simplehuman vs iTouchless: Which Is Better? (2026)
simplehuman's Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L ($109.99) is the best kitchen trash can overall — its hydraulic lid damper, silent close, and 4.7-star average are unmatched. For hands-free automatic opening, the iTouchless 13-Gallon Sensor Can ($73.99) is the right pick.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Our Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L |
Best simplehuman | $109 | 9.5 | Buy → |
| 2 |  simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step T… |
Best Value simplehuman | $79 | 8.9 | Buy → |
| 3 |  iTouchless 13-Gallon Rectangular Sensor… |
Best iTouchless | $94 | 8.8 | Buy → |
| 4 |  iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor T… |
Best Budget Sensor | $73 | 8.5 | Buy → |
simplehuman vs iTouchless Buying Guide
simplehuman and iTouchless both make premium kitchen trash cans — but they solve the "don't touch the lid" problem differently. simplehuman uses a step pedal mechanism refined over 20+ years; iTouchless uses an infrared motion sensor that opens the lid automatically. The right choice depends on whether you want mechanical reliability or hands-free convenience.
simplehuman vs iTouchless: The Core Difference
simplehuman cans open when you step on a pedal — no batteries, no sensors, no motion false-positives. iTouchless cans open when you wave your hand or bring trash near the sensor — no physical contact required. simplehuman's step mechanism is engineered to precise tolerances with a silent hydraulic damper on the lid. iTouchless sensors occasionally trigger from pets or nearby motion, but the hands-free operation is genuinely convenient for users with full hands. Both are available in 13-gallon sizes; simplehuman also offers a larger 45-liter (11.9 gallon) form factor.
Where simplehuman Wins
simplehuman's Rectangular Step Can ($109.99) is the best-reviewed kitchen trash can on the market — a 4.7-star average across thousands of reviews. The lid closes silently with a hydraulic damper (no slamming), the steel liner prevents bag slippage, and the "inner bucket" liner makes cleaning the can itself straightforward. simplehuman cans require no batteries, never have sensor issues, and the step mechanism is built to last 150,000+ open/close cycles. If you want a trash can that simply works with zero fuss, simplehuman is the answer.
Where iTouchless Wins
iTouchless cans are the right call when hands-free operation matters — cooking with messy hands, handling raw meat, or managing waste in a medical context. The iTouchless 13-Gallon Sensor Can ($73.99) operates on 4 D batteries (or optional AC adapter) and opens within 0.5 seconds of proximity detection. iTouchless also offers a "nano silver" deodorizing filter that simplehuman doesn't include. At $73.99 vs simplehuman's $79.98-$109.99 range, iTouchless delivers hands-free convenience at a lower price point.
Get simplehuman If / Get iTouchless If
Get simplehuman if you want the quietest, most reliable trash can mechanism available — the Rectangular Step Can ($109.99) is the gold standard for kitchen waste management. No batteries, no sensor quirks, built to last a decade.
Get iTouchless if you want hands-free lid operation and don't mind battery replacement — the iTouchless 13-Gallon ($73.99) is $36 cheaper than simplehuman's flagship and adds automatic sensor opening that step cans can't match.
How We Compared These
We compared 4 trash cans from simplehuman and iTouchless across opening mechanism, lid noise, liner fit, battery requirements, and long-term owner reviews, cross-referencing with expert reviews from Wirecutter and Amazon verified purchasers with 1,000+ reviews. Products were selected for kitchen use at each price point.
Our Picks
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L (Best simplehuman) — $109 See Price →
simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can Grey Plastic (Best Value simplehuman) — $79 See Price →
iTouchless 13-Gallon Rectangular Sensor Trash Can (Best iTouchless) — $94 See Price →
iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can (Best Budget Sensor) — $73 See Price →
Showing 4 of 4 products
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L
“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
simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can Grey Plastic
“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
iTouchless 13-Gallon Rectangular Sensor Trash Can
“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
iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can
“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
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 69,574+ 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 →