simplehuman vs iTouchless: Which Is Better? (2026)
simplehuman's Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L ($149.98) 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 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | simplehuman Rectangular Step Can,… simplehuman |
Best simplehuman | $149 Buy → |
9.5 |
| 2 |  simplehuman 10 Liter / 2.6 Gallon…simplehuman |
Also Excellent | $44 Buy → |
— |
| 3 |  iTouchless 13 Gallon Oval Touchle…iTouchless |
Best Budget Sensor | $73 Buy → |
8.5 |
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 ($149.98) 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.
“simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L ($109.99) — 4.7-star average, silent hydraulic lid close, steel inner liner prevents bag slippage, no batteries required. The most-recommended kitchen trash ”
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 Rectangular Step Can 45L earns its $109.99 price through mechanical precision rather than sensor technology — a deliberate contrast to the iTouchless sensor can on this page. The cold-rolled steel body with fingerprint-resistant finish measures 15 inches wide by 11 inches deep by 25 inches tall, fitting most standard kitchen floor footprints and holding a 13-gallon liner without slipping (simplehuman liner code J, CW0253). The soft-close lid mechanism — simplehuman's most cited differentiator — dampens the lid's descent to eliminate the metallic clang that cheaper step cans produce. Lid closure is nearly silent, which matters in open-plan kitchens where the trash area is visible from living spaces. The step pedal actuates with roughly 8 pounds of force, smooth enough to engage with an elbow or foot when hands are full. Long-term owners consistently cite the hinge and pedal holding up past five years without squeaking, the primary failure mode on budget competitors. Against the iTouchless 13 Gallon at $73.99, simplehuman asks $36 more for a quieter lid, more durable build, and a more finished aesthetic. The iTouchless wins on hands-free operation for high-traffic households; simplehuman wins on longevity and design for buyers who treat kitchen equipment as a long-term purchase.
“The simplehuman Profile bin is engineered for quiet, hands-free operation — liner pocket conceals replacement bags and the fingerprint-proof finish maintains kitchen aesthetics over years of use.”
See Today’s Price →Watch out for
- Assembly required — budget 30-60 minutes for initial setup
- Color and style options may be limited compared to premium furniture brands
“iTouchless 13-Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can ($73.99) — the most affordable hands-free sensor can from iTouchless. Cylindrical design, soft-open lid, deodorizer carbon filter included. 4.2-star ave”
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 Sensor Trash Can opens via an infrared motion sensor rather than a foot pedal, detecting hand movement within 6 inches of the sensor ring on the lid. The lid stays open 3 seconds after the last detected motion then closes automatically — practical for loading one item at a time without holding the lid manually. At $73.99, it undercuts the simplehuman 45L step can by $36, though it requires 4 AA batteries and the sensor adds a failure point that simplehuman's all-mechanical step pedal avoids. The 13-gallon capacity accepts standard kitchen liners and the inner bucket lifts out for cleaning. Lid open-close noise is moderate — not as quiet as simplehuman's soft-close hinge, but not disruptive. For households with young children who struggle with step-can coordination, or for users who frequently have both hands occupied, the sensor mechanism earns its place. The battery dependency is a real tradeoff: a dead sensor at the wrong moment means a manual override or a battery run. For heavy daily use where hands-free access matters most, the iTouchless delivers that convenience at a meaningful savings over simplehuman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is simplehuman or iTouchless better?
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Are simplehuman trash cans worth the price?
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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 62,997+ 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 →