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Best Trash Cans 2026: 5 Compared
WriterPickly Editorial
Updated 2026-11-03
The right trash can depends on where it lives more than on how it looks: a small bin by the vanity, a step can in the kitchen, a sensor lid for hands-free use, or a pull-out hidden in the cabinet. Capacity, lid and footprint are what separate these five.
Quick answer
The Rubbermaid Vanity is the lowest-priced here at $7.99 on Amazon US on November 3, 2026, and the Glad step can with a soft-close lid is $19.98. The simplehuman 50-liter step can is $49.99, the EKO Mirage-T touchless can is $89.99 and the simplehuman pull-out for under the counter is $99.99.
📋How we compared
We did not use these trash cans ourselves. This comparison is built from the product titles and feature lists on the Amazon US listings, retrieved through the Amazon Creators API on November 3, 2026, and general knowledge of how trash cans are sized, lidded and placed in a home. Sizes, capacities, materials and every other statement are the sellers' own claims. Prices move often, so check the retailer.
💰 Lowest price: The Rubbermaid Vanity is a 1.5-gallon (6-quart) rectangular wastebasket for bathrooms, offices and under sinks. The listing mentions a reinforced rim, a smooth inner surface that is easy to clean and a rectangular shape that fits next to toilets and in cabinets.
Top picks ↓- 3
simplehuman 50 Liter Semi-Round Step Trash Can with Slide Lock, Black🍳 Kitchen workhorse$49.99Price as of 2026-11-05 - 5
simplehuman Under Counter Pull-Out Can, 30L / 8 Gallon🚪 Hidden in the cabinet$99.99Price as of 2026-11-05
Related articles
1★ Best Pick💰 Lowest priceRubbermaid Vanity Wastebasket 1.5-Gallon, White
The listing mentions no lid, so check that an open-top bin suits the room.
The Rubbermaid Vanity is a 1.5-gallon (6-quart) rectangular wastebasket for bathrooms, offices and under sinks. The listing mentions a reinforced rim, a smooth inner surface that is easy to clean and a rectangular shape that fits next to toilets and in cabinets. On Amazon US it was $7.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Lowest price of the five
- ✓Rectangular shape fits tight spaces
- ✓Listing says it is made in the USA
Cons
- ✗No lid mentioned in the listing
- ✗Too small for a kitchen
2🦶 Small step canGlad Small Stainless Steel Step Trash Can, 1.2 Gallon
Check the 8 x 9.5 x 12 inch size on the listing before ordering for a larger space.
The Glad is a 1.2-gallon round stainless steel step can with a soft-close lid and a removable inner bucket with a metal carry ring. The listing positions it for bedrooms, offices, bathrooms and apartment kitchens. On Amazon US it was $19.98 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Foot pedal with a soft-close lid
- ✓Removable inner bucket
- ✓Fingerprint-resistant brushed stainless finish, per the listing
Cons
- ✗Small 1.2-gallon capacity
- ✗Not meant for a main kitchen bin
3🍳 Kitchen workhorsesimplehuman 50 Liter Semi-Round Step Trash Can with Slide Lock, Black
Check that the 50-liter size and the Code P liners suit your kitchen.
The simplehuman 50-liter semi-round step can has a flat back that sits against a wall, a slide lock and a soft-closing lid mechanism. Its listing cites a pedal engineered for over 150,000 steps and a body made with 75% post-consumer recycled plastic. On Amazon US it was $49.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Flat back sits flush against a wall
- ✓Slide lock for the lid, per the listing
- ✓Quiet-close lid, per the listing
Cons
- ✗Custom liners are sold separately
- ✗Plastic body rather than steel
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4🙌 Hands-freeEKO Mirage-T 50 Liter Touchless Motion Sensor Trash Can
Make sure you have AA alkaline batteries ready for the sensor.
The EKO Mirage-T is a 50-liter (13.2-gallon) touchless can with a motion-sensor lid and an anti-fingerprint stainless steel finish. The listing says it runs on AA alkaline batteries that can last up to 8 months and claims 25% more capacity from its no-liner design. On Amazon US it was $89.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Sensor lid opens without touching
- ✓Anti-fingerprint stainless finish
- ✓Large 50-liter capacity
Cons
- ✗Needs AA batteries
- ✗The 25% extra capacity is the seller's own claim
5🚪 Hidden in the cabinetsimplehuman Under Counter Pull-Out Can, 30L / 8 Gallon
Measure your cabinet opening against the listing before ordering the pull-out.
The simplehuman Under Counter Pull-Out Can is a 30-liter (8-gallon) bin on a heavy-duty steel frame that hides inside the cabinet. The listing mentions commercial-grade ball-bearing tracks that glide with a full load, a chromed steel handle and Code K custom-fit liners. On Amazon US it was $99.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Bin stays out of sight behind the cabinet door
- ✓Ball-bearing tracks glide even when full, per the listing
- ✓Steel frame with chrome handle
Cons
- ✗Highest price of the five
- ✗Needs a compatible cabinet opening
Size and where it goes
The Rubbermaid is a 1.5-gallon rectangular wastebasket for bathrooms, offices and under sinks, and the Glad is a 1.2-gallon round step can. The simplehuman step can holds 50 liters (13 gallons), the EKO 50 liters (13.2 gallons) and the simplehuman pull-out 30 liters (8 gallons).
Small bins suit a vanity or desk, while the 50-liter cans are kitchen-sized. The pull-out is built to sit inside a cabinet, so measure the opening before ordering.
Lid and opening style
The Glad uses a foot pedal with a soft-close lid, and the simplehuman step can adds a slide lock that its listing says holds the lid closed against pets. The EKO opens with a motion sensor and runs on AA alkaline batteries, which its listing says can last up to 8 months.
The Rubbermaid has no lid in its listing, and the simplehuman pull-out hides the bin behind the cabinet door, with a chrome handle for pulling it out.
Build and bags
The Rubbermaid lists a reinforced rim and a smooth interior that is easy to clean, and is made in Kansas. The Glad has a brushed stainless steel finish and a removable inner bucket. The simplehuman step can lists a steel pedal rated for over 150,000 steps and a body of 75% recycled plastic, and the pull-out lists a steel frame with ball-bearing tracks.
Both simplehuman cans list custom-fit liners (Code P and Code K), which are sold separately, so factor in the bag cost.
Frequently asked questions
What size trash can should I buy?▼
Is a touchless trash can worth it?▼
Do I need special bags?▼
Check the details of the products in this article
- Rubbermaid Vanity Wastebasket 1.5-Gallon, White$9.59Price as of 2026-11-05
- Glad Small Stainless Steel Step Trash Can, 1.2 Gallon$19.98Price as of 2026-11-05
- simplehuman 50 Liter Semi-Round Step Trash Can with Slide Lock, Black$49.99Price as of 2026-11-05
- EKO Mirage-T 50 Liter Touchless Motion Sensor Trash Can$89.99Price as of 2026-11-05
- simplehuman Under Counter Pull-Out Can, 30L / 8 Gallon$99.99Price as of 2026-11-05
Prices change. Check the retailer for the current price.
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