8 Best Bathroom Trash Cans in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Often forgotten or overlooked, bathroom trash cans are the MVPs of all our bathrooms. They handle everything we throw at them, and sometimes more, without complaint. When shopping for a bathroom trash can, you need something that can fit into the tight corners of your bathroom. However, there are far too many options to choose from. These days there are even trash cans with built-in odor control!

For every category and price point, there’s a perfect trash can for any bathroom. We’ve compiled a handy list of the best bathroom trash cans below, so all you have to do is choose which suits your busy bathroom.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

The 8 Best Bathroom Trash Cans

1. Simplehuman 4.5 Liter Bathroom Trash Can — Best Overall

Simplehuman has become well-known for their high-quality trash cans, and for good reason! This basic-looking trash can is one of the most intuitive trash cans you’ll come across. The pedal-activated lid is controlled with a damper that closes the lid gently, and the damper supposedly lasts for 150,000 steps. Combined with numerous metal and multiple size options, it’s no wonder this is our top overall pick.

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2. Umbra Skinny Sleek Trash Can — Best Value

For the money, you can’t beat this unassuming and inexpensive trash can. This trash can will fit in even the smallest bathrooms. The polypropylene construction is stronger than you’d think, and it’s easy to clean between uses. However, depending on the color you choose, it could get dirty pretty quickly, although it is easy to clean. With roughly 2 gallons of space, it’s unlikely you’d need anything larger.

Because of the unique design, it is possible that the bin could tip over if you fill it too much. Plus, it doesn’t have a lid, so guests will be able to see your trash and it won’t contain any odors.

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3. iTouchless SoftStep Trash Can — Premium Choice

The first thing you’ll notice about this trash can is that it looks durable. The can itself is made of stainless steel, but it holds a removable plastic trash compartment equipped with an AbsorbX odor control filter. This compartment slides in and out of the can for easy trash removal, and the air-dampened pedal opens the lid at the slightest touch. The filter lasts up to 3 months before it needs to be replaced, which some customers believe isn’t long enough. Either way, the can is a piece of quality workmanship.

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4. NINESTARS Bathroom Automatic Infrared Motion Sensor Trash Can – Best Motion-Activated Trash Can

If you like hands-free technology, we have the perfect trash can for you. Simply pass your hand within 10 inches or 160 degrees of the splash-resistant motion sensor and the lid will open. It will remain open while your hand or any debris stays in the sensor’s line of sight, then closes 3 seconds later. Need it to stay open for longer? There’s a handy manual mode that keeps the lid open so you can clean up bigger messes. While some people love motion activation, it can be a little tricky for some people to get the hang of. Plus, it requires AA batteries, so you might need to stock up for the future.

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5. Bamboo Waste Basket – Best Sustainable Bathroom Trash Can

As plastic becomes more of an interior faux pas every year, we’re left to wonder if there are any sustainable trash cans. Thankfully, this bamboo trash can fills that niche. The body is deceptively sturdy, owing to bamboo’s incredible durability. Best of all, the can is 100% sustainable and compostable if you break it down. This makes it a perfect simple trash can for any sustainable household. The only real downside to this trashcan is that it doesn’t have a lid.

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6. Simplehuman 10-Liter Cabinet Trash Can

If you’ve been searching for a trash can that hangs on your cabinet door, look no further. From the makers of our best overall pick, this 10-liter cabinet trash can will hold everything you can throw at it. The main benefit of this trash can is its huge capacity, which drastically cuts down on trips outside. You can even ditch the hanger and permanently mount the trash can to your cabinet with screws, if longevity is important to you. Customers love that their trash can stay hidden whenever guests come over. However, it is rather large, so it may be too small for some bathrooms.

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7. iDesign Twigz Metal Wire and Plastic Wastebasket

If you’re looking for something less utilitarian and more aesthetic, this wastebasket is perfect. The inner plastic basket is removable to make cleanup easier, and the nonslip feet on the bottom mean it won’t slide all over the place or tip over. The main drawback with this trash can is that it isn’t super durable, and you might chip the plastic if you drop the basket. Otherwise, it’s a beautifully designed trash can that will fit in with most decor.

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8. Joseph Joseph Split Trash Can

This ultra-modern trash can looks vaguely futuristic with one hole for recyclables and the other for trash. This means you can put your empty water bottles in one side, and all your bathroom detritus (used dental floss, makeup wipes, cotton swabs, etc.) in the other side. The top opens up and the inside compartment is removable to make cleanup easier on you.

While the design is smart, it might not be the most functional. Unfortunately, both holes are rather small. Plus, separating the bin into two separate compartments means that you can fit less trash inside.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Bathroom Trash Cans

What to Look for When Choosing a Bathroom Trash Can

While it doesn’t seem like you’d have to think too hard about the trash can that you buy, there are quite a few things that you should factor into your decision.

Material

The material used to construct your trash can determines how durable it is, as well as how susceptible to falling over it is. Plastic is the easiest type of trash can to tip over, and metal trash cans are typically the most stable. However, the former is usually more affordable than the latter. Steel also tends to pick up fingerprints over time. Other sustainable options include bamboo, wicker, and rattan, which tend to be lighter yet harder to clean.

Lids

Lids help obscure your trash from public view, which is useful when you frequently have guests over. They also usually help keep liners tidy, whereas lidless trash cans have a tough time with bags falling in and overflowing.

Sustainability

Most trash cans aren’t designed with sustainability in mind, but they’re out there. We’d suggest trying a bamboo wastebasket if you’re trying to cut plastic out of your day-to-day life and need something long-lasting.

Step-Activated

Step-activation is a godsend for crowded households where someone else’s used tissue could spread a cold throughout the whole house. It’s also a nice feature if you’ve got your hands full and can’t lift the lid yourself.

Size

You need something that can hold all the old dental floss and cotton swabs you can throw at it, but it has to fit in an accessible yet unassuming corner of your bathroom. Be sure to check the bin’s measurements before you commit to buying one, or else you may be disappointed when it gets delivered.

Conclusion

Bathroom trash cans aren’t the most remarkable parts of our home, but they serve an invaluable purpose. Without them, we’d have piles of trash in our bathrooms. On this list, we’ve gone over some of the best bathroom trash cans for all types of homes, and you’re sure to find one perfect for you.

Our choice for the best overall trash can belongs to the Simplehuman Trash Can. However, if you’re looking for something a little more durable, our premium choice belongs to the iTouchless Soft Step Trash Can. No matter what one you choose, just be sure that it fits in your bathroom.

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Featured Image Credit: Sanibell BV, Unsplash