10 Compost Bins for Backyard Gardeners

Rethink smelly, messy compost heaps. Today’s composting takes this organic process to a whole new level—by which we mean cleaner, more efficient, and easy for everyone. With a compost bin that is well-designed to suit your home and garden, food scraps and yard waste will turn into rich humus in about two to six weeks. According to the EPA, food scraps and yard waste together make up nearly 30 percent of America garbage. So with a compost bin, you’ll be doing your part to shrink a third of our landfill waste and turn it into food for new blooms.

Related: The Best Compost Bins for Indoors and Out

This breakthrough innovation—tumbling—makes composting easier and faster, even for beginners. The 8-sided, dual chamber creates perfect compost in as little as two weeks. Forget digging, turning, and mixing compost by hand. Simply add scraps through the removable door, close, and rotate the chamber five to six times, every two to three days. The two separate inner chambers allow one side to finish composting first, leaving the second chamber open for fresh food scraps and clippings. With a 37 gallon capacity and made of 100% post-consumer recycled polypropylene, the Tumbler is a composter for all. Available on Amazon; $166.96.

Don’t be put off by the name. The Worm Factory is an expandable composter, giving it an extra-large capacity without taking up much space. Each unit comes with four trays, but is expandable to eight trays (sold separately). You will also learn how to harness the all-natural power of worms, which not only break down waste, but add essential nutrients to your compost. Worm-digested compost promotes root growth and prevents disease in your plants. Each tray weighs as little as 12.5 pounds when full, making lifting and removing compost a cinch. Available on Amazon; $174.95.

Made of 100% BPA-free recycled material, Algreen’s classic composter will turn your waste into black gold in a few weeks’ time. Simply add food waste and clippings, you’ll have rich organic humus to spread in your garden in six to eight weeks. The locking, self-watering lid keeps pests out and air flowing to speed up the breakdown process. Easy to fill and with two sliding doors for simple compost removal, this robust bin has a 94 gallon capacity and comes with a 20 year manufacturer’s warranty. Available on Amazon; $91.74.

If you’re looking for a low-profile, compact composter, Demeter’s metal bin is a good option. With a locking access door and a hinged removable lid, it’s easy to put in scraps and take out fresh compost. Ready to harvest? Simply secure the access door with a built-in metal bar, and transfer your compost to your yard or another container. Made of powder-coated galvanized steel, and with an 82 pound capacity, this bin looks good and is especially made for smaller yards. Available on Gardener's Supply Company; $169.

Beauty, sustainability, and the satisfaction of building it yourself? With this DIY compost bin, get all the benefits of store-bought containers, plus the joy of craftsmanship. Built entirely of repurposed shipping pallets, this wooden composter is ultra-ecofriendly, and a perfect daytime project with lasting results. It will also add a dose of color to your garden thanks to built-in lid planters—a bright reminder of the blooms your compost will be nourishing.

Whether you're a lawn care novice or a master gardener, everyone can use a little help around the yard. Subscribe to The Dirt newsletter for tips, recommendations, and problem-solving tools that can help you tame your great outdoors.