Composting is recycling organic matters as food scraps and leaves. After the composting process, they all turn into valuable fertilizer that can enrich plants and soil. Organic matters already decompose after some time but composting speeds the process up. We toss organic matters into the trash bin without thinking a second.
If you start paying attention to the number of food scraps that go into the trash bin, you will understand the importance of composting and giving back to nature what we took from it. There are many alternatives you can use for composting. In this article, we will talk about one of these alternatives: compost tumblers.
There are tons of options you can choose from. This might cause confusion. To prevent you from that confusion, I made you a list of the ten best compost tumblers. With the buying guide below, you can decide what you want from your compost tumbler and choose one accordingly. A compost tumbler is not just something you can use in the countryside.
Unlike what most people think, composting can be done in the city, too. Some compost tumblers are specifically designed for that. Whether you have a large or small space, you can find a compost tumbler that can fit there on this list. So, let’s look at the ten best compost tumblers on the market. As I said, there is a buying guide section below with other additional sections. So, shall we?
Comparison of 10 Best Compost Tumblers in 2022
Top 10 Best Compost Tumbler Reviews in 2022
1. Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 80 Gallon
- Material: Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic
- Dimensions: 35.5 x 40 x 43 inches
With only one chamber, this compost tumbler is suitable for small spaces. Do not get the wrong idea and think this compost tumbler has a small capacity. Lifetime 60058 has an 80-gallon capacity. It is large, it takes a lot of compost, yet it is easy to move around. Building a medium-size garden without this composter would be a mistake.
Lifetime 60058 takes its place in the best price compost tumblers possible list. It is also very durable. Yes, the assembling part is a bit hard, but it is worth it. You can throw in yard waste, cardboard, paper, and more. The lid has a large opening. So, it is easy to add materials to that.
It is recommended to use electrical tape while screwing from the outside to hold the plastic nuts on the inside. Some users also suggest reinforcing the lid with more screws. This is for ensuring a long life of service.
- Large capacity
- Easy to move around
- Affordable price
- Leaks liquid, needs a bucket underneath the composter to drain the liquid.
- Assembling is a bit painful.
2. SQUEEZE Large Compost Tumbler Bin
- Weight Capacity: 43 Gallon
- Material: Steel
- Slide Doors: 10.23 x 6.1 inch
- Dimensions: 28.5 x 26 x 37 inches
This is a two doored compost tumbler. The size of each door is 6-inch x 10.5-inch. They are wide enough to make the filling process so much easier. The doors stay in place quite well, so there is no odor problem. Unfortunately, the doors do not have locks.
If there are any skilled animals in your area, they can slide the door and get in the compost tumbler. With these great features, you may think this compost tumbler is expensive. But it is not. This is the best cheap compost tumbler.
- Two doored
- Easy to spin
- It comes with extra nuts and screws
- Poor instructions
- Sometimes it drips
Also Read: Best Electric Chipper Shredder Reviews & Buying Guide
3. Miracle-Gro Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 2x – 27.7 Gallon
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 26.1 x 21.26 x 6.3 inches
If you are an apartment dweller, this might be the right product for you. The tidiness and the product’s size make it great for small spaces like one-person households, balconies, and patios. If you want to start small for composting, you can also choose this product. And you do not have to worry about annoying your landlords or neighbors because it is not a nosy one. I say this is one of the best tumbler compost bins.
- Easy to use
- Not nosy
- Clean and tidy
- It is hard to assemble.
- It feels a bit flimsy
4. Spin Bin Outdoor Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 60 Gallon
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 26 x 32.5 x 45 inches
- Warranty: 2 Year Manufacturer Warranty
Spin Bin has many great features. It has a 60-gallon capacity that can make compost of a good amount of material. Most compost tumblers in this price range do not have this much capacity. So, we can say this is a big plus. The difference might be 10 gallons only, but this means %20 less. Now that sounds like a lot.
Assembling this vertical compost tumbler is more manageable than assembling the others. We can say it is straightforward to build. It has good compost tumbler reviews. Additionally, this compost tumbler has two hatches at the ends of the barrel. Its color is black. This helps with the composting process.
- Good capacity
- Easy to assemble
- Vertical
- Hard to turn when it is full
- The frame is a bit thin
- The legs are not strong enough
5. Exaco Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 43 Gallon
- Material: Steel
- Shape: Round
- Dimensions: 28.5 x 26 x 37 inches
This dual chamber compost tumbler stands on its two legs. There are two compartments. You can keep fresh organic waste in one and older waste in another. Separating these gives better composting results.
This compost tumbler’s small size makes it a good choice for those who do not have a lot of space. It is a sturdy piece of equipment for a good deal. That’s why people love it. They made this product one of the best-rated compost tumblers.
- Good price
- Dual-chamber
- Small size
- Difficult to install
- The divider is not that good
Also Read: Best Garden Tiller Reviews to Buy
6. RSI Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 65 gallon
- Material: Plastic
- Shape: Cylindrical
- Dimensions: 30 x 41.3 x 44.5 inches
This is a great-sized bin that turns easy and clean. But it is a real pain to assemble, so that you may need help from others. The instructions are pretty good, so there won’t be any confusion. Who says you cannot compost in an apartment? Since this product is really small, you can even use it in your apartment. If you are specifically looking for this feature, this is the compost tumbler you should buy!
- Durable
- Small
- A bit unbalanced
- Heavy
7. Goplus Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 45 Gallon
- Material: Iron
- Slide Doors: 15 inch
- Dimensions: 38.5 x 39 x 34 inches
Goplus offers us a tremendous composting experience with its 45-gallon capacity. It is sturdy and made of non-toxic material. It will help you handle your waste efficiently by turning your garden and kitchen waste into rich compost.
With the durable wheels, you can move the tumbler around easily. It is a well-designed compost tumbler. There are holes along the size to help the airflow. If the temperature gets below zero, it would not breakdown the materials as it does in summer.
- Large capacity
- Sturdy
- Wheels
- BPA free
- Instructions are the worst.
- Leaks from time to time
8. Lifetime 60076 Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 50 Gallon
- Material: Polyethylene
- Dimensions: 45.7 x 7.7 x 22.8 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited manufacturer warranty
This modern-looking compost tumbler has the capacity of 189 liters (50 gallons) which is excellent. The design looks simple yet attractive. It is about 44″ from the ground. The extra-large removable lid makes it desirable. It makes it easy to load with stuff. It latches shut and keeps rodents out. Also it is the best outdoor compost tumbler! Make sure you do not put extra water in the compost tumbler because it may leak.
- Great quality
- Modern design
- Metal parts of the lock handle rust quickly and badly.
Also Read: Best Fertilizer Spreader – Reviews for Your Healthy Garden
9. Hot Frog Outdoor Compost Tumbler
- Weight Capacity: 37 Gallon
- Material: Plastic
- Shape: Cylindrical
It may look small in the pictures, but this compost tumbler has a capacity of 37 gallons! It has a rolling design to makes moving and turning the composter easy. There are also deep fins for you to grab while doing it. It is very ergonomic.
There are 8 small holes on either side of the tumbler. They are 1\4″ holes for air to pass through. The door of Hot Frog is large and opens effortlessly. This helps with the filling process. We should not be surprised that this is one of the best-rated compost tumblers with all these features.
- Cool and ergonomic design
- The rain comes into the compost bin
10. EJWOX Garden Compost Bin
- Weight Capacity: 43 Gallon
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Shape: Octagonal
- Slide Doors: 10.23 x 6.1 inch
This BPA Free compost tumbler is 43 gallons. It is easy to turn its barrel and mix the waste. EJWOX is a dual-chamber tumbler, but you can ignore the divider and use it as a single chamber tumbler if you want to. The aeration system of EJWOX allows the airflow and mixes the compost. The compost tumbler has double-wall black panels that absorb and retain heat.
Most compost tumblers on this list have black panels for this reason. The tumbler also has a powder-coated steel frame for providing a sturdy base for the tumbler. If you are a small family of 2 or 3, this product with the best compost tumbler reviews might be the perfect choice for you.
- Well-constructed
- Easy to assemble
- Durable
- It won’t break the bank
- Doors are small and narrow
- The divider is hard to keep in place.
How to Choose the Best Compost Tumbler
There are tons of options online. It is hard to choose the best from this big pile of products. I made you a list to make the choosing process more manageable. But even with this list, you need to know what you exactly wait for from a compost tumbler to get the best one for you. And how can you do that? Let’s find out! Here are three things to look for in a composter before buying one.
Type of the Container
What will you do with a composter? Are you planning to use one to store food waste temporarily or to make compost from food scraps? There are various models designed for these two needs. Think about what you want from your composter and choose one accordingly.
Size
The size determines the amount of food you can store. For example, you might not need a large composter if you have a small yard. Keep the size of your yard in mind while choosing a composter.
Material
Composters can be made of different materials like plastic and metal. Both have various features.
Plastic Composters: They are affordable and weather resistant. However, sun damage can make it brittle and cause cracks.
Metal Composters: They last longer, but they are heavier.
Also Read: How to Make Trees Grow Faster – Take a Look at the Steps Below
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why Should You Use a Compost Tumbler Instead of Other Composting Methods?
A: Heat Management. Winter slows down the composting process due to a lack of heat. You can bring tumblers inside a shed or garage during these times and use them as usual.
Q: What Are the Basics for Composting?
A: Composting requires three essential ingredients: water, greens, and brown. Greens include materials such as coffee grounds, fruit scraps, vegetable waste, and grass clippings. They provide nitrogen.
Twigs, branches, and dead leaves are some examples of browns. They provide carbon. Water is essential; it needs to be the right amount for compost development. It provides moisture and helps to break down the materials.
Be careful not to add too many greens. Or else it can get goopy and smell terrible. If that happens, you can save it by adding more browns. It is essential to balance all these three ingredients.
Q: What to Compost and Not to Compost?
A: Here are some things you can throw in a compost tumbler: eggshells, tea bags, paper, cardboard, coffee grounds and filters, hair and fur, fireplace ashes, leaves, and many more.
Here are some things you cannot put in a compost tumbler: dairy products, fats, meat, fish bones, charcoal ash, pet wastes like cat or dog feces, and many more. Most of them can cause odor problems and attract wild animals.
Wrapping Up
Composting is good for the environment. It is also easy; many people do that in various ways. Using a compost tumbler is just one of them. You just read a list of the ten best compost tumblers on the market with a buying guide and FAQ section below. If you ask me ‘What is the best compost tumbler?’, I will say it is totally up to you. Look at the buying guide once more and decide what you need. After that, you can choose one of the compost tumblers on the list. Keep me updated! If you have any composting tips, I am happy to hear them too!
Leave a Reply