If someone told me I'd be putting together a list of the best touchless trash cans, I would have told them that's total garbage! Pun intended.
And yet here we are. My team and I did extensive research and uncovered a lot of good (and bad) models.
After comparing the top picks, we narrowed it down to the top five winners. If you hate touching garbage cans as much as we do, then this list is for you.
Top 5 Touchless Trash Cans in 2020
iTouchless Motion Sensor Trash Can (13-Gallon)
Of all the high-quality motion sensor garbage cans out there, many customers have high praises for the Itouchless DZT13 steel trash can.
It's an automatic touchless stainless steel trash can with an easy-open and close lid design.
It has a standard 13-gallon capacity size and comes with a unique odor-reducing feature. Based on our research, you won't find many high-quality, touch-free sensor trash bins like that.
The filters neutralize the nasty trash smell inside the bin and prevent it from escaping the air vents. According to most users, this is considered more efficient than buying plastic trash bags that just cover up the odors with some kind of scent.
Another handy benefit is that this model can be powered by D size batteries or by plugging the power adapter. If you choose batteries, it's estimated that you’ll enjoy up to 1.5 years of hands-free usage.
A hand wave triggers the motion sensor that automatically opens the lid. The lid is 12″ wide, which can fit pizza boxes and other large containers you may need to throw away from the kitchen.
PROS
- 2-year warranty guarantee from the manufacturer
- Only turns on when needed
- Powered by batteries or Plug-in
- 12″ lid for bulky trash
- Hands-free sensor operation
- Built-in deodorizer
CONS
- Prone to malfunction after years of use
NINESTARS Automatic Trash Can Combo with Motion Sensors
The Ninestars CB-DZT is one of the very few automatic trash cans with an infrared motion sensor that comes as a double set.
Not only do you get the regular 13-gallon stainless steel trash can that's ideal for the kitchen, but you also receive a low 2-gallon stainless steel bin for any other room of your house.
Plus, the price for this trash can set is only a few dollars more than our top pick. Surprisingly inexpensive.
The only thing this infrared sensor touchless trash can doesn’t have compared to our #1 pick is the filtering feature inside, which can often be useful to get rid of food odors. This rectangular garbage disposal is available in white, black, and brushed stainless steel.
PROS
- Water-resistant
- Removable ring liner pocket so the plastic garbage bag is sturdy in place
- Infrared Motion Detector
- Hands-free operation to open the lid
- Fingerprint resistant
- Non-skid base for stability
CONS
- Complaints about customer service
iTouchless Motion Sensor Trash Can
For those who would like for their automatic kitchen trash can to come in a different color option rather than just plain old stainless steel, this touch-free bin with infrared sensor might be what you are looking for.
You can choose between white matte, black matte, or the regular stainless steel finish.
Additionally, this product can also run off four AA batteries, or you can plug it in.
The 10.3″ lid cover is not as wide as our #1 recommendation, but it still provides an easy-open lid. It's also pretty convenient because the easy cleaning prevents the cross-contamination of germs.
On top of that, with a motion detector, the lid opens automatically with a simple hand movement. You may also prefer its round design. It is a suitable quality trash can for smaller houses or apartments with limited floor space.
PROS
- 4 color choices
- Lid alert light
- Battery-powered or Plug-in
- Multiple dimensions available
- Hand gesture can open the lid
CONS
- Lid cover has only 10.3 inches.
NINESTARS 21 Gal. Touchless Motion Sensor Trash Can
If you’re looking forward to using larger products, this 21-gallon stainless steel trash bin could be what you’re looking for.
It holds 50% more trash than many of the other motion sensor garbage bins on this list. One of its best features is that it has one of the largest trash lid openings you can buy at 13.5 inches.
This measurement is designed to allow you to throw away big kitchen items without having to break them down first.
The lid also closes automatically. With such a large capacity, you’d think it only works with an AC adapter to turn it on, but it isn't. This kitchen trash can runs on three D batteries alone, and one set should last you about a year if used every day. One drawback is that due to the increased dimension, you may need to purchase larger trash bags.
PROS
- 430 type of stainless steel
- Soft-closing lid
- Removable bucket liner
- Able to carry up to 21 gallons
- Hand gesture can open the lid
CONS
- Complaints that batteries last couple of months
NINESTARS Dual Bin Motion Sensor Kitchen Trash Can
Are you looking for a can that serves a dual purpose like collecting both trash and recyclables? Well, you’ve found it.
This product is the fifth-best pick. With this unit, you get dual buckets that hold 9 gallons inside.
You can also purchase generic plastic garbage bags from the store without paying for a special version.
Out of the box, you’ll find that it has two stickers on the front of the can: one to designate the bin for trash and the other for recyclables. However, these stickers can be easily removed if you don’t like the looks of them on the exterior.
If you want your garbage can and recycling containers to be in the same location in your kitchen, then you may want to consider this option.
PROS
- Quiet lid mechanism with automatic sensor
- D shape design with lid
- Compatible with a standard trash bag
- Capacity: 18.5 gallons
- Hand gesture can open the lift
CONS
- People sometimes keep putting the batteries out and back in to make it work again
5 Key Features to Consider
My team and I researched and compared more than 25 touchless trash cans to put together this handy buying guide. When it comes to the best automatic trash cans for your home, check out these important features:
1. Capacity of Automatic Trash Cans
If you have a large household, you may already know why capacity (or gallon dimension) is important in a touchless trash can. With a wife, kids, and pets running around the house, you'll accumulate a lot of garbage by the end of the week.
The regular measurement for a trash can is 13 gallons, and with an old step trash bin, you'll be emptying it every other day. As part of our review, we invested in the 21-gallon automatic trash can, and because of the convenience, we're pretty happy we did.
We find this option to make more sense for bigger families. However, if there are just one or two people in your home, manual step trash cans should be best to hold a week’s worth of garbage.
2. Touchless Garbage Bin Power Source
Touchless sensor bin can be powered in two ways to open:
- With batteries
- With an AC adaptor
With battery-powered trash cans, you can put it anywhere you’d like for easy open. It is best to place it under the kitchen cabinet without any limitations or messy wires hanging out the back. With an AC adapter unit, you have to keep the sensor garbage can close to an outlet.
While it’s true that a sensor trash can with an adapter will function while being plugged in, a battery-powered bin is not a bad deal. Most of the best electronic sensor trash cans that use an energy-saving technology will last up to one year or more on a single set of batteries. We could say, the choice for which the best type to buy here is really up to you.
3. Odor-Reducing Filter
Here's one of the best features that we highly encourage you to look for when shopping for a new trash can.
The thing we hated most about old step trash bins was that it always smelled like garbage everywhere after you open it, even after you put a new bag.
Most of us would say that we wish the day will come that we don't have to deal with the smell anymore. At least once a month, we have to wash out the can to get rid of the unpleasant odor.
We especially loathed this task during the winter months. So, when we bought a new touchless trash can for review, we made sure that it uses a carbon odor filtering technology or a deodorizer.
What this filtering device does is it neutralizes and removes odors from the bin. This is likely a great fit for anyone to avoid smelling that dreadful garbage smell. Additionally, a cheap small dehumidifier can reduce unpleasant smell that persists.
4. Touchless Trash Bin Material
All of the products and models we reviewed are made of high-quality stainless steel that’s smudge and fingerprint-proof.
This gives you confidence that the garbage can you'll use will last a long time and is convenient to clean. This way, you'll reduce the scatter of germs.
Additionally, one of the trash cans above also gives you the convenient option of white or black models.
They can serve as a great fit if you want the bin to match the existing decor. We recommend that you find products that better match the devices you have.
5. Lid Opening Size
If you tend to throw away a lot of bulky items, a wider lid top is a small detail that makes a big difference.
Children love pizzas. If you have two or more kids, we're sure you're going through a lot of pizza boxes. Therefore, a large lid opening is a great hygienic factor to consider when buying a touchless garbage can. This large trash bin means that you don't have to break down the box before throwing it away.
If you have a workshop like we do, you only need to toss away small things, so the opening doesn't matter as long as the sensor automatically keeps the lid closed.
Also, the no-touch infrared sensors make for easier and better cleanup, ensuring the lid closes smoothly and silently. [1]
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a trash can that you don't need to keep on touching to open during waste disposal is something probably worth spending the money.
Its gear system uses infrared motion to detect movement up to 10 inches away. The lid will open and close automatically, so it saves time and effort as well. [2]
No, there is no particular type of plastic trash bag needed for a sensor bin. It is best to use a garbage bag you usually buy in the supermarket. Trash bins come in different dimensions, so make sure to check well the size of the trash can before buying a plastic garbage bag.
Yes, automatic stainless steel garbage cans are easy to clean compared to a foot pedal garbage bin. That way, you'll get fewer germs on your hands.
The outside part is less dirty since you don't have to keep on touching it when you open, close, or toss out the trash bags.
Also, there is a trash bin that uses a removable inner bucket and carbon filtering device to make it easier to clean well inside.
And Our #1 Touchless Trash Can is...
Based on our research and the positive reviews, we recommend the iTouchless 13-gallon stainless steel automatic trash can. Aside from its hygienic odor filter control system, it also provides some other useful features, including extended battery life.
It boasts an ample waste space and an optional power adapter if you prefer to plug it in. It also has a sharp-looking design to complement your kitchen appliances.
The product is backed by a full-service 2-year warranty and excellent customer support from the manufacturer for added peace of mind (even for the sensor, which surprised us). So what are your top picks from the best touchless trash cans list? Let us know in the comments below.
iTouchless Motion Sensor Trash Can (13-Gallon)
Our #1 Recommendation
- 2-year warranty guarantee from the manufacturer
- Only turns on when needed
- Powered by batteries or Plug-in
- 12″ lid for bulky trash
- Hands-free sensor operation
- Built-in deodorizer
