If you love gardening, you may have already thought of making your own compost. It’s a good way to use the waste from your kitchen and yard to feed the plants and flowers in your garden.
Choosing the best small outdoor compost bin is not a simple but essential task that you need to do first.
Now, we will help make it easier for you through this detailed guide.
Here are the best small outdoor compost bins you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin
- Best For Patio: Miracle-Gro Small Composter
- Speedy Process: Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin 35 gallons
- Best For Small Backyard: FCMP Outdoor Half Size 19 Gallon Plastic Rolling Composter
| 4 Best Small Outdoor Compost Bins | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin | |
Best For Patio | Miracle-Gro Small Composter | |
Speedy Process | Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin 35 gallons | |
Best For Small Backyard | FCMP Outdoor Half Size 19 Gallon Plastic Rolling Composter | |
Best Overall: Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin
- Give you solid compost & liquid fertilizer - combine a compost tea maker base and a compost tumbler drum
- Eco-friendly & durable – 100% made of BPA-free and food-safe materials & antioxidant, UV rays, and rust resistance
- Two color options to choose from
- No assembly required
- A bit difficult to empty
This might be what many urban gardeners have been looking for because of its compactness to fit most balconies, ease of use, and importantly, the ability to make clean compost with no horrible odors.
We’re really sold for its versatile all-in-one design, which combines a compost tea maker base and a compost tumbler drum.
Particularly, the base features four drain plugs in the four middle drain holes so the final things you’ll get are not just solid compost but also the precious natural liquid fertilizer.
If you care about its eco-friendly properties and durability, the good news is this petite compost bin is 100% made of BPA-free and food-safe materials. It is also resistant to antioxidants, UV rays, and rust to last longer.
Besides, we also appreciate the cool all-black design to make it also a nice accent in your garden space. Or, if you prefer more feminine looking, pick the Pink color.
| Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 25.4 x 21.5 x 27.7 inches |
Material | food-safe, BPA and rust free, UV, and antioxidant protected materials. |
Capacity | 35 US Gallons |
Highlight Features | Combine a compost tea maker base and a compost tumbler drum |
Among the small outdoor compost bins tested, the Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin stands out for its overall scoring, making it our Top Pick award winners.
Best For Patio: Miracle-Gro Small Composter
- Fit any tight space, including patios – measured by 24.09 x 21.57 x 4.72 inches
- Safe and sturdy - rustproof powder-coated stainless steel & recycled 100% toxin-free UV-inhibited BPA-free PP plastic
- Uniform curing - mixing bars
- Bang for bucks – priced under $85 & include multi-purpose gardening gloves
- The plastic clips are a bit flimsy
- Assembly required & no papery instructions
The Miracle-Gro Small Composter is another compact compost bin that’s worth investing in.
Its capacity is 18.5 gallons, and the whole dimensions are 24.09 x 21.57 x 4.72 inches, fitting neatly any tight space, such as patios, porches, and rooftop gardens.
Moreover, it feels strong and long-lasting due to the heavy-duty rustproof powder-coated stainless steel and recycled 100% toxin-free PP plastic. It is also UV-inhibited and BPA-free.
Thanks to the tightly locking sliding doors, it prevents rats, insects, and worms to invalid while the aeration system encourages speeding up the composting post. Within 4-6 weeks (even lesser in warm weather), your compost is ready to use.
For uniform curing, it also features mixing bars.
We also appreciate the additional gardening gloves designed with no-slip grips and water-resistant properties for both outdoor and indoor gardening tasks.
| Miracle-Gro Small Composter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 24.09 x 21.57 x 4.72 inches |
Material | UV-protected plastic |
Capacity | 18.5 Gallon (70 Liter) |
Highlight Features | Measured by 24.09 x 21.57 x 4.72 inches |
For a compact yet functional interior compost bin for patios that is also durable against outdoor impacts, the Miracle-Gro is our hands-down recommendation.
Speedy Process: Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin 35 gallons
- Take around 14 days for a new usable soil-enriching compost pile – rotary construction & adjustable air vents
- Provide a constant compost source to use all-year-round - twin-chamber design
- Easy to load compost ingredients & protective against outdoor elements and animals - tightly locking slide-aside doors
- Wish the doors were smoother to open/close
- Instructions are a bit unclear
- Difficult to put together
The Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin is able to not only hold the largest amount of compost (up to 37 gallons) but also speed up the composting progress.
In fact, it only takes around 14 days to make a whole new soil-enriching compost pile that is usable – something that the traditional design needs at least 4 weeks.
The twin-chamber design, on the other hand, allows you to make two separate compost batches at different decomposition levels. In other words, you’re completely on the proactive sides in creating a constant compost source to use all-year-round.
For each chamber, there’s a tightly locking slide-aside door that keeps everything well protected against outdoor elements and animals. The openings are also wide enough to easily load your compost ingredients. Very convenient!
Another notable feature about this product is its adjustable air vents, meaning that you can easily adjust them to the desired size based on specific composting stages.
| Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin 35 gallons Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 22.9 x 22.4 x 9.1 inches |
Capacity | 37 gallons (five cubic feet) |
Highlight Features | Rotary construction |
If you’re finding a way to speed up the decomposition process and also want to get a constant self-made compost source for all-year-round use, the Twin Chamber Rotating Compost Bin is a great choice.
Best For Small Backyard: FCMP Outdoor Half Size 19 Gallon Plastic Rolling Composter
- Eco-friendly, BPA-free, and sun protection – made of recycled polyethylene plastic
- Easy to turn the bin for aeration - The ergonomic handles
- A bit pricey for the volume
If you have a small backyard, this is the best selection.
It is measured just 6” by 10” with a capacity of 19 gallons, and the outlook is minimal to easily blend to most décor styles.
The materials, like most other options here, are all made of eco-friendly, BPA-free recycled polyethylene plastic that can protect your compost from UV rays and small animals.
With it, you don’t have to manually dig your compost to aerate it but just turn the bin several times every three days. The ergonomic handles make this task really easy to do without getting your hands dirty or have disgusting smells.
Because of that, you’ll get more motivation to reduce and reuse your kitchen wastes more.
| FCMP Outdoor Half Size 19 Gallon Plastic Rolling Composter Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 6x10” |
Material | ecofriendly, recycled, UV-inhibited, and BPA-free polyethylene |
Capacity | 19 Gallons |
Highlight Features | Made of recycled polyethylene plastic |
The FCMP 19 Gallon Plastic Rolling Composter earns our Top Pick for Small Backyard Award for its decent performance.
How To Choose The Best Small Outdoor Compost Bin?
Types
There are many types of compost bins to choose from, but below are some of the most suitable types for using outdoor.
- Manual composters: they are small and affordable, but require manual composting, meaning you have to turn over the organic matter yourself.
- Tumblers: this type is shaped like a canister and you just have to spin the barrel to turn the material inside.
- Worm composters: these bins rely on compost worms to convert organic matter into fertilizer.
Size
The choice of size depends on the amount of compost you want to make, in balance with how much room you have to place the compost bin. Therefore, it’s best to calculate the amount and measure the space before choosing a composter.
Ventilation
It takes less time to make compost from organic matter when there is a lot of oxygen flowing in. You should look for a composter with many aeration holes, which reduces the amount of time required for the matter to compost.
Which Brands Make The Best Small Outdoor Compost Bin?
Envirocycle
This brand offers composters and mini composters, so it would be a good place to look for a small outdoor composter. Besides, it offers composters with cute designs for those who want more than the basic color.
FCMP
Founded 40 years ago, FCMP has earned a good reputation for creativity and strategy in design. With this brand, you will find yourself an innovative composter with the best quality on the market.
FAQs
Are compost bins worth it?
Sure, it’s worth it if you want to make your own nutrient-rich soil for your garden or flower beds. It’s also a great way to save money and take advantage of the discarded material at your home.
What are the tiny flies in my compost bin?
The tiny flies that you find in your compost bin are most likely Vinegar flies, which often appear near rotting fruits and compost. They are actually harmless and only feed on the fruit and vegetable waste only.
Do you need 2 compost bins?
While this is not a must, you should use at least 2 compost bins, one of which contains decomposing material and the other contains finished compost that you can use immediately.
Should compost bins be in the sun or shade?
Either way is fine. Putting the compost bin in the sun speeds up the composting process, but it also makes the pile dry out faster if you’re in a warm climate.
Do compost bins attract rats?
Yes, they do. Because rats will see compost bins as a source of food for them.
Conclusion
It’s the end of our comprehensive guide to the best small outdoor compost bin, we hope that you have got the ideal product in your mind. So long as you determined the requirements for your compost bin, you will find the right product quickly and easily.
