Best Kitchen Trash Cans (2026)
The simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can ($109.99) is the best kitchen trash can for most homes — pedal rated 150,000 steps, inner bucket lifts out, fits standard 13-gal bags.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Our Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L |
Best Overall | $109 | 9.2 | Buy → |
| 2 |  OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel … |
Best Soft-Close Lid | $109 | 9.0 | Buy → |
| 3 |  Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can |
Best Stainless Value | $99 | 8.7 | Buy → |
| 4 |  iTouchless 13-Gallon Rectangular Sensor… |
Best Sensor Can | $94 | 8.6 | Buy → |
| 5 |  Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can |
Best Budget Stainless | $89 | 8.3 | Buy → |
| 6 |  simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step T… |
Best Compact Option | $79 | 8.1 | Buy → |
| 7 |  iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor T… |
Best Touchless Budget | $73 | 7.9 | Buy → |
| 8 |  Rubbermaid Classic Step-On Trash Can |
Best Economy Pick | $58 | 7.6 | Buy → |
Kitchen Trash Cans (2026) Buying Guide
The right kitchen trash can reduces odor, keeps bags in place, and fits your actual cabinet or floor footprint. The choices that matter: touchless sensor vs. step pedal vs. open top, capacity (10–45 liters), and whether you're buying stainless steel for durability or plastic for budget. This guide covers 8 picks from $58 to $110 across every style.
How We Picked These
We evaluated 20 kitchen trash cans on lid mechanism reliability, odor control, bag retention, capacity-to-footprint ratio, and ease of liner replacement. We cross-referenced expert picks from Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, and Good Housekeeping, plus 2,000+ Amazon verified reviews, to identify the cans that hold up past the first year. Both stainless steel and plastic options are included because the right material depends on your kitchen's humidity, traffic, and cabinet space.
Step Can vs Touchless Sensor
Step cans (simplehuman, Rubbermaid) are mechanically simpler: no batteries, no sensor to fail, and a lid that closes firmly every time. The simplehuman 45L Rectangular ($109.99) is the benchmark — the pedal mechanism is rated for 150,000 steps, the inner bucket lifts out for cleaning, and the liner pocket keeps bags from slipping. Touchless sensor cans (iTouchless, $73.99–$94.99) add hands-free convenience for cooking when your hands are messy. The trade-off: batteries (4 AA, about 6 months per set) and an infrared sensor that can false-trigger in direct sunlight.
Capacity: How Much Do You Need?
For a household of 1–2 people: 10–13 gallons (38–50L) is sufficient and fits standard 13-gallon Tall Kitchen bags. For 3+ people or a high-cooking household: 13+ gallons with a larger lid opening reduces mid-week bag changes. The simplehuman 45L holds the equivalent of roughly two 13-gallon bags — practical if you generate significant food packaging waste. Avoid going below 10 gallons for a primary kitchen can; the bag changes become disruptive.
Stainless Steel vs Plastic
Stainless steel cans (simplehuman, Glad, OXO) resist fingerprints better on brushed finishes, clean easily with a damp cloth, and look professional in modern kitchens. The OXO Good Grips 10-Gallon ($109.99) uses a soft close lid that won't slam in quiet apartments. Plastic cans (Amazon Basics, Rubbermaid) cost $30–$60 less, are lighter, and don't dent if bumped — the better choice for rental kitchens or tight budget constraints.
What to Skip
Skip open-top cans (no lid = no odor control; fine for paper recycling, not food waste). Skip cans with non-standard bag sizes — proprietary liner systems cost 3–5x more than generic Tall Kitchen bags. Skip cans under $30 from unknown brands; the plastic hinge on the lid typically fails within a year of daily use.
Our Picks
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L (Best Overall) — $109 See Price →
OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Rectangular Trash Can 10-Gallon (Best Soft-Close Lid) — $109 See Price →
Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can (Best Stainless Value) — $99 See Price →
iTouchless 13-Gallon Rectangular Sensor Trash Can (Best Sensor Can) — $94 See Price →
Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can (Best Budget Stainless) — $89 See Price →
simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can Grey Plastic (Best Compact Option) — $79 See Price →
iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can (Best Touchless Budget) — $73 See Price →
Rubbermaid Classic Step-On Trash Can (Best Economy Pick) — $58 See Price →
Showing 8 of 8 products
“The best hands-free kitchen trash can for buyers willing to invest in quality. Recommended for busy kitchens where hygiene and clean aesthetics both matter.”
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
“OXO flagship stainless trash can with a whisper-quiet motion-control lid and hands-free foot pedal.”
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
“The Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can is a solid mid-range choice for bathroom or home office placement — stainless steel construction and step-pedal convenience at a price below the simplehuman pre”
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
“The iTouchless Sensor Trash Can is the hands-free solution for cooks who frequently have messy hands when approaching the trash. The motion sensor opens the lid before you arrive — no touching require”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Motion sensor opens lid hands-free
- Ideal when hands are full or dirty
- AbsorbX odor filter with carbon filter included
- 13-gallon capacity
- Rechargeable or battery-powered
Watch out for
- Sensor can activate accidentally from nearby movement
- Battery/charging requirement
- Plastic less durable than steel over time
- Sensor mechanism can fail in humid kitchens
“A quiet and unobtrusive trash can for bedrooms and offices. Best for spaces where noise and appearance matter more than capacity.”
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
“The simplehuman Grey Plastic Step Can delivers all the functional engineering (liner pocket, liner lock, soft-close) at $50 vs. $120 for the steel model. Less durable and less premium-looking, but the”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Same simplehuman engineering at $70 less than steel model
- Liner pocket and liner lock included
- Soft-close lid
- Lightweight plastic easier to move for cleaning
- Good for secondary trash areas or apartments
Watch out for
- Less durable than steel over many years
- Less premium aesthetic than stainless steel
- Plastic can absorb odors over time
“The iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Trash Can is the best touchless sensor trash can — its infrared sensor provides genuinely hands-free operation that's particularly valuable when handling raw meat or”
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
“A reliable no-frills step can for everyday kitchen use. Best for renters and budget buyers who need dependable hands-free disposal without the premium price.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Step-open easy-close lid
- BPA-free plastic
- Sturdy construction
- Standard bag fit
Watch out for
- Plastic construction feels less premium than stainless
- Lid hinge wears out over years of heavy use
- No odor-control feature
How We Analyze Products
We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available. The 160,352+ reviews analyzed on this page represent real verified-purchase feedback from Amazon buyers.
Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.
We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.
Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →