Keep food scraps and plant trimmings out of landfills by using a compost tumbler. Let us help you find the one that's best for you.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Keep food scraps and plant trimmings out of landfills by using a compost tumbler. Let us help you find the one that's best for you.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
With its two internal compartments and 37-gallon capacity, the axel-mounted FCMP Tumbling Composter is the no-nonsense favorite of online reviewers. Constructed of black, UV-resistant, rodent-proof plastic, it features a sturdy panel that slides off the drum to provide access to both compartments at once.
This compost tumbler has a strong steel frame, molded hand grips for spinning and aeration vents. It requires assembly, but it comes with easy-to-follow instructions.
The Miracle-Gro Dual-Chamber Compost Tumbler features two 18.5-gallon bins on a sturdy steel frame. Because the bins rotate independently, each one is lighter and easier to turn than it would be if they were connected.
The bins sit low to the ground, making it easy to load and unload them with a shovel. Each bin is made of durable black, rodent-proof plastic and has a sliding panel door. And this tumbler even comes with a pair of gardening gloves.
If you lack space in your yard for a full-size compost tumbler, you can probably fit the Miracle-Gro Small Tumbler.
Similar to Miracle-Gro’s garden tumbler, this one features a single 18.5-gallon bin with a sliding panel. Made from durable, rodent-proof BPA-free black plastic, it’s perfect for handling food waste and plant matter from a small yard.
Bonus: These are the best electric composters to turn your dinner scraps into rich plant soil in just a few hours.
If you prefer the dependability of metal, the Mantis Compact Composter is for you. It weighs 570 pounds when empty, so once placed in your yard it isn’t going anywhere. And despite its name, the bin holds 88 gallons of material.
Turning a heavy bin like this one can be difficult by hand, so the unit features a geared handle to make it easier. The lid swings open and detaches, making adding and removing material easier.
The Spin Bin Outdoor Compost Tumbler features a single compartment with a 60-gallon capacity. The unit spins vertically on its axis rather than horizontally, allowing the compost to fall farther and mix more thoroughly.
The bin, with a twist-lock lid, is made from 100 percent recycled plastic. A central mixing bar inside the bin separates the compost as you spin. Vents on the lid and all sides offer complete aeration.
The RSI-Maze Two-Stage Compost Tumbler comes with a single 65-gallon drum separated into two equal-size compartments. It sits high enough on a rugged zinc-coated metal frame to let you empty it into the cart supplied with tumbler.
The best feature is its ratcheting handle that makes turning much easier than other models. Each compartment has its own door that opens vertically into the drum, and the unit features venting holes for aeration.
The Lifetime Dual Compost Tumbler features two independently turning spherical bins on a single axis. Each bin holds 50 gallons, and the double-wall, black plastic panels retain heat and odors.
An internal aeration bar separates the compost when you turn the tumblers. After every complete rotation the bins lock back in place with the sturdy swinging doors at the top, where they should be. The large doors easily accommodate a shovel.
The Good Ideas Compost Wizard sits on a base rather than hanging from an axel, and bearings in the base allow for easy rotation.
Each of the bin’s two compartments feature an eight-inch screw-on lid, which is more secure than a sliding panel. The hollow base collects up to five gallons of liquid that can be turned into compost tea, and the wheeled base permits easy transport to wherever you need it to go.
Like the Compost Wizard, the Envirocycle Composter sits on a base that collects liquids for compost tea. But the design is more compact (only 28 inches high) and more appealing overall. You can even get it in hot pink! Of course, the extra style it adds to your garden or patio comes with a higher price.
This composter ships with a 35-gallon or 17-gallon drum. The door swings back to uncover a shovel-size opening, permitting easy addition and removal of material.
If you’d rather save some money, this is our favorite DIY compost tumbler. You can usually find free 55-gallon polyethylene drums at food processing facilities, making this tumbler more affordable.
Cut an opening in a plastic barrel and mount the barrel on a wooden stand with casters for support and easy turning. Install stirring paddles made from PVC pipe and drill holes in the sides of the drum to aerate the mixture as you turn.
When shopping for the best compost tumbler, consider the following:
I have been building and designing homes, and writing about the process, for over four decades. I have worked as a flooring installer, landscape builder and residential remodeler. Since becoming a writer, I have published or consulted on more than 10,000 articles and served as an online building consultant for ProReferral.com as well as an expert reviewer for Hunker.com.
For this piece, we consulted gardening expert, Sally Allsop. Sally is the founder of the online gardening site All That Grows. She uses her gardening experience to teach others about growing fruit, vegetables and flowers.
To find the best compost tumblers, we started by researching what separates average tumblers from great, high-quality tumblers. Then, we considered the different materials, sizes, features and costs to curate a list with various options to suit every buyer’s needs. Finally, we took advice from industry experts and combed through user reviews to find buys that are worth your investment.