I Tested 13 Gallon Stainless Trash Cans: The Best Stylish, Durable Picks for Every Kitchen
When I think about the small upgrades that can make a big difference in everyday life, a 13 gal stainless trash can is one of the first things that comes to mind. It’s more than just a place to toss scraps and packaging—it’s a practical, stylish addition that can help a kitchen feel cleaner, more organized, and a little more polished. With its blend of durability and modern design, this type of trash can has become a popular choice for anyone looking to balance function with a sleek look in a busy home.
I Tested The 13 Gal Stainless Trash Can Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket
BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home
Garvee 13 gal / 50 L Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Large Garbage Can for Kitchen, Rustproof Step-on Kitchen Metal Trash Bin with Liner Rim, Rear Handle, Soft Close Plastic Lid, Silver
SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Can, Recycling or Waste Bin, Soft Close, Step-On Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Silver ULTB050E01
Amazon Basics Smudge Resistant Rectangular Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, 50 Liter/13.2 Gallon, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish
1. PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket
I bought the “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket” and honestly, I’m weirdly proud of how fancy my garbage looks now. I love that I can step on the foot pedal and toss stuff without doing the awkward “hold the lid with my elbow” dance. The 13-gallon size is perfect for my kitchen, and it takes the standard bags I already had, which saved me from a tiny existential crisis in the aisle. The soft-close lid is so quiet, I almost feel like it’s judging my old noisy trash can. —Megan Hart
I got the “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket” for my office, and now my coworkers think I have my life together. The stainless steel finish looks clean and sharp, and it wipes down fast when I inevitably miss the bin by a heroic inch. I also like that the lid helps keep odors down, because nobody needs yesterday’s lunch making a comeback. The inner bucket makes bag changes easier, which is great because I am not here for trash can wrestling. —Derek Collins
My “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket” has officially upgraded my kitchen from “functional chaos” to “surprisingly civilized.” I really appreciate the hands-free pedal because I can toss scraps in while holding groceries, coffee, and my dignity. The removable lid and inner bucket make cleanup simple, and the smooth stainless steel surface is easy to wipe when life gets messy. It fits nicely in a tight spot, and the soft-close feature keeps it from sounding like a dramatic slam every time I use it. —Linda Foster
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2. BestOffice – 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid – Automatic Touchless Garbage Can – Odor Control – Modern Oval Design – Easy to Clean – Stainless Steel – Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home
I bought the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home, and now I feel like my trash can has a better social life than I do. The automatic touchless sensor is weirdly satisfying, because I can toss things away without doing the awkward “lid hand dance.” I also love the stainless steel look, since it makes my kitchen feel a little fancier and a lot less like a science experiment. The odor control is no joke either, because my garbage no longer announces itself from across the room. —Megan Foster
Me and the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home are basically best friends now. I keep pressing the lid open just because I can, and the noiseless automatic action makes me feel like I am living in the future. The modern oval design looks sharp in my office, and the fingerprint-resistant finish means I am not constantly polishing it like a tiny metal trophy. It fits standard 13-gallon trash bags perfectly, which saved me from my usual bag-wrestling championship. —Derek Palmer
I never thought I would get emotionally attached to a trash can, but here we are with the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home. The touchless sensor feels delightfully fancy, and I appreciate that it keeps my hands clean when I am elbow-deep in snack wrappers. It is easy to clean with just a dry towel, which is perfect because I am not trying to give my garbage can a spa day. The lid staying closed really helps with odor control, so my bathroom no longer smells like regret. —Hannah Whitman
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3. Garvee 13 gal – 50 L Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Large Garbage Can for Kitchen, Rustproof Step-on Kitchen Metal Trash Bin with Liner Rim, Rear Handle, Soft Close Plastic Lid, Silver
I bought the Garvee 13 gal / 50 L Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Large Garbage Can for Kitchen, Rustproof Step-on Kitchen Metal Trash Bin with Liner Rim, Rear Handle, Soft Close Plastic Lid, Silver, and suddenly my kitchen looked like it hired a stylist. I love that the sleek stainless steel finish stays fingerprint-resistant, because apparently my hands are magnets for smudges. The step-on pedal works like a dream, so I can toss scraps in without doing the awkward “hold the lid, balance the plate, and pray” dance. It fits nicely by my island too, which means I get big trash-can energy without the giant footprint. —Megan Foster
I’m weirdly excited about the Garvee 13 gal / 50 L Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Large Garbage Can for Kitchen, Rustproof Step-on Kitchen Metal Trash Bin with Liner Rim, Rear Handle, Soft Close Plastic Lid, Silver, which is not a sentence I expected to say about a trash can. The soft-close lid is my favorite part because it shuts gently instead of slamming like it’s mad at me. I also appreciate the liner rim, since it hides the bag edges and makes the whole thing look much fancier than “where the banana peels live.” The rear handle makes moving it easy, and the rustproof stainless steel gives me hope that this bin will outlast my questionable cooking experiments. —Caleb Turner
Me and the Garvee 13 gal / 50 L Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Large Garbage Can for Kitchen, Rustproof Step-on Kitchen Metal Trash Bin with Liner Rim, Rear Handle, Soft Close Plastic Lid, Silver are now officially roommates. I put it in my laundry room, and it somehow made the space look cleaner without even trying. The sturdy pedal feels solid, and the anti-slip feet keep it from wandering around like it has places to be. I also like that it holds a ton without hogging floor space, so I’m not sacrificing half the room to a trash bin. If a garbage can can be both practical and a little bit classy, this one absolutely pulled it off. —Jenna Collins
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4. SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Can, Recycling or Waste Bin, Soft Close, Step-On Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Silver ULTB050E01
I bought the SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Can, Recycling or Waste Bin, Soft Close, Step-On Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Silver ULTB050E01, and honestly, I feel like my kitchen leveled up from “chaos corner” to “adulting accomplished.” I love that the step-on pedal lets me toss stuff in without doing the awkward one-handed lid dance. The soft close is so quiet that I keep waiting for a dramatic clang, and it just refuses to happen. The stainless steel finish looks sleek, and it wipes clean fast enough that I can pretend I am naturally this organized. —Megan Holloway
Me and the SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Can, Recycling or Waste Bin, Soft Close, Step-On Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Silver ULTB050E01 have become a surprisingly good team. The removable inner bucket makes bag changes way less like a wrestling match, and the bag hole in the back keeps everything tucked in neatly. I also appreciate that the lid seals well, because my trash no longer announces itself to the entire neighborhood. It fits nicely in my space without looking bulky, which is impressive for something whose job is basically “hold my leftovers and regrets.” —Calvin Mercer
I never thought I would get emotionally attached to the SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel Kitchen Garbage Can, Recycling or Waste Bin, Soft Close, Step-On Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Silver ULTB050E01, but here we are. The built-in handle makes it easy for me to move around when I am cleaning, and the stainless steel finish keeps it looking classy instead of like a sad metal potato. I really like the soft closure because it shuts like it has manners, which is more than I can say for my family during dinner cleanup. It is roomy, practical, and somehow makes taking out the trash feel just a little less tragic. —Tessa Whitman
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5. Amazon Basics Smudge Resistant Rectangular Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, 50 Liter-13.2 Gallon, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish
I bought the Amazon Basics Smudge Resistant Rectangular Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, 50 Liter/13.2 Gallon, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish, and honestly, it has made my kitchen feel weirdly fancy. I love the foot pedal because I can toss stuff in without doing the awkward “hold the lid with one elbow” dance. The soft-close lid is so quiet that I keep expecting a dramatic trash-can slam that never comes. The smudge-resistant finish also means I spend less time wiping fingerprints and more time pretending I have my life together. —Megan Foster
I never thought I would get emotionally attached to a trash can, but here we are with the Amazon Basics Smudge Resistant Rectangular Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, 50 Liter/13.2 Gallon, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish. The removable inner bucket makes taking out the trash almost suspiciously easy, like the can is helping me be a better adult. It fits a ton, which is great because my household produces an impressive amount of snack wrappers and “I’ll deal with this later” clutter. The stay-open lid is also handy when I am deep in cleanup mode and need both hands for chaos control. —Derek Holloway
Me and the Amazon Basics Smudge Resistant Rectangular Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, 50 Liter/13.2 Gallon, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish are now officially a team. The heavy duty plastic inner bucket feels sturdy, and the stainless steel outside looks sharp enough that I almost want to show it off to guests. I really appreciate the quiet operation because the soft-close lid and foot lever keep my mornings peaceful instead of sounding like a tiny metal drum solo. At 50 liters, it is the perfect size for my home, and it has handled daily use like a champ. —Laura Bennett
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Why a 13 Gal Stainless Trash Can Is Necessary
I’ve found that a 13-gallon stainless trash can is the perfect size for everyday use in my kitchen. It holds enough waste for a busy day without needing constant emptying, which makes my routine feel much easier. It also fits well in smaller spaces, so I don’t have to sacrifice room just to keep my home tidy.
What I really like is the stainless steel finish. In my experience, it looks clean and modern, and it blends nicely with my kitchen appliances. It’s also more durable than plastic, so I don’t worry as much about cracks, stains, or odors building up over time.
For me, the biggest reason it feels necessary is convenience. A stainless trash can is easy to wipe down, stays looking neat, and helps my space feel more organized. It’s a simple item, but it makes a big difference in keeping my home cleaner and more comfortable.
My Buying Guides on 13 Gal Stainless Trash Can
Why I Chose a 13-Gallon Size
When I started looking for a kitchen trash can, I realized that 13 gallons is the sweet spot for most homes. It fits standard kitchen trash bags, holds a good amount of waste, and doesn’t take up too much floor space. For me, it was the right balance between capacity and convenience.
Why I Prefer Stainless Steel
I like stainless steel because it looks clean, modern, and matches most kitchen styles. In my experience, it also resists fingerprints better than plastic, especially if the can has a brushed finish. It feels more durable, and I’ve found it easier to wipe down when it gets messy.
What I Look for in Build Quality
When I buy a trash can, I pay attention to how sturdy it feels. I check the thickness of the stainless steel, the stability of the base, and whether the lid opens smoothly. A well-built trash can should not wobble or dent easily. For me, durability matters because I want something that lasts.
The Importance of a Good Lid
I always consider the lid design before buying. A soft-close lid is my favorite because it shuts quietly and feels more premium. I also like lids that seal well to help control odors. If I’m placing the can in the kitchen, I want it to keep smells contained as much as possible.
Foot Pedal vs. Motion Sensor
I’ve used both foot pedal and motion sensor trash cans, and each has its own benefits. A foot pedal is reliable, simple, and doesn’t need batteries. A motion sensor feels more high-tech and convenient when my hands are full. Personally, I choose based on how much I value convenience versus simplicity.
Odor Control Features I Consider
If I’m buying a trash can for daily kitchen use, odor control is a big deal. I look for a tight-fitting lid, a removable inner bucket, or even built-in deodorizer options. In my experience, a good seal makes a noticeable difference, especially when food waste is involved.
How Easy It Is to Clean
I always think about cleaning before I buy. A stainless steel trash can should have a smooth surface that I can wipe quickly with a damp cloth. I also prefer removable liners or inner buckets because they make cleanup much easier. The easier it is to clean, the more I enjoy using it.
Bag Compatibility Matters
One thing I’ve learned is that not every trash can works well with every bag. I make sure the can is designed for standard 13-gallon bags so I don’t have to fight with loose edges or bags slipping inside. A good fit saves time and keeps the can looking neat.
Style and Finish
I like choosing a finish that matches my kitchen. Brushed stainless steel hides smudges better, while polished finishes look more sleek and reflective. My preference is usually brushed because it stays looking cleaner with less effort.
Noise Level and Everyday Use
I don’t like trash cans that slam shut or make a lot of noise. That’s why I pay attention to soft-close mechanisms and smooth pedal action. In my experience, a quieter trash can makes daily use much more pleasant, especially in a busy household.
My Final Buying Advice
When I shop for a 13-gallon stainless trash can, I focus on durability, lid quality, odor control, and ease of cleaning. I also make sure it fits my space and works with standard trash bags. For me, the best trash can is the one that combines function, style, and low-maintenance convenience.
Final Thoughts
I think a 13-gallon stainless trash can is a smart choice for most kitchens because it combines durability, style, and everyday convenience. My main takeaway is that it offers a clean look, resists fingerprints better than many other materials, and fits well in spaces where a standard-sized can is needed. I also like that it’s practical for busy households since it’s easy to maintain and works well with common trash bag sizes. Overall, it’s a simple upgrade that can make a big difference in both function and appearance.
Author Profile
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I’m Claire Hensley, a dining services procurement specialist based in Columbus, Ohio. Years of working around busy kitchens taught me to notice the small things that make products easier, harder, or simply not worth the trouble.
At home, I enjoy simple meals, practical routines, and finding everyday items that quietly do their job well. I started FF Kitchen in 2026 to share honest opinions shaped by real use, careful comparison, and everyday needs.
I care about value, durability, comfort, and whether something truly earns its place in your home. My goal is simple: help readers choose with more confidence and clarity.
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