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The 10 best compost bins to buy in the UK

Picture of a compost bin

The best compost bin allows you to easily make compost at home, providing year-round access to nutrient-rich material to feed your plants and flowers. While it is possible to build your own compost bin, buying one designed for composting always provides the best results, so it’s a worthwhile investment for anyone that loves gardening.

However, knowing what to look for in a quality compost bin is not always obvious, making it difficult to know what one is right for you. To help with this, we’ve created a handy buying guide that covers all the info you need to know to find the best compost bins.

What are compost bins?

A compost bin, also known as a composter, is a container used to create homemade compost. While the size and style of a composter vary from product to product, each one is designed to provide the ideal environment for making compost, which is best made in dark, warm containers with access to air. Therefore, most look and function like a regular bin, featuring a large container that is covered by a lid. The main difference is that the best compost bins have holes to provide airflow, which increases the rate at which natural material breaks down inside.

Why should you buy a good compost bin?

Composting is not only easy but fulfilling, allowing you to make your nutrient-dense compost for use around the garden. You only require a few basic ingredients, including green waste (such as grass clippings) and brown waste (such as dead leaves or carboard), which are placed inside and left to deteriorate into compost. So, with the best compost bin, you not only get the benefit of making compost by yourself but you are doing your bit for the environment by recycling some of your waste to make the compost. Plus, a great compost bin doesn’t cost that much.

How to choose the right compost bin in 2024?

Another picture of a compost bin

If you are unsure of what you need in a composter, consider some of the following aspects when looking for the best compost bins:

  • Material: The material of the composter influences heat retention, which is needed to ensure that the material breaks down over time. Plastic is the best material for a compost bin, being durable and great at heat retention, so try to make this your first choice when possible. Also, consider the thickness of the plastic, as anything too thin might crack or split. Wooden bins are available, with wood being an excellent insulator, so you need to ensure that the wood is rot-resistant if choosing this material.
  • Capacity: The bigger the compost bin the more compost you can make, so think about how much waste you generate and what volume of compost you would like to have. Ideally, the bin should be almost filled as a small amount of air is needed to help break things down, so make sure the bin capacity offers this.
  • Chambers: Some compost bins come with more than one chamber, allowing you to make batches of compost throughout the year. It is great for anyone dealing with a lot of waste, as you can make newer compost with your more recent waste, ensuring everything gets used.

What is the best kind of compost bin in the UK?

There are two popular types of compost bins available:

  • Stationary Compost Bins: This type of compost bin is upright and stationary, with the waste usually being added to the top. A lid is placed on top and then the waste is left in darkness to slowly decompose and break down into nutrient-rich compost. They are cheap and easy to use, although require you to manually stir the material, which can be challenging when there is a lot of waste.
  • Tumbler Compost Bins: This type of compost bin has a rotatable container that you can move using a large handle, helping to better aerate the waste inside. Because it provides more airflow than a stationary bin, composting occurs much quicker, although most tumblers have a lower capacity.

Top 10 list of compost bins in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their compost bins. Which compost bin is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of Garden Haven GH-HYBS001 compost bin
Garden Haven 300Litre/80Gal Garden Compost Bin Large Composter ECO…
  • Robust thickness and construction help produce and insulate heat which helps the…
  • Dimensions: 32.68 x 24.02 x 24.02 inches (82.5cm height x 60cm width x 60cm dept…
  • BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION: Garden composter converts organic household and garden waste…
BUY NOW
TOP 2
Image of Optimal Products 300l Compester compost bin
300L Composter Compost Bin Grass Eco Friendly Converter Debris Waste…
  • Healthy Garden: Improve soil health and boost plant growth with natural compost,…
  • Cost-Effective: Save money on commercial fertilizers by producing your own nutrient-rich…
  • Environmental Impact: Reduce your household waste and contribute to a healthier planet…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 3
Image of Crystals  compost bin
300L Outdoor Garden Compost Bin Eco Friendly Organic Waste Conver…
  • the hinged lid and removable front panel allows easy access to both the top and bottom…
  • by storing all of your organic waste in one location you can effectively reduce any…
  • constructed using only high quality durable plastics
BUY NOW
TOP 4
Image of COMPOSTER Y54400860 compost bin
4smile 300 Litre Garden Composter Bin Composting Waste Box Recycling…
  • BEST QUALITY: Composter bin Kompo by 4smile.shop is made of 100 % recycled plastic…
  • EASY ASSEMBLY: It is really simple to set up the biological composter Kompo within…
  • A BIOLOGICAL SOLUTION: Garden composter Kompo converts organic household and garden…
BUY NOW
TOP 5
Image of VonHaus 2500597 compost bin
VonHaus Compost Bin for Garden 480L – Composter with Slatted…
  • THE VONHAUS PROMISE: All our products are backed by a minimum 2 year warranty, so…
  • RAPID DECOMPOSITION: Finished in a heat-retaining black colourway, all your waste…
  • WIND & FROST RESISTANT: Use your large 480L plastic compost converter all throughout…
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TOP 6
Image of Deuba 106392 compost bin
DEUBA® 800 Litre Garden Composter Bin | Composting Waste Box |…
  • DIMENSIONS: Total dimensions (LxWxH) 380L = 28x28x33' | 800L = 53x28x33'…
  • WELL THOUGHT-OUT: Ventilation openings for adequate air flow speed up the bacterial…
  • FUNCTIONAL: The bin is equipped with a hinged lid that allows an easy filling from…
BUY NOW
TOP 7
Image of VOUNOT 4342916087831 compost bin
VOUNOT Compost Bin Garden, 300 Litre Plastic Composters Outdoor,…
  • Capacity: 300 liters, dimensions: 58 x 58 x 80 cm
  • Thanks to the click system, the assembly process can be completed in a few simple…
  • The opening at the bottom of the composter is used to remove fresh compost. The base…
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TOP 8
Image of Denny International  compost bin
Denny International® 300L Outdoor Compost Bin Eco Friendly Garden…
  • Quality Products by Denny International
  • Colour: Black / Green
  • Capacity: 300L (approx.)
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TOP 9
Image of Addis 518695 compost bin
Addis Everyday Kitchen Food Waste Compost Caddy Bin, 4.5 Litre, Air…
  • Made in the UK with 10 year Addis guarantee / Addis part of the home since 1783
  • Dimensions w25 x d18 x h19cm (10" x 7" x 7. 5 inches) - Dishwasher, Food…
  • Available in a wide range of fresh colours, Hard wearing quality finish, Easy to…
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TOP 10
Image of KitchenCraft LNCOMPCRE compost bin
KitchenCraft Living Nostalgia Kitchen Compost Bin, Metal, 16.5 x 12…
  • Hygienic to Empty - With a removable lid and swing handle which makes it easy to…
  • Integral Carbon Filter Included - To absorb odours, making sure that no unwanted…
  • Vintage Design - This indoor compost bin with its subtle shaping, can sit proudly…
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