Best compost bin 2025 for making quality garden fertiliser

ActiveOutdoorsOutdoor TechBest compost bin 2025 for making quality garden fertiliserMake your own high-quality organic fertiliser with the best compost bins you can buy in 2023When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Make your own high-quality organic fertiliser with the best compost bins you can buy in 2023

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Greta- Hoffman | Pexels)

Compost lifestyle - pexels-greta-hoffman

(Image credit: Greta- Hoffman | Pexels)

The best compost bins make quality fertiliser for your garden and can help you produce your own nutritious organic matter for your borders and pot plants. Rather than throwing grass cuttings and leaves from yourcordless lawn mowerinto the council’s green bin and lobbing your kitchen veggie and fruit cuts into the food bin, you can tackle both of these tasks with one of the compost bins on this list.

Aside from saving a small fortune in compost bags from the garden centre, a compost bin saves space in your council’s green bin and you won’t need to make so many trips to the council tip either. In other words, composting helps save the planet and that’s the best excuse of all to buy one.

The biggest personal benefit of having your own compost bin is that you will always have your own homemade variety to hand when it comes time to tending the borders and planting new flowers and shrubs.

We’ve scoured the internet for the best compost bins you can buy and alighted on this bunch of fine contenders. Simply load them up with any dead vegetation you come across during your gardening excursions or in the kitchen and let nature’s wondrous alchemy do the rest.

The best compost bins you can buy in 2025

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(Image credit: Lifetime)

Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler on white background

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(Image credit: Lifetime)

Lifetime 189 Litre Compost TumblerBest performing compost binToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Practical rotating bin+Internal aeration bar+Stylish designReasons to avoid-Complicated to assemble
Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler

1. Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler

Best performing compost bin

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Practical rotating bin+Internal aeration bar+Stylish design

+Practical rotating bin+Internal aeration bar+Stylish design

Practical rotating bin

Internal aeration bar

Stylish design

Reasons to avoid-Complicated to assemble

-Complicated to assemble

Complicated to assemble

This revolving 189-litre compost bin comes with a sturdy lid to keep fruit flies and other pests at bay and an internal aeration bar that mixes the decomposing vegetation while promoting natural air flow.

Made from high-density polyethylene affixed to sturdy powder-coated steel legs, this bin should last for many years. It’s easy to use too. Simply revolve the cylinder towards the large hatch and throw in your vegetation. Periodically roll it over using the locking nut to hold it in any position. The rolling action mixes the contents up and allows the user to access the good stuff lower down.

This is one of the more stylish propositions when it comes to compost bins which aren’t usually the most attractive of garden paraphernalia. However, be prepared to spend a couple of hours assembling it because it requires a lot of tool work and, at times, two sets of hands.

For more information about this top-rated compost bin, read ourshould I buy the Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler guide.

(Image credit: Blackwall)

Blackwall 220L Composter Converter on white background

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(Image credit: Blackwall)

Blackwall 220L Composter ConverterBest compost bin for smaller gardensToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Simple design+Lower hatch for collecting compost+AffordableReasons to avoid-Hard to move once setup and in use
Blackwall 220L Composter Converter

2. Blackwall 220L Composter Converter

Best compost bin for smaller gardens

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Simple design+Lower hatch for collecting compost+Affordable

+Simple design+Lower hatch for collecting compost+Affordable

Simple design

Lower hatch for collecting compost

Affordable

Reasons to avoid-Hard to move once setup and in use

-Hard to move once setup and in use

Hard to move once setup and in use

If you just want a bog-standard compost bin capable of containing a substantial 220 litres of decomposing vegetation, consider this classic Dalek-shaped plastic model. The Blackwall is available in dark green or black and comprises a tight-fitting lid and a front hatch that’s wide enough for a trowel or small-bodied spade.

Measuring in at 100cm in height with tapered dimensions of 70cm at the bottom and 50cm at the top, this model is as standard as they come. Simply load in your dead vegetation, close the lid and after a couple of months the bottom section should have decomposed sufficiently to be used as good-quality compost. Just make sure you’re happy with its location because once it’s full, there’s no budging it. At around £65, this model is among the cheapest on sale and it does the job of composting extremely well.

For even more information on this top-rated compost bin, be sure to readshould I buy the Blackwall 220L Compost Converter buying guide.

(Image credit: Easipet)

Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328L on white background

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(Image credit: Easipet)

Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328LBest looking composter in a beehive styleeToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Attractive design+Looks like a beehive+Easy to put things in and take things outReasons to avoid-Not good for smaller materials-You have to build it yourself
Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328L

3. Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328L

Best looking composter in a beehive stylee

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Attractive design+Looks like a beehive+Easy to put things in and take things out

+Attractive design+Looks like a beehive+Easy to put things in and take things out

Attractive design

Looks like a beehive

Easy to put things in and take things out

Reasons to avoid-Not good for smaller materials-You have to build it yourself

-Not good for smaller materials-You have to build it yourself

Not good for smaller materials

You have to build it yourself

This model measures 74cm in width and depth and 80cm height and has a capacity of approximately 328 litres, making it a great choice for medium-sized gardens. Despite the appalling instructions, assembly is pretty straightforward and involves slotting it all together and fitting the roof hinges.

Since this model is slatted and the gaps between each slat are quite wide, we would avoid filling it with small vegetable scraps and stick to leaves and other larger garden cuttings that won’t fall through the gaps, spoiling the appearance. For maximum success, be sure to locate it in an area that receives some sunlight.

Once the compost is ready, simply undo the hatch at the bottom and scoop some out. Granted, the over-abundance of air circulation won’t produce the very best compost but if you’re not too pernickety, this model is far and away the most sophisticated looking option even if it is a bit flimsier than the image suggests.

(Image credit: No brand)

105 Litre Tumbling Composter on white background

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105 Litre Tumbling ComposterA robust rotating model for all-round efficiencyToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Tough materials+It rotates+Highly efficientReasons to avoid-It’s a lot of plastic
105 Litre Tumbling Composter

4. 105 Litre Tumbling Composter

A robust rotating model for all-round efficiency

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Tough materials+It rotates+Highly efficient

+Tough materials+It rotates+Highly efficient

Tough materials

It rotates

Highly efficient

Reasons to avoid-It’s a lot of plastic

-It’s a lot of plastic

It’s a lot of plastic

Here’s a robust rotating compost bin that will never corrode because it’s almost entirely made from plastic. Consequently, it’s not the prettiest bin we’ve ever seen. This tumbling model has a capacity of 105 litres so it’s on the small side but still perfect for urban and cottage gardens.

It measures 81cm in height and 61cm in width and features a rod and fin mechanism within that breaks up large clumps of plant matter while providing excellent aeration. A rotating bin of this nature makes it much easier to turn the compost every few weeks and ensures good quality compost without too much effort.

At a shade under £70, this is great value compost bin that easy to assemble and a doddle to use. Sure, it’s not the most fashionable thing in the garden, but it does the job and does it well.

(Image credit: No brand)

300 Litre Garden Composter on white background

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300 Litre Garden ComposterBest budget-priced compost bin for larger gardensToday’s Best DealsCheck AmazonReasons to buy+Cheap+Large capacity+Ideal for medium-large gardensReasons to avoid-Ugly design
300 Litre Garden Composter

5. 300 Litre Garden Composter

Best budget-priced compost bin for larger gardens

Today’s Best DealsCheck Amazon

Today’s Best Deals

Check Amazon

Reasons to buy+Cheap+Large capacity+Ideal for medium-large gardens

+Cheap+Large capacity+Ideal for medium-large gardens

Cheap

Large capacity

Ideal for medium-large gardens

Reasons to avoid-Ugly design

-Ugly design

Ugly design

Got a medium to large garden and require around 300 litres of never-ending compost production? Try this 83 x 61cm block of plastic. Yes, it’s ugly with a capital U but it’s got a huge lidded portal and a large bottom access hatch that lifts off to accommodate a standard shovel.

This one simply clicks together and comes with ventilation openings for excellent air flow. Mind, it doesn’t have a base so it needs to be placed directly on earth so Mr Wriggly the earth worm can get in to start his wondrous work. Give him and his mates a few months and they’ll have helped produce some of the earthiest compost you’ve ever had the pleasure of sniffing.

(Image credit: Bokashi)

Bokashi Bucket on white background

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(Image credit: Bokashi)

Bokashi BucketBest alternative to a council food waste binToday’s Best DealsVisit SiteReasons to buy+Turns food scraps into nutritious plant juice+Ferments food instead of decaying it+Eco-friendlyReasons to avoid-It’s a time-consuming process-Smells like sauerkraut
Bokashi Bucket

6. Bokashi Bucket

Best alternative to a council food waste bin

Today’s Best DealsVisit Site

Today’s Best Deals

Visit Site

Reasons to buy+Turns food scraps into nutritious plant juice+Ferments food instead of decaying it+Eco-friendly

+Turns food scraps into nutritious plant juice+Ferments food instead of decaying it+Eco-friendly

Turns food scraps into nutritious plant juice

Ferments food instead of decaying it

Eco-friendly

Reasons to avoid-It’s a time-consuming process-Smells like sauerkraut

-It’s a time-consuming process-Smells like sauerkraut

It’s a time-consuming process

Smells like sauerkraut

If you’re really into food recycling and are willing to put a bit of time and a modicum of effort into it, the Bokashi system will be right up your garden path and your plants and flowers will love you for it.

Instead of your food waste decaying in a council bin and stinking the place out every time you open it, the Bokashi system uses a micro organism bran (sold separately) that ferments the waste instead of decaying it. After several weeks of use, it will have created a super-rich liquified nutrient which you can pour diluted over the earth in your borders or sprayed on your lawn. You can even add the solution to a normal compost heap to accelerate its reaction time.

There is some work involved, mind, because most of the waste needs to be in smaller chunks than what you might scrape off a dinner plate so you may need to chop the food up into smaller pieces. You will also need to add a cupful of Bokashi Bran every time you add a new layer of waste. Nevertheless, this writer can vouch that it works exceptionally well. Yes, the resulting nutritional soup does smell sour but it seems to have revitalised a section of my garden borders so I’m prepared to give it a thumbs up. Just be aware that it does involve more work than simply chucking food into a bin.

How to make good compost

When making compost, it’s essential to find the right balance between green and brown vegetation. Green vegetation like lawn clippings, green leaves and vegetable food provides nitrogen, while carbon-rich brown vegetation like dead branches, dried leaves, bark, coffee grounds and brown paper bags produce energy. When a good balance is achieved between the two – ideally one-third green and two-thirds brown – great compost is produced. In a nutshell, if your compost is too damp or soggy, add more brown vegetation and if it is too dry, add more green. It’s also a good idea to locate the bin where in can enjoy some sunlight.

Do not compost meat or fish products because they will attract rats and other pests. And besides, do you really want the stench of rotting meat wafting over to thebarbecuearea or worse, spoiling your chill-out session in thehot tub? Oh, and don’t even entertain the idea of composting pet waste. Aside from the fact that the chemicals it produces are bad for all areas of the garden, it’s extremely unhealthy and the stench it will cause – especially in summer – won’t just bother you but most of the neighbourhood, too.

When starting a compost heap, try and alternate moist (green) and dry (brown) garden and kitchen waste so the compost can breathe. Thereafter you can throw in whatever green or brown material you have to hand.

If you’ve made your own compost collector using a wooden frame, cover it with wood or plastic sheeting to retain moisture and heat which are both essential ingredients for top-quality compost. Also turn the compost every few weeks to aerate it or it may become too slushy and horrible to handle. A rotating compost bin like the two we review below makes this task a lot easier.

Looking for some other garden items? Be sure to check out our other gardening guides to thebest garden shredders,best garden sprinklers,best garden watering systems,best manual garden toolsandbest secteurs

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The best compost bins you can buy in 2025#

1. Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler#

2. Blackwall 220L Composter Converter#

3. Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328L#

4. 105 Litre Tumbling Composter#

5. 300 Litre Garden Composter#

6. Bokashi Bucket#

How to make good compost#

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox#

The best compost bins you can buy in 2025

1. Lifetime 189 Litre Compost Tumbler

2. Blackwall 220L Composter Converter

3. Easipet Wooden Compost Bin 328L

4. 105 Litre Tumbling Composter

5. 300 Litre Garden Composter

6. Bokashi Bucket

How to make good compost

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