7 best composters

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

A garden composter is a container with openings for air passage into which the user places branches, leaves, grass and residual household waste for rotting and fertilization. Unlike compost pits, the box looks more aesthetically pleasing and much more convenient to use. Due to the greater movement of oxygen between the layers, the process of humus formation proceeds faster. By purchasing a composter, you can get a convenient design with a beautiful view and save on fertilizers, as well as collect a good harvest. Our experts have figured out how to choose a composter for organic processing and which models are in demand among buyers.

How to choose a composter

When deciding which composter is best for use in the garden, several key factors should be considered:

1. Volume. The reservoir capacity varies from 100 to 2500 liters. The larger the tank, the higher the amount of fertilizer the owner will receive. For large gardens up to 30 acres, choose large models for 1500-2000 liters. For a vegetable garden of 5 acres, 350 liters are enough. But in large containers the decay process will take longer. Therefore, if the priority is the speed of obtaining compost, then preference should be given to several smaller boxes, for example, 3×350 liters, than one per 1000 liters. When ergonomics is at the forefront, it is better to buy one box that will take up less space.
2. Dimensions. The composter can be sized from 500x500x500 to 2500x1000x1000 mm. For him, you will have to allocate a place in the yard, which will be convenient to approach. Indicate the possibilities of your backyard area.
3. The presence of the bottom. Models with a bottom can, if necessary, be rearranged if an urgent need to free up the occupied space. Boxes without a bottom can also be moved, but the heap of humus under it will have to be moved manually on a wheelbarrow, after having shoved it with a shovel. This is a lengthy process that can take several hours. But when scattering ready-made compost over the garden, the box without a bottom can be easily set aside, clearing the way for the contents.

Review of the best composters

Now let's look at the best composters that have good characteristics and are liked by customers in reviews. This will help you narrow your search and choose among proven models.

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Review of the best composters	1	Prosperplast IKSM800C-S411 (800 l)	RUB 5,079
	2	Piteco K1130 (300 L)	RUB 3,224
	3	Graf ECO-KING 600L	RUB 4,200
	4	KETER MEGA COMPOSTER 650 L	RUB 5 850
	5	Helex 2×105 l	RUB 8,200
	6	Biolan 550 ECO	RUB 67,000
	7	KHW 340 l	RUB 4,590

Prosperplast IKSM800C-S411 (800 l)

Rating: 4.9

In the first place are goods from the Polish manufacturer Prosperplast. The composter consists of two interconnected containers of 400 liters each, forming a total storage space for 800 liters of humus. Organic matter degrades faster thanks to the large number of through-holes and the grill in the rear wall, which improves air circulation. Each tank has a top cover for filling waste and a bottom hatch for picking up fertilizer. The dimensions of the structure are 1350x720x826 mm. The product is delivered in a disassembled form, therefore it is convenient for transportation, but it will take time to assemble. Closing latches are provided on the covers, thanks to which debris will not be carried around the territory in strong winds.

The advantage of this composter is the tank capacity of 800 liters. This will help prepare fertilizer for a 10 hectare garden. Another feature is the increased strength of the plastic. Customer reviews show that the containers perfectly tolerate the harsh Russian winters and do not crack, so they do not need to be removed to the backrooms at the end of the garden season.

Advantages

• lids can be lifted with one hand;
• many holes for better air penetration;
• durable plastic;
• convenient hatch for emptying compost.

disadvantages

• high price;
• the cover of the two halves is not the most durable;
• without a bottom.

Piteco K1130 (300 L)

Rating: 4.8

And here is a compact composter, which is suitable for a small garden of 3-5 acres. The garden model is made of plastic and is assembled with snaps. This makes it easy to transport goods from the store to the site of use. The assembly takes about 30 minutes. All the walls of the box contain perforations for the accelerated passage of air, so there is no need to mix the contents – the process of compost formation takes place in a static state of organic matter. An empty plastic container weighs 6 kg and has dimensions of 800x600x600 mm. The box has a capacity of 300 liters. For unloading the fertilizer, a lifting hatch is provided at the bottom.

The composter is notable for the presence of vertical through holes in the corner posts. Rebar can be threaded through them and deepened into the ground to increase the stability and strength of the plastic tank. Then many of the operational difficulties reported by users in the reviews are eliminated.

Advantages

• lid with a lock;
• affordable cost;
• easy to assemble;
• does not spoil the view of the garden area.

disadvantages

• without bottom;
• judging by the reviews, it is better not to fill more than 50%, otherwise the walls diverge;
• plastic cracks in the sun, so you need to place it only in the shade;
• weak latches.

Graf ECO-KING 600L

Rating: 4.7

The French manufacturer Graf offers a 600 liter composter made of durable green plastic, which is resistant to low temperatures of -20 … -30 degrees. In winter, you do not need to hide the container or “wrap” it with additional materials. The model has dimensions of 800x800x950 mm and is equipped with a lid. The bottom is missing here. Thanks to the green tint, the box fits seamlessly into the garden exterior and does not attract too much attention. In the reviews, buyers rejoice at the durable plastic 3-4 mm on the walls and the beautiful appearance of the model, but they warn that the color will fade a little in a couple of years, even if the tank is placed in the shade.

We found the composter to be the best in terms of ergonomics. His top cover consists of two halves that open in different directions. Below the hatches for removing fertilizer are also on opposite sides. It is convenient to place the box in the middle of the garden area and to approach it from both sides. This configuration allows for faster filling with organic matter and less manipulation when extracting and distributing humus.

Advantages

• convenient doors for emptying the composter;
• wide loading opening;
• made of frost-resistant plastic;
• the green color fits well into the landscape of the garden plot.

disadvantages

• high price;
• inflates the sides when 70% filled;
• long process of humus formation, since there are fewer openings for air circulation.

KETER MEGA COMPOSTER 650 L

Rating: 4.6

The review continues with a pyramidal composter, which is more stable on the ground, and does not expand its walls when filled more than half. The box holds 650 liters of humus and provides organic processing by blowing air through the holes in the corner posts and around the perimeter of each wall. In the reviews, the product is praised for the functional top cover, which has a lock, hinged spring and travel stop. The mechanism is reliable and durable.

The uniqueness of the composter is that it has four hatches for the fertilizer outlet. This speeds up the emptying process and increases productivity in fertilizer gardening. Another feature of the product lies in the wide looped soft handles on these hatches, which are conveniently put on human hands. Thus, the flaps can be used as scoops to scoop up garden debris and put it directly into a container. Four doors removed from the composter allow two people to work simultaneously on filling the container.

Advantages

• latch cover;
• the top hatch has a tilt-action spring and travel stop;
• stable construction;
• no tools required for assembly;
• the walls are not bursting when filling.

disadvantages

• high price;
• has no basis.

Helex 2×105 l

Rating: 4.6

And here is a more mobile configuration in the Helex composter. The model consists of two drums with a capacity of 105 liters each. A single sliding hatch is used for loading and unloading. The tanks are based on a steel frame with additional bridges, so the structure does not wobble. The closed design allows you to transfer containers to any place if necessary. The dimensions of the two boxes are 950x600x820 mm and the model weighs 11 kg. Users in the reviews are glad that the composter can be installed anywhere in the yard, and it does not have to be soil. Thanks to the metal frame and rubberized feet, the model stands steadily on FEM tiles or asphalt.

The feature of the garden product, for which it is recognized as the best, is that two tanks can rotate on a horizontal axis. This allows the contents to mix for an even better air passage inside. The process is carried out without additional devices in the form of a pitchfork or a shovel. Such functionality of the composter speeds up the processing of organic matter and you get the desired fertilizer faster.

Advantages

• made of durable plastic;
• stands steadily thanks to the metal frame;
• can be placed not only on the ground, but also on asphalt;
• more functional ventilation system.

disadvantages

• high price;
• assembly is more difficult than other composters.

Biolan 550 ECO

Rating: 4.5

The product from the Biolan brand has dimensions of 880x1150x1200 mm and holds 550 liters. It is made of frost-resistant plastic and is designed for year-round use, unlike seasonal competitors' devices. The manufacturer includes a mixer and a compost mixture of 40 liters to speed up the decay process. The user has access to the ventilation regulation function.

We found the composter to be the best in performance. Despite its 550 l capacity, it can replace the huge classic 1800 l recycling tank. This is possible thanks to a thermally insulated sealed housing equipped with an internal oxygen supply system. The owner gets a lot of benefits from a closed, odorless tank, and the contents rotate within 4-5 weeks. To control the process, the composter is equipped with an analog thermometer that shows the temperature inside. When it reaches 40-60 degrees, it means that rotting is in full swing. A drop in the indicator serves as a signal that it is soon time to empty the container.

Advantages

• thoughtful height for the convenience of the user;
• the sealed case will not allow odors to penetrate outside;
• rodents do not have access to waste;
• 5-year manufacturer's warranty.

disadvantages

• very high cost;
• empty weighs 54 kg, which makes transportation difficult.

KHW 340 l

Rating: 4.4

The review of the best composters is completed by a product from the German brand KHW. The tank is designed to process 340 liters of organic waste. Loading is carried out through a single top neck with a hinged lid. It won't get blown away by the wind as it has hinges and a snap. The compost is discharged from four sides of the hatches with sliding doors. The absence of a bottom allows you to quickly spread the contents around the garden when the humus is ready. All sides of the body are perforated to speed up the recycling process. Assembling the container is easy and does not require the use of tools – everything is simple, like in the Lego constructor. Users in the reviews are satisfied with the stable installation due to the pyramidal shape, which will prevent the empty tank from swinging in the wind.

We marked the composter as the best because of the thick plastic. This is immediately evident from the characteristics of the weight of the goods without packaging. If competitors' models with the same capacity weigh 6 kg, then here the net weight reaches 8.1 kg, which indicates more durable walls. When filled more than half, the tank will not become rounded, nor will it crack due to frost -30 ° C.

Advantages

• the lid can be opened with one hand;
• easy assembly with latches;
• multiple perforations to accelerate compost formation;
• four-way content extraction system.

disadvantages

• flimsy lid hinges may break off;
• it is inconvenient to grip the handles of the lower hatches.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.