6 Best Under Sink Trash Cans For Tiny Homes That Maximize Every Inch
Maximize your tiny home kitchen with our top 6 under-sink trash cans. Explore compact pull-out, slim, and hanging models to save valuable floor space.
In a tiny home, every square inch of floor space is sacred ground you fight to keep clear. A freestanding trash can is often the first thing to clutter a narrow walkway or kitchen prep area. The solution isn’t to produce less trash—it’s to get smarter about where you put it, and the most underutilized real estate is often right under your nose, or in this case, under your sink.
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Why Under-Sink Cans Are a Tiny Home Must-Have
The single biggest advantage of an under-sink trash can is reclaiming your floor. That six-by-ten-inch footprint your old can occupied is now open space, making your kitchen feel bigger and less obstructed. It’s a small change with a surprisingly large psychological impact.
Beyond aesthetics, it’s about containment. An enclosed can keeps smells locked away, a critical feature in a small, shared airspace where odors travel fast. It also keeps curious pets or toddlers out of the garbage, which is a constant battle in a compact environment. A hidden can simply makes your tiny home cleaner, safer, and more pleasant to be in.
Rev-A-Shelf Pull-Out: The Classic Slide-Out
Maximize your kitchen storage with this Rev-A-Shelf 2-tier pullout organizer. The durable chrome wire baskets feature full-extension, 100lb rated slides for easy access to pots, pans, and appliances.
When you think of a built-in trash can, you’re probably picturing a Rev-A-Shelf pull-out system. These units mount to the floor of your cabinet and glide out on smooth ball-bearing slides. The motion is satisfying and makes accessing the bin effortless, even when it’s full.
The key here is the sturdy frame. Unlike a simple can sitting on the cabinet floor, the frame holds the bin securely, preventing it from tipping over as you pull it out. However, installation requires precision. You need a flat, level surface and must measure carefully to ensure the unit clears your cabinet door and any plumbing. This is the go-to for a permanent, high-end feel, assuming you have a standard cabinet.
simplehuman In-Cabinet Can for Easy Access
This durable steel-frame in-cabinet trash can features a removable bucket for easy cleaning and a secure hanging system. Designed for a clean, clutter-free kitchen, it fits perfectly with custom-fit liners to prevent spills.
Not everyone wants to drill into their brand-new cabinets. The simplehuman In-Cabinet Can offers a less permanent but highly effective solution. It hangs from the cabinet door on a padded steel hook, putting the trash right at your fingertips the moment you open the door.
This design is brilliant for its simplicity and ease of installation—it takes about ten seconds. It’s also fantastic for workflow; you can sweep crumbs and scraps directly from the countertop into the bin. The main tradeoff is size. These are typically smaller, meaning you’ll be taking out the trash more often. They also add weight to the cabinet door itself, so be sure your hinges are up to the task.
Rev-A-Shelf Double Bin for Trash & Recycling
Hide your trash and recycling with this convenient pull-out system. It features smooth, full-extension slides and a durable wire frame for easy access and reliable use.
Managing both trash and recycling is a major headache in a tiny home. Storing two separate containers eats up a ton of space. The Rev-A-Shelf Double Bin system solves this by putting both in one convenient pull-out unit, typically with one larger bin for trash and a smaller one for recyclables.
This is an elegant, integrated solution that makes sorting effortless. Before you commit, though, you have to be honest about your cabinet’s width. Double-bin systems require a wider cabinet opening—often 15 inches or more—which can be a tall order in a tiny kitchen. If you have the space, it’s a game-changer. If you don’t, trying to force it will only lead to frustration.
Joseph Joseph Stack 4: Ideal for Composting
Keep food waste tidy and odor-free with the Joseph Joseph compost bin. Its ventilated design minimizes moisture and odors, while the replaceable filter and liner-retaining hole offer added convenience.
For those dedicated to composting, managing food scraps is a daily chore. The Joseph Joseph Stack 4 is a modular system, but its small countertop caddy is perfectly suited for under-sink life. It’s compact, features a vented lid with a carbon filter to control odors, and has a wide opening that’s easy to scrape plates into.
What makes this unit stand out is its focus on airflow, which helps reduce the moisture and smell common with compost bins. It’s small enough to hang on the inside of a cabinet door or sit neatly in a corner around plumbing pipes. While not a full-service trash can, it’s the best specialized tool for handling food waste cleanly and efficiently in a tiny home.
iDesign Slim Wastebasket for Awkward Spaces
This slim oval waste basket offers convenient trash disposal in compact spaces like bathrooms and offices. Its durable plastic construction and sturdy base ensure long-lasting, upright use, complementing any decor.
Sometimes, the challenge isn’t the cabinet itself, but the mess of pipes inside it. A bulky garbage disposal or a complex P-trap can render most of the under-sink area unusable for a standard bin. This is where a super-slim wastebasket, like those from iDesign, becomes an invaluable problem-solver.
These cans are designed to fit into the narrow, leftover gaps that other bins can’t. You might tuck one between the cabinet wall and the disposal, or slide it in front of the plumbing. It’s not a fancy pull-out system, but it’s a practical, affordable way to turn a few inches of wasted space into a functional trash receptacle. It’s the definition of maximizing every inch.
Brabantia Built-in Bin: Versatile Mounting
This compact 2.6-gallon Brabantia trash can fits discreetly in your cupboard, offering easy access as the bin slides out when the door opens. Its space-efficient design and flexible mounting accommodate left or right-opening doors.
The Brabantia Built-in Bin offers a unique level of flexibility that’s perfect for the non-standard cabinets found in many tiny homes and van conversions. It comes with a mounting bracket that you can attach to either the side wall of the cabinet or directly onto the door, for left- or right-hand opening.
This versatility is its superpower. If your cabinet door isn’t sturdy enough to hold a bin, you can mount it to the cabinet frame itself. The bin lifts easily off the bracket for cleaning, and the quality is what you’d expect from Brabantia—sturdy, with a clean design. It’s a well-built, adaptable option for when you’re not sure what will work best until you’re standing in front of the cabinet.
Key Measurements for a Perfect Under-Sink Fit
Before you buy anything, grab a tape measure. Getting this wrong means a frustrating return trip. You need three critical measurements, and you need to account for any and all obstructions.
- Opening Width: Measure the narrowest part of the cabinet opening, usually between the hinges. A 15-inch cabinet might only have a 13.5-inch clear opening.
- Interior Depth: Measure from the inside of the face frame to the back wall of the cabinet. Don’t forget to subtract space for any pipes or electrical conduits running along the back.
- Interior Height: Measure from the cabinet floor to the lowest point of the sink basin or garbage disposal. This is the number one mistake people make—they measure to the top of the cabinet, not the lowest hanging object.
Imagine you have a P-trap that juts out 6 inches from the back wall. Your total cabinet depth of 22 inches is now functionally only 16 inches for a trash can. Always measure the usable space, not the total space. Sketch it out on a piece of paper with all the pipes and hinges included. This five-minute exercise will save you hours of headache.
Ultimately, the best under-sink trash can is the one that fits your space, your habits, and your tiny home’s unique quirks. It’s a small detail that streamlines your daily routine, reduces clutter, and makes your compact kitchen feel more spacious and intentional. Don’t just find a can that fits; find the one that makes your space work better for you.
