DIY Compost Bin Ideas

The life cycle of a garden is opened and closed with compost. Compost is used to grow seeds into food, then the excess plant products are composted to restart the process. Building your own compost bin is a great way to increase the sustainability of your garden and save money each season. We put together a few DIY compost bin ideas to help you get started.

Building a DIY compost bin can be as simple or as fancy as you want to make it. The ideas included in this post focus on simple & affordable options, however.

Compost materials can be left in an open pile outside, but if you would like to keep it contained to reduce waste and keep critters out, consider making one of these DIY compost bins.

1. Pallet Compost Bin

You can easily construct a large compost bin out of wooden pallets. The simplest way to do this is to use screws and metal brackets to connect 4 pallets, making sure to leave one side open as a door.

The pallet compost bin can be used just like this or you can add some additional options like a chicken wire liner or a lid to keep critters out.

Benefits of a Pallet Compost Bin:

Affordable
Good Airflow
Simple Construction
Sustainable / Repurposes Recycled Items

Pallet Compost Bin Tutorial

2. Trash Can Compost Bin

Turn a large plastic trash can into a portable composting bin! Drill ventilation holes around the sides, bottom, and lid of the trash can, then begin adding your kitchen scraps and yard waste. The contents can be turned by rolling the trash can every now and then.

Benefits of a Trash Can Compost Bin:

Affordable
Portable
Fits in small spaces

Trash can Compost Bin Tutorial

3. DIY Compost Tumbler

A compost tumbler accelerates the decomposition time and makes turning compost materials a breeze! Use a large food grade barrel or drum with a lid. Drill aeration holes around the barrel. Create a frame to hold the barrel up and add a handle to rotate the compost.

Benefits of a DIY Compost Tumbler:

Accelerated Composting
Less labor intensive to turn materials

Compost Tumbler Tutorial

4. Bucket Compost Bin

A 5-gallon bucket is a great DIY compost bin option for small spaces, like apartments, that can’t accommodate a larger bin.

To make a bucket compost bin, drill holes in the bottom, sides, and lid. Then add some sticks to the bottom of the bucket to assist in drainage. Start adding your kitchen scraps and add the lid. Roll the bucket regularly to turn the compost materials.

Benefits of a Bucket Compost Bin:

Affordable
Portable
Compact for small spaces & small-scale gardening
Easy to turn

Bucket Compost Bin Tutorial

5. Storage Tote Compost Bin

Plastic storage containers make great small-scale portable compost bins. Drill holes in the bottom and sides of a storage bin, add sticks for drainage, and start adding your scraps. Put the lid on the bin and stir the contents regularly.

Benefits of a Storage Tote Compost Bin:

Affordable
Portable
Compact for small spaces & small-scale gardening

Storage Tote Compost Bin Tutorial

6. Straw Bale Compost Bin

You can make a temporary biodegradable compost bin inside straw bales. Arrange straw bales in a square or rectangle. The bales will serve as the walls of the compost bin. Add compost materials inside the opening. The bales will eventually become a part of the compost as well.

Benefits of a Straw Bale Compost Bin:

Biodegradable
No-Waste
Straw can double as garden mulch

Straw Bale Compost Bin Tutorial

7. Wire Mesh Compost Bin

Use a roll of hardware cloth to make an open-air compost bin. Cut the wire to the size you want and then form it into a circle. Connect the ends with zip-ties or wire. Add compost materials to the bin and leave it to decompose. It is a good idea to stake the wire down so it doesn’t fall over before it is filled.

Benefits of a Wire Compost Bin:

Easy set up
Good airflow
Compost layers are visible

Wire Compost Bin Tutorial

Composting Tips & Resources | Make the Most of Your DIY Compost Bin

Compost Tips

Maintain an appropriate C:N ratio: The recommended ratio is 30:1. This doesn’t have to be exact, but you want to have more Carbon (brown materials) than Nitrogen (green materials) so just add some extra browns when you toss your kitchen scraps in the bin.
Green & Brown Materials: Green materials are high in nitrogen and brown materials are high in carbon. Examples of green materials include: grass clippings, food waste (fruit & vegetable scraps), and animal manure. Examples of brown materials include: dry leaves, woodchips, cardboard, and straw.
Avoid composting meat & dairy: Meat and dairy can be composted, but these items will cause a smell that could be unpleasant for you or your neighbors and it can attract more pests. If your bin is far from your home and has a lid to keep critters out, then you may be alright to toss meat & dairy items in.
Turn Occassionally: Turning the compost will aerate the pile which accelerates the decomposition process.
Keep an eye on moisture levels: You want your compost pile to be damp, but if it is soaked or soggy, it should be turned and dried out some.

DIY Compost Bin Ideas