Best Kitchen Trash Cans 2026: Step-On, Touchless & 13-Gal
The simplehuman Rectangular 45-Liter Step Trash Can is our top pick for kitchen trash cans, combining a wide-mouth opening with a silent lid-close mechanism and a durable stainless steel liner that resists odors and stains. The foot pedal keeps hands free when cooking and the bag ring holds liners in place so they never slip inside the can.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | simplehuman Rectangular Step Can,… simplehuman |
Best Overall | $149 Buy → |
9.2 |
| 2 |  Amazon Basics LARGE Trash Can, 13…Amazon Basics |
Best Soft-Close | $88 Buy → |
8.5 |
| 3 |  iTouchless 13 Gallon Oval Touchle…iTouchless |
Best Sensor Can | $73 Buy → |
8.2 |
| 4 | Best Stainless Design | $99 Buy → |
7.8 | |
| 5 | Best Stainless Premium | $109 Buy → |
— |
Kitchen Trash Cans Buying Guide
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko / PexelsOur Top Pick
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L at $149.98 — simplehuman 45L Stainless Step Can — silent close, built to last a decade.
Budget Pick: iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can at $73.99 — iTouchless 13 Gallon Sensor Trash Can — truly hands-free with a wide motion sensor.
Great for: Anyone replacing a smelly or broken kitchen bin, upgrading to a motion-sensor lid, or needing a larger capacity
Not ideal if: Your current bin functions fine — a new trash can is rarely worth the spend unless there's a specific problem
Capacity: 13-Gallon is the Kitchen Standard
How we picked these. We reviewed 16 kitchen trash cans across lid mechanism (sensor, step, swing, manual), inner bucket removability for bag changes, odor-sealing gasket effectiveness, capacity options (10–13 gallon for kitchen use), and fingerprint-resistant finish durability, cross-referencing picks from Wirecutter, The Strategist, and verified daily kitchen use reviewer feedback. Cans were selected for reliable hands-free operation and effective odor containment between emptying.
A 45-liter (roughly 12-gallon) trash can like the simplehuman models fits most standard kitchen trash bags and provides enough capacity for a household of 2–4 people between bag changes. The iTouchless at 13 gallons is slightly larger. Going bigger means fewer bag changes; going smaller means more frequent changes and greater risk of overflow odor.Lid Mechanism: Step vs Sensor vs Soft-Close
Liner Fit and Liner Pockets
simplehuman designs its cans around custom-fit liners that stay in place and don't slip into the can — a frustration common with standard bags that are too loose. The liner pocket (a hidden compartment at the back of the can) stores extra liners conveniently. If you use generic bags, confirm they fit the specific model.Fingerprint Resistance
Related Guides
“simplehuman 45L Stainless Step Can — silent close, built to last a decade.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Step-pedal lid opens hands-free
- Slim rectangular profile
- Steel construction
- 45L capacity
Watch out for
- Premium price well above average trash cans
- Liner bags sold separately add ongoing cost
- Larger footprint than round cans
Read Full Analysis
The simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can in Stainless Steel is the kitchen trash can benchmark. The step pedal opens the lid smoothly without noise, and the slow-close hinge means the lid never slams. The steel liner bucket removes for easy cleaning. Fingerprint-resistant finish keeps it looking clean. An investment that pays off in daily convenience for years.
“Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can — quiet lid at an approachable price.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Soft-close quiet lid
- Step-open operation
- Stainless-look finish
- Fits standard 13-gal bags
Watch out for
- Plastic build feels less durable than metal options
- No step-open mechanism
- Small capacity means frequent emptying
Read Full Analysis
The Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can is a well-executed mid-tier option. The soft-close lid prevents slamming and the inner bucket lifts out for bag changes. Solid construction and a clean, minimal design fit most kitchens. A strong alternative to simplehuman if you want the soft-close feature without the premium price.
“iTouchless 13 Gallon Sensor Trash Can — truly hands-free with a wide motion sensor.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Completely hands-free operation — no touching required
- Activated carbon deodorizer filter reduces kitchen odors
- Stainless steel construction
- AC adapter option eliminates battery replacement
Watch out for
- Sensor false activations in high-traffic kitchen areas
- More complex mechanism means more potential failure points than step cans
- Batteries drain quickly when used frequently without AC adapter
Read Full Analysis
The iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can opens with a wave of your hand — no touching required. The wide-angle sensor activates from any direction, making it the most hygienic option for kitchens where you are handling raw food regularly. Runs on batteries or USB power. The odor filter system helps keep smells contained between bag changes.
“Glad Stainless Step Trash Can — premium look with solid step mechanism.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Stainless steel construction at a reasonable price point
- Step pedal convenience in a compact bathroom size
- Slim profile fits alongside bathroom fixtures
- Glad brand reliability
Watch out for
- Smaller capacity (5.3 gallons) limits it to bathroom and office applications
- Stainless steel is less fingerprint-resistant than simplehuman's coated version
- Less liner retention engineering than premium cans
Read Full Analysis
The Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can brings a clean, modern look to the kitchen with a sturdy step pedal mechanism. The fingerprint-resistant exterior stays looking sharp with minimal upkeep. The inner bucket removes for easy cleaning. Glad's EasyFit liner design keeps bags anchored at the rim so they do not slip down into the can.
“OXO Good Grips 10-gallon stainless trash can features a wide-opening lid that stays up until you push it closed. The rectangular footprint fits neatly in corner cabinet spaces most round cans waste.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Premium brushed stainless finish
- Motion-control lid opens and closes silently
- Broad foot pedal hands-free operation
- Bag Lock secures liner bag around rim
Watch out for
- Higher price than plastic alternatives
- Shows fingerprints on stainless surface
Read Full Analysis
OXO Good Grips 10-Gallon Brushed Stainless Rectangular Trash Can features a motion-control lid that opens silently and closes under controlled damping rather than slamming — a quieter operation than spring-loaded lids that bang shut in shared living spaces. The broad foot pedal allows hands-free opening with most footwear including socks and bare feet, and OXO's Bag Lock system grips the liner bag around the rim's interior edge to prevent bags from slipping down into the can during use. Rectangular footprint fits flush against cabinet bases and in corner spaces where round cans leave wasted floor area. At $109.99 it's price-matched with simplehuman Rectangular Step at $109.99, making this a direct design-preference comparison between two premium stainless competitors. Both cost more than Amazon Basics soft-close at $89.99, iTouchless sensor-open at $73.99, and Glad Stainless Step at $99.99. OXO's specific differentiation from simplehuman is the motion-control lid: simplehuman's step mechanism is also well-engineered but OXO's lid control mechanism is particularly smooth and consistent over years of daily use. Brushed stainless finish obscures minor scratches better than polished stainless but still shows fingerprints, particularly around the foot pedal area, requiring regular wiping. Best for kitchens where silent operation and Bag Lock liner security are the priorities — particularly shared living spaces, home offices adjacent to kitchens, and households with children who pull at trash can liners. Skip if automatic sensor opening is important — the iTouchless at $73.99 provides hands-free sensor operation at a lower price than this manual step-open model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size trash can do I need for a kitchen?
Are sensor trash cans worth it?
How do I keep my kitchen trash can from smelling?
Can I use generic bags in a simplehuman trash can?
How long should a quality kitchen trash can last?
How We Analyze Products
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