Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If you want the short answer: the Glad Stainless Steel Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection is the pick worth buying, because it is the highest-rated can here and has by far the most owner feedback behind it. The rest of this list splits into three honest groups: stainless pedal cans with removable inner buckets, one plastic two-pack for households that just want two bins, and one touchless motion-sensor can for people who refuse to touch a lid. One quick note before you read on: this list uses flexible, human-like matching for the standard 13 gallon / 50 liter kitchen size, so not every pick is the exact number you typed in — the nearest same-type size serves the same purpose. At the top of the guide you will find a comparison table, then full reviews, then a plain-English spec section and a FAQ.
I’m Mo Min — the founder and writer behind Non Toxic Blog. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
A kitchen can lives or dies on three things: whether the bag stays hooked, whether the lid shuts without a bang, and whether the smell stays inside. That is exactly what this comparison of the 13 gallon kitchen trash can sorts out for you, pick by pick.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can
Buying a 13 gallon kitchen trash can is mostly a lid problem, not a bucket problem. Almost every bin in this list holds a standard 13 gallon or 50 liter liner. What separates them is how the lid opens, how it closes, and whether the bag stays where you put it. Here is what actually matters before you add one to your cart.
The lid decides how you live with the can
A step pedal (a foot bar that lifts the lid when you press down) keeps your hands free, which matters when you are scraping a cutting board. A soft-close hinge (a damped hinge that lowers the lid slowly instead of dropping it) is what stops the loud bang in an open kitchen. Some lids also lock open at 90° so you can fill the bin with both hands — useful for cleaning, not so useful if you have pets or toddlers who treat an open lid as an invitation.
The bag ring is the quiet heroh3>
Bag rings (inner rims or clips that grip the liner) are the single feature that prevents the bag from sliding down the inside of the can. Without one, a heavy bag of scraps pulls the liner down and you are left fishing for the edge. A removable inner bucket takes this further — you lift the whole bucket out, swap the liner, drop it back in. It adds weight, but it makes liner changes cleaner and faster.
Footprint matters more than listed capacity
Two 13 gallon cans can take up very different amounts of floor. A rectangular shape slides into the gap between a cabinet and a wall. A wider bin may hold a full liner more comfortably but eats more kitchen floor. Measure the gap before you buy, not after — the listed dimensions are the only reliable way to know if it will fit the spot you have in mind.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Opening | Material & Lid | Inner Bucket | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glad Stainless Steel (Pewter)★ Best Overall | Most kitchens, all-round pick | Step-On | Stainless Steel w/ ABS Lid | No — bag rings + rear bag roll | Amazon |
| KUK 13 Gal / 50 LBest Style For Less | Style on a tighter budget | Step-On | Stainless Steel | Yes — removable | Amazon |
| ELPHECO 13 GalBest for Two Hands | Two-handed cooking and prep | Step-On | Stainless Steel | Yes — removable | Amazon |
| Glad Premium (Matte Black) | Odor control on a mid budget | Step-On | Plastic w/ stainless pedal | No — bag rings | Amazon |
| Garvee Step-On Stainless | Island counters and tall gaps | Step-On | 410-grade Stainless / PP bucket / ABS lid | Yes — removable | Amazon |
| QUALIAZERO 50 L | Small kitchens, slim corners | Step-On | Stainless Steel | Yes — removable liner | Amazon |
| SONGMICS 13 Gal Fluted | Looks-first kitchens | Step-On + manual lid | Stainless bin / PP bucket | Yes — removable | Amazon |
| EKO 13.2 Gal Touchless | Hands-free, no touching | Motion-Sensor | Stainless Steel | No — no-inner-bucket design | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Glad Stainless Steel Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 13 Gal, Pewter
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 24,000+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The crowded favorite: the can most kitchens end up with after the shopping is done.
The Glad is the pick for the household that wants one can, no drama, and a lid that keeps the kitchen smelling like a kitchen. It carries the crowd favorite status — 4.6 stars from a huge base of tens of thousands of owners — and it earns that with the boring fundamentals done properly. The brushed pewter finish on stainless steel hides everyday handling better than a mirror-polish bin, so you are not polishing smudges twice a day.
The parts you touch every day — the lid, the bag rings, the pedal — are what decide whether a can stays pleasant to use. The Clorox Odor Protection lid and lid frame are treated to block odors for the life of the can, so your kitchen smells fresher between bag changes. The bag rings tuck the slack of the liner out of sight while holding it firmly in place — the reason buyers report the bag simply does not fall in. There is also a rear bag compartment that stores spare bags right behind the can, dispensing from the sides, so you never have to haul the bin out to grab a fresh liner. The soft-close lid lowers quietly instead of dropping, so you are not startled by a slam.
Where it stacks against the pack: this is a genuinely heavy-duty steel build. At 10.6 pounds it outweighs the plastic Glad Premium and the SONGMICS on this list, so it stays put instead of sliding when you step on the pedal. At 16″L x 16″W x 23″H it fits the space between most cabinets and a wall while still swallowing a full 13 gallon liner. The honest caveat is the lid closure. It is the can’s most-discussed single feature and the verdict is genuinely mixed — some owners find it opens and closes with ease, others find it closes more slowly than they expect. A separate recurring note is that the lid does not prop itself up during a bag swap, so you tend to hold it while you pull a full liner.
What Owners Rave About
- Treated lid and frame that block kitchen smells for the life of the can
- Bag rings grip the liner so it stays put and stays hidden
- Rear bag compartment keeps spares on hand without moving the bin
- Brushed pewter finish resists fingerprints better than glossy steel
Where It Tests Patience
- Lid close speed splits opinion — some find it slow
- Lid must be held during a full-bag swap
- Heftier at 10.6 pounds than the plastic options on this list
Settle Here If: you want one can that seals, holds a full 13 gallon liner, and hides the bag edge without you thinking about it.
Keep Looking If: you insist on a lid that stays up by itself while you wrestle a heavy bag out.
2. KUK 13 Gallon/50L Stainless Steel Step Pedal Kitchen Trash Can with Lid
The brushed-steel can with gold accents that tricks the eye into thinking it cost a lot more.
If the bin is going to sit in the open, the KUK is the one that actually decorates. The brushed stainless steel silver body with gold accents is the single most-praised thing about it, and the finish resists fingerprints, water, and stains, so a quick wipe does the job. It is also the lightest steel can on this list to live with day to day, standing 16.7″L x 14″W x 26.4″H in a rectangular footprint that tucks against a wall.
The practical parts are just as thought through. The pedal is a heavy-duty stainless bar tested for 150,000+ steps, which is the kind of number you only appreciate years in when a cheap plastic pedal has already snapped. The silent-close lid uses quiet damping so nothing slams and it holds open at 90° while you clean the inner bucket. That bucket is removable and hooks the liner securely, and KUK throws in 20 custom-fit bags, so you are set from day one.
Set against the crowd, this is the value-weighted alternative to pricier steel. It matches the Glad and Garvee on capacity and hands-free operation but comes in a more decorative finish and puts the removable inner bucket in front of you. The trade-off owners hit is the lid’s automatic close. It is the feature that draws the most divided feedback — some find it seats tightly, others find it sometimes needs a nudge. Pedal action also runs a touch abrupt, popping up faster than expected rather than easing open.
Why it earns the spot: You get a stainless steel body, a removable bucket, a soft-close lid, and 20 starter bags, all without sliding into premium pricing — the decorative flourish is the free extra.
What to expect, honestly: The quiet-close lid does the work, but its final seating is not guaranteed every single drop, and the pedal opens with more snap than glide.
Worth It If: the can is on show and you want the look to carry its weight.
Think Twice If: you need the lid to click shut perfectly on its own every single time — that is the exact behaviour that splits opinion here.
3. ELPHECO Kitchen Trash Can with Lid 13 Gal Stainless Steel Pedal Garbage Can
The one built for the moment your hands are full of vegetable peel and you cannot stop.
Start with the number that changes how you use it: 90 degrees. The ELPHECO lid locks open at a full 90° so it stays out of the way during longer jobs like cleaning or food prep, instead of dropping shut the second you step off the pedal. For anyone who preps meals in batches, that one spec is worth more than any finish.
The rest of the build supports it. A 13 gallon (50 liter) capacity fits a busy household, the foot pedal gives hygienic hands-free opening, and the lid closes gently and quietly every time, so no fingers get caught and no one gets startled. The inner bucket lifts out for quick emptying and easy cleaning, and ELPHECO includes 20 free 13 gallon bags sized to fit, so there is no liner-shopping detour.
Against the field, the ELPHECO is the heaviest can here. It weighs 21.5 pounds versus the Glad’s 10.6 pounds, and it stands 18″L x 16″W x 29″H against the Glad’s 16″L x 16″W x 23″H — a visibly taller, heftier bin. That weight is why it feels planted, but it also means it takes real effort to move for floor cleaning. The other honest note is the finish: the steel shows fingerprints, and a few owners find the lid’s seating is fussy enough that they tuck the bag edges carefully to avoid a slip.
The standout spec: A lid that holds at 90° and a soft-close that never slams, paired with a removable inner bucket and 20 included bags — the easiest prep-buddy setup in this group.
The catch: At 21.5 pounds it is the heaviest pick here, so once it is where you want it, you will not want to slide it around on a whim.
Reach For This If: you cook a lot and want the lid out of your way, not snapping shut at you.
Look Elsewhere If: you want a can you can move easily or you dislike steel that shows every print.
4. Glad Premium Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 13 Gallon, Black
A plastic bin with a steel pedal and a lid that seals odors — the practical middle path.
Here is the trade you make with the Glad Premium: you give up the stainless body, you keep the odor control. The lid is treated with Clorox Odor Protection to block smells for the life of the can, so your kitchen stays fresher without a liner upgrade. The matte black plastic resists fingerprints and wipes clean in one pass — a plus if you are tired of polishing steel. The genuine upgrade over a basic plastic bin is the foot pedal, which is stainless steel for added strength rather than the flimsy plastic bars that snap on cheap cans.
The bag rings inside secure the liner and tuck the slack away for a clean edge. A responsive pedal opens the lid smoothly, and a slim rectangular shape at 16″L x 20.25″W x 25″H slides into a narrow gap. It arrives fully assembled, so there is nothing to snap together before the first bag goes in.
What is worth knowing: this plastic body is the lightest bin here at 5 pounds, which makes it easy to move but also means it does not have the planted feel of a steel can. Cleaning is a small extra step because there is no removable inner liner, so you are wiping the inside of the bin itself. The lid mechanism is the part that divides owners — most find it simple and reliable, but the lid does not lend itself to being gripped and held up manually.
The Case For Buying It
- Treated lid blocks odors without a stainless body to pay for
- Stainless steel pedal holds up better than all-plastic rivals
- Matte black hides fingerprints and wipes clean in one pass
- Arrives assembled — no setup before first use
The Small Print
- No removable inner bucket, so cleaning means wiping the bin itself
- At 5 pounds it can slide or tip more easily than a heavy steel can
- Lid cannot be grabbed and held open manually if the pedal ever gives
Buy This To Save Weight And Money: the odor control that Glad is known for, in a lighter plastic shell.
Pass If: you want the wipe-down convenience of a lift-out bucket or the heft of a steel build.
5. Garvee Step-on Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can, 13 Gal / 50 L
Engineered down to the hinge cycles — the can that treats “how long will it last” as the whole question.
If durability is your deciding factor, the Garvee buries the competition on wear-test numbers. Its industrial-steel pedal is rated for 150,000+ steps and its ABS hinge for over 300,000 open/close cycles, and the shell is 410-grade ferritic stainless steel that resists rust and scratches. That is a bin you buy once and stop thinking about.
The day-to-day design backs up the build. The lid glides open to 80° and locks at 95° for hands-free stays, so you can scrape a board straight in without holding the lid. At 35.43 in tall at full lid opening it lines up with a standard 36 in island countertop. The removable polypropylene inner bucket (a plastic liner bucket you lift out to clean) takes a custom liner ring that grips any standard bag, and the thick lid’s overhang lip hides the bag edge for a smooth profile. A rear handle makes lifting and moving it simple, and anti-slip rubber feet hold it on tile, hardwood, or low-pile carpet.
The honest niggle is weight distribution in use. It is a solid, heavy can — one owner wishes it stayed planted on the floor better, so a quick nudge or a vacuum bump can shift it. And like most steel here, its brushed surface shows the occasional fingerprint. The bucket’s inner dimensions are genuinely roomy, holding up to 32×16.9 oz water bottles or 70×12 oz cans, which tells you it does not waste a litre of the stated capacity.
Why it stands out: Hinge and pedal ratings in the hundreds of thousands of cycles, a rust-resistant 410-grade shell, and a lid designed to match island counter height — this is the longevity pick.
Fair warning: Anti-slip feet help, but it is a heavy can that can still be nudged out of place, and the brushed steel will collect the odd smudge.
This Is Your Can If: you want the longest-lived mechanism in the group and a bin that meets your countertop.
skip it if: you prefer a featherweight can you can move with one hand.
6. QUALIAZERO 50L / 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Step-On Kitchen Trash Can
Full 50 litre capacity squeezed into a slim footprint built for tight corners.
This is the can for the galley kitchen or the narrow gap nobody else fits. The slim rectangle at 14.76″L x 17″W x 24.41″H holds a full 50 litres but takes up less floor than a wider bin, so it slides into the corner or beside the fridge where a chunkier can will not go. It weighs 11.9 pounds, light enough to reposition without a fight.
Everything about the operation is designed to be quiet and clean. A durable foot pedal opens hands-free, the soft-close lid seals odors and closes without a slam, and the fingerprint-resistant stainless steel brushes off smudges so it keeps its looks. Inside, a removable inner liner sits hidden and makes bag changes fast — you drop a liner over the bucket, the ring secures it, and the whole thing lifts out clean. A rear handle helps when you do move it.
Every feature owners care about — the smooth pedal, the quiet lid, the easy bag swap — lands well here, and there is not a lot of repeated complaint to work with. The one thing to know before buying is that 50 litres of capacity in a slim footprint means the can gets tall rather than wide, so check your under-counter clearance if you plan to tuck it under a lip.
What Wins People Over
- Hands-free pedal works smoothly, even through slippers
- Quiet soft-close lid seals in odors for a fresher room
- Fingerprint-resistant steel shrugs off water and oil marks
- Detachable inner liner makes bag changes quick and neat
Worth Knowing First
- Tall, not wide, so it may not tuck under a low cabinet lip
- Deep-brush base and lid still need a wipe now and then
Made For Tight Corners: full 50 litre capacity without a wide footprint.
Measure First If: you plan to slide it under a counter overhang — it stands 24.41″ tall.
7. SONGMICS Trash Can, 13 Gallon (50 L), Stainless Steel, with Lid, Pedal
The fluted white bin that looks like decor first and a trash can second.
Some people pick a can to disappear; the SONGMICS is picked to be noticed. The fluted design on a stainless steel body in cloud white reads as furniture, and it is the can here with the strongest decorative angle. It stands 15.9″L x 13.2″W x 24.6″H — the narrowest footprint in this group — so it fits a slim gap without looking industrial.
Two ways to open it is the practical hook. Step on the pedal for hands-free use, or lift the lid manually to 90° to keep it open for longer tasks. Either way it closes slowly and quietly without disruptive noise, and the detachable inner bucket makes emptying and liner changes swift and mess-free. A brushed stainless steel build resists rust for everyday use, and SONGMICS includes 15 matching bags so you are ready on day one.
Where it lands against the rest: it is the lightest steel can here at about 5.7 kg, and the narrow footprint is the tightest fit in the group — genuinely the best option for a skinny gap beside a fridge. The honest caveat is durability over time. Owners mention it feels sturdy and the mechanism performs well in the short term, but the long-run wear on the pedal and lid is genuinely unproven, so it suits a household that wants a beautiful bin rather than a tested-forever one.
The signature: A fluted cloud-white finish that turns a functional bin into a decorative piece, in the narrowest footprint on this list, with a pedal-or-manual lid and a removable bucket.
Fine print: It is the lightest steel bin here and its long-term hinge and pedal life is unproven — beautiful first, battle-tested second.
Pick This When: the bin has to look good in a visible spot.
Not For You If: you need the proven-cycle durability of a heavier-duty mechanism.
8. EKO 13.2 Gallon Touchless Motion Sensor Kitchen Trash Can
No pedal, no touching — a wave of the hand and the lid does the rest.
This is the one for anyone who never wants to touch a bin lid. A motion sensor opens the lid in 0.2s and closes it automatically after 5 seconds, so tossing scraps is a wave rather than a step. For long cooking sessions, a stay-open button holds the lid up for up to 20 minutes, which covers a full meal prep and cleanup without the lid snatching shut mid-task.
The power story is the real selling point. It runs on 4 AA alkaline batteries with up to 8 months of use per set, so you are not swapping cells every few weeks — though it does specify alkaline only, not rechargeable. The no-inner-bucket design also maximises the usable space so a smaller body holds more, and at 13.3″W x 10.35″D x 24.6″H it slips into tight spaces. The tight-sealing lid locks odours in, the soft-close lid keeps the slams down, and the fingerprint-resistant stainless steel matte finish wipes clean.
The honest trade: this is a battery-powered can, so the day the sensor flinches, you are troubleshooting electronics rather than replacing a pedal. Sensor lids are also the most sensitive part of any bin design, and while long-term owners here report six months of reliable, odour-free use, the durability of the mechanism is the thing to watch over years, not months. It also ships to fit EKO Code F bags specifically, so it rewards you for buying the matching liners.
Why it stands out: A 0.2-second sensor, a 5-second auto-close, a 20-minute stay-open mode, and up to 8 months on 4 AA batteries — the most hands-free option in the group.
What to accept: Battery power and sensor electronics are the long-term unknowns, and it rewards you for using EKO’s own Code F bags.
Your Can If: you want your hands nowhere near a lid and love the idea of a battery that lasts 8 months.
Walk Past If: you would rather have a mechanical pedal with nothing to power.
Understanding the Specs
Capacity and actual usable space
Every can on this list is sold as 13 gallon or 50 liter, but listed capacity is only half the story. How much trash fits depends on whether the design uses a removable inner bucket or not. A no-inner-bucket can, like the EKO, uses the whole shell as the bin, so a litre of stated capacity holds a litre of waste. A can with a lift-out inner bucket uses part of the space for the bucket walls, so the numbers hold up slightly differently. Either way, a full 13 gallon liner is the benchmark — check that the liner seats without the edges pulling free over the rim.
Opening mechanism and lid behaviour
The lid is what you interact with hundreds of times a week, so the mechanism matters more than the finish. A step pedal lifts the lid with your foot and keeps your hands free. A soft-close hinge slows the lid down so it never bangs. A stay-open lock — 90° on several picks here — holds the lid up for hands-free tasks. A motion sensor opens on a wave and closes on a timer, which trades convenience for a battery to maintain. Whichever you choose, the quiet, controlled close is the feature that keeps an open-plan kitchen liveable.
FAQ
Will a standard 13 gallon kitchen bag fit all the cans on this list?
Are stainless steel kitchen trash cans worth it over plastic ones?
What is the difference between a step pedal can and a motion sensor can?
Do soft-close lids really cut down on noise?
How do I keep my kitchen trash can from smelling?
Which pick suits a small kitchen with a narrow gap?
Can pets or toddlers open these trash cans?
How long do these trash cans last?
Do I need a removable inner bucket?
Foot pedal or manual lift — which is easier to use?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most kitchens, the winner is the Glad Stainless Steel Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, because it pairs the highest owner score in this group with a sealed, treated lid, bag rings that keep the liner in place, and a rear compartment that stores spares behind the can. If you want the prettiest can on the list alongside a removable inner bucket, grab the KUK 13 Gallon/50L. For hands-free without a pedal, the EKO 13.2 Gallon Touchless is the one to reach for.
And if two lidded bins in one purchase is the whole point, the Glad 2-Pack covers the kitchen and the second room in a single box. Every pick here holds a standard 13 gallon liner — what separates them is how the lid behaves and how the bag stays put, and that is the question worth asking in the store aisle.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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