The 12 Best Compost Bins (Because Composting Is Easier Than You Think)

There’s more than one way to approach composting—so before you get started, it’s important that you first pick the method that suits you best and then select the style of bin designed for the job. We asked Tanya Finney, supervisor of the South Coast Botanic Garden, to give us the lowdown—specifically, the pros and cons associated with the different kinds of compost bins—and here’s what we learned.

1. Stationary bins

Per the gardening expert, stationary bins are “well suited for a backyard garden, where you have at least a 3ft x 3ft area to dedicate to composting.” She also told us that these types of bins are generally easy to use and a solid option because they allow for a customizable approach to composting: Patient gardeners can leave the bin to cold compost over a period of months, while the gung-ho can turn their compost on a weekly basis for a quicker reward.

2. Tumbling composters

Tumbling composters churn out a finished fertilizer much faster and with less physical labor than stationary bins, making them “a good alternative for someone who can’t bend or use a fork to turn a stationary type bin,” explains Finney. The major drawback? Tumbling composters are most often elevated off the ground, so you are less likely to get help from worms and other decomposing organisms with this method. (On the bright side, you’re less likely to have a problem with rodents.)

3. Worm composters

If you’re creeped out by worms, clearly this is not the option for you. That said, worms can work wonders on food scraps, so this method is excellent if the majority of your compost material is coming from the kitchen. According to Finney, worms serve the composting process by leaving behind nutrient-rich castings—and the end result is a fertilizer that’s especially beneficial for planters. Plus, these composters have a low-profile and can even be kept indoors for extra convenience.

Hopefully, you now have a composting approach in mind. So, without further ado, here are our top picks.

The 10 Best Compost Bins

Compost Bins At a Glance:

• Best Overall: Lifetime 60076 50-Gallon Compost Tumbler
• Best Dual Chamber Composter: FCMP IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter
• Best Compost Bin for Beginners: FCMP Outdoor Rolling Composter
• Best Countertop Compost Bin: Utopia Kitchen Countertop Compost Bin
• Best for Garden Waste: Miracle-Gro 28-Gallon Tumbling Garden Waste Composter
• Best Stationary Bin: Algreen 28-lb. Composter Soil Saver Classic
• Best Vermicomposter: Worm Factory 360
• Best Indoor Compost Bin: Exaco Eco 2000 Kitchen Compost Pail
• Best Large Capacity Bin: Geobin 216-Gallon Expandable Compost Bin
• Best for Small Backyards: Good Ideas Compost Wizard with Dual Tumbler
• Best Outdoor Compost Bin: RSI 65-Gallon 2-Stage Composter Tumbler
• Best Plastic Compost Bin: OXO Good Grips Easy Clean Compost Bin

1. Lifetime 60076 50-gallon Compost Tumbler

Best Overall

Spoiler: This thing is a beast (and a beauty). This aesthetically pleasing 50-gallon composter boasts an aluminum base and sturdy, UV-protected polyethylene tumbler with double wall panels to absorb and retain heat. An extra-large lid makes it easy to get compost in and out and, by all accounts, this bad boy does a bang up job of thoroughly mixing and preparing relatively large amounts of compost for use in as little as three weeks. Plus, fans of the product rave about the durable construction and the raised design—a combination that protects compost from scavengers of all sizes. The only downside to this tumbler is that folks say it’s a real pain to assemble—but once you’ve put it together, you’re golden.

2. Fcmp Im4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter

Best Dual Chamber Composter

A more modestly-sized tumbler—the FCMP dual chamber compost bin is a quick and easy way to get compost ready in as little as two weeks, without even getting your hands dirty. This guy also scores major points for its user-friendly design: The large openings and removable door make it a breeze to discard scraps (without accidentally dumping them on yourself), while the ergonomic handles ensure you can tumble your compost comfortably. Above all, the major selling point here is the dual chamber feature, which allows you to churn one pile of waste into compost while simultaneously filling the other chamber with fresh meat (so long as it isn’t actually meat).

3. Fcmp Outdoor Rolling Composter

Best Compost Bin for Beginners

As is the case with all tumbling composters, this guy has the benefit of providing superior aeration while sparing you the hassle and mess of having to dig and mix the compost by hand. Unlike other tumbling composters, though, this rolling model is designed with mobility in mind—a quality that will be appreciated by beginners and seasoned composters alike, since schlepping buckets of finished compost around the backyard is a pain and wheelbarrows are just another bulky investment. Plus, this 19-gallon bin is made of UV-inhibited polyethylene, so you can let it bake in the sun, which is what your compost really wants you to do. (Hint: Your plant food will be ready in as little as two weeks if you place this puppy somewhere warm and sunny.) The icing on the cake? This FCMP model is the only one on the list that arrives fully assembled.

4. Utopia Kitchen Countertop Compost Bin

Best Countertop Compost Bin

When it comes to compost bins, there are two basic types that address distinct composting needs. While most of our recommendations are for the type of bin that actively helps turn food and yard scraps into fertilizer, this one belongs to the second category—namely, bins that serve as indoor food scrap storage, so you don’t have to book it to the backyard every time you fix yourself a snack. Enter: Utopia Kitchen’s attractive, low-profile 4.9 liter compost bin—a clever countertop receptacle with a charcoal filter that will hold onto your banana peels, eggshells and the like (without stinking up your kitchen) until you’re ready to run those scraps to the big boy out back.

5. Miracle-gro 28-gallon Tumbling Garden Waste Composter

Best for Garden Waste

A crank handle can save you some physical exertion and is a welcome feature on a composter, provided it actually works well—and happy customers say that this one does indeed perform. Aside from the convenience of being able to tumble your compost without breaking a sweat, this bin also scores points for sturdy and efficient construction: A strong steel base supports the tumbling bin, which is built out of heavy-duty, UV-protected plastic and features an integrated aeration system. (Bonus: Thanks to its unassuming size this option is also a good fit for smaller outdoor spaces.) The takeaway? This composter will withstand any type of weather and make short work of your yard waste year-round—just add kitchen scraps sparingly, if at all, since the oxygen holes do tend to scatter debris during tumbling, and that can get gross when food is involved.

6. Algreen 28-lb Composter Soil Saver Classic

Best Stationary Bin

This no-fuss bin by Algreen doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it is a very happy home for compost, and it’s built like a tank from thick and super durable, UV-protected recycled plastic. Indeed, this stationary bin can certainly take on the elements, all while maintaining a hot and steamy atmosphere to turn scraps into black gold in the blink of an eye—some say even more effectively than tumbling composters. Just keep in mind that bottomless compost bins like this one require you to periodically go in and mix your compost pile by hand (or by pitchfork) and, though they keep the compost neat and nicely-formed, they don’t do as good a job at keeping out pests.

7. Worm Factory 360

Best Vermicomposter

Yep, worms (i.e., those decomposing organisms we were talking about earlier) are literally the life of any compost party. If you’re not squeamish, consider speeding things along with a vermicomposter—a compost bin that’s designed to be an ideal habitat for the worms you introduce. Don’t worry, your new pets will return the room-and-board favor by transforming your waste into fertilizer that’s so rich in nutrients, it puts less-wormy compost piles to shame. The ingenious eight-tray design here makes the process foolproof—just fill the bottommost tray with compostable material and introduce a handful of worms. As you work your way up to the top tray by adding more scraps, the hungry houseguests will follow—leaving behind perfectly prepared compost, one tray at a time. Bottom line: This vermicomposter is particularly user-friendly—and the general approach makes for a fascinating composting experiment that’s worth sharing with the whole fam.

8. Exaco Eco 2000 Kitchen Compost Pail

Best Indoor Compost Bin

Much like the countertop number mentioned above, you can file this compost bin under ‘kitchen scrap storage,’ but with one key difference—this one comes with a considerably larger nine-liter capacity. This guy might not look as sleek as the stainless steel alternative, but the high density, dishwasher safe polyethylene here is particularly easy to clean. The benefits of this kitchen compost bin also include a tight-fitting lid that snaps shut to keep insects out, a charcoal filter for maximum odor control, and latches that allow it to attach to the interior of a cabinet door—you know, so it doesn’t have to be on display.

9. Geobin 216-gallon Expandable Compost Bin

Best Large Capacity Bin

The value here is hard to beat, considering that this no-frills plastic compost bin can hold a whopping 216 gallons of compost material. Plus, it’s hands down the easiest and most straightforward compost bin on the market: It collapses and expands for easy set-up and take down, and its plastic construction is incredibly durable. That said, this one is fairly lightweight, so it will need to be secured with zip-ties or weighted down so it doesn’t blow away like a tumbleweed. Buyers should also be aware that the open top of this bin makes it best-suited for yard waste, paper, cardboard, coffee grounds and other compostable material that won’t attract vermin. In other words, stick with a lidded option for food scraps. Still, Geobin owners give this guy rave reviews—so if you’re using it as intended, it’s safe to say you (and your pocketbook) will be pleased with the purchase.

10. Good Ideas Compost Wizard With Dual Tumbler

Best for Small Backyards

This little tootsie roll is just the right size for smaller outdoor spaces and, with its seven cubic foot capacity, can still store quite a bit. Of course, we’re fans of the sleek, all-black design, but don’t write this compact composter off as mere backyard eye candy, because the design allows it to absorb heat like nobody’s business. Another perk: The base of this tumbler features a wheeled tray that collects up to five gallons of compost tea (i.e., the liquid that drains off from your compost) so you can easily add that brew to your garden for an even bigger boost.

11. Rsi 65-gallon 2-stage Composter Tumbler

Best Outdoor Compost Bin

When it comes to outdoor composters, this number from RSI checks all the boxes. For starters, the durable, zinc-coated metal frame is rust-resistant, and the extra-large (65-gallon) body of the tumbler, which boasts adjustable air vents and large sliding doors for easy access, is both UV-protected and rodent-proof. In other words, this composter is a tank, and nothing, we mean nothing, can take it down. Plus, this tumbling composter has a geared rotating handle with ratchet locks so it’s a breeze to turn, even when filled to capacity, and there are countless five-star reviews that attest to its user-friendly design. In fact, the main complaint is that it’s not nearly as easy to assemble as it is to use—but if you can suffer the one-time hassle, your compost will be sitting pretty (and rotating easily) for the foreseeable future.

12. Oxo Good Grips Easy Clean Compost Bin

Best Plastic Compost Bin

This sleek plastic bin from OXO is easy in so many ways: It’s easy to use and clean, easy on the eyes and even easy on your wallet. Best of all, its lid is designed to effectively lock in odors and the contoured bottom makes emptying the contents a breeze (i.e., no gross stuff stuck to the bottom that you have to scoop out with your hands). That said, it’s important to keep in mind that this .75-gallon plastic bin is quite petite—the smallest on our list, in fact—so it’s really just a convenient and well-designed receptacle for kitchen food scraps that you intend to transfer to an outdoor composter or donate to a community garden. In other words, this bin does not make food-to-compost magic happen.