Best Kitchen Trash Cans 2026: simplehuman vs Ninestars

Which one is right for you?

Top pick: simplehuman Rectangular Step Can

The simplehuman Rectangular Step Can is the best kitchen trash can because it's the thoughtfully-engineered standard that gets every detail right and lasts for years. It's a stainless-steel step can — you press a foot pedal to open the lid hands-free, keeping your hands clean while cooking — with a slow-close, silent lid (no slamming), a sturdy steel pedal rated for tens of thousands of uses, and a rectangular shape that sits flat against the wall to save space. Its standout details are the ones you appreciate daily: a built-in liner rim that grips the bag so it never slips down into the can, an inner bucket that lifts out for easy cleaning, and an optional fitted liner system (simplehuman's custom bags fit perfectly), plus fingerprint-proof steel.

Its appeal is exactly that durability and thoughtful design: simplehuman is the premium standard for a reason — the pedal mechanism is famously reliable (a common failure point on cheaper cans), the lid closes softly and seals reasonably against odor, the build is genuinely long-lasting, and the bag-holding rim solves the universal annoyance of liners sliding down. For someone who wants a trash can that works flawlessly every day and lasts for many years, it's the benchmark.

The honest caveats: it's expensive (by far the most of any can here), and simplehuman's custom-fit liners (while excellent) are an ongoing cost if you use them (you can use standard bags too). But for the best combination of hands-free convenience, a reliable long-lasting pedal, a bag that stays put, easy cleaning, and odor-reducing soft-close design, the simplehuman is the one that justifies its price over a decade of daily use.

Best motion-sensor and the value sensor pick: Ninestars and iTouchless

The Ninestars Automatic Sensor Can is the best motion-sensor (touchless) trash can for someone who wants completely hands-free, contactless opening. Instead of a foot pedal, a motion sensor detects your hand or an approaching object and opens the lid automatically, then closes it after a few seconds — the most hygienic option, with no pedal to step on and no contact at all, which is excellent in a kitchen where your hands are messy or you're carrying scraps. Ninestars is one of the most popular and well-reviewed automatic sensor cans, with reliable sensing, a reasonably-sized stainless body, a removable inner bucket, and battery operation (some models offer AC adapters). It's the choice for someone who specifically wants touchless convenience at a more accessible price than premium sensor cans. The trade-offs: it runs on batteries (which need replacing periodically), the sensor and motor add potential failure points versus a simple pedal, and sensor cans can occasionally open unintentionally when something passes by — but for popular, well-priced touchless operation, it's the standout.

The iTouchless Sensor Can is the value-and-features touchless alternative, another well-reviewed automatic sensor can that often adds useful extras at a competitive price. iTouchless specialises in sensor trash cans, and its models combine reliable touchless motion-activated opening with features like an odor-control system (many include a deodorizer compartment that holds an absorbing filter or carbon to combat smells — a genuine plus for kitchen bins), a fingerprint-resistant stainless finish, and AC-adapter options to avoid constant battery changes. It's the choice for someone who wants touchless convenience plus odor control and useful features, at a value-to-mid price. It competes closely with the Ninestars on touchless operation, with the draw being the added odor-control and feature set. Like all sensor cans it has the battery/motor and occasional-false-trigger caveats, but for a feature-rich touchless can, it's a strong pick.

Choose between them by features. The Ninestars wins as a popular, reliable, well-priced touchless can focused on the core sensor experience. The iTouchless wins for added odor-control features and AC-adapter convenience at a competitive price. Both are touchless; the Ninestars is the popular value standard, the iTouchless the feature-rich alternative.

The budget step can and the mainstream value: Rubbermaid and Glad

The Rubbermaid Step Can is the budget pick for someone who wants a reliable, no-frills step-pedal trash can at a low price from a trusted housewares brand. Rubbermaid makes durable, practical everyday trash cans, and its step cans offer the same hands-free foot-pedal opening as the premium simplehuman, with a removable inner liner/bucket and solid construction, at a fraction of the price. It does the core job — hands-free opening, a lid that contains odor and mess — dependably and affordably, without the simplehuman's refined slow-close mechanism, premium steel, or bag-gripping rim. It's the choice for someone who wants the convenience and reliability of a step can without spending much, and Rubbermaid's reputation for durable plastic housewares means it holds up well. For functional, affordable, hands-free everyday use, it's the value standout.

The Glad Stainless Step Can is the mainstream value pick that adds a few nice touches at an accessible price. Glad (known for trash bags) makes step trash cans that pair hands-free foot-pedal opening with stainless or fingerprint-resistant finishes, a soft-close lid on some models, a removable bucket, and — fittingly for a bag brand — features designed to hold the bag well and often built-in odor-control (some include a deodorizer/CloroxClean compartment or bag-compatibility features). It sits between the budget Rubbermaid and the premium simplehuman: more features and a nicer finish than the basic Rubbermaid, at a more accessible price than the simplehuman. It's the choice for someone who wants a good-looking, feature-reasonable step can at a mid-value price. The build and longevity won't match the simplehuman, but for a well-rounded, affordable stainless step can, it's a sensible pick.

Choose between them by budget and finish. The Rubbermaid wins on the lowest price for a reliable, no-frills step can. The Glad wins for a nicer stainless finish, soft-close, and odor/bag features at a mid-value price. The Rubbermaid is the cheap dependable step can; the Glad the feature-reasonable value step can.

How to choose: opening type, odor control, liner fit, size, and durability

Decide the opening type — step pedal versus motion sensor — because it's the main design fork. Step (foot-pedal) cans (simplehuman, Rubbermaid, Glad) open hands-free when you press a pedal: simple, reliable (no batteries or electronics to fail), and the pedal is the most common cheap-can failure point, so a quality pedal matters. Motion-sensor (touchless) cans (Ninestars, iTouchless) open automatically when they detect your hand, for completely contactless, hygienic operation — great for messy hands — but they run on batteries (or an adapter), add a motor/sensor that can fail, and can occasionally false-trigger. Choose a step can for simple, durable, reliable hands-free use, or a sensor can for the most hygienic, fully contactless convenience (accepting batteries and more complexity).

Prioritise odor control and liner (bag) fit, the two daily annoyances. Odor: a well-sealing lid (and soft-close lids that fully close) contains kitchen smells far better than a loose or open lid, and some cans (especially iTouchless and some Glad models) add a dedicated odor-control compartment for a carbon/deodorizer filter — worth it if your bin smells. Liner fit is the underrated one: cheap cans let the bag slip down inside the can (so trash piles on top of the bag — a constant irritation), while better cans (notably simplehuman) have a rim or band that grips and hides the bag so it stays put and looks tidy; some premium cans use custom-fit liners. If a slipping bag or odor drives you mad, prioritise a bag-gripping rim and good lid seal.

Match size and weigh durability. Size the can to your household and bag type: a typical kitchen needs around a 40-50 litre (10-13 gallon) can to hold a standard tall kitchen bag and a few days' waste, while smaller homes or secondary bins can use less — too small means constant emptying, too big wastes space and uses more bag. Check the can fits your space (rectangular cans like the simplehuman sit flush to save room) and that it suits standard bags (or budget for custom liners). Durability is where premium cans earn their cost: the pedal/lid mechanism is the usual failure point, and a quality can (simplehuman especially) lasts for many years where cheap cans break, so for a daily-use item, spending more on a reliable mechanism can be worth it over time — though dependable budget options (Rubbermaid) exist. Buy the opening type you prefer (step for simple reliability, sensor for touchless), prioritising odor control and a bag-gripping rim if those annoy you, in the right size, and weigh durability for how long you want it to last.