The 5 Best Kitchen Trash Cans of 2025

Best Overall

simplehuman Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket

$180 $140 at Amazon $140 at Wayfair $140 at Home Depot

This Simplehuman 45-liter (or 12-gallon) kitchen trash can has been in my kitchen for two years and counting, and I'm never going back to a trash can that doesn't have a soft-close lid, foot pedal, and stainless steel finish.

I love that tossing out trash is a hands-free process, and find that the foot pedal is wide and smooth, and keeps the trash can itself from accruing fingerprints, smudges, and sticky messes. When it is time to wipe it down, we can easily use a warm, soapy cloth or an all-purpose cleaner to sanitize the inside and outside of the lid and the body of the trash can. Our guests haven't had any trouble figuring out the design either (which can be the case for fancier options with a motion-activated element) and we don't worry about the lid smacking the countertop behind it; the hinges keep it from going back that far.

Changing out the trash bag is also simple. Simplehuman sells its own custom-sized liners (This trash can uses their size M liners.), but your favorite, standard trash bags fit into the bin, too. The trash can also has a spot to place one of the brand’s plant-based, odor-absorbing pods, if you need more odor-fighting power. However, in my experience, the sealed lid has been enough to keep odors in and pests (like ants that make an appearance in my kitchen in spring and summer) out.

The almost 13-gallon trash can is also plenty big for my household of three, but you can opt for a 14.5-gallon option if you need more space. If you like to separate your trash and recyclables right in your kitchen, there's also a dual-compartment version with a 9-gallon trash area and a 6-gallon recycling bin alongside it; it would be my pick for a kitchen trash can with a recycling bin.

All in all, it's hard to beat this kitchen trash can, and I feel like it's going to last in my home forever since, after two years, it still looks and works like new. It has thoughtful features like an outer rim that lifts up for changing the bag and locks in for keeping the bag tight and concealed otherwise. These elements set it apart from those plastic options with swing tops that I've tried in the past, and make it well worth it's higher price tag.

_{Dimensions: 25.8 x 15.9 x 13.3 inches | Capacity: 12 gallons | Material: Stainless steel}

Best Under $50

Rubbermaid Step-On Trash Can

$34 at Amazon $25 at Home Depot

Again, a kitchen trash can is more of a necessary purchase for a home rather than a "fun" one, so you may not want to spend more than $50 on one—and that's okay! There are plenty of options that cost a third of what our top pick costs, but this Rubbermaid option is definitely the best in this lower price range. It still has a foot pedal so you can open it without using your hands, and a 13-gallon capacity that's usually suitable for most.

The plastic body, understandably, isn't as tough as our top pick's that’s made of stainless steel. That said, it will still be easy to clean and opting for a darker color will ensure that stains from messes that miss the can are not as visible. Repositioning the trash can is also easier, since it's design is much more lightweight.

The lid closes with a snug seal that stops smells from seeping out, and is generally better than its competition at this price range. However, it can be tough to get that tight-fitting lid securely attached to begin with, since it doesn't come pre-installed. Once installed, "LinerLock" arms within the bin's interior help keep your trash bags from peeking outside the rim or slipping down when they're filled, but leave you with issues if they break or fail. 

The plastic pedal and lid mechanism similarly broke down for some over time. You run the risk of having to go out and buy another trash can more with this pick than with models featuring higher-quality construction and components. However, if you’re looking for an easy option for your space that doesn't cost as much, opt for this pick that could also do well in a dorm room or first apartment.

_{Dimensions: 24.8 x 17.6 x 14.7 inches | Capacity: 13 gallons | Material: Plastic}

Best In-Cabinet

Simplehuman 2.6 Gallon / 10 Liter In-Cabinet Trash Can

$30 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $30 at Home Depot

For kitchens where space is at a premium—or for those who want a second, smaller trash can right at their sink for cleanup times—Simplehuman offers a compact, 2.6-gallon trash can that doesn't take up any floor space at all. It fits under most kitchen sinks or in any other cabinet—just be sure to double-check its dimensions against the measurements of your cabinet interior before buying to ensure it'll fit.

Additionally, check on your door’s thickness if you want to hang it using its steel hook. You can also mount the frame directly with a pair of small screws; the options are endless. Once installed, both the steel frame and the plastic bin feel sturdy and secure. And, unlike other in-cabinet trash cans (including the small bin my mom had when I was growing up, stashed under the sink), this bin has a well-fitting, liftable lid to keep odors at bay.

The lid also keeps your trash a bit more contained, which is nice if you're storing other items under your sink. Of course, the trade-off with this style of kitchen trash can is that it's super tiny in comparison to more standard, 13-gallon options. So it really is best for small spaces or households with one to two people, or as a supplement to a larger trash can.

As with our top pick—my Simplehuman trash can—the brand sells disposable liners for this pick, designed to fit the bin exactly: specifically, their size R liners. That said, you can also reuse plastic shopping bags that you get from the grocery store. 

_{Dimensions: 14.3 x 11.7 x 8.7 inches | Capacity: 2.6 gallons | Material: Plastic bin, steel frame}

Best for Odor Control

Glad 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Step Trash Can

$73 at Amazon $90 at Wayfair $73 at Home Depot

This Glad stainless steel trash can goes beyond a tightly sealing lid and replaceable trash can deodorizers to ensure your home stays odor-free. It also has a Clorox odor-protection treatment applied directly to its lid. It's an always-active antimicrobial system designed to fight off odor-promoting bacteria, adding freshness to the can 24/7 and making this a particular great option for odor control.

The lid itself stays shut tight until you press the foot pedal, closes softly when released, and can be locked at an open position, similar to our top pick. Two metal arms within the lid hold your trash bags in place, similar to our best under $50 pick, and a liftable lid frame is meant to make removal easier.

The trash can comes in a classic, 13-gallon size, but you can also opt for a 20-gallon version if you need more space or a motion-sensing option if you're looking for something fancier. Glad also produces a version with an all-stainless-steel lid instead of a black plastic one, if you like that style better. It's a quarter-inch wider and it still uses plastic hinges, so it's not necessarily more durable.

Like our top pick, there is a compartment in the back for liner refills, making changing the bag a bit easier. But, this is ultimately the pick to go for if odor control is on your mind the most. You'll absolutely still need to wash and sanitize your trash can regularly (That's the case for any trash can!), but the odor-protection treatment is sure to keep smells at bay in between cleans, and is the one primary difference between this pick and our top pick.

_{Dimensions: 23 x 16 x 16 inches | Capacity: 13 gallons | Material: Stainless steel}

Most Fancy

iTouchless Stainless Steel Automatic Trash Can

$90 $72 at Amazon $100 at Walmart $86 at Wayfair

Looking for a fancy kitchen trash can? Consider the iTouchless 13-gallon trash can that has motion activation so your hands and feet never have to touch the receptacle. A simple wave of your hand triggers the lid to open, and the feature is quick, responsive, and designed to not close on your hand.

That said—and not to be a pessimist, but—fancy features do mean more things can go wrong. Electrical parts have the option to fail, whereas non-electric ones take a lot more effort and time to break, if they break at all. I don't wish a broken trash can on anyone, but if you do run into issues, know that you can still open the lid with your hands.

For regular, day-to-day use, you'll need to power the trash can with four D batteries or a plug-in power adapter. Both are sold separately, unless you're shopping through Amazon; there is a bundled option with both the trash bin and the adapter. If you choose to operate it with the adapter, plan to have it set up near an outlet.

Notably, the trash can has a more tall and square shape that can help optimize your kitchen layout, if you're dealing with a narrow space. (iTouchless also offers a shorter, wider alternative.) And for odor protection, the product comes with one AbsorbX filter that uses activated carbon to trap smelly particles from waste, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—which our favorite air purifiers also filter for. 

_{Dimensions: 27.2 x 10.8 x 12.7 inches | Capacity: 13 gallons | Material: Stainless steel}