Has trying composting in your home garden always been on top of your mind?
Chances are a majority of homeowners, with gardens of varying sizes, have put more thought than action into it.
It can be a daunting task to get your kitchen scraps and plant waste converted into nutrient-rich compost.
Not unless you have the best compost tumbler to do the task for you!
The purpose of a quality tumbler is to break down the compostables with ease.
Compost materials help improve soil aeration, control weed growth, and convert compostable garbage into useful compounds.
Composting is easy if done properly.
There are several factors to consider when selecting the best compost tumbler for your needs.
The size, durability, aeration, price, warranty-period, and extra features are some of the main aspects.
In this review, we have analyzed some of the best compost tumblers available in the market and also provided a buying guide and answered the most frequently asked questions to help you make your decision optimally.
Comparison Table & Runners Up
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Envirocycle | • Solid & Liquid Composting • Measures 25.4 x 21.5 x 27.7 Inches • 35 Gallons Capacity | ||
 | Worm Factory 360 | • 4-layered Live Worm Farm Design • Measures 18.2 x 18.1 x 15.6 Inches • Nutrient-Rich Compost | |
 | SQUEEZE master | • Dual Compartment Tumbler Bin • Measures 28.5 x 26 x 37 Inches • 43 Gallons Capacity (21.5 Gallons Each Side) | |
 | Miracle-Gro | • Dual Chamber Composting • Measures 25.6 x 32.3 x 23.6 Inches • 37 Gallons Capacity (18.5 Gallons Each Side) | |
 | EJWOX Large Composting Tumbler | • Dual Chamber Compost Bin With Slide Doors • Measures 28.5 x 26 x 37 Inches • 43 Gallons Capacity (21.5 Gallons Each Side) | |
 | Spin Bin - 60 Gallon Compost Tumbler | • Dual Mixer Bar & Rugged Ribbed Interior • Measures 26 x 32.5 x 45 Inches • 60 Gallons Capacity |
Top 6 – Best Garden Compost Tumbler Reviews
The best compost tumbler for you depends on how serious you are about planting, your geographic location, and of course, your garden size, among other requirements.
The marketplace is flooded with options.
To help ease the burden of selecting the best one, we’ve selected and reviewed the top 6 composters that should fit most users’ requirements.
Now you’re just one step away from saving your kitchen and garden waste from landfills.
Here are the results:
1. Envirocycle
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Our top pick is the ‘Envirocycle’ composting tumbler bin and compost tea maker – marketed “the most beautiful composter in the world”.
This eye-catching all American product is made with materials that are food-safe, BPA and rust-free, and UV-and-antioxidant-protected. On top of all that, there is no assembly required.
The Envirocycle composter measures 25.4 x 21.5 x 27.7 inches and weighs 24.6 lbs. Given such dimensions, it surprises you with its massive 35 gallons compost capacity.
Compact stature combined with durability, aesthetics, and high functionality makes it the perfect bin composter for placing in your garden, deck, balcony, or even porch.
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With this garden composter, compost tea is a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer you can choose to collect at the rotating overhead drum base.
The combined design of the compost tumbler drum and innovative tea maker base makes composting a clean and efficient process.
It’s a solid build product that creates no mess, and for that reason can be placed on your patio without worry.
Finally, besides its awesome looks and functionality, users have been raving about the excellent customer service passionate composters receive.
Top 3 Features
- Dual Compost Functionality:
Most compost tumblers generate solid compost only, this one does that and more! Ordinary compost bins leak out the liquid stuff and create a mess on the surface beneath. This one gives you the option to collect the precious nutrient-rich liquid by allowing it to drip and gather into an innovative base tray. This liquid (or compost tea) is a rich fertilizer for your lawn or patio plants.
- Durable Construction:
It’s the best compost bin as it’s a durable product that’s built for the long term. It’s made with materials that are food-safe, BPA-rust-free, and UV-and-antioxidant-protected. The excellent customer service you get is further testimony that it’s a product built to last. What more could you ask for when it comes to outdoor compost bins!
- Aesthetic Appeal:
Being marketed as “the most beautiful composter in the world” has made it quite popular, yet it reflects truly on the high aesthetic appeal. The drum and the base look charming situated at any location near your house. The color options to buy are also unique. You can purchase either ‘black’ or ‘hot pink’ variants. No wonder it’s the best composting bin.
● Beautiful looking
● Durable construction
● Made in the USA
● No need to assemble
● Solid & liquid compost
● The latch is a bit flimsy
2. Worm Factory 360 Worm Composting Bin
- The Worm Factory 360 has a standard 4-Tray size which is expandable up to 8 trays, giving it the largest volume of any home composter.
- The redesigned lid converts to a handy stand for trays while harvesting the compost.
The Worm Factory 360 worm composting bin is more efficient than traditional composting tumblers.
It uses worms to do the composting in trays.
Worms recycle your kitchen scraps, paper, and cardboard waste into precious nutrient-rich compost.
This system makes a lot of sense because worm compost is known to be ten times more nutrient-rich than a traditional compost pile.
The Worm Factory 360 comes with a standard 4-Tray size.
You may buy a set of four more trays as the stacking limit is eight trays. With eight trays stacked up, you end up with the largest volume composter.
The composter measures 18.2 x 18.1 x 15.6 inches and weighs 13.17 lbs, so it really doesn’t require much space.
To get you up and running with your durable and well-ventilated (thermo-siphon airflow design) worm farm without delay, the package comes with a range of useful accessories.
The things that you need but aren’t included are the worms and food scraps.
It’s easy to use. All you have to do is place a handful of worms along with the compostable waste on the bottom-most tray.
As the worms process the food scraps and get done creating nutrient-rich compost, they will move up the ladder to the tray immediately above.
This process continues until the worms end up working on the topmost tray. You can harvest the compost on a monthly basis, by using it on your plants.
Furthermore, the included “worm tea” collector tray and spigot allow for effortless draining, so don’t worry about an eventual mess!
You don’t have to be confused about which items are considered compostable waste.
The “What Can Red Wigglers Eat?” – an infographic magnet you can stick on your refrigerator sorts all that out for you.
Finally, the Worm Factory 360 also comes with an impressive 10-year warranty.
Top 3 Features
- Worm Ladder:
One of the most useful accessories included with the package is the tiny worm ladder. The ladder is fitted between the initial tray and the collection base at the very bottom. It’s meant to assist the worms that may have traveled back down to crawl back up to the food scraps.
- Easy Assembly Process:
At first, you may think assembling it would involve a complicated time-consuming process, yet, all you need is five minutes of your time. There is a simple to understand instruction manual that guides you through the easy assembly process.
- Effective Air Ventilation:
The thermo-siphon airflow design helps provide adequate airflow to every layer, helping in speeding up the time taken for composting. Though the time taken for composting is also dependent on the type of materials used in the scrap.
● Durable, compact & easy to use and assemble
● The package comes with several accessories
● Affordable
● 10 times more nutrient-rich compost than traditional methods
● Takes up little space
● 10-Year warranty
● Regular care is required
● Not for large-scale gardening
3. SQUEEZE Master Large Compost Tumbler Bin
- 🌱Efficient Compost：Easy to rotate and the Air Holes make the composter have the best air circulation,give you an effective composting.
- 🌱Better to Use: Dual Compartment,you can use 1 side firstly then another one.More choices,more health.43 Gallon(2X21.5 Gal)
The SQUEEZE master is a dual compartment compost tumbler bin. Each of the two chambers has a compost holding capacity of 21.5 Gallons, giving you a total capacity of 43 Gallons.
The two chambers design is a marvel in itself. The design features an easy to rotate tumbler that has air holes to make sure the best air circulation occurs, leading to effective composting.
To do the composting, all you have to make sure of is open the sliding door and stuff the food waste into it.
Then rotate it around 6 to 7 times every few days.
Its dimensions are 28.5 x 26 x 37 inches and it weighs 26.1 lbs, which is not exactly a compact size, but again it handles a huge amount of compost.
Superior quality is this tumbler’s biggest strength. It’s made of BPA-free polypropylene (PP) and comprises a sturdy steel frame that is rust-free. The modified PP barrel gives it cold resistance.
Along with unmatched durability, you also witness an incredible load-bearing capacity of 352 lbs.
Whether you are a rookie gardener or a professional, the SQUEEZE master tumbler ensures composting is a seamless process.
As an added advantage, this attractive looking composter’s affordable price point will surely make you want to try it!
Top 3 Features
- Easy Rotation Mechanism:
Rotating the tumbler is a breeze, as you don’t need to dig, turn, and mix by hand.
Simply open the sliding door and dump your kitchen food waste into it. Then rotate it around 6 to 7 times every few days.
- High-Quality Material:
The SQUEEZE master is built with high-quality BPA-free plastics and a heavy-duty steel frame.
As a consequence of such sturdy construction, it has high heat resistance to help maintain an optimal temperature range needed for effective composting.
Thus, it’s an all-weather composter that is water-proof, UV proof and has corrosion resistance.
- Dual Compartment Design (With Excellent Aeration):
The dual chambers make it better for use.
For instance, it gives you the liberty to make two different types of composts using separate food scrap categories or to make sure you never run out of compost as one side is always work in process.
The sliding doors make it easy to open and close each compartment of the spin bin composter.
The excellent aeration design helps the bins composting as it works as an effective oxygen inlet to give you more efficient compost.
● Durable
● Easy to turn
● Easy sliding door functionality (suits beginners)
● One of the best compost tumblers for aeration
● UV-protection
● Choice of door colors (black or green)
● Large capacity of 352 lbs
● Some users find the instructions unclear
4. Miracle-Gro
- GROW A HAPPIER GARDEN – Do you look at other’s gardens with envy? Give your plants the nutrient-dense fertilizer they crave, and watch your garden bloom like never before! With Miracle-Gro’s dual chamber, heavy-duty tumbling composter you get 2 compartments for faster and more efficient composting all year round.
- KEEP THE NUTRIENTS COMING – Achieve your gardening goals with a steady supply of ready-to-use compost! This 2-chamber compost tumbler allows you to add compost ingredients to 1 side, while waiting for the other side to cure. And with internal mixing bars that speed up the decomposition process, you can expect rich, fertile compost in just 4-6 weeks!
The Miracle-Gro is a dual-compartment tumbling composter that is incredibly light on your pocket. But, make no mistake!
The low price doesn’t mean it is an ineffective composter!
It made our list of the 10 best garden compost tumblers because it’s an all-round performer.
Its unique dual-compartment design (with a sliding door on each individual turning chamber) doesn’t just look great in your garden aesthetically, it also has amazing functionality and durability.
The product’s dimensions of 25.6 x 32.3 x 23.6 inches and weight 18.96 lbs make it compact, but as the name suggests, it’s a miraculous and mighty tumbling composter!
So use the compactness to your advantage by placing it anywhere near your house, and the ‘might’ to feed your plants nutrient-rich food to flourish!
Each of its rotating compost chambers has a capacity of 18.5 Gallons, letting you compost enough food so that the fruits, vegetables, and flowers in your garden can grow beautifully.
Additionally, the Miracle-Gro comes with a pair of multi-purpose gardening gloves (water-proof), so you can remain safe and clean while gardening.
An effective aeration system is paramount to any top-end compost tumbler. In that department too, the Miracle-Gro isn’t far behind at all.
It’s equipped with an ideal aeration system for allowing the composting process to accelerate for all types of garden waste.
Overall, there isn’t a reason we can think of that should deter you from buying this product, which has also been awarded the best composter for the money.
Top 3 Features
- Efficient Dual Chamber Composting:
The Miracle-Gro composter features dual compartments for more efficient composting of home and garden waste. You can add compost materials to one chamber, while the other side cures till it’s ready. Thus, each chamber rotates independently and is designed with an innovative aeration system to crank up the composting speed and process. Furthermore, there are mixing bars to help accelerate decomposition.
- Durability:
In terms of durability, you get the best in class. It’s made of BPA-Free and UV protected plastic, so you can use it throughout the year. It’s also equipped with strong side-locks, a steel base, and tight seals to deter pests from entering.
- Easy & Efficient to Use:
It’s simple to use in terms of loading and unloading each chamber of the tumbler. Each of the sliding doors is detachable for easy unloading. Moreover, it cooks perfect compost by speeding up the decomposition process and leading to rich and fertile compost within 4-6 weeks.
● Not overly big
● It is fairly nice-looking
● Dual-chamber (individual turning)
● Easy to assemble
● Compact, yet heavy-duty construction
● The instructions are a little vague
5. EJWOX Large Composting Tumbler
- DUAL CHAMBER COMPOST BIN - Dual chamber composter allow for continuous composting. Fill up one while the other nears the end of the compost process, the rich black stuff ready to use. Once empty, that becomes the one to fill up while the other completes the cycle.
- AERATION SYSTEM- Aerated internal bar mixes compost & allows needed airflow.Black, double-wall panels absorb and retain heat.Perfectly suited for your garden and for people not wanting to mix the organic waste in their traditional compost bin.
For the serious family gardener, the EJWOX large tumbling composter is a perfect choice.
It’s a dual-compartment heavy-duty composter with a whopping 43 Gallon capacity.
Essentially, you’re getting the work of two separate 21.5 Gallon tumblers done through one product.
Initially, you face a bit of a challenge in terms of assembling its many parts, but once it’s up and ready, there’s no looking back!
The biggest advantage of having a dual-compartment composter is that it allows for continuous composting.
So, while one side nears the end of the composting process, the other side can be filled up to begin the process.
This way you won’t experience both sides nearing the end or the start of the process simultaneously.
The compost holding capacity of the EWOX is a wonder in itself, but what about its functionality? The functionality is equally wondrous.
It features a rodent-proof design, durable construction, and excellent aeration, all of which are desired attributes of a top-notch composter.
The tumbling design of the EJWOX tumbling compost bins makes mixing easy and efficient as it turns on an axis for balanced rotation.
For mixing, all you have to do is close the door and turn the tumbler 5 to 6 times every 2 to 3 days.
Moreover, the sliding door opens and closes with ease, lets you load and unload the waste and compost materials, or simply keeps an eye on each batch.
Top 3 Features
- Aeration System:
The featured aerated internal bar mixes the compost and allows required airflow. Moreover, the tumbler has black double-wall panels that absorb and retain the heat.
- Innovative Tumbler Design:
The tumbler turns on an axis for easy and balanced rotations. There’s an easy slide door on each chamber (10.23-inches in length and 6.1-inches wide) that helps you keep an eye on each batch load.
- Sturdy Frame:
A sturdy frame is important, especially for large composters. This model has a sturdy steel frame with powder coating, providing a sturdy base to hold the large bin intact. Further, the galvanized steel feet of the tumbler prevent rust and deterioration.
● Strong built
● Affordable price
● Efficient Dual-chamber action for continuous composting
● Large chambers
● Door openings are a bit small
6. Spin Bin – 60 Gallon Compost Tumbler
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Last but not least, we have the Spin Bin compost tumbler, having a massive 60 Gallon capacity.
This is the most unique tumbler on our best list, mainly for its unique design that saves you space.
If you have a small garden with lots of plants, then the Spin Bin is likely the best compost tumbler for your needs.
This compost tumbler is molded in the USA and comes with a warranty of two years.
In case your delivered compost bin tumbler has any spot, you can claim a full refund or replacement. Thus, this product has strength and durability.
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It does a great job composting.
It features air ventilation slots (20 of them) and compost thermometer ports on all sides.
Also featured are twist-lock lids on both ends and 100 percent recycled plastic construction. Its sturdy powder-coated steel legs give it stability, strength, and protection from rust and deterioration.
With each tumble, the contents inside get mixed with the help of the dual mixer bar located in the center.
Further, the dark color helps the compost inside remain heated so that you can do composting through most of the year.
Finally, it measures 26 x 32.5 x 45 inches, weighs 21 lbs, has a rugged ribbed interior, and is easy to assemble.
On the whole, the combination of all these features makes composting a fast and efficient process.
In terms of price, the Spin Bin doesn’t come at a heavy price tag at all.
Top 3 Features
- Large capacity (small space requirement):
The biggest feature of the Spin Bin tumbler is that it has a whopping 60 Gallon capacity, yet has dimensions of 26 x 32.5 x 45 inches that don’t require much of your garden space. It’s most suitable if you have a small garden with lots of plants to feed.
- Fast Mixing Action:
With each rotation, the contents inside get mixed with the help of the dual mixer bar located in the center. The strong ribbed interior also helps speed up the mixing action.
- Superior durability & strength:
The Spin Bin compost tumbler is molded in the USA and is designed with sturdy powder-coated steel legs to give it stability, strength, and protection. Moreover, it is a durable member – approved by the National Home Gardening Club. It also carries a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty, hence further reinforcing the fact that it’s a high-quality product.
● Easy access (through wide openings at both ends)
● Rodents and insects proof
● Rugged ribbed interior for better mixing
● Ventilation holes all around
● 60 Gallon capacity
● Easy to assemble, but takes time
● A bit difficult to empty the barrel without the use of gravity
Buyer’s Guide – Making The Selection Of The Best Garden Compost Tumbler
Are you confused about what compost tumbler features to look for to meet your garden requirements?
In this buyer’s guide, we have outlined some of the main factors to consider to help you make the best purchase from among the above-reviewed composters.
1. Your Composting Plan
Your specific composting plan could be to add garden waste and kitchen scraps regularly.
Conversely, your plan could be to process a one-time compost batch.
Determining your composting plans can help you decide if a dual-chamber composter is more suitable than a single chamber barrel.
If you plan to compost the waste material regularly, you should go for a dual-chamber tumbling composter so that you can fill the second chamber when the first one is composting.
The advantage of single-chamber composters is that they don’t use much space and generally have a larger capacity.
Also, if you have the need to collect liquid fertilizers, then you should consider that some composters let you collect the compost tea (the dripping liquid compost).
Liquid compost is desired for its precious nutrient-rich value that helps plants grow and flourish faster and healthier.
2. Effortless Functionality
When choosing the best compost tumbler, you should ensure it features ample aeration to remove unwanted strain from the mixture.
Proper aeration built into the tumbling composter design ensures you won’t have to do the hard work of regularly using a rake to eliminate the air.
Also, look for an easy rotating tumbler so that you don’t have to lift to unload the heavy composter putting a strain on your back.
Rotation is required not just for easy unloading, but also to give the contents inside the tumbler the necessary periodic mix for faster processing.
Your best option would be composters that rest on a frame that is raised significantly above the ground.
This way you don’t have to kneel down and do the loading, unloading, and rotating of the bin.
Other things like a sturdy locking mechanism also help deter issues like the waste leaking back out or rodents and pests entering the tumbler bin.
3. Shape
The best compost tumblers come in various shapes and sizes.
The shape is an important factor and variants include rectangular, square-shaped, and round bins.
Ideally, round bins or barrel-shaped tumblers should be your preferred choice.
They (round bins & barrel-shaped tumblers) tumble easily and because of their roundness, there’s no chance of cold corners and accumulation of stalled decomposition.
4. BPA & Rust Free
While selecting the best compost tumblers, a BPA Free compost bin is definitely to your advantage.
BPA Free means the compost tumbler’s material composition does not contain organic compound Bisphenol A that is commonly used for industrial usage. BPA is a chemical that hardens PP and makes epoxy resin.
5. Made In The USA
Preferring an American made compost tumbler isn’t only for patriotic reasons. Though that sounds great!
It’s a fact that made in USA tumblers ensure your final compost isn’t polluted with a chemical compound.
The United States has the toughest regulations in place when it comes to plastic products.
FAQs
1. Should worms be put inside the compost tumbler?
Compost tumblers retain heat to help bake the materials faster.
It becomes optional then whether you want to add worms or not.
Gardeners who wish to add worms are recommended to go for Red wigglers, as they have a higher resistance to the hot temperatures inside the tumbler.
Red Wigglers are also the right choice because they have big appetites and break down organic material accordingly.
The only words of caution are to not put too many red wigglers inside together in one batch.
2. How often should the compost tumbler be turned?
It is recommended you turn the compost tumbler 4 to 5 times per week.
3. How long does it take to make compost in a tumbler?
It takes between 20 to 30 days to make compost in hotter regions as the decomposition process happens faster in warmer areas.
In cold and rainy weather, the compost becomes damp, requiring a longer time to break down.
It can take 2 to 3 months to make compost in snowy and rainy weather, but this time can be reduced slightly if a compost starter is added.
4. What are the compostable waste materials you can put inside a tumbler?
Only the right types of waste materials will decompose fast and not cause any issues.
Here’s a list of the right types of things to compost that are natural waste materials that don’t give off a foul smell :
● Fruit & vegetable leftovers (including peels)
● Dead and fallen leaves
● Grass clippings
● Plant prunings
Further, recyclable waste that breaks down easily includes:
● Damp paper waste
● Cardboard egg boxes
● Teabags
Animal waste that accelerates nitrogen inside the waste pile inside your tumbler:
● Cow and horse dung
5. What materials should not be put inside a compost tumbler?
Avoid adding the following in your compost tumbler bin:
● Dog & Cat poop
● Plastic coated paper & plastic in general
● Meat scraps & Fish leftovers
● Sticky paper labels found on fruits & vegetables
● Thick tree branches
● Onions and onion peels
● Coal and ash
6. Do compost bins smell bad?
If the bin is filled with the right types of waste, there is no reason for it to smell bad.
The normal or typical smell you can expect is similar to the smell of dirt.
Lack of heat and ventilation can lead to a slowing down of the decomposition process and result in a foul smell.
Conclusion
Composting helps plants flourish as they are fed the compost end-product – a natural nutrient-rich fertilizer.
It also serves as a protective measure for the wellbeing of the environment.
If more people start composting in their backyards or balconies, the burden of landfills will fall dramatically.
The above list of the top 6 garden compost tumbler bins along with the detailed buying guide and FAQs would help you in choosing the perfect composter to meet your specific needs.