Composting is a great way to reduce your waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Worm composting, also known as vermicomposting, is a popular method that uses worms to break down food scraps and other organic materials into compost.
Worm bins are essential for vermicomposting. You can make your own, but if you’re looking to buy a worm bin to get started, read on for our recommendations.
We researched these worm bins to identify the best options for effective vermicomposting. In this article, we will discuss the top worm bins for composting and help you choose the right one for your needs.
Check out our favorites here. Or scroll down for in-depth reviews.
- Biggest: Worm Factory 360 Composting System
- Most Innovative (Bag Design): Urban Worm Bag Worm Composting Bin
- Best Odor-Free Design: VermiHut Plus 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin
- In-Ground: Vego Garden In-Ground Worm Composter
If you're looking to start composting with worms, you'll need a good worm bin. Worm bins are designed to provide a cozy home for your composting worms, while also allowing you to easily harvest nutrient-rich worm castings for your garden. With so many options on the market, it can be tough to know where to start.
That's why we've compiled this list of the best worm bins for composting. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned worm wrangler, you're sure to find a bin that suits your needs on this list.
The Worm Factory 360 Composting System is a great option if you have a lot of waste to recycle. With the ability to expand to 7 trays, you'll have ready compost available anytime.
Pros- Compact and expandable up to 7 trays
- Made with durable high-quality plastic
- Comes with thermometer and other accessories
- Odor-free operation
- Some reviewers feel it looks cheaply made
- Others were happy with it, but thought it was overpriced
The Worm Factory 360 is simple to set up and operate, and managing it takes less than 15 minutes a week. The comprehensive instruction guide makes setup easy and gives detailed tips on how to best manage your new Worm Factory 360 year-round.
Adding household waste to the Worm Factory 360 is easy; just open the lid and toss the food in. Fruits, vegetables, grains, paper, egg shells, leaves, coffee grounds, and more can be added.
Three foods to avoid are diary, meat, and citrus items; these can be harmful to the worms and are difficult to compost. Feed your worms about 50% food scraps and 50% fiber and paper. This creates the optimal environment for worms and finished compost.
The Worm Factory 360 is expandable vertically, allowing a high compost capacity while maintaining a very small footprint. When full, each tray weighs 12.5 pounds, making lifting and arranging trays effortless. The system allows you to harvest organic liquid fertilizer
right from the spigot.
In a healthy environment composting worms will maintain their population without over or under populating. It is important to note that worms are living creatures, and cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. Keep the Worm Factory 360 so that the bedding remains
between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or where you would personally feel comfortable.
The innovative design on the Urban Worm Bag Worm Composting Bin makes it completely different from anything else in this list.
Pros- The continuous flow design keeps worms happy and reproducing, and you don't need to disturb them during harvest.
- The Urban Worm Bag can process up to 3-4 lbs of household waste per day, and at max capacity, it can hold up to 8 lbs of composting worms.
- Sturdy iron frame is easy to assemble.
- It takes about 4-6 months to harvest worm castings from the bottom of the bin if you start from scratch.
- The bag can become heavy and difficult to move when it's full.
- Not a good choice for indoors and may not be ideal for apartment balconies or patios.
The Urban Worm Bag Worm Composting Bin is incredibly easy to assemble and use, and it's made of durable 900D oxford fabric that can withstand moisture and wear. The bin features a strong iron frame that keeps it stable and upright, and the detachable top cover allows you to control the moisture level inside the bag.
To start composting, you just need to follow the easy start-up directions and add a bed of moist, carbon-based household waste to the bin. You can use saturated cardboard or newsprint, coco coir, or aged horse manure as a starter material, but for best results, start with existing vermicompost.
The Urban Worm Bag is a great option if you want to recycle organic waste without the hassle of separating worms from trays. With its breathable material and strong iron frame, the Urban Worm Bag can help you produce high-yield organic fertilizer that you can use in your garden or growing operation.
If you're looking for an efficient and odorless way to compost your food waste, the VermiHut Plus 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin is a great choice.
Pros- The smallest footprint for the highest composting efficiency.
- Odorless design. Some reviewers keep it in their kitchens and report no odor problems.
- Moisture control.
- Some parts of the instructions need more detail.
- Worms may escape if not properly contained.
- Not suitable for large-scale composting.
This worm bin is designed to be easy to use. Simply fill a tray with worm bedding, red worms, and food scraps, and let the worms do the rest. As they finish composting, they will migrate upward into the tray above, leaving behind rich castings. With a capacity of 40 liters, this bin is perfect for household food waste management.
One of the unique features of the VermiHut Plus is its odorless design. The compost worms consume the food before it smells, and the improved lid design with a component named "V-Board" and a piece of coconut mat make it possible to remove the already minimal odor. Other brand names in the worm compost market don't have this design.
The improved lid design also makes it possible for moisture control. The V-board holds the moisture, keeps the environment moist, and provides the worms a comfortable environment. The bin also includes a component named "worm-saving tray" that prevents worms and compost debris from dropping to the liquid tray and increases the system airflow for better compost efficiency. A set of base "shoes" is included to prevent others from invading the bin. The liquid collection tray and the base are in one piece to eliminate assembling.
How about a bin you bury in the garden? That's the Vego Garden In-Ground Worm Composter.
Pros- The in-bed design makes it more convenient than ever.
- It only takes 2-3 months to get soil amendment.
- The Vego Garden Worm Composter makes sustainable and efficient gardening a breeze.
- The worms will need you to stir what you add with some dirt and add “grit”.
- The holes are big enough that worms may leave the bin and spread into the garden.
- It's smelly when taking off the lid.
- Not racoon proof (then again, what is?).
- Obviously not suitable for people who have a container garden and nowhere to bury it.
This in-ground worm composter allows worms to break down organic waste into nitrogen-rich compost you can then harvest for your garden, hassle-free. The Vego Garden Worm Composter makes composting easier and raises that conversion rate. It's made with durable, BPA-free Polypropylene Plastic (PP), specifically meant for outdoor use.
The Vego Garden Worm Composter makes sustainable and efficient gardening a breeze by turning your organic waste into rich, nutrient-dense garden bed material. Simply dig a hole in the ground of your Vego Garden, bury the Worm Composting Bin, fill with organic waste and worms, and let nature do the work. It's that simple!
If you're looking for an easy and efficient way to compost, the Vego Garden In-Ground Worm Composter is a great option for you. It's simple to use and is a great way to turn your organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
Choosing Your Worm Bin
When you’re looking at worm bins for composting, take a look at these features to make sure you get the best product for your needs.
Size
Consider the size of the worm bin in relation to the amount of food waste you generate. A larger bin will accommodate more waste and produce more compost, but it may also require more space and maintenance.
On the other hand, a smaller bin will be easier to manage and take up less space, but it may not produce enough compost for your needs. But if you only have a small amount of food, yard and paper waste, smaller may be best for you.
Material
Worm bins can be made of various materials, including plastic, wood, and metal. Plastic bins are lightweight and easy to clean, but they may not be as durable as other materials.
Wooden bins are more aesthetically pleasing but can be more challenging to clean and maintain. Metal bins are durable but may be more expensive.
Ventilation
Good ventilation is essential for healthy composting. Look for a worm bin that has adequate ventilation to prevent odor buildup and circulate enough oxygen for the worms to thrive.
Drainage
A worm bin should have a drainage system to prevent excess moisture from building up. Look for a bin with a drainage spigot or holes at the bottom to allow for easy drainage.
Ease of Use
How easy is the worm bin to use and maintain? Look for a bin with a lid that is easy to remove and replace, and one that is easy to clean and access for harvesting compost.
Price
Worm bins can vary in price, so consider your budget when selecting a bin. Keep in mind that a higher-priced bin may have more features and be more durable, but a lower-priced bin may be more budget-friendly and still meet your composting needs.