simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket vs simplehuman 45L Semi-Round Sensor Can

The rectangular step can is the most reliable everyday choice: nothing to power, a pedal built to last, and the tidiest liner system we looked at. If you specifically want hands-free opening, the semi-round sensor can delivers it with a sensor that behaves.

simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket

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The step can that gets the boring details right, from the liner pocket to a pedal built to outlast your kitchen.

• Built-in liner pocket stores a spare roll of custom-fit liners and dispenses them one at a time, so bag changes take seconds
• Liner-rim system tucks the bag out of sight and stops it slipping down into the can
• Steel pedal is rated for around 150,000 presses and the damped lid closes slowly and quietly instead of clanging
• Fingerprint- and dent-resistant finish genuinely stays clean with an occasional wipe

• The custom-fit liners cost more than generic bags, and the can is sized around them
• Rectangular footprint is space-efficient but the can is tall, which can be awkward under some counters

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simplehuman 45L Semi-Round Sensor Can

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A touchless can whose motion sensor is tuned well enough that it opens when you want and ignores the dog.

• Adaptive motion sensor opens on a deliberate hand wave and, in owner reports, rarely false-triggers from passing pets or foot traffic
• Semi-round shape sits flat against a wall to save floor space
• Keeps the same liner pocket and liner-rim system as the step models for tidy, quick bag changes
• Lid opening and closing is slow and quiet rather than snappy

• Needs power: you'll recharge the internal battery pack periodically or feed it disposable batteries
• Premium price for what is still, mechanically, a lid on a motor

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Side by side

The bottom line

Our overall pick is the simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket - The step can that gets the boring details right, from the liner pocket to a pedal built to outlast your kitchen. Choose the simplehuman 45L Semi-Round Sensor Can instead if cooks who want hands-free opening while handling raw meat or messy prep and value a reliable, non-twitchy sensor.

Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Kitchen Trash Cans: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).