Best Kitchen Trash Cans 2026: Step-On, Touchless & 13-Gal
The simplehuman Rectangular 45-Liter Step Trash Can is our top pick for kitchen trash cans, combining a wide-mouth opening with a silent lid-close mechanism and a durable stainless steel liner that resists odors and stains. The foot pedal keeps hands free when cooking and the bag ring holds liners in place so they never slip inside the can.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Our Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L |
Best Overall | $109 | 9.2 | Buy → |
| 2 |  simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step T… |
Best Value | $79 | 8.9 | Buy → |
| 3 |  Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can |
Best Soft-Close | $89 | 8.5 | Buy → |
| 4 |  iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor T… |
Best Sensor Can | $73 | 8.2 | Buy → |
| 5 |  Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can |
Best Stainless Design | $99 | 7.8 | Buy → |
Kitchen Trash Cans Buying Guide
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko / PexelsOur Top Pick
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L at $109.99 — simplehuman 45L Stainless Step Can — silent close, built to last a decade.
Budget Pick: iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can at $73.99 — iTouchless 13 Gallon Sensor Trash Can — truly hands-free with a wide motion sensor.
Great for: Anyone replacing a smelly or broken kitchen bin, upgrading to a motion-sensor lid, or needing a larger capacity
Not ideal if: Your current bin functions fine — a new trash can is rarely worth the spend unless there's a specific problem
Capacity: 13-Gallon is the Kitchen Standard
How we picked these. We reviewed 16 kitchen trash cans across lid mechanism (sensor, step, swing, manual), inner bucket removability for bag changes, odor-sealing gasket effectiveness, capacity options (10–13 gallon for kitchen use), and fingerprint-resistant finish durability, cross-referencing picks from Wirecutter, The Strategist, and verified daily kitchen use reviewer feedback. Cans were selected for reliable hands-free operation and effective odor containment between emptying.
Lid Mechanism: Step vs Sensor vs Soft-Close
Step cans like the simplehuman and Glad options let you open the lid hands-free while holding trash — the most common use case. Sensor cans like the iTouchless at $73.99 use motion detection to open automatically — convenient when your hands are full or wet, but require batteries and occasional sensor cleaning. The Amazon Basics Soft-Close at $89.99 uses a damped hinge that closes slowly and silently — eliminating the clang of a dropped lid, which matters in open-plan kitchens adjacent to living spaces.Liner Fit and Liner Pockets
simplehuman designs its cans around custom-fit liners that stay in place and don't slip into the can — a frustration common with standard bags that are too loose. The liner pocket (a hidden compartment at the back of the can) stores extra liners conveniently. If you use generic bags, confirm they fit the specific model.Fingerprint Resistance
Stainless steel cans show fingerprints immediately unless treated with a fingerprint-resistant coating. simplehuman and Glad both offer fingerprint-resistant finishes on their premium models — worth the attention if your can sits in a visible area.Related Guides
Related Guides:
- How to Organize Your Garage — zone-by-zone system with wall and floor storage
For a detailed head-to-head, see our Simplehuman Vs Rubbermaid Kitchen comparison.
Our Picks
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L (Best Overall) — $109 See Price →
simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can Grey Plastic (Best Value) — $79 See Price →
Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can (Best Soft-Close) — $89 See Price →
iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can (Best Sensor Can) — $73 See Price →
Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can (Best Stainless Design) — $99 See Price →
Showing 5 of 5 products
simplehuman Rectangular Step Trash Can 45L
“The best hands-free kitchen trash can for buyers willing to invest in quality. Recommended for busy kitchens where hygiene and clean aesthetics both matter.”
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 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can in Stainless Steel is the kitchen trash can benchmark. The step pedal opens the lid smoothly without noise, and the slow-close hinge means the lid never slams. The steel liner bucket removes for easy cleaning. Fingerprint-resistant finish keeps it looking clean. An investment that pays off in daily convenience for years.
simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step Trash Can Grey Plastic
“The simplehuman Grey Plastic Step Can delivers all the functional engineering (liner pocket, liner lock, soft-close) at $50 vs. $120 for the steel model. Less durable and less premium-looking, but the”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Same simplehuman engineering at $70 less than steel model
- Liner pocket and liner lock included
- Soft-close lid
- Lightweight plastic easier to move for cleaning
- Good for secondary trash areas or apartments
Watch out for
- Less durable than steel over many years
- Less premium aesthetic than stainless steel
- Plastic can absorb odors over time
Read Full Analysis
The simplehuman 45-Liter Rectangular Step in Grey Plastic delivers the same smooth-open lid mechanism and thoughtful design as the stainless version at a lower price. The plastic body is lighter and slightly easier to clean inside. If you prefer a lower-profile look or want to save money without giving up simplehuman's build quality, this is the right pick.
Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can
“A quiet and unobtrusive trash can for bedrooms and offices. Best for spaces where noise and appearance matter more than capacity.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Soft-close quiet lid
- Step-open operation
- Stainless-look finish
- Fits standard 13-gal bags
Watch out for
- Plastic build feels less durable than metal options
- No step-open mechanism
- Small capacity means frequent emptying
Read Full Analysis
The Amazon Basics Soft-Close Trash Can is a well-executed mid-tier option. The soft-close lid prevents slamming and the inner bucket lifts out for bag changes. Solid construction and a clean, minimal design fit most kitchens. A strong alternative to simplehuman if you want the soft-close feature without the premium price.
iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Sensor Trash Can
“The iTouchless 13 Gallon Automatic Trash Can is the best touchless sensor trash can — its infrared sensor provides genuinely hands-free operation that's particularly valuable when handling raw meat or”
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 Automatic Sensor Trash Can opens with a wave of your hand — no touching required. The wide-angle sensor activates from any direction, making it the most hygienic option for kitchens where you are handling raw food regularly. Runs on batteries or USB power. The odor filter system helps keep smells contained between bag changes.
Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can
“The Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can is a solid mid-range choice for bathroom or home office placement — stainless steel construction and step-pedal convenience at a price below the simplehuman pre”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Stainless steel construction at a reasonable price point
- Step pedal convenience in a compact bathroom size
- Slim profile fits alongside bathroom fixtures
- Glad brand reliability
Watch out for
- Smaller capacity (5.3 gallons) limits it to bathroom and office applications
- Stainless steel is less fingerprint-resistant than simplehuman's coated version
- Less liner retention engineering than premium cans
Read Full Analysis
The Glad Stainless Steel Step Trash Can brings a clean, modern look to the kitchen with a sturdy step pedal mechanism. The fingerprint-resistant exterior stays looking sharp with minimal upkeep. The inner bucket removes for easy cleaning. Glad's EasyFit liner design keeps bags anchored at the rim so they do not slip down into the can.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size trash can do I need for a kitchen?
Are sensor trash cans worth it?
How do I keep my kitchen trash can from smelling?
Can I use generic bags in a simplehuman trash can?
How long should a quality kitchen trash can last?
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 138,014+ 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 →