No filter; air flows through lid, so odor control relies on regular emptying
Capacity · 7.5
1.75 gal countertop bin
Cleaning & care · 7.5
Body dishwasher safe; all other parts hand wash
Placement & convenience · 8.5
Soft-close stay-open lid, fold-down handle, tucks bags out of sight
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forEveryday cooks who want a tidy countertop bin that is easy to wash
A 1.75-gallon (6.62-liter) countertop bin with a soft-close, stay-open lid and a smooth interior, designed to keep compost bags tucked out of sight. It has no filter; OXO says oxygen flows through the lid to contain odors and reduce pests, and the fold-down handle makes it easy to carry.
Strengths
Stay-open lid lets you sweep scraps in while you prep
Body is dishwasher safe; smooth interior also works without bags
Weaknesses
Hand wash all parts other than the body
No filter, so odor control relies on emptying it regularly
Dimensions, material and details
Capacity
1.75 gal / 6.62 L
Filter
None (oxygen flows through the soft-close lid)
Dimensions
8.3 L x 10.15 W x 12 H in
Material
Plastic
Care
Body is dishwasher safe. Hand wash all other parts.
Full Circle Odor-Free Kitchen Compost Bin (Fresh Air)
7.8/ 10
Editorial score
Odor
7.5
Capacity
7.0
Cleaning
9.0
Convenience
7.5
Why this score?
Odor control · 7.5
Patented vented design, no filters; maker says it cuts odor and flies
Capacity · 7.0
1.5 gal, smaller than the OXO
Cleaning & care · 9.0
All parts dishwasher safe on top rack
Placement & convenience · 7.5
Push-button lid; five compostable bags included
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forKitchens that want fewer smells and flies without buying filters
A 1.5-gallon countertop bin with a patented vented design that lets air move through the scraps, which Full Circle says slows decomposition and cuts odor and flies. It opens with a push button, all parts go in the dishwasher, and it comes with five compostable bags.
Strengths
Airflow design instead of replaceable filters
All parts dishwasher safe (top rack); includes five compostable bags
Weaknesses
Smaller than the OXO at 1.5 gal
Only one color (grey) listed on Full Circle's store
Kept in the freezer, which stops smells and fruit flies
Capacity · 5.5
Small 0.6 gal capacity
Cleaning & care · 9.0
Dishwasher safe; silicone body flips inside out to empty
Placement & convenience · 7.0
Clips to cabinet door or drawer; no lid and needs freezer space
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forSmall kitchens that store scraps in the freezer
A 0.6-gallon silicone catcher with a wire rim that clips over a cabinet door or drawer, so you can slide scraps straight off the cutting board. You then keep it in the freezer to stop odors and flies, and the flexible body flips inside out to empty.
Strengths
Lowest price of these picks
Freezer storage stops smells and fruit flies; flips inside out to empty
Weaknesses
Small 0.6 gal capacity
No lid or filter, so it is not meant to sit out on the counter for days
Dimensions, material and details
Capacity
0.6 gal / 2.23 liter
Filter
None (designed to be kept in the freezer)
Dimensions
8.27 x 5.24 x 5.51 in (21 x 13.3 x 14 cm)
Material
Silicone, recycled stainless steel
Care
Dishwasher safe. Place upside down on the top rack.
Carbon filter in lid; replacement about every 3 months, sold separately
Capacity · 9.0
Largest here at 2.4 gal
Cleaning & care · Not rated
The documented information does not establish this criterion.
Placement & convenience · 8.0
Sits on counter or hangs inside a cabinet on screws or hooks
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forBig households and gardeners who empty into an outdoor compost bin
A 2.4-gallon high-density polyethylene pail with a carbon filter in the lid to reduce smells. It can sit on the counter or hang from screws or hooks inside a kitchen cabinet.
Strengths
Largest capacity here at 2.4 gal
Carbon filter; can hang inside a cabinet door
Weaknesses
Filters need changing about every 3 months (replacement filters sold separately)
Exaco does not publish care or dishwasher guidance
Activated-carbon filters, 45 cycles included; filters are an ongoing cost
Capacity · 7.5
3 L bucket processed each cycle, shrinking scraps to dry material
Cleaning & care · 8.0
Bucket dishwasher safe; Cleaning Mode listed
Placement & convenience · 6.5
Needs power (about 1 kWh per Express cycle), 16 lb, 3 to 6 hour cycle; under 45 dB
Based on documented features and practical tradeoffs, not a hands-on test. Assessment: October 7, 2026. How we score
Best forHouseholds that want to shrink food waste without an outdoor pile
An electric countertop food recycler that heats, grinds and dries scraps in a 3-liter bucket into what Lomi calls 'Lomi Earth', in 3 to 6 hours on Express mode or 11 to 17 hours on Grow mode. Odors are handled by an activated-carbon filter system, and it has WiFi and app control.
Strengths
Turns scraps into a dry soil amendment in as little as 3 hours
Under 45 dB; bucket is dishwasher safe
Weaknesses
Much higher price, plus ongoing filter (and optional LomiPod) costs
Smaller 3 L bucket than plain caddies, and it needs power (about 1 kWh per Express cycle)
Dimensions, material and details
Capacity
3 litres
Filter
Charcoal (activated carbon) filter system; filters for 45 cycles included
Dimensions
11" W x 11" D x 12" H
Construction
Electric recycler with removable 3L bucket and rotating blade; 110V North American
Households that want to shrink food waste without an outdoor pile
3 litres
Charcoal (activated carbon) filter system; filters for 45 cycles included
11" W x 11" D x 12" H
OUR METHOD
How we scored
Manufacturer specs, not hands-on tests. Each pick is rated out of 10 on four things:
30%Odor control
25%Capacity
25%Cleaning & care
20%Placement & convenience
What to look for in a kitchen compost bin
Size it to your routinebigger means fewer trips, but scraps sitting for days smell more
Decide how to control odorcarbon filters need replacing, vented designs breathe, freezer storage stops odors
Make cleaning easysmooth interiors, removable parts, clear dishwasher guidance
Frequently asked questions
What is the best kitchen counter compost bin?
The OXO Easy-Clean Compost Bin (1.75 gal) is the best overall pick for a countertop bin. It has a soft-close, stay-open lid so you can sweep scraps in while you prep, a smooth interior that also works without bags and a dishwasher-safe body. For bigger households the Exaco Eco 2000 holds 2.4 gal and can hang inside a cabinet, but its carbon filter needs changing about every 3 months.
What is the best electric kitchen composter?
The Lomi 3 is the electric option here. It heats, grinds and dries scraps in a 3-liter bucket, taking 3 to 6 hours on Express mode or 11 to 17 hours on Grow mode, with an activated-carbon filter system for odors and WiFi app control. It runs under 45 dB and the bucket is dishwasher safe, but it costs much more than a caddy, needs power and has ongoing filter costs.
What size kitchen compost bin do I need?
It depends on how much you cook and how often you empty it. The Full Circle Counter Catcher holds 0.6 gal, the Full Circle Fresh Air 1.5 gal, the OXO Easy-Clean Compost Bin 1.75 gal and the Exaco Eco 2000 2.4 gal. The Lomi 3 electric recycler has a 3-liter bucket that it processes each cycle.
How do you keep a compost bin from smelling?
Empty it often, keep the lid closed, and wash it regularly. The OXO body and all parts of the Full Circle Fresh Air and Counter Catcher are dishwasher safe, which makes washing easier. Storing scraps in the freezer, as the Counter Catcher is designed for, stops odors and fruit flies.
