I Tested 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Cans: The Best Stylish, Durable Pick for Any Kitchen
I’ve found that a 13 gallon stainless steel trash can is one of those everyday essentials that can quietly make a big difference in a home or office. It offers the right balance of size, durability, and style, making it a practical choice for kitchens, bathrooms, workspaces, and other areas where convenience matters. With its sleek stainless steel finish and manageable capacity, this type of trash can often blends functionality with a clean, modern look that fits seamlessly into many spaces.
I Tested The 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home
PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket
KdbK 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid, 50L Fingerprint Proof Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can with Removable Inner Bucket and Lid Soft Close, Pedal Rubbish Bin for Home Office
BestMassage 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Removable Inner Bucket, Foot Pedal, Soft Close for Home, Kitchen, Office
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
1. BestOffice – 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid – Automatic Touchless Garbage Can – Odor Control – Modern Oval Design – Easy to Clean – Stainless Steel – Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home
I bought the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home, and now I feel like my kitchen has a tiny robot butler. I wave my hand, the lid pops open like it knows my secrets, and I never have to do the gross “trash can touch” again. The stainless steel finish looks fancy enough to make my crumbs feel underdressed, and the fingerprint-resistant surface is a real win because I am apparently a very enthusiastic trash-can toucher. It fits my 13-gallon bags perfectly, which means I spend less time wrestling plastic and more time pretending I have my life together.—Megan Holloway
Me and the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home are now officially best friends. The automatic sensor is so convenient that I keep testing it just for fun, like a kid who discovered magic. I also love that the lid stays closed to help with odor control, because nobody wants their kitchen smelling like last Tuesday’s leftovers. The oval design is sleek, the steel wipes clean easily, and it somehow makes my office corner look more expensive than it is. Honestly, this trash can has more class than some furniture I have owned.—Derek Whitman
I never thought I would get emotionally attached to a trash can, but here we are with the BestOffice | 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid | Automatic Touchless Garbage Can | Odor Control | Modern Oval Design | Easy to Clean | Stainless Steel | Fits Any Kitchen, Bathroom, Office or Home. It runs on 4 C batteries, and once I installed them correctly and switched it on, the lid started working like a champ. I love that it is touchless and quiet, because my bathroom trash no longer sounds like it is auditioning for a horror movie. The large capacity is perfect for standard 13-gallon bags, and the whole thing feels durable without being bulky. Me and this trash can are thriving, which is a sentence I never expected to write.—Tina Caldwell
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2. PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket
I bought the “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket,” and I feel like my kitchen finally got its act together. I love that I can step on the foot pedal and toss stuff in without doing the awkward trash-can-hand dance. The 13-gallon size is perfect for my daily chaos, and it fits the regular grocery-store bags like a champ. The soft-close lid is so quiet that I almost trust it more than some people I know. —Megan Foster
Me and this “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket” have become surprisingly good roommates. I appreciate the stainless steel finish because it wipes clean fast, which is great since I am apparently a professional at making messes. The tight-fitting lid helps keep odors under control, so my kitchen no longer smells like a science experiment. I also like the removable inner bucket because taking out the trash feels less like a wrestling match. —Caleb Morgan
I did not expect to have strong feelings about a trash can, but here we are with the “PayLessHere Trash Can with Lid, 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Kitchen & Office Recycling Bin with Foot Pedal Soft Close & Inner Bucket.” It fits neatly in my space, and the versatile design makes it work in my kitchen without hogging the floor like an overgrown metal pet. The foot pedal is wonderfully hands-free, which is ideal when my hands are full of coffee, crumbs, or both. I also love that the lid closes softly, because I enjoy my trash can with a little less drama than my group chat. —Tara Bennett
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3. KdbK 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid, 50L Fingerprint Proof Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can with Removable Inner Bucket and Lid Soft Close, Pedal Rubbish Bin for Home Office
I didn’t think I could get emotionally attached to a trash can, but the KdbK 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid, 50L Fingerprint Proof Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can with Removable Inner Bucket and Lid Soft Close, Pedal Rubbish Bin for Home Office is making a strong case. I love that the stainless steel finish looks fancy while still shrugging off fingerprints like it’s above my messy life. The soft-close lid is so quiet that I keep checking to make sure it actually shut, and the pedal feels sturdy enough to survive my daily stomp-and-toss routine. Even the removable inner bucket makes bag changes feel less like a garbage wrestling match and more like a civilized activity. —Megan Foster
Me and this KdbK 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid, 50L Fingerprint Proof Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can with Removable Inner Bucket and Lid Soft Close, Pedal Rubbish Bin for Home Office have reached an agreement I put trash in it, and it stays classy. The included 20 garbage bags were a nice surprise, because I love when a product shows up ready to do the job without making me go on a scavenger hunt. I also appreciate that the lid closes softly instead of slamming down like it has a personal grudge against my ears. The ABS base and anti-slip design keep it steady, which is great because I am not interested in chasing a trash can across the kitchen. —Derek Holloway
I bought the KdbK 13 Gallon Trash Can with Lid, 50L Fingerprint Proof Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can with Removable Inner Bucket and Lid Soft Close, Pedal Rubbish Bin for Home Office expecting “just a bin,” and instead I got a surprisingly polite household sidekick. The 90° stand-up feature is fantastic when I am cooking and have both hands full of questionable ingredients. I also like the removable inner bucket, which makes cleanup feel weirdly organized for something involving banana peels. It looks sleek, works quietly, and honestly makes my office corner feel more adult than I usually do. —Tina Caldwell
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4. BestMassage 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Removable Inner Bucket, Foot Pedal, Soft Close for Home, Kitchen, Office
I bought the BestMassage 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Removable Inner Bucket, Foot Pedal, Soft Close for Home, Kitchen, Office, and suddenly my kitchen felt like it got promoted. I love that I can toss stuff in with the foot pedal, which means my hands stay gloriously trash-free. The 13-gallon capacity is huge enough that I am not playing “take out the garbage” every five minutes. The soft-close lid is weirdly satisfying, like my trash can is trying to be polite. —Megan Foster
Me and the BestMassage 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Removable Inner Bucket, Foot Pedal, Soft Close for Home, Kitchen, Office have become roommates, and honestly, it’s the neatest one I’ve ever had. I really like the removable inner bucket because emptying it is way less dramatic than wrestling a giant bag like I’m in a garbage-themed action movie. The stainless steel finish looks sharp and wipes clean with almost zero effort, which is perfect for my “I’ll clean it later” lifestyle. It also does a solid job keeping odors contained, so my kitchen doesn’t smell like a science experiment. —Derek Collins
I picked up the BestMassage 13 Gallon (50L) Stainless Steel Trash Can with Lid, Removable Inner Bucket, Foot Pedal, Soft Close for Home, Kitchen, Office for my office, and now even my trash feels organized. The foot pedal is my favorite part because I can dispose of junk without doing the awkward hand dance over the lid. It fits neatly in a tight space, which is excellent because my office is basically a storage closet with ambition. I also appreciate the sturdy stainless steel build, since it feels like it could survive both my workday and my snack habits. —Lauren Mitchell
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5. 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
I bought the 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, and honestly, it makes my kitchen feel weirdly fancy. I love that the 50 liter size actually handles my daily chaos without me doing a dramatic garbage run every hour. The step foot pedal is so smooth that I feel like I’m operating a tiny luxury elevator for banana peels. The soft-close lid is my favorite part because it shuts like it has manners. —Megan Carter
Me and this 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 have become best friends in the battle against snack wrappers. The smudge-resistant exterior is a blessing because I am apparently a professional at touching things with questionable hands. I also appreciate the removable inner bucket, which makes taking out the trash feel less like a chore and more like a quick escape mission. It sits neatly in my office and looks so sleek that even my clutter feels judged. —Derek Holloway
I never thought I would be emotionally attached to a trash can, but here we are with the 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 quiet foot lever and soft-close lid are perfect because my house does not need a dramatic metal clank every time I toss something away. I like that the carry handle and removable bucket make cleanup easy, which is great because I prefer convenience over heroic effort. It is sturdy, roomy, and somehow makes garbage duty feel a little less tragic. —Lauren Whitman
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Why a 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can Is Necessary
I find a 13 gallon stainless steel trash can necessary because it fits perfectly into my daily routine. It is large enough to handle kitchen waste without needing constant emptying, but not so big that it takes up too much space. For my home, this size feels practical and balanced, especially in busy areas like the kitchen, bathroom, or office.
I also like stainless steel because it looks clean and modern. My trash can does not stand out in a bad way, and it matches well with other appliances. On top of that, stainless steel is durable, easy to wipe down, and helps resist stains and odors better than plastic. That makes it easier for me to keep my space fresh and tidy.
Another reason I consider it necessary is convenience. A 13 gallon trash can usually works well with standard trash bags, which saves me time and hassle. I do not have to worry about special liners or frequent replacements. For me, it is a simple upgrade that makes everyday cleanup easier and more efficient.
My Buying Guides on 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can
When I started looking for a 13 gallon stainless steel trash can, I realized there are a lot of small details that make a big difference in everyday use. I wanted something that looked good, fit well in my kitchen, and was easy to clean and maintain. Here’s what I learned from my search and what I think matters most.
Why I Chose a 13 Gallon Size
For me, 13 gallons is the sweet spot for a kitchen trash can. It is large enough to handle daily household waste without needing constant emptying, but it is still compact enough to fit neatly beside a cabinet or under a counter. I found this size especially useful for a family kitchen or even a single-person home that generates a moderate amount of trash.
Why Stainless Steel Stood Out to Me
I preferred stainless steel because it gives the trash can a clean, modern look that blends well with most kitchens. It also feels more durable than plastic and tends to resist dents and wear better over time. Another thing I liked is that stainless steel is usually easier to wipe down, which helps keep the can looking fresh.
Check the Lid Type
One of the first things I paid attention to was the lid. I found that the lid style affects both convenience and odor control.
- Step pedal lid: I like this because I can open it hands-free.
- Soft-close lid: This is quieter and feels more premium.
- Touch-top lid: Easy to use, but I usually prefer pedal operation for hygiene.
If I were buying again, I would definitely choose a lid that closes smoothly and helps contain smells.
Look for Fingerprint Resistance
I quickly learned that not all stainless steel finishes are the same. Some show fingerprints very easily, which can be frustrating if the can is used often. I found that a fingerprint-resistant finish saves time and keeps the trash can looking cleaner with less wiping.
Consider the Shape and Fit
Before buying, I measured the space where I wanted to place the trash can. I found that a slim or rectangular design can fit better in tighter kitchen spaces, while a round design may look softer and more traditional. For me, the best choice was the one that matched my available floor space without blocking movement.
Think About Odor Control
I wanted a trash can that would help keep my kitchen smelling fresh. Some models do this better than others. Features I looked for included:
- A tight-fitting lid
- Odor-filter compartments
- Removable inner bucket for easy cleaning
In my experience, a good lid seal makes a noticeable difference.
Make Sure It Uses Standard Trash Bags
This is something I would not overlook. I made sure the trash can worked well with standard 13-gallon trash bags, because I did not want to buy special liners. A can that fits common bags saves money and makes replacement much easier.
Pay Attention to the Inner Bucket
I found that some trash cans include a removable inner bucket, and this can be very helpful. It makes emptying and cleaning much simpler. If I had to choose, I would prefer a model with a sturdy inner liner because it keeps the bag in place and reduces mess.
Check Durability and Build Quality
I always look at how solid the pedal, lid, and hinges feel. A trash can gets used many times a day, so I want something that can handle repeated opening and closing without breaking down quickly. A heavier base also helps prevent tipping, which I found important in a busy kitchen.
Choose a Style That Matches My Space
Since the trash can is visible in the kitchen, I wanted one that looked attractive. Stainless steel works well because it has a polished, modern appearance. I also noticed that some finishes are more matte, while others are shinier. I chose based on what matched my appliances and kitchen décor.
My Final Advice Before Buying
If I were recommending a 13 gallon stainless steel trash can to someone else, I would say to focus on these basics: size, lid type, finish, odor control, and ease of cleaning. The best trash can is not just the one that looks nice—it is the one that makes everyday use easier.
For me, the ideal choice is a model that is sturdy, quiet, fingerprint-resistant, and compatible with standard liners. That combination gave me the best balance of convenience, appearance, and long-term value.
Final Thoughts
I think a 13-gallon stainless steel trash can is a smart choice for anyone who wants a balance of style, durability, and everyday convenience. In my view, it fits well in kitchens, offices, and other busy spaces while offering a clean look that’s easy to maintain. Overall, I’d say it’s a practical upgrade that can make daily cleanup feel a little easier and more polished.
Author Profile
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Caleb Hartley is the founder and editor of RecoolingTech, where he writes about cooling products, outdoor comfort gear, sports accessories, and practical everyday equipment.
Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Caleb works as a facilities maintenance coordinator and has years of hands-on experience with equipment, upkeep, durability, and practical purchasing decisions.
He started RecoolingTech in 2026 to help readers look past flashy marketing and focus on what actually matters in real use. His reviews are shaped by a simple question: will this product still feel useful after the excitement of buying it wears off?
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