If you’re looking for the best worm composter to start your own worm farm then you’re in the right place. Worm composting uses worms to break down organic matter, such as kitchen and garden waste, into usable compost for the garden (aka worm castings). To maximize the benefits of vermicomposting, it helps to know the ins and outs of the various worm composter designs available.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 9 best worm composters available and see exactly where they stand in terms of cost, design, and productivity. This way you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Let’s dive right in!
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Quick List: Best Worm Composting Bin
| JUMP TO REVIEW | |
|---|---|
| BEST FOR CONSTANT SUPPLY | Hungry Bin Worm Farm |
| BEST STACKABLE DESIGN | Worm Factory 360 Worm Composting |
| BEST FOR SMALL SPACES | Maze Worm Farm Composter |
| BEST ODOURLESS, IN-GROUND SYSTEM | Subpod Worm Farm Composting System |
| MOST MODERN DESIGN | Eartheasy Worm Composter |
| BEST ANT CONTROL | Vermihut Plus Worm Composting Bin |
| AWARD WINNING DESIGN | Urbalive Worm Farm Composting Bin |
| BEST FOR BEGINNERS | Urban Worm Bag |
| BEST MONEY SAVER | Essential Living Composter |
Review of the 9 Best Worm Composters
| IMAGE | CUSTOMER RATING | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT (empty) | EXPANDABLE? | MAX WORM POPULATION | WEEKLY WASTE CAPACITY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Bin Worm Farm |  | 4.5 | 24”x24”x35” | 29lbs | No | 6-8 Lbs | 10-12 Lbs |
| Worm Factory 360 |  | 4.5 | “18×18”x16” | 11lbs | Yes | 12-14 Lbs | 18-20 Lbs |
| Maze Worm Farm |  | 4.1 | 15”x15”x11” | 6lbs | Yes | 4.5 Lbs | 7 Lbs |
| Subpod |  | n/a | 29.5”x17.7”x16.9” | 44 Lbs | No | 6-8 Lbs | 10-12 Lbs |
| Eartheasy |  | n/a | 15″x 20″x27″ | Yes | 4 Lbs | 5 Lbs | |
| Vermihut Plus |  | 4.3 | 17”x17”x33” | 13 Lbs | Yes | 12-14 Lbs | 20-22 Lbs |
| Urbalive Worm Farm |  | 4.5 | 20”x15”x24” | 11 Lbs | Yes | 6.5 Lbs | 10 Lbs |
| Urban Worm Bag |  | 4.5 | 27”x27”x32” | 7 Lbs | No | 7.5 Lbs | 12 Lbs |
| Essential Living Composter |  | 4.5 | 15”x15”x22” | 9.73 Lbs | Yes |
1. Best for Constant Supply: Hungry Bin Worm Farm
Are you looking for a regular supply of worm castings without the effort of hand harvesting? The hungry bin worm farm is one of the most popular worm farms on the market!
Simply add food scraps to the top and wait to collect the worm castings at the bottom – no hand harvesting required and you’ll have a continuous flow of compost.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good size for an average to large household | It can take longer for scraps to reach the bottom than other worm composting systems |
| Easy to assemble | Needs a regular supply of food waste |
| Best for both indoors and outdoors | To be kept indoors during the winter if you experience extreme temperatures |
| Provides a continuous flow of compost | |
| The tray worm compost system means no hand harvesting required! |
Customer feedback for Hungry Bin Worm Farm:
- “Easy to use,”
- “Easy to clean.”
- “The worms love it.”
- “The compost accumulates into one big heap.”
Recommended for:
Gardeners who want a continuous supply of compost without the hassle of hand harvesting worm castings.
2. Best Stackable Design: Worm Factory 360 Worm Composting
Do you have a large garden or farm and need a lot of compost? The Worm Factory 360 is a great option, having received fantastic worm composter reviews on Amazon.
This large-capacity composter handles large quantities of food waste. The composting bin has a ‘smart-tire’ design with multiple trays stuck to each other.
The bin allows food waste and bedding to be added to the top trays. The worms and compost then escape through the lower trays.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | Top end price-wise |
| Easy to assemble & easy to use | |
| Expandable | |
| Handles large quantities of waste | |
| Spigot allows drainage of excess moisture which is high in nutrients & can diluted & used to water the garden |
Customer Feedback for Worm Factory 360:
- “Very convenient.”
- “Handles my large garden waste well.”
- “Fast at producing heat.”
Recommended for:
Gardeners looking for an expandable composter that can handle a large amount of waste.
3. Best for Small Spaces: Maze Worm Farm Composter
The Maze Worm Farm is perfect if you’re looking for an indoor worm composter for a small space.
It has two rotatable shelves, which allow you to add waste to one then rotate once full. The lower tray collects the worm castings making harvesting a dream!
A great idea is to steep some worm castings to make worm tea. This concentrated fertilizer is liquid gold for all plants.
Lightweight and easy to move, a balcony or laundry space is all you need to start your composting project with this bin.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Clever lightweight design looks great and is small and discreet | Small size means it can’t handle large quantities of household waste |
| Efficient with no hand harvesting required | |
| No smell | |
| Great for small spaces | |
Customer Feedback for Maze Worm Composter:
- “Good quality product.”
- “Perfect size for my space.”
Recommended for:
Beginners looking for an efficient worm composter that is lightweight and can fit into a small space.
4. Best Odorless: Subpod In-ground Compost Bin & Worm Farm
Subpod is a revolutionary design that combines both vermicomposting and traditional composting in one! The Subpod is dug into the garden so that composting worms live like they would in nature – underground away from harsh weather conditions and sunlight.
The cleverly designed ventilation panels at the top of the bin provide continuous fresh air circulation to prevent odors and help aerobic microbes speed up the composting process. Because soil is an insulator, it keeps your worms warm in the winter and cool in summer, enabling worms to be actively composting all year round.
If you have the space in your garden, the Subpod is a fantastic all round composting and worm farm option. Available in mini and dual chamber options (for larger gardens). They have also created a nifty apartment living option which incorporates a mini Subpod and standing planter box on wheels.
Nutrients from the Subpod will automatically flow into the soil around the system, or worm casting can also be harvested by hand.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Odorless | Not easily moved or expandable |
| Little maintenance required as worms can flow into the garden for more food if necessary | Higher initial cost |
| Nutrients and high quality compost filters automatically into the garden soil | Can only be used outdoors |
| Great for both small and large gardens | |
| Subpod offers great customer support | |
| Discreet design that can be used as a garden seat |
Customer Feedback for Subpod In-ground Worm Composter:
- “High-quality product.”
- “Love the way it works!”
Recommended for:
Home gardeners looking for a unique, high-quality, automated composting system.
5. Most Modern Design: Eartheasy Worm Composter
This stylish worm composter is designed to look like another piece of furniture! Designed to be shown off indoors, but this worm composter can also be used outside in a shed, garage, patio or balcony.
This worm composter is great for an average family as it consumes around 5 pounds of waste per week.
Compactable and expandable, it also has a spigot to drain the excess water at the bottom, preventing moisture build up and making it easy to collect the leachate.
Really easy to assemble and set up. Take a look at my short instagram reel where I set up my Eartheasy Worm Composter.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Odorless operation | Recommend leaving the spigot open and a container underneath for drainage & airflow. Can be unsightly indoors if customers choose to do this. |
| Hand rake and moisture meter included | On the more expensive end |
| Built in spigot | |
| 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty | |
| Excellent Customer Service | |
Customer Feedback for Eartheasy Worm Composter:
- “Nothing like it on the market in terms of how attractive it is.”
- “The cutest little compost box.”
- “I love my worm bin from Eartheasy! It’s well designed and the instruction manual comes with tips and best practices. Plus I love the green color. Exactly as advertised, definitely recommend!”
- “Great customer service and fast shipping!”
- “Excellent & I mean 5*+ Excellent Cust Srv!”
Recommended for:
Home gardeners who are wanting a modern worm composter that looks like a piece of furniture in their home!
6. Best for Ant Control: Vermihut Plus Worm Composting Bin
If ants are a problem in your home then the VermiHut Plus worm bin is the worm composter for you. Ants can be a great threat to your worms. You don’t want your lovely worms being eaten!
These five stackable bins have an improved design that comes with unique shoes. You can then fill these shoes with water. The shoes prevent house ants and other pests from entering the bin and killing the worms.
It also has a spigot to drain the excess water at the bottom.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Easy to add food to | Not suitable for moist waste |
| High-quality compost | Foul odour, if not well maintained |
| Pest control | Some say insufficient air circulation |
Customer Feedback for Vermihut Plus Worm Composting Bin:
- “It has a convenient spigot to drain the excess worm water.”
- “Easy to maintain.”
- “High-quality product.”
- “It’s a must-have for any home worm composter.”
- “Best ant control.”
Recommend for:
Home gardeners who need bins that can handle a lot of waste and compost while keeping pests at bay.
7. Award Winning Design: Urbalive Worm Farm Composting Bin
The Urbalive is a great option if you want a stylish composting bin that will look good in your home. In fact, the Urbalive won the acclaimed Reddot Design Award for exactly that!
It has an elegant look and comes in different colours. Perfect bin for any space, including a balcony if you were gardening in an apartment.
Urbalive has three stackable containers that hold 240 litres of food scraps and bedding. Each bin is made of non-porous PVC plastic, meaning that worms cannot escape. There is also a special spigot at the bottom, which allows excess water to flow out.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Stylish | Difficult to move around when loaded |
| Ideal for small spaces | Smelly |
| High-quality compost creation | |
| Easy to assembly and disassemble | |
Customer Feedback Urbalive Worm Farm Composting Bin:
- “Great for composting worms.”
- “Add an elegant look to your home.”
- “Good quality product.”
- “Love the way it works!”
Recommended for:
Gardeners looking for a worm composting bin that is efficient and looks sleek and elegant!
8. Best for Beginners: Urban Worm Bag
As a beginner, an Urban Worm Bag may be the best composter. It has an easy-to-use design that anyone can assemble and disassemble. The bin comes with a unique stand system that locks it into place. It also has a zip-attached top that allows easy access.
The unique design enables worms to be fed from the top and harvested via a removable zipper bag at the bottom.
This nice straight-forward composter is a great option for beginners.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Easy to assemble | Can leak if excess water is allowed to build up |
| Cheap price | Not ideal for loading up large amounts of compost |
| Portable | |
| Strong iron frame | |
Customer Feedback for Urban Worm Bag
- “Great for beginners.”
- “Very easy to use”
Recommended for:
Gardening novices looking for a worm composter that is easy to assemble and fits in a small space.
9. Best Money Saver: Essential Living Composter
This Essential Living worm composter is a great cost-effective composter to get started with.
The bin is easy to assemble and made from recycled material. This composter requires a small amount of space but can still build up to 5 pounds of compost per week. It has a moisture retention channel around its edges, so you don’t need to worry about adding water at any time.
Budget constraints shouldn’t prevent you from starting your worm farming project. You can pick up the Essential Living worm composter for a very affordable price on Amazon.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Cheap price | Small size |
| Easy to assemble | Not suitable outdoors for those living in freezing and rainy regions |
| Made from recycled materials | |
| Good for indoor use | |
| 4 colour options available |
Customer Feedback for Essential Living Composter
- “Worms love it.”
- “It requires very little attention and saved me a lot of money!”
- “It is easy to clean and perfect for small spaces.”
Recommended for:
The budget-conscious or beginner worm farmer.
How Do You Choose a Worm Bin?
If you are feeling unsure of which is the best worm composter for you, let’s look at what factors you should consider when buying a worm composter bin.
Making an informed decision now will mean you’re more likely to stick with it, and potentially save you money and hours of frustration down the track.
1. Determine Your Budget
Worm bins come in a range of prices, from as little as $10 for a DIY worm bin to over $150 for the more expensive. So it’s possible to begin worm farming no matter your budget.
More expensive bins are typically made from higher quality materials, bigger in size, and more efficient. The cheaper ones are usually smaller, but still a great place to start if you’re a worm farm beginner and just wanting to give it a try.
I recommend purchasing the best worm farm you can afford.
2. Choose the Location
The space you have available for your worm bin will determine what type of bin you buy. Many models are small enough if you want to keep the worm bin inside your house. However, if you want your worm bin outdoors, then the space and weather conditions will influence the size and type of bin you choose.
A garage, carport or lean-to is a great place to keep an indoor worm composter to protect it from the elements. Most worm bins on the market are designed for both indoor and outdoor use, but it’s important to check this if you have a specific location in mind.
If in the end you realize you simply don’t have the space for a worm farm, why not consider Bokashi Composting?
3. Consider the Size of Your Household & Number of Worms
One of the main factors to consider when choosing a bin is the size of your household and the amount of kitchen waste produced. A family of four on average produces around 5-7lbs of kitchen waste per week.
As a rough guide, 2lbs of worms can process approximately 1lb of food waste.
Being aware of this will give you an idea of what size worm farm you require and how many composting worms you’ll need. If anything, start with less worms than you expect you might need as worms reproduce quickly.
4. Calculate the Amount of Bedding Material Needed
Worm bins typically come with instructions on how much bedding material to use.
You’ll need about one cubic foot (144lbs.) of bedding material per cubic foot of worm bin volume, plus some extra for good measure.
Where possible, use recycled materials that you might have on hand such as shredded newspaper, sawdust, or straw.
5. Consider Your Gardening Style
If you have a large garden, opt for a commercial worm composter that allows the constant addition of food scraps all year round.
On the other hand, don’t buy a commercial worm farm if you’re only going to use the bin once a year. Opt for smaller bins if your project is short-term.
6. Know the Warranty and Quality of Your Bin
The best worm compost bins come with a warranty, usually one year. Most companies will work with you to resolve any problems that may arise with your bins.
Check to see if there are any manufacturer recalls before purchasing one.
Sites like eBay and Amazon are good places to find warranted discounted worm bins. As always, check the reviews and see what other people have to say.
7. Check the Odor Containment
Although they are the best composting worms, red wigglers can also be one of the smelliest! Important to keep in mind when considering the type of bin you choose as well as the location.
In saying this, a healthy worm farm should not smell. Almost all worm composting bins come with a lid to prevent odors. Other bins come with a carbon filter, which work by absorbing odors.
Like your home, ensure adequate ventilation for your composter to reduce odor. You can add fresh air through a vent and change the bedding material to prevent odors from building up.
8. Easy to Move
Some worm farms are more moveable than others. An important consideration if you’re looking for a worm farm that gives you the option to move it regularly (for instance if you experience cold winters and want to be able to move your worms indoors).
Some worm composters have wheels or casters to make them easier to move around. You can also try a stackable unit that can easily be separated.
9. Adaptability
You may need more composting bins later if you become a vermicomposter enthusiast like me! Or if you expect your household size to increase in the future, then having the option to expand your worm farm is a great idea.
Expandable worm farms allow you to do just that, add more sections as needed. You can choose to buy the expansion in your initial purchase or some worm farms allow you to buy expansions down the track as required.
10. Ease of Use & Assembly
A worm composting bin isn’t complicated and should be easy to work with. After the initial worm bin setup and bedding, there is not much more to it other than regular feeding.
If the worm farm is too complicated and complex to use, you’ll end up frustrated and only use it a few times. And if you’re not a handy person, ensure you pick a worm composter that is easy to assemble.
FAQS on the Best Worm Composter
Do I need to buy composting worms for my compost?
Yes. Composting worms are different from your typical garden worms. Unfortunately you can’t go digging in the garden for worms to add to your worm bin. For information on the best composting worms, have a read of my post Discover the Best Worms for Composting + Find Out Where to Buy.
Where is the best place to find red wigglers for your worm compost bins?
Red wigglers are the most popular worm farming worm worldwide so they are easy to find. You can try your local garden centre or jump online to Brothers Worms on Amazon.
How can I compost indoors without worms?
A great indoor alternative to worm farming is Bokashi composting. Instead of breaking down food like worm farming and traditional composting, Bokashi composting essentially ‘pickles’ kitchen waste and can provide compost for your garden in as little as 4 weeks!
For more information on how Bokashi composting works, have a read of my Bokashi vs Composting article on this site.
Wrapping Up the Best Worm Composter Review
By now, you will have a good idea of the best worm composter bins to suit your needs. Each of the different worm bins I have reviewed have slightly different features but the concept of worm farming remains the same. So you really can’t go wrong with whichever one you choose. Happy vermicomposting!
About the Author
Elle Reed is a passionate gardener and advocate for teaching beginner gardeners how to grow their own food. Elle’s mission is to inspire and empower people to get back to basics, grow their own produce, and embrace a sustainable lifestyle. “Whether it’s a few herb pots in an apartment, a potager or a full garden plot, we can all ‘start somewhere’ to grow our own food, and in doing so, provide healthier food for ourselves and those we love”.
