Gift Guide
Best Kitchen & Dining Finds Under $100
Because even the most overlooked corner of your kitchen deserves a little intention.
Picture this: Sunday morning, coffee brewing, sunlight cutting across the counter. Everything in your kitchen feels considered. The cutting board, the canisters, the dish towel folded just so. And then there’s the trash can, a big plastic afterthought shoved between the cabinet and the wall. It does not have to be this way.
The kitchen is the most-used room in most homes, and the pieces we interact with dozens of times a day shape how the whole space feels. A well-chosen bin, quiet and good-looking and genuinely hardworking, is the kind of small upgrade that makes a kitchen feel like it was put together on purpose.
We rounded up twelve kitchen and dining finds, all under $100, that earn their place on the floor. Whether you want the quiet click of a soft-close lid, hands-free convenience, or just a reliable workhorse in a color that doesn’t fight your cabinets, there’s something ahead worth making room for.
The Picks
Amazon Basics
Amazon Basics LARGE Trash Can, 13.2 Gallon (50L), Smudge Resistant Rectangular Bin with Soft-Close Lid, Step Foot Pedal, Removable Inner Bucket, Brushed Stainless Steel, Satin Nickel Finish
The Amazon Basics 13.2-gallon bin is the one I’d put in any kitchen where sleek and low-maintenance are the goals. The brushed stainless steel in satin nickel reads almost silvery in natural light, warm enough to soften an all-white kitchen without looking clinical. The step pedal is smooth, the soft-close lid lands with barely a whisper, and the removable inner bucket means cleaning day isn’t a production. At $71.99 it sits in a sweet spot: it looks more expensive than it is without asking you to spend like it is. A good fit for anyone who wants the stainless look without fussing over it. The smudge-resistant finish actually holds up, which matters when you’re opening this thing ten times before noon.
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Glad
Glad Stainless Steel Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 13 Gal, Pewter
The Glad 13-gallon in Pewter is the one for kitchens that lean into warmth. That pewter stainless finish has a slightly deeper, greyer tone compared to bright chrome options, and it plays beautifully against wood cabinetry or open shelving with dark hardware. What sets it apart is the built-in Clorox odor protection, not a gimmick but a liner-integrated system that genuinely keeps the area around the bin smelling neutral. At 4.6 stars across more than 24,000 reviews, this has earned its reputation quietly. Pair it with a modern farmhouse kitchen that mixes black, wood, and warm metals and it looks like it was always supposed to be there. The build feels solid, not flimsy, which is the thing you notice most when you actually use it daily.
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simplehuman
simplehuman 40 Liter / 10.6 Gallon Slim Kitchen Step Trash Can With Secure Slide Lock, Black Plastic
The simplehuman 40-liter slim step can in black plastic is the one I’d reach for in a galley kitchen or any space where floor real estate is genuinely tight. It’s narrow without feeling dinky, and the secure slide lock keeps the lid from popping during transport, which is more useful than it sounds on bag-change day. The matte black plastic is clean and unobtrusive. It recedes. In a kitchen with black lower cabinets or dark appliances, it essentially disappears. simplehuman’s engineering shows in the details: the pedal has real resistance, the lid opens fully, and nothing rattles. For under $40, this is one of the best examples of form following function in the whole roundup. It suits renters, minimalists, and anyone who needs a secondary bin near the island or back door.
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Rubbermaid Commercial Products
Rubbermaid Commercial Products Slim Jim Trash Can, Black, 23-Gallon
The Rubbermaid Commercial Products Slim Jim is a different kind of pick, and I want to be honest about that. This is not a decorative object. It’s a 23-gallon workhorse built for volume, and if you entertain often, run a busy household, or have been emptying your kitchen bin twice a day, it solves a real problem. The tall, narrow rectangular profile fits flush against a wall or into the corner of a pantry with almost no footprint lost. The black finish is matte and unassuming. Nearly 14,000 reviews at 4.8 stars says everything about reliability. It doesn’t have a soft-close lid or a pedal, but it handles the job it was designed for better than almost anything at this price. A practical choice for people who care more about capacity than ceremony.
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Glad
Glad Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection | Plastic Bin, 13 Gal, Black
The Glad 13-gallon black plastic bin is the unpretentious one, and there’s a real case for that. Not every kitchen needs a statement piece near the sink. Sometimes you want something that holds the bag securely, keeps smells contained, and gets out of the way. The Clorox odor protection built into the liner means you’re not relying on taking out the trash at exactly the right moment. The matte black plastic finish works with virtually any cabinet color, from white shaker to deep navy to natural wood. At $37.99, it leaves room in the budget for the things in your kitchen that actually get to be beautiful. A solid, honest choice for secondary bins, rental kitchens, or anyone who has better places to spend forty extra dollars.
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Glad
Glad Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection | Plastic Bin, 13 Gallon, Grey
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Glad
Glad Premium Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 20 Gallon, Black
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Glad
Glad Premium Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection, 13 Gallon, Black
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Glad
Glad Trash Can with Clorox Odor Protection | Plastic Bin, 20 Gal, Black
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simplehuman
simplehuman 45 Liter / 12 Gallon Rectangular Kitchen Step Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Grey Plastic
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EKO
EKO Mirage-T 50 Liter / 13.2 Gallon Touchless Rectangular Motion Sensor Trash Can or Recycling Bin, Brushed Stainless Steel Finish
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SONGMICS
SONGMICS 13 Gallon (50 L) Trash Can, Stainless Steel, Step-On Pedal
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right trash can size for my kitchen?
Start with how often you want to take out the trash. For a two-person household, a 10 to 13-gallon bin usually works well with weekly bag changes. Larger families or people who cook frequently tend to do better with 20-gallon options. Also factor in your kitchen layout. A slim or rectangular profile matters far more in a narrow kitchen than the total gallon count. Measure the floor space before you commit to anything tall or wide.
Is stainless steel worth the extra cost over plastic for a kitchen trash can?
It depends on how your kitchen is used. Stainless handles moisture, splatter, and repeated cleaning better over time and tends to look consistent longer. Plastic can scuff and discolor with heavy use. That said, matte black plastic options have improved significantly in quality and are a smart choice for secondary bins or spaces where the can stays tucked away. If the bin is visible from your main living area, stainless tends to age more gracefully.
What does integrated odor protection actually mean in products like Glad’s Clorox line?
The odor protection in Glad’s bins is built into the liner rather than the bin itself. The bags are treated to help neutralize odors at the source rather than just masking them. It doesn’t replace regular bag changes, but it does give you more flexibility between them. In warm kitchens or during summer months when smells develop faster, the difference is noticeable. Think of it as a buffer, not a solution to skipping trash day entirely.
How do soft-close lids actually hold up over time?
The best soft-close mechanisms, like those in simplehuman and Amazon Basics bins, use dampened hinges that slow the lid on the way down. With regular home use they hold up well for years. The key is not forcing them shut or letting the pedal spring back too fast. Wiping the hinge area occasionally keeps debris from interfering with the mechanism. Bins with this feature in the $40 to $80 range tend to deliver solid longevity if treated with basic care.
Can a trash can actually fit into a cohesive kitchen aesthetic, or is it always an eyesore?
It really can fit in, with some intention. The main moves: match the finish to your hardware (brushed nickel bin with brushed nickel faucet, matte black bin with black cabinet pulls), choose a form that echoes the shapes already in the room (rectangular kitchens suit rectangular bins), and keep the area around it clear. A bin that is clean, consistently the right size, and matched to the room’s color palette stops reading as an eyesore and starts reading as part of the room.
Final Thoughts
A well-considered kitchen doesn’t require a renovation or a decorator. It just requires paying a little attention to the pieces you use every single day. The bins in this roundup are not glamorous products by nature, but each one does something specific well: stays quiet, stays clean, holds its shape, earns its corner. Pick the one that solves the actual problem your kitchen has, whether that’s smell, volume, space, or just looking more put-together than the old plastic bin that came with the apartment.
Small upgrades compound. A calm, organized kitchen makes cooking feel lighter and having people over feel easier. You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start with one piece that genuinely works and notice how it changes the feeling of the room. The most livable spaces aren’t the ones that cost the most. They’re the ones where someone paid attention.