These Are the Best Kitchen Trash Cans to Keep Your Space Odor-Free

My Top Pick

Kohler Stainless Steel Trash Can

$140 at Amazon $140 at Wayfair $150 at Crate & Barrel

At 13 gallons, this kitchen trash can is the ideal size for most families. It’s not so large that you’ll have trouble storing it, but it’s sizable enough so you won’t be constantly taking out the garbage. I love that it’s hands-free, too. Just step on the durable metal pedal to open the lid and toss any garbage inside. (You can also opt for a touchless version.) When you remove your foot, the lid doesn’t slam down either—it slowly and quietly closes. 

I’ve had this model for quite some time now and can vouch for how easy it is to use. Standard trash bags fit well, and the fingerprint-resistant exterior is easy to keep clean. I love that it also comes in white and black stainless steel, so you can choose the aesthetic that most closely matches your kitchen. Of course, the only downside is that this garbage can sits out in the open and dents easily—not ideal with a bunch of little kids running around. 

Allstar Nikki also had a glowing review after trying the Kohler trash can in her home. "This is by far the best trash can I have ever had," she says. "It's the Rolls Royce of trash cans. I can't say enough good [things] about this. Everything about it is perfect. It's a bit pricey but worth every single cent."

The Details: Stainless steel; 16.81 x 13 x 26.44 inches; 13 gallons

Best Budget

Amazon Basics 50 Liter / 13.2 Gallon Trash Can with Foot Pedal

$86 $75 at Amazon

One of my least favorite things about kitchen trash cans is how expensive they all seem to be, even the plastic ones. Who wants to spend more than $100 on a garbage bin? This one clocks in at a price I’m more comfortable with, but looks just like some of its much more expensive competitors. But there’s more to love than the price. The stainless-steel trash can, which comes in a range of sizes, has plenty of convenience features, including a foot pedal for hands-free use, a lightweight plastic liner to make disposal and cleaning easier, and a built-in handle for portability. One of my favorite parts is the sleek rectangular shape. The rounded edges make it look more elevated than it is, plus it’s easy to tuck away.  

Nikki also admired how easy the trash can was to use, especially given the price point. However, she did have a small gripe about the stainless steel finish. While the trash can is advertised as "fingerprint-resistant," Nikki noticed a lot of fingerprint smudges on her trash can during testing. Even with that caveat, however, Nikki recommends this model for a typical household. "This [trash can] is basic yet strong and will stand the test of time," she says.

The Details: Stainless steel; 14.7 x 16.7 x 25.9 inches; 13.2 gallons

Best Hands-Free

simplehuman Stainless Steel Steel Trash Can with Lid

$130 $100 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Macys

Simplehuman has been at the forefront of hands-free design for quite some time now, and it’s hard to beat this model. It’s available in four different sizes, and one of the larger models even has a recycling compartment if you want that kind of flexibility. The midsize option, though, is a little smaller than I'd normally recommend for the average family, so in my opinion, they don’t really have that perfect Goldilocks size. 

Aside from that, this trash can is everything you’d want. Allstar Jenny loved that the durable pedal lifts the lids without any hands, and that the internal hinge means you can place this garbage can right up against the wall, conserving space. If you need to move the trash around, there are even built-in wheels to give you that portability. The stainless is also fingerprint resistant—extra important for families with kids and pets. 

While Simplehuman does make custom-fit liners for the trash can, Jenny found that regular grocery bags and other branded trash bags worked just fine. The non-skid base and stylish design were also highlights in Jenny's book.

The Details: Stainless steel; 19.8 x 12.8 x 25.7 inches; 10 gallons

Best for Recycling

Songmics Dual Compartment Trash Can

$140 $119 at Amazon $134 at Wayfair

If you have the space and don’t mind sacrificing the capacity of your trash can a bit, this dual-compartment garbage center is a great solution for corralling recycling. Like other great kitchen trash cans, this one features durable metal foot pedals, so you can access the bins completely hands-free. It also has a soft-close lid, so there’s no slamming. I like that each section opens entirely free from the other, too. 

Also nice? This trash system comes in six different finishes, including the traditional stainless steel or a more muted almond or white. They’re all fingerprint-resistant, rust-resistant, and easy to clean. 

The Details: Powder-coated stainless steel; 23.2 x 12.8 x 25.7 inches; 13 gallons

Best Large Capacity

Rubbermaid 19-Gallon Step-On Trash Can

$80 $68 at Amazon

As someone with a family that includes four young kids, I definitely appreciate the need for a large-capacity garbage can. And even though this option is plastic, it is a great no-frills garbage can with a whopping 19-gallon capacity. It also comes at a price point that’s much more affordable than most, especially given its size. 

Like other kitchen trash cans on our list, it has a hands-free design for convenience, and the foot pedal is metal for durability. One of the most unique features, though, is you can use this garbage can as a single large-capacity trash, or pop in two liners and use it as a two-compartment garbage bin with space for both trash and recycling. 

Some of Jenny's favorite elements of the Rubbermaid can included the ability to lock the lid close, the effective odor-trapping seal, and whisper-quiet slow-close mechanism. The one downside Jenny noticed was the lack of a removable liner. When it came to cleaning, she had to take it outside and blast it with a hose since it was too big to fit in a sink.

The Details: Resin; 19.5 x 15 x 26.9 inches; 19 gallons

Best Under Sink

Rev-A-Shelf 35-Quart Pull Out Trash Can

$72 at Amazon $94 at Lowe's

If you don’t want to stare at your garbage all day long—I don’t blame you and am also in this camp!—an under-cabinet option is your best friend. This one, by Rev-A-Shelf, is designed to be short enough to fit under the sink, though how well it fits in this location is largely dependent on the depth of your plumbing. 

It’s on full-extension ball-bearing slides to give you full access to your trash. Plus, the system comes with a rubber bin that fits securely inside the basket, so everything stays right where it should be when you pull the unit out. The bin itself comes in seven different colors, from neutrals like gray and white to bright pops of color like red and green. The bin accommodates 12-gallon bags, so it’s a bit smaller than your average kitchen trash can, but not by much. 

The Details: Steel; 22 x 10.63 x 19.25 inches; 12 gallons

Most Stylish

Joseph Joseph Totem Max Waste & Recycling Bin

$230 $187 at Amazon $216 at Target $162 at Wayfair

When it comes to kitchen innovations, Joseph Joseph tops the list. The brand makes truly inspired products to address common pain points. Take this trash can, for example, which has a stacked design (hence the name “Totem”) to accommodate both trash and recycling in a single location to conserve precious space. There’s even a 3-liter compost bin inside the recycling compartment. 

Each compartment features removable bins to make it easy to take out the garbage when it’s full. And if you’re worried about odors, especially from composting, the brand has thought of that, too. The trash can has built-in odor control—you just have to replace the filters every so often. 

The Details: Steel; 30 x 12 x 14.50 inches; two 8-gallon compartments

Best for Odor Protection

Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection

$120 $90 at Amazon $90 at Wayfair $90 at Home Depot

I love this hands-free trash can because of its capacity—an impressive 20 gallons, suitable for large families—but there’s a feature I love even more, especially considering its size. The unit has built-in Clorox odor protection, so you’re less likely to notice any funny smells coming from your garbage—even as it begins to fill up over a few days. 

Another big draw? This kitchen trash can also has built-in storage: There’s a spot right behind the trash can to store extra bags, so you don’t have to go fishing. And to save you time and effort when replacing the bag, this bin doesn’t have an internal liner. Instead, a set of special rings keeps the bag in place. As for the outside? It’s a fingerprint resistant stainless steel. 

"Overall, I am very happy with this Glad stainless trash can," says Allstar Nikki. "It's durable, built to last, affordable, and stylish. After all, Glad knows trash, right? It's a name we all know and can count on." She did lament the lack of a removable liner, which made cleaning trickier, but the other perks more than make up for that downside. "What I liked most was the closure at top which keeps the bag from falling down when you put something heavy in it," she says.

The Details: Stainless steel;16 x 16 x 29 inches; 20 gallons