was harder to clean than those on some of the other trash cans we tested, and its tapered design made it far too easy to knock over.
Touch-top trash cans
The Hefty Touch Lid 13.3 Gallon Trash Can was our former budget pick. However, after long-term testing, we found that the torsion springs that open the lid weakened over time and that the ⅛-inch gap around the perimeter of the lid let out trash odors.
The GIGANTISK trash can came in six pieces and required assembly, which is very on-brand for IKEA. Its square shape is clunky and sticks out farther than a typical rectangular trash can when placed against a wall or cupboard. At 16 gallons, it’s also a bit too large to fit a standard, 13-gallon trash bag.
Automatic trash cans
In 2015 we tested two sensor-based (“touchless”) trash cans that open automatically: the iTouchless 13-gallon Deodorizer Sensor Trash Can and the Ninestars 13-gallon Automatic Trash Can. Each of the sensor cans had significant problems. First of all, the sensors were inconsistent and often required using a second hand to get the lids to open. The mechanized “heads” are also heavy and cumbersome to remove when it’s time to take out a bag. If your trash can isn’t stored near an outlet, you can’t use the A/C adapter, which means you have to use three or four C or D batteries, depending on the model. According to the customer reviews we’ve read, battery life seems to vary between six months and three years. If you can’t use a step can, we’d recommend getting a touch-top trash can instead.
Pull-out trash cans
The Rev-A-Shelf 35-Quart Pull Out Trash Can is very rickety and not as stable as the Simplehuman pull-out bin we recommend. The handle on the Rev-A-Shelf model is also thin and harder to grasp than the wider handle on the Simplehuman model.
Other lid styles
After testing the Simplehuman Butterfly Step Can in 2014, we learned that it can be very awkward to scrape things into bins with this design. In our later updates, we opted not to test trash cans with butterfly lids.
Like the cans with butterfly lids we tested, the 16½-gallon Umbra Venti Trash Can was too difficult to scrape food into without getting it all over the lid. The swinging lid also does nothing to lock in smelly trash or prevent fruit flies.
The IKEA FILUR’s square edges made it too difficult to stretch bags over the rim, so we dismissed this trash can.
