The 8 Best Composters for Your Kitchen and Backyard

If you want to reduce your household’s food waste, or are interested in providing your garden with a natural, effective fertilizer, consider a composter. Compost, or “black gold” as it's known to gardeners, is essentially just decomposed organic material—typically yard waste or food scraps—and with the help of a dedicated composter, can be created at home by practically anyone. Composters are easier to use than you probably think, and as long as you follow the instructions for your specific type, they do nearly all the work for you. Getting younger family members involved in composing is also a great way to teach them the benefits of recycling, as well as providing a hands-on science experiment at home.

The Best Composters

What to Consider

The first thing to think about when choosing a composter is the size that will be most effective for you and your waste output. Think about how much material you’ll be putting inside—will you be adding yard waste like grass clippings? How much food waste from your kitchen do you produce?—so you don’t end up with a composter that’s either too small to fit your needs, or one that’s too large and takes up valuable space in your backyard.

You should also think about the method of composting that will be most convenient for you. Standalone options require the least maintenance—you simply fill them up—while tumbling options need to be spun regularly to accelerate the decomposition process. Worm composters, also known as vermicomposters, use worms to process the waste inside. These require a bit more work, as you’ll need to rotate their layers to keep adding fresh waste, and you’ll probably need to purchase worms separately as well. (It’s important to remember that if you choose a countertop option for your kitchen, you’ll also need a separate, larger composter to dump that waste into.)

How We Selected

We used basic composting bins growing up, and this hands-on experience informed the list you'll find below, for which we paid close attention to both ease of use and durability. We also leaned on top compost tumbler and worm composter picks from Popular Mechanics, all of which are highly-regarded by experts and customers alike. We also did our best to feature a wide range of composter sizes and styles, so whether you’re looking for an extra-large backyard model, or compact countertop bucket, you should find something that suits your needs.

For more great gardening gear, check out our picks for the best gardening tools.