The Best Kitchen Trash Cans of 2026

• Capacity: 13 gallons
• Material: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 12.75 x 10.75 x 27.88 inches
• Weight: 8 pounds

Sometimes it seems like you can buy an automatic version of anything, so why shouldn’t that extend to trash cans? In addition to saving you some effort, a sensory activated lid exempts you from actively touching an icky trash can or making the can icky if your hands are covered in, say, raw chicken.

At about $65, it isn’t overly expensive, though you'll also need to purchase batteries or an optional AC adapter.

Appealing extras include an activated carbon filter, which keeps unpleasant aromas contained, a smudge-resistant, easy-to-clean stainless-steel exterior, and an extra-wide opening for stashing bulky items. A retainer ring on top keeps your bag in place, and air vents on the bottom aid in easy access and removal. The standard 13-gallon trash can size means it fits all basic kitchen bags, but the square-shaped unit is a touch taller than it is wide, so it takes up the bare minimum of space.

However, because it’s a hands-free automatic device, there’s always a chance this can break down. It’s also heavy, making it difficult to move, especially since the lid activates when you’re near it. That touch sensitivity could also be a detractor as far as trash-motivated dogs are concerned... a simple tail wag and it’s open sesame.

• Capacity: 11.9 gallons
• Material: Brushed stainless steel
• Dimensions: 23.3 x 10.4 x 26 inches
• Weight: 18.7 pounds

There’s no question that this intriguingly designed, brushed steel basket is a real looker. Its slender dimensions allow it to fit snugly in odd corners of your kitchen, and its split butterfly lid, with two doors that open from the center, make for easy under-the-counter clearance.

It too has all the fun Simplehuman extras, including the indestructible foot pedal, custom fit liners, and a fingerprint-resistant finish. An internal hinge lets you set it against the wall without scratching, and the lid stays open until you close it, which is helpful for drawn-out tasks. Yet even with a handle in back, the sheer heft and torpedo shape makes it cumbersome to move around, and it can’t be denied—at this price, this is one costly can.

• Capacity: 16a gallons
• Material: Polypropylene
• Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 35 inches
• Weight: 5.6 pounds

While space is at a premium in our New York City apartment, we understand that many people are blessed with far more palatial kitchens (which they share with a bigger household than a husband and a dog). As such, they require a more capacious can, and the heavy-duty Umbra Venti definitely fits the bill. It readily takes on 16 gallons of trash, but can still be fit with a standard, 13-gallon bag (which is kept in place and hidden from view with a neck ring).

Its polypropylene material puts it at the lower end of the price spectrum, but it is reasonably durable and weatherproof, so the wastebasket can be used indoors or outdoors.

Its round shape can be a problem, since it can't be neatly tucked into a corner, and though it’s tall, this can is definitely no match for a motivated dog.

It also has a swing-top lid, which comes with pros (they have less chance of breaking down than an automatic or step pedal model and you don’t need to be as hands-on as with a basic lid) and cons—it’s tricky to fit items like pizza boxes through the slim, swinging opening, which also tends to get yucky once trash reaches all the way to the top).

• Capacity: 13 gallons
• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions: 14.65 x 24.82 x 17.59 inches
• Weight: 5.2 pounds

You’ll find no shortage of great reviews for this budget-friendly can. If we hadn’t seen what Simplehuman could do for about the same price, we wouldn’t have expected a lot for the price. But this trash can's boxy, semi-circular build and basic black plastic material make it a bit of an eyesore in the kitchen, and there are no special features for holding a bag in place or containing odors. Dogs will have no trouble whatsoever helping themselves to your garbage, either.

However, the biggest issue for us was that the snap-on top refused to stay in place during use. So not only were we regularly unable to use the foot pedal, but we had to refit the dirty lid by hand far too many times.