The 7 Very Best Compost Tumblers

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Capacity:37 gallons |Chambers:Double

The FCMP Yimby tumbler is a solid, reliable option that will suit most composting setups — it’s durable, has two chambers to separate newer scraps from nearly finished compost, and is surprisingly affordable. Corsillo bought the Yimby tumbler while tending aCOVID victory gardenand reports that, a year and a half later, it’s “surprisingly weather-resistant …it hasn’t rusted or lost its original sheen” and still spins smoothly. She also appreciates its raised design: “I like that it is completely contained and elevated to keep mice or rats at bay and that it stands at waist height, so it doesn’t require any bending down to fill or turn. That makes it easier to use for everyone in the family, especially my parents,”Corsillo says.

Recipe developer andcookbook authorClaire Saffitzalso uses the FCMP tumbler at a cabin in the Hudson Valley; she says it’s “super functional” and has “held up well to weather and normal wear and tear.” (She does caveat that it’s on the small side for households that generate a lot of food scraps: “We cook constantly when we’re at our cabin,” she says, and estimates that they empty a one-gallon bin every day or two.) Another benefit of the tumbler is the rich plant fertilizer it produces. Corsillo says that she was shocked by how well her plants responded to homemade compost: Her calendula plants “went crazy, filling in the large areas of empty soil and bursting out over the edges” of their planter. “We used some to top up our houseplants, too, which made them very perky and bright,” she says.

Capacity:18.5 gallons, 27.7 gallons, 37 gallons, 55.4 gallons |Chambers:Single or double

Miracle-Gro’s outdoor tumblers come in several sizes and configurations, from a petite 18.5 gallon option to a dual-chamber system with a total capacity of 55.4 gallons. The three smaller sizes all have over 1,400 five-star reviews on Amazon, with reviewers praising its sturdiness, ease of use, and low price.

Capacity:50 gallons, 52 gallons, 90 gallons |Chambers:Single or double

Sized for a patio or rooftop, this drum composter rotates to mix together your greens and browns. (The brand also makes a larger90-gallon size, for bigger composting jobs.) It was mentioned by Sandy Nurse, founder and co-director ofBK Rot, who says that it “looks to be the best for being rodent-proof and [easy to] use.” It comes in both a single-chamber and dual-chamber configuration, giving you some options depending on your composting needs.

Capacity:94 gallons |Chambers:Single

The Algreen soil saver composter is a stationary composter: The bin collects water and air from its surroundings to combine with everything you put inside, and as DeDominicis says, “Compost happens.” The compost does have to be turned by hand, but the vertical system eliminates the need for multiple chambers — scraps added at the top won’t mix with nearly finished compost at the bottom. There are two hatches at the bottom, which allow you to remove usable compost while the upper layers continue to decompose.

Capacity:113 gallons, 55 gallons |Chambers:Single

Pisegna calls the Aerobin “the Boeing 747 of compost bins … the newest hottest thing in composting, completely airtight with zero odor.” The benefit of the Aerobin 400 is its internal aeration core that eliminates the need for turning; simply add your scraps, cardboard, and clippings at the top and let it do the rest — the system produces usable compost in as little as a few months. The Aerobin also features a liquid reservoir at its base and a spigot so you can collect and use the concentrated liquid that leaches from scraps, nicknamed “compost tea,” as additionalfertilizer— just remember to dilute it at a half-and-half ratio with water before adding to your soil.

Capacity:Up to 31 gallons |Chambers:Five trays

Best for an indoor or semi-outdoor space like a garage or closed porch, the Vermihut composting system is another option for producing your own compost. Diane Miessler, permaculture designer and author ofGrow Your Soil, recommends the bin, with the caveat that “worm bins require some simple maintenance to keep them thriving and odorless,” but the system scales well to the volume of food scraps you’re processing. You can add or remove trays as necessary, and at its fullest capacity, the VermiHut can process up to five pounds of food scraps per day. Plus, she says, the final product — rich compost full of red worms — “brings joy to mostgardeners.”

The Vermihut bin doesn’t come with worms, which you’ll have to buy separately. Louie and George Pisegna, deputy director and chief of horticulture at the New YorkHorticultural Society, recommend red wigglers from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm. Pisegna suggests ordering them online — one thing to note is that most retailers won’t ship during the coldest parts of the year to avoid freezing the worms.

Capacity:Five gallons |Chambers:One bin

A compact system that will enrich your outdoor garden, Bokashi composting works in the absence of oxygen by mixing microorganism-saturated oat bran with food scraps and storing the blend in an airtight container. This specific bin and bran kit comes recommended by both DeDominicis and Pisegna. One advantage of Bokashi, Louie says, is that you can add “the crazy Frankenstein stuff in the back of yourfridge— like condiments or oily things — that wouldn’t go in a normal compost system.” Vegetable scraps aren’t entirely broken down in the bin; once they’re fermented, they’re finished by burying in your garden to further decompose and nourish the soil.