What size composter for my household? Recommended volume and useful accessories

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53, 106, 159 gallons (200, 400, 600 liters) or more: when you're buying a composter, the question of size always comes up. Too small, and it overflows by the first spring. Too big, and it takes up space for no reason and fills so slowly that it struggles to get going.

The good news is that a few simple guidelines are all you need to choose. In this guide, we'll help you estimate what your household produces, choose the right size for your yard, and then pick the few accessories that make composting truly practical day to day.

How much organic waste does a household produce?

It's estimated that each person produces about 154 lb (70 kg) a year of kitchen and household waste that could be composted. Once broken down, this yields roughly 17.6 lb (8 kg) of compost. The difference is no surprise: most of this waste is water, and much of the organic matter is consumed by microorganisms. Composting also reduces the volume of organic waste by about two-thirds.

Unfortunately, not all of those 154 lb (70 kg) end up in the compost. According to an analysis of household trash carried out in 2017, about 220 lb (100 kg) of waste per person per year that could have been composted or collected as organic waste was still ending up in the regular trash. So there's plenty of room for improvement.

Yard or no yard: what difference it makes

A yard changes everything. Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, prunings) often takes up far more volume than kitchen scraps: to give you an idea of scale, the French produce about 353 lb (160 kg) of yard waste per person per year. And this waste comes in waves: a single spring mowing can fill a bin in one go, and so can fallen leaves in the fall.

Before buying a giant composter, remember that some of this waste can be put to good use in other ways: leave grass clippings on the lawn, and mulch your beds with leaves or wood chips. We explain these solutions in detail in our guide on yard waste. Whatever's left goes into the composter, and that's what you should size it for.

What size for which household?

There's no official standard, but the commonly suggested guidelines are fairly similar. For example, a 53-gallon (200-liter) composter is considered enough for the kitchen scraps alone of a four-person household, a 106-gallon (400-liter) bin works for kitchen and yard waste when the yard is under 4,300 sq ft (400 m²), and beyond that, a 159-gallon (600-liter) bin or two 106-gallon (400-liter) bins are a better choice. Other, similar guidelines put this threshold at 5,400 sq ft (500 m²) of yard.

Based on these guidelines, here's our advice:

• Kitchen scraps only, 1 to 4 people: 40–79 gallons (150–300 liters). A tumbler such as our Maze 180L dual-chamber compost tumbler works well on a patio or in a courtyard, and the 65-gallon (245-liter) model suits a larger household.
• Kitchen and small yard (under 4,300 to 5,400 sq ft, or 400 to 500 m²): about 79–106 gallons (300–400 liters), for example a wooden bin such as our Compostys wooden composter.
• Kitchen and large yard: 159 gallons (600 liters) or more, ideally split between two bins, one for fresh additions and the other for curing.
• Very large yard, vegetable garden, orchard: a two- or three-bin system, plus an open pile for leaves and prunings if needed.

As an upper limit, a 35–53 cu ft (1–1.5 m³) composter can process 2,200–4,400 lb (1–2 metric tons) of waste a year, and above 264 gallons (1,000 liters), it's better to set up two bins. The differences between these systems are explained in our guides Compost pile or compost bin and Compost tumblers.

Key takeaways

Kitchen scraps only: a small bin or a tumbler is enough. With a yard, plan on 79–106 gallons (300–400 liters) for a small lot, and switch to two bins as soon as the yard gets bigger. Two medium bins are better than one very large one.

The kitchen compost pail (1.6–2.4 gal / 6–9 L)

This is the most useful accessory, and often the one people forget. Without it, you end up tossing your peels in the trash can out of convenience. A small lidded pail, kept on the countertop or under the sink, collects the day's scraps before the trip to the composter.

For most households, 1.6–2.4 gallons (6–9 liters) is the sweet spot: big enough to last two or three days, small enough to be emptied before the scraps start to ferment. Choose a model with a tight-fitting lid that's easy to wash. We carry several in this size range: the Urbalive 6L compost bin, the Kaylis 7L, and the Maze 9L.

The aerator

We recommend mixing your compost at least once a month with an aerator or a corkscrew-shaped tool. In a closed bin, where there isn't enough room for a pitchfork, this is the tool that makes all the difference: push it into the compost, twist it, and pull it back up, lifting the material as you go. Our Brass'Compost works on this principle. The ideal frequency for your setup is explained in detail in our guide Moisture and aeration.

The cart for harvesting

At harvest time, you need to move the compost from the bin to the vegetable garden or flower beds. A wheelbarrow will do the job, but a low cart is more practical for harvesting right at the base of the composter and moving the compost without spilling it everywhere. That's exactly what the 14.5-gallon (55-liter) compost collection cart in our catalog is designed for.

The supply of dry material

The last "accessory," and by no means the least: a supply of brown material. To balance out kitchen scraps, you need roughly as much dry material as wet material. So keep a stock of leaves and twigs next to the composter.

Set aside a spot for it right from the start: a few large bags of fallen leaves gathered in the fall, a small bin of wood chips, or a box of torn brown paper.

Willy's tip

Before buying, count how many times you empty your kitchen pail over one or two weeks. This will give you a concrete idea of how much kitchen volume to plan for, keeping in mind that scraps settle and lose a lot of volume as they break down.

In summary

A household produces about 154 lb (70 kg) of compostable waste per person per year, plus yard waste, which is often bulkier. For kitchen scraps alone, a small bin or tumbler of 40–79 gallons (150–300 liters) is enough; with a small yard, plan on 79–106 gallons (300–400 liters); with a large yard, switch to two or more bins. Round out your setup with a 1.6–2.4-gallon (6–9-liter) kitchen compost pail, an aerator for mixing at least once a month, a cart or wheelbarrow for harvesting, and a supply of dry material always close at hand.

Related products

Compostys wooden composter | 305 liters

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Compost collector cart 55 liters

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EASY-TURN handle for Maze 245L rotating composter

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Maze 180L Dual-Chamber Rotating Composter

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Other topics in the guide

Vermicomposting30 fact sheets →Bokashi24 fact sheets →EM microorganisms26 fact sheets →