The Best Kitchen Trash Can

Let’s talk trash. Taking it out is never fun, but a good receptacle can make the task less of a slog. We’ve tested more than 20 kitchen trash cans since 2014, and we think the Simplehuman Rectangular Step Can is the best for most home kitchens. It makes tossing garbage easy, replacing bags painless, and cleaning a cinch.

The 10-gallon Simplehuman Rectangular Step Can makes fitting, hiding, and removing a standard trash bag easier than with most other cans we’ve tested. (Don’t be deterred by the custom-fit bags Simplehuman sells for its trash cans. Most models fit generic trash bags just fine.) The lid opens smoothly, without smacking the wall behind it, and it can be locked open so you can toss scraps in while you cook. If a garbage bag breaks and leaks, the plastic insert on this can will catch the mess and make it far easier to clean up. The Rectangular Step Can is expensive, but it’s backed by a 10-year warranty, which is rare among garbage cans. We’ve been using an older version of this can in the Wirecutter test kitchen since 2014, and it’s still going strong despite plenty of abuse.

We recommend the 30-liter Simplehuman Under-Counter Pull-Out Can if you don’t have room for a larger, free-standing trash can, or if you prefer your trash bin to be tucked out of the way. This 30-liter can sits in a sturdy metal frame that doesn’t wobble, and it glides smoothly on its track. The track comes pre-assembled, and it takes only eight screws to mount it to the base of your cupboard. Plus, the whole thing comes with a generous five-year warranty. The main downside is that since this bin doesn’t have a lid, you’ll need to take your trash out more frequently to prevent it from smelling or attracting fruit flies.

The compact, 10-liter Simplehuman In-Cabinet Can is an even smaller can than the pull-out, for those who don’t generate a lot of trash and who need something tucked out of the way. It hooks snugly over a cupboard door and fits 2.6-gallon trash bags or regular plastic grocery bags. Unlike the Simplehuman Under-Counter Pull-Out Can, the In-Cabinet Can has a lid to contain odors. Since it’s so tiny, it’s best suited to small households or those who take their garbage out frequently. Like the pull-out bin we recommend, this can comes with a five-year warranty.

The 13-gallon Rubbermaid Step-On Trash Can is the best trash can we’ve tested for under $30. Two plastic arms on the rim of the can hold bags securely in place and out of sight, and the lid sealed in stinky trash better than those on any other model we tested. Though the Rubbermaid isn’t as stylish as some of our other picks, the black plastic exterior at least hides stains well. This can lacks some of the features we like in our other picks—such as a removable liner, a weighted base, and a lid that won’t hit the wall when opened—but for a basic, no-frills can, it gets the job done.