The Greatest Compost Bins in 2024
We examined the various kinds of compost bins, utilizing them within the backyard for a yr that can assist you discover the appropriate one on your backyard. Every bin has an in depth listing of professionals and cons for readability and has been rated based on design, ease of use, compost high quality and worth for cash. Each bin in our spherical up under has scored a minimal of 4 out of 5 stars, so you should buy with confidence.
Soar to:
In each evaluate, we award the excellent merchandise our coveted Greatest Purchase award. To see these and the others we advocate, browse our choose of the most effective compost bins under:
One of the best compost bins in 2024
Blackwall Inexperienced Compost Converter
RRP: £42.99
Our score: 4.25/5
Obtainable from Even Greener (£49.99)
Professionals
- Low worth
- Black bin completely recycled
- Optionally available base plate to website on onerous floor
- Lengthy guarantee
Cons
- Skinny, non-ventilated building
- Slowest to compost
- Just one entry hatch
The Blackwall Compost Converter is a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for the most effective finances mannequin. Manufactured from recycled plastic, it consists of a one-piece cone-shaped physique with a snug-fitting detachable lid and single hatch. It’s totally fast to arrange – simply stand it on the soil and also you’re good to go. It is a terrific possibility for individuals who desire a easy and reasonably priced compost bin. Nevertheless, due to its skinny sides, it was one of many slowest composters on take a look at, so if you’d like outcomes shortly it’s your decision one of many different fashions featured right here.
Learn the total Blackwall Compost Converter evaluate.
Purchase Blackwall Compost Converter at Even Greener
Suttons Modular Picket Compost Bin
RRP: £199.99
Our score: 4.5/5
Obtainable from Suttons, Amazon (£179.99), and organiccatalogue.com (£199.99)
Professionals
- Easy, tool-free meeting
- Insulated cowl sits immediately in compost
- Planks slide out for simple filling/ entry
- Accessed in any aspect
- Extends with extra three-sided modules
Cons
This conventional picket compost bin has an enormous 573 litre capability, incomes it a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award for the most effective massive compost bin. Constructed from sustainably sourced Scandinavian softwood, the planks simply slot into upright grooves on the nook posts and the bin may be accessed from each aspect. Because of its plastic cowl, it produces the very best inside temperature of any of the picket bins on take a look at, guaranteeing incredible compost. Nevertheless, you need to observe that this cowl let in a little bit rain.
Learn the total Suttons Modular Picket Compost Bin evaluate.
Purchase the Suttons Modular Picket Compost Bin at Amazon and organiccatalogue.com
Inexperienced Johanna 330 Litre Sizzling Composter
RRP: £144.99
Our score: 4.5/5
Professionals
- Compost meals and backyard waste
- Constructed from 100% recycled plastic
- No have to pre-mix waste
- Good capability for worth
Cons
- Cannot harvest compost when the winter jacket is on
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for essentially the most versatile compost bin, the Inexperienced Johanna 330-litre Sizzling Composter has a superb capability and works successfully for every type of meals and backyard waste. It doesn’t want pre-mixing and is constructed from 100 per cent-recycled plastic.
Learn the total Inexperienced Johanna 330 Litre Sizzling Composter evaluate
Purchase Inexperienced Johanna 330 Litre Sizzling Composter at Van Meuwen, Suttons, Amazon and Nice Inexperienced Techniques
Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter
RRP: £255
Our score: 4.25/5
Professionals
- Shortly composts meals and backyard waste
- Self-contained and comes half assembled
- Achieved highest temperature
Cons
- Waste wants pre-mixing
- Constructed from vigin supplies
- Cam straps make compost entry awkward
If you’d like fast compost, look no additional – the Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter is a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase winner for being the quickest to compost. A great possibility for small areas, it has a built-in carbon filter to soak up smells, a temperature gauge on the lid and a tank within the base to gather the liquid produced throughout composting. That stated, all waste wants mixing earlier than going into this composter, and it may be a little bit tough to entry the compost.
Learn the total Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter evaluate
Purchase Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter at Hotbin, Thompson & Morgan, Even Greener, and Dobies
One of the best of the remaining
Though some fashions did not fairly obtain a Greatest Purchase award, they nonetheless have numerous options that make them price recommending. Browse our choose of the most effective of the remaining on take a look at.
Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter
RRP: £134.99
Our score: 4/5
Professionals
- Good and compact, constructed from 90% recycleable plastic
- Takes each meals and backyard waste
- Straightforward to fill and empty
- Tank to gather/dispense liquid
- Makes compost shortly if frequently turned
Cons
- Plenty of meeting
- Heavy to show when fuller
- Wants common consideration for quick composting
- Family would want a couple of composter
- Excessive worth
This compost bin is a ‘tumbler’ sort, designed to allow the frequent turning and mixing of waste materials, and produces compost a lot quicker than a standard compost bin because of the excessive degree of aeration. It’s sensible and effectively made, from 90% recycled plastic, and its vermin-proof design allows the composting of each meals and backyard waste. Because of its compact measurement of 60 x 50 x 65cm, it’s additionally simple to website nearly anyplace. Each including and emptying waste is simple, because the hatch is massive and opens and locks easily with a chunky knob. There are additionally loads of grip factors to rotate the drum with relative ease, though as soon as the tumbler is round two-thirds full, this turns into fairly onerous to do because of the weight.
One in every of its greatest options is that when the compost is prepared, you merely roll the drum off the bottom to a handy emptying place within the backyard. The nutrient-rich liquid that drains in the course of the composting course of can also be collected in a tank which clips onto a backyard hose, permitting this handy plant tonic to be simply allotted when watering.
Nevertheless, whereas this bin is clearly solidly made and the product of a rigorously thought-out design, there are drawbacks. The fee is excessive compared to the quantity of waste it might course of and the next quantity of compost produced. One other, is that it wants ‘tending’ to tumble the waste: not in itself an arduous activity, however to provide compost quickly this does want common consideration, ideally every day. The air vents do enable small flies to enter, and through heat climate, these fly out in clouds when the hatch is first opened, so opening it and standing again for a minute is advisable. Any backyard waste similar to stems and woody materials aren’t appropriate to make use of on this compost bin, if the purpose is to provide compost in a interval of weeks. Nevertheless, the chief disadvantage is that this could’t be the one composting answer as a result of the waste must be left for a interval of a month or so with out including recent materials. This due to this fact necessitate both having two of those composters, or an alternate composting answer. It comes with a three-year guarantee.
Purchase the Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter from Eager Gardener, B & Q, Wickes and Amazon
Lacewing Straightforward-Load Picket Compost Bin
RRP: £84.99
Our score: 4/5
Obtainable from Primrose
Professionals
- Good measurement capability for worth
- Detachable entrance makes it simple so as to add waste and harvest compost
- Lengthy guarantee
Cons
- Drill required for meeting
- No lid or cowl
- Waste composted slower at entrance and prime
The easy building of this picket compost bin permits for a whopping 718 litres of quantity. It is constructed from slats to permit air circulation across the compost and the entrance ones are detachable, making filling up the bin a lot simpler and permitting a number of room to get on the compost when it’s prepared. Nevertheless, we discovered that these large gaps meant that it composts comparatively slowly. Constructed from stress handled pine, the slats have a easy, planed end and are assured in opposition to rot for 15 years.
Purchase Lacewing Straightforward-Load Picket Compost Bin from Primrose
Harrod Horticultural Slot and Slide Picket Compost Bin
RRP: from £199
Our score: 4/5
Obtainable from Harrod Horticultural
Professionals
- Very sturdy building
- Planks slide out for simple filling/entry
- Accessed on any aspect
- Extends with extra three-sided modules
Cons
- Plenty of meeting and requires a powered screwdriver
- Screws for lid rails too quick
Producing among the greatest and quickest compost on take a look at, this composter is for severe gardeners. It is designed to be modular, so you may add a number of models for further capability, and may be very sturdy because it’s fabricated from sustainably sourced wooden with aluminium fittings. The planks slide out easily so it is simple so as to add waste and take away compost. Nevertheless, the lid is not included, and this composter wants a variety of meeting with energy instruments, so if DIY is not your bag chances are you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Purchase the Harrod Horticultural Slot and Slide Picket Compost Bin from Harrod Horticultural
Garantia 400 Litre Thermo-King Composter
RRP: £94.99
Our score: 3.75/5
Professionals
- Insulated and vented sides
- Two-part hinged lid for simple filling
- Constructed from 100% recycled plastic
- Optionally available base plate so may be sited on a tough floor
Cons
- A number of lugs make meeting and hatch changing tough
- Connectors do not feel very sturdy
This plastic compost bin has a terrific 400-litre capability. On take a look at, its foamed plastic partitions and thoroughly designed air flow system helped it deal with this quantity shortly, producing wonderful compost. It is constructed from 100% recycled supplies and features a large two-part hinged hatch for simple filling. Nevertheless, it is a little bit tough to assemble.
Purchase the 400 Litre Thermo-King Composter at Robert Dyas, Crocus and Backyard Tech
Thermo Compost Bin Komp 420
RRP: £208.88
Our score: 3.75/5
Obtainable from Amazon and Backyard Delights
Professionals
- Insulated and vented sides
- Hinged lid, simple to fill
- Compost accessed on any aspect
- 100% recycled plastic
Cons
- Meeting onerous to align single-handed
- Comparatively excessive worth
With a sturdy, sectional design and constructed from thick recycled plastic, this bin is simple to entry due to a large hinged lid. Insulated and vented sides assist it compost shortly and it is obtainable in a spread of sizes, from 250L to 700L (pictured). Nevertheless, we discovered that it is fiddly to assemble with out assist, and it comes at a comparatively excessive worth.
Purchase the Thermo Compost Bin Komp 420 on Amazon and Backyard Delights
Aerobin 200L Composter
RRP: £191.99
Our score: 3.75/5
Professionals
- Compost meals and backyard waste
- Produced compost in cheap time
- Completed compost simple to entry
Cons
- Waste wants pre-mixing for prime temp
- Leachate tank onerous to entry
- Constructed from virgin supplies
Our tester appreciated this this high-tech compost bin, which due to its inside ‘lung’ to flow into air and a inflexible recycled plastic outer shell produces compost shortly. It is simple to entry, however the bin wants a daily provide of ready-mixed waste to take care of temperature, in addition to a drainage hose, which is not provided. The leachate tank can also be tough to entry.
Purchase the Aerobin 200L Composter from Amazon and Water Butts Direct
Forest Backyard Beehive Composter 250L
RRP: £189.99
Our score: 3.5/5
Professionals
- Sturdy with efficient lid
- FSC wooden
- Lengthy anti-rot guarantee
- Seems good
Cons
- Prolonged to construct
- Wants a prop to carry up lid
- Laborious to reap from hatch
- Sluggish to make compost
This enticing picket, beehive-style compost bin makes a trendy characteristic within the backyard. Constructed from FSC stress handled softwood it arrives flat packed and took our tester a prolonged two hours to fit collectively and construct. It has a hinged lid and a hatch on the base for accessing the compost, and instruments together with a drill and screwdriver are wanted to connect each of those. The bin holds 250 litres of compost, though that is extra like 230 litres while you enable for a spot on the prime for air circulation, and it’s simple so as to add materials, so long as you’re robust sufficient to raise the lid with one hand. Our tester original their very own prop to carry the heavy lid up whereas they labored and it’s a disgrace that given the value, one isn’t included with the bin because it makes an enormous distinction to ease of use. It’s additionally awkward to reap compost from the hatch as materials wants frequently turning and so you find yourself turning and utilizing the compost on the prime.
The standard of compost was as you’ll anticipate with a chilly composting system of this measurement and it took 18 months earlier than we had a superb crumbly combine. The bin is effectively aerated and the safe lid prevents compost getting soggy from the rain. The bin can also be open on the backside so it’s excellent for putting immediately on the soil however this does imply that rodents can burrow up into the compost. The bin feels very sturdy as soon as constructed and it comes with a 15-year anti-rot guarantee, which because the wooden is in direct contact with the damp floor is reassuring. The construct high quality and appears of this bin and are its greatest options but it surely’s not for gardeners who lack energy or don’t need to spend time placing it collectively.
What supplies are compost bins fabricated from?
Compost bins are available a wide range of sizes and shapes, and are made utilizing completely different supplies:
- Plastic compost bins: Ideally suited for a small house, the plastic sides and lid retain moisture and warmth to encourage fast decomposition, in addition to blocking out mild to cease weeds from rising. The sort of bin ought to ideally be positioned on grass or earth.
- Picket compost bins: Sometimes 1x1m however the largest picket bins can produce a whole bunch of litres of compost. They’re typically modular, so you may match a number of collectively and cycle compost all year long to make sure a gentle provide. Often open to the weather, you may as well improve their effectivity with a picket lid or plastic cowl.
- Sizzling compost bins: Insulated with a close-fitting lid, these are designed to permit decomposition at a a lot increased temperature and due to this fact increased pace than different composters (30-90 days, in comparison with round six months). Additionally they lead to a finer compost. Roughly the dimensions of a wheelie bin, they should stand on a tough floor.
- Wormery bins: These work equally to compost bins, however are barely completely different. They’re designed for the small-scale composting of kitchen waste, and use tiger worms to interrupt down materials as a substitute of decay. These specialised worms combine and break down the compost shortly and produce a nutrient-rich liquid to be used as a fertiliser. Compost worms will also be added to bigger bins. Nevertheless, not all waste is appropriate for a wormery, so that you’ll nonetheless want a compost bin too.
For more information, try our knowledgeable assessments of the most effective wormeries or learn our information on easy methods to arrange a wormery.
You may also make your personal compost bin utilizing picket pallets or corrugated iron. Enclosing the edges will retain warmth, which hurries up the rotting course of – the bigger the pile, the extra warmth. The best minimal measurement is 1m x 1m and, if doable, make a couple of, so it is simpler to show the compost. For extra assist, check out our recommendation on easy methods to construct a compost bin and our guides to the most effective multi-tools, greatest cordless drills and greatest hammers, do you have to try and construct your personal.
How to decide on the most effective compost bin
When selecting a compost bin, think about the dimensions of your plot, the design of your backyard and the quantity of compost you need to provide.
The place will it go? Location is more likely to affect your alternative of bin. A website in full or half shade is greatest for profitable composting. Most bins must be positioned on soil to attain good drainage and enhance microbial motion, however the Aerobin and Hotbin have to be on a degree onerous floor. If you’d like a less expensive compost bin however solely have onerous surfaces, search for a mannequin with the choice of a base plate to create good drainage and aeration.
Which design is greatest? In case you solely need or have room for a single bin, select a design the place completed compost may be simply harvested from the underside so you may hold filling from the highest. This is applicable to all of the plastic composters in our trial.
How briskly is compost produced in comparison with the work concerned? Composting in conventional (non-insulated) bins takes 6-12 months on a ‘fill and overlook’ method. You may pace up the method by emptying out, turning and refilling to include air and up the temperature, however clearly this takes effort and time. Best is 2 bins so one rots whereas the opposite fills. A lid or cowl will assist retain warmth and moisture, and hold out extra rainfall, so cowl open bins with a chunk of plastic or previous carpet. Materials and thickness additionally affect compost pace by retaining extra warmth. Wooden is an effective insulator whereas skinny plastic has the poorest qualities. Extremely insulated or ‘scorching’ composters are costliest however do have the potential to make compost in just some weeks because the composting course of is quicker at increased temperatures. The sort of bin fits a ‘little and infrequently’ mode of filling: observe the Aerobin and Hotbin require a weekly provide of pre-mixed waste to work at their only.
What do you get for the cash? Contemplate the size of guarantee, significantly with picket bins and the eco-credentials of the bin, which may fluctuate – some are constructed from FSC wooden or completely from 100% recycled plastic whereas others comprise none.
What to place in a compost bin
Most backyard materials is compost-able, together with grass clippings, annual weeds, leaves of perennial ones (not roots, they’ll continue to grow) and smooth prunings. This ‘inexperienced’ materials, because it’s typically known as, would grow to be airless and soggy by itself, so for efficient composting, combine with across the identical quantity by quantity of ‘browns’ like chopped-up woody stems, brown cardboard and non-shiny paper. Uncooked vegetable scraps, teabags, espresso grounds and minimize flowers can go in any sort of bin, however cooked meals, meat and fish should solely go in an enclosed vermin-proof design.
How we examined compost bins
The bins had been assembled and sited based on directions, after which examined over a yr. They got the required sort of waste and comparable bins got the identical mixture of waste on the identical time. They had been assessed all year long utilizing the next standards with equal marks attributed to every:
- Design & setup. Checked out ease and readability of directions, siting restrictions, and the way effectively the design labored and additional options.
- Ease of use. Assessed the simplicity of including waste after which eradicating compost from the bin.
- Compost high quality & pace. Focussed on the pace the waste rotted down (together with checking the temperature utilizing a compost thermometer) and the standard of the completed compost.
- Worth for cash & eco credentials. Thought of the worth relative to the above, together with guarantee and RRP and in addition to eco credentials similar to sort of fabric and, if plastic, whether or not virgin or recycled.
For extra data in our testing course of, check out how we evaluate.
This Overview roundup was final up to date in December 2024. We apologise if something has modified in worth or availability.
