Best Composters to Buy

Looking for the best composter to buy? There isn’t a single “best” composter, but there are several top choices for various categories for sale, depending on your personal needs.

You don’t have to use a composter at all to make compost, if you’re low on cash. You can make a simple compost pile, or use a method like trench composting. Those methods work perfectly fine, and I encourage you to use them if you can’t afford a composter.

There are also plenty of options for building your own composter.

I do like using a compost bin though, because it keeps your compost all together in one spot, and helps keeps pests (or pets!) out of the materials you are trying to compost. Below are several composters that I recommend. They all work well, and you’ll probably want to choose one of these compost bins to buy based on your own specific needs and preferences.

I am probably biased, since I work for a company that sells compost bins. We carry just about all the major brands though, which makes me familiar with them and gives me access to feedback from what many customers have told us over the years about specific models.

Best Tumblers

Spin Bin Compost Tumbler

The advantage to composting with a tumbler is less hands on effort. You do not need to mix with an aerating tool or pitch fork. Simply give it a tumble each time you add to it, or once a week. The Spin Bin composter has 20 ventilation slots which allow much needed oxygen to help break down your material quicker. Four thermometer ports allow you to check the temperature without having to open the lid and sticking your arm into the tumbler. Made from 100 percent recycled plastic, it has a 60 gallon capacity and dual lids, which allow you to open on either side to fill. The cost is around $170. There are several bigger compost tumblers on the market, but they can cost hundreds of dollars, so this one gives you more bang for your buck, in my opinion.

Best Wire Compost Bin

Lifetime Enclosable Wire Compost Bin

A lot of people try to build their own composters out of chicken wire. Those work, but they are really flexible, and they fall apart pretty quickly, because chicken wire isn’t sturdy enough for serious composting. This wire compost bin is made from the same material used to make lobster traps, and manufactured by a company in Houston. You know how lobster traps are designed to sit underwater in salt water, for long periods of time? Well, you get that kind of durability with this wire compost bin. It is made from 12 gauge welded, galvanized, fuse-bonded PVC coated steel wire. It has a large capacity of 30 cubic feet, or 225 gallons. So you’ll have plenty of room for leaves or grass clippings. The cost is around $110.

Best Wood/Wire Compost Bin

Steve’s Earth Engine Cedar Composting Bin

This double cedar composting bin is more versatile than other bins. With the option to go with a single bin or double bin, it’s designed for large batch composting. The double bin option allows for 51 cubic feet of material (single 27 cu. ft.), and the removable wooden slats allow you to get full access to the entire bin. The cedar wood frame will hold up for years, and the galvanized screen allows for great air circulation as well as keeping pests from digging in your compost. It costs approximately $260.

Best Plastic Compost Bin

Gardenwise Plastic Compost Bin

Plastic, stationary bins are less expensive than tumblers but smaller than most wire or cedar bins. The advantage is their ease of use. Each side has a door at the bottom giving access to your finished compost. Unlike other plastic bins that sometimes just snap together and aren’t always sturdy, this recycled plastic compost bin is kept secure with 4 nuts and bolts on each corner. It is well-ventilated, and the top fits securely, keeping small animals from trying to get a midnight snack. At 12 cubic feet of space, you still have ample room to add a bag or two of leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste. The lid could be better designed, but it’s good enough. The dimensions are 33″ h x 28.5″ w x 28.5″ d. It costs approximately $100.

Best Plastic Worm Bin

Can O Worms Round Vermicomposter

The Can O Worms might be the most popular vermicomposting bin on the market. It can be used either indoors or outdoors. The round shape allows it to sit in corner of a room virtually unnoticed, and the fly proof lid keeps unwanted pests from entering or exiting. This worm bin includes two worm trays and a liquid nesting tray that the legs attach to. There is also a valve to drain the valuable liquid (worm tea), which can be diluted and applied to plants as a fertilizer. Assembled it stands 25.6″ high and has a 20.07″ diameter. The cost is around $100.

Best Wooden Worm Bin

Cedar Red Worm Vermicomposting Box

For our more serious worm enthusiast, the Cedar worm bin allows you to take vermicomposting to the next level. At 48” long, 24” wide and 21” high, you can add more kitchen scraps than with a standard sized plastic worm bin. This unit is designed for outdoors, and the cedar wood is ideal to withstand harsh climates and last for years. Some assembly is required, so be prepared to spend 15 to 20 minutes putting it together. An optional instructional DVD can be added to your order that has extremely detailed info on putting it together, as well as instructions on how to compost with worms. The cost is around $90.

Best Countertop Compost Pail

Stainless Steel Compost Pail

A countertop pail allows for fewer trips from the kitchen to the compost bin and the 1 gallon size takes little space on your counter top. This stainless steel pail looks great on any counter and is dishwasher safe. Holding 1 gallon of material, the average household can go days before needing to empty it in your bin. Odors are not an issue due to the dual carbon filter that is contained inside the vented lid of the compost pail. The cost is around $40. If that’s too rich for your taste, you can always just use a coffee can or a Tupperware container instead, because those options are free!

Best Compost Thermometer

Compost Thermometer

If you’re not sure how well your compost is doing a compost thermometer is a surefire way to check its condition. Unlike other composting thermometers, this easy-to-read dial tell you if you are low, medium or hot. The shaft is 20” long, which enables you to probe deep into your compost materials. The all stainless steel construction should last for years, and the no-fog lens means it will not cloud up on you like other cheaper models. Do you need it? No. But is it fun to measure the temperature in your bin? Oh yeah!