6 Best Automatic Trash Cans in 2026

This EKO is the balanced choice among the automatic bins. At 50 liters it handles a standard kitchen bag, and the matte stainless steel finish is described as anti-fingerprint, so the front stays presentable after a day of cooking. The listing frames the lid action as smooth and seamless, which is the point of paying more for a sensor can in the first place.

The soft-close lid is the detail that separates a good automatic can from a noisy one. Instead of dropping shut, the lid settles down quietly, so a late-night trip to the kitchen does not wake anyone. Hands stay off the lid completely, which helps with raw meat, sticky dough and greasy plates.

Compared with the iTouchless 24-gallon, it is far smaller and easier to place in a normal kitchen. Compared with the EKO Mirage X at 80 liters, it gives up volume for a lighter footprint. And against the BestOffice plastic, you pay for a steel body with better finish control. For most kitchens it is the sensible automatic option.

The Mirage X is built for kitchens that produce a lot of waste. Its 80-liter body, which the listing equates to 21.1 gallons, holds noticeably more than the 13-gallon bins, and the listing adds that it can serve as a recycling bin as well. The stainless steel carries an anti-fingerprint finish for a clean exterior.

Its stand-out feature is a press-to-open option that keeps the lid open for 20 minutes. When you are clearing a large pile of scraps after a dinner party, or cutting vegetables directly into the bin, that hold-open mode saves you from waving at the sensor again and again. It is a practical answer to the main complaint about sensor lids, which is that they close right as you reach for them.

The tradeoff is size. It takes more floor space than the EKO 13.2 gallon and demands larger bags, so measure carefully. Against the iTouchless, which is bigger still, the Mirage X is the more compact way to get a high-capacity sensor bin. If you entertain or cook for many, it is the standout.

The iTouchless is the largest can on this list, at 24 gallons or 91 liters. It suits families that fill a bag in a day, busy kitchens and anyone who would rather take the trash out less often. The listing highlights a tall frame that lets you scrape plates while standing upright, which can spare your back from repeated bending.

It uses what the maker calls Sensor 2.0 technology, described as opening instantly without false triggers. A continuous carbon filter, branded AbsorbX, is included to trap and neutralize garbage smells, which is a feature the 13-gallon sensor bins here do not list. The body is stainless steel.

The size is also the drawback. A 24-gallon can dominates a small kitchen and needs large liners, and a bin that big invites you to leave waste sitting longer. The filter also needs replacing over time. Compared with the EKO Mirage X at 80 liters, it offers more volume and an included filter, but takes more room. If your kitchen has space and your household is big, it is the volume leader.

The Ninestars rectangular model puts its effort into fitting a real kitchen. A 13-gallon body with a rectangular profile sits flat against a wall or cabinet, and the listing says the capacity is enough for bulky takeout boxes. A quick wave opens the lid, so there is nothing to press with a foot or a hand.

The lid is described as precision-fit, closing softly and securely to seal in stubborn odors. That combination of sealing and gentle closing suits a bin that sits near a dining table, where noise and smell are both noticeable. The motion sensor spares your hands during messy prep work.

What it lacks is the stay-open option that the oval Ninestars offers, and the larger size of the EKO Mirage X. It is also a plain functional design rather than a statement piece. Compared with the BestOffice plastic, it adds a rectangular shape that wastes less corner space. If you want a tidy, wall-hugging sensor bin that does the job without fuss, this is a dependable pick.

The oval Ninestars adds something its rectangular sibling does not: a button that keeps the lid resting open. When you are loading several items, such as cleaning out a fridge or tipping scraps from a large board, you tap the button and the lid stays up until you are done. For the rest of the time, a wave of the hand opens it as normal.

The wide oval opening is meant to handle bulky waste and gives you more room to aim. The smooth profile is described as space-friendly, and the 13-gallon capacity is the standard kitchen size. A precision-fit lid closes softly to help seal in odors.

Oval shapes waste a bit more wall space than rectangles because the curves leave gaps. Compared with the rectangular Ninestars, you gain the hold-open convenience but lose a little footprint efficiency. Compared with the EKO Mirage X, which holds the lid open for 20 minutes, the Ninestars does it by button but at 13 gallons rather than 80 liters. It is a smart pick for cooks who like to clear the counter in one go.

This BestOffice uses plastic where the other sensor bins here use steel. The body is made from PP plastic that the listing calls waterproof and anti-scratch, with a sleek oval shape. The 13-gallon, 50-liter size fits standard kitchen bags, and the touchless sensors open and close the lid quietly.

Plastic gives the bin a lighter feel, which helps when you carry it to the curb, and it is not prone to denting. It also does not show fingerprints the way steel can. The listing positions it as modern and stylish, suited to a kitchen or other rooms.

What you give up is the premium look and the weight that makes steel bins feel stable. The listing does not mention a stay-open button, a filter or a soft-close damper, so it is a simpler tool than the EKO and Ninestars models. For a household that wants hands-free convenience in a light, scratch-resistant body, it is a straightforward choice, though the EKO 13.2 gallon is more refined.