Well-Kept Listwk

The Well-Kept Edit

The Best Kitchen Trash Cans That Stay Out of the Way

The bins worth keeping in the kitchen, from a dual compartment recycler to the touchless can that never asks you to touch it.

A kitchen trash can earns its keep by disappearing into the routine until you need it, then opening cleanly and closing without drama. The picks below cover the shapes that actually work in a kitchen, from a split bin that handles trash and recycling in one footprint to a sensor lid that opens before you ask, so you can match the can to your space rather than to a feature list.

Every product here links straight to Amazon, where prices and availability change often, so we don't quote them. Tap through for the current listing.

Updated 2026-07-14

  1. SONGMICS Trash Can, 2 x 8 Gallon (2 x 30 L) Garbage Can for Kitchen, with 15 Trash Bags, 2 Compartments, Plastic Inner Buckets and Hinged Lids, Airtight, Silver and Black ULTB60NL

    SONGMICS 2 x 8 Gallon Trash Can

    Two bins, one footprint.

    The SONGMICS dual compartment can is the one to reach for when you want trash and recycling handled in a single footprint. Two eight gallon bins side by side mean you sort as you go, and the split design suits a kitchen where counter space is spoken for but floor space is not. A straightforward answer to the two-bin problem.

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  2. iTouchless Patented 13 Gallon Motion Sensor Trash Can with Lid & AbsorbX Odor Filter | 50L Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Bin, Fits Standard Bags, Long Battery Life, AC Adapter Compatible

    iTouchless Motion Sensor Trash Can

    Touchless, and it works.

    The iTouchless Motion Sensor can is built around a single pitch: you never touch it. The sensor lid opens as you approach, which matters most when your hands are full or messy, and it is the kind of feature that feels like a gimmick until you have used it for a week. A dependable touchless option.

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  3. Amazon Basics LARGE Trash Can, 13.2 Gallon (50L), Smudge Resistant Rectangular Bin with Soft-Close Lid, Step Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish

    Amazon Basics 13.2 Gallon Trash Can

    The dependable default.

    Amazon Basics shows up here for the same reason it shows up everywhere: it is the can that does the job without asking for attention. It holds what it says it holds, it opens when you step on the pedal, and it closes without fuss. When you want a trash can decision you do not have to think hard about, this is it.

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  4. EKO Mirage-T 50 Liter / 13.2 Gallon Touchless Rectangular Motion Sensor Trash Can or Recycling Bin, Brushed Stainless Steel Finish

    EKO Mirage-T 50 Liter Touchless Trash Can

    Touchless, with a slimmer profile.

    The EKO Mirage is the touchless can for the kitchen that takes its aesthetic seriously. It carries the same hands-free convenience as the iTouchless but wraps it in a slimmer profile and a more considered shape. If the can is going to live in the open, this is the one that earns the spot.

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  5. Glad 20 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection | Large Metal Kitchen Garbage Bin with Soft Close Lid, Garbage Bag Rings, Step On Foot Pedal and Waste Bag Roll Holder, Pewter

    Glad 20 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can

    High capacity, built to last.

    The Glad stainless steel can is the workhorse pick, sized for a household that generates volume. Twenty gallons means fewer trips to the curb, and the stainless finish holds up to the wear a busy kitchen delivers. A straightforward, high capacity option.

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  6. simplehuman Rectangular Step Can, 45L / 12 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can, Liner Rim System, Liner Pocket®, 150,000-Step Pedal, Lid Shox® Silent Close, Brushed Stainless Steel with Grey Plastic Lid

    simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can

    Set it up once, forget about it.

    The simplehuman Rectangular Step Can is the one this category's regulars keep pointing newcomers toward. It is a purpose-built kitchen can rather than a bin with kitchen styling, and that intent shows in the way the lid closes and the way the liner stays put. If you want a can you set up once and then forget about, start here.

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Questions, answered

Touchless or step pedal, which should I choose?
Touchless sensors open without contact and suit busy cooks whose hands are often full or messy; step pedals are mechanical, reliable, and never need batteries. If convenience outweighs simplicity, lean touchless; if you want something that just works, lean pedal.
How do I know what size I need?
Think about how often you want to take the trash out. Smaller bins suit tight spaces and force frequent emptying; larger cans hold more but take up floor space. Match the size to your routine rather than to the room.

The verdict

For most kitchens, the simplehuman Rectangular Step Can is the one to beat: it is built as a kitchen can first and handles the daily routine without asking for attention. Want touchless convenience? The iTouchless for dependability, the EKO Mirage for a slimmer profile. Need to sort as you go? The SONGMICS dual compartment. Watching the budget? Amazon Basics. Running a busy household? The Glad for capacity.