The 10 Best Diaper Pails for Banishing Odors

There are plenty of diaper pails on the market, but the Ubbi Diaper Pail seems to be a universal favorite. It’s won nearly a dozen awards and has high ratings across the board. Available in several colors, it’s ready to use right out of the box. The powder-coated steel and rubber seals help it lock in odors. And it’s childproof so little hands can’t open it. Reviewers love how easy it is to use, and some even use it for kitchen trash after their little ones are potty-trained.

If you’re looking for a diaper pail that’s affordable but still gets the job done, consider the Dekor Classic Hands-Free Diaper Pail. Available in three sizes, parents love that it works well with both disposable and cloth diapers. They also enjoy how well the trap door works without too much effort and how it latches closed to keep little walkers from getting inside.

The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail is powered by Arm and Hammer, a company that knows a thing or two about odor control. Perhaps that’s one reason why parents say it’s the best at keeping the scent of stinky diapers at bay. This award-winning diaper pail seals and twists every time you close it so that you won’t smell the old diapers the next time you dispose of one. As a bonus, every time Munchkin sells one, the company plants a tree.

The Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail is pretty basic, and the price reflects that. But as most parents say, “It gets the job done.” This diaper pail proves you don’t always need bells and whistles. As a matter of fact, you can use almost any type of garbage bag with it, and it does what it’s supposed to. This is great for people who don’t always want to pay for the expensive refills that come with other pails.

For some parents, a boring white plastic or metal diaper pail sitting in the nursery isn’t great for the overall aesthetic. If you’re all about appearances, consider the Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Diaper Pail. Not only is it sleek and available in several colors, but it has a built-in carbon filter to help stop odors naturally. Parents say it masks odor well, and many like that it opens to the front rather than from the top like most diaper pails.

Most diaper pails are made with disposable diapers in mind. The Busch Systems Odorless Cloth Diaper Pail, however, is designed for cloth diapers, as the name suggests. Made from recycled materials, it holds up to seven gallons of dirty diapers. Parents with a passion for the environment love it, and many say it holds more diapers than you think it will.

The Diaper Dekor Plus holds 60 or more diapers at a time — more than most diaper pails on the market. This makes it a great option for parents of multiple children or those who just don’t like to change their pails too often. It costs a little more than the Dekor Classic, but it’s just as beloved. Reviewers love that it’s hands-free and large enough to handle cloth diapers and even pet waste for those who opt to use it for their dogs and cats.

The Diaper Champ Odor-Proof Nappy Bin is a British product, but American parents are falling in love with it, too. While it costs more than most pails initially, it’s much cheaper to maintain because you don’t have to buy special bags or cartridges for it. Parents love that it’s easy to operate with one hand, and its three seals are great for keeping odors locked into the pail.

The Tommee Tippee Simplee Sangenic Nappy Disposal Kit is small. It only holds about 18 diapers, but it’s a handy tool to keep next to your changing table. It features a multi-layer film containing an antibacterial ingredient that kills up to 99.9 percent of all germs. Given how dirty a job diaper changing is, users love that it goes the extra mile in keeping the nursery sanitary and odor-free.

Most diaper pails are designed with babies under a year old in mind. The AKORD Slim Adult Diaper Disposal System is perfect for older children and adults who wear disposable diapers and underwear. Reviewers say it’s easy to use and hides odors well. It’s also versatile enough that you can use some regular garbage bags with it. Reviewers also enjoy that it doesn’t take up as much space as a regular garbage can.