The Best Slim Trash Can for Galley Kitchens and Narrow Gaps

Galley kitchens have one universal problem: there's nowhere to put the trash can. The standard kitchen trash can is 13 to 14 inches wide, which is roughly the entire gap between your cabinets and your fridge or the distance between your dishwasher and your wall. Put a standard can there and you've blocked the walkway. Put it in a cabinet and you've lost half your storage.

The fix is a slim trash can, which is the category of step-cans purpose-built to fit narrow gaps. The best slim cans are under 10 inches wide, hold 10 to 13 gallons, and have a step-pedal mechanism that opens the lid without taking your hand off whatever you're scraping off a cutting board. Here are the picks by use case, budget, and finish preference.

Best Overall: Simplehuman Slim Step Can 45L

The best slim trash can overall is the Simplehuman 45L (about 12 gallons). It's 9.5 inches deep, holds more than standard slim cans, and has the smoothest-operating step pedal in this category. At $130 to $150 it's not cheap, but it's the one that actually lasts.

Simplehuman is the Apple of trash cans. Yes, you're paying a premium for the name. Yes, it's worth it if you use a trash can 20 times a day, which you do. The step pedal is shock-absorbed so the lid doesn't slam. The liner locker mechanism keeps bags from slipping down. The stainless finish is fingerprint-resistant (real this time, not "coated fingerprint-resistant" that scratches off).

The 10-year warranty is the tell here. Cheap cans break in 18 months and you replace them. This one you'll keep. I've had mine four years and the lid still closes as smoothly as the day I bought it.

Best Budget: Rubbermaid Slim Jim Step-On

The best budget slim trash can is the Rubbermaid Slim Jim Step-On at around $45. It's 8 inches deep, holds 13 gallons (more than the Simplehuman), and the step mechanism is reliable even though it's not as smooth.

If you can't justify Simplehuman money, this is the can to buy. It's not as attractive and the pedal has a noticeable "clack" when it opens and closes. But it works, it's slim, and it holds more. The black finish hides scuffs and fingerprints better than any of the stainless versions at this price.

The vented channels on this one are a real feature: they let air escape when you remove a full bag, so you don't get the suction-vacuum effect that tears bags in narrow cans. For heavy trash (produce scraps, especially), this matters.

Best for Under-Sink Cabinets

If you're hiding your trash can inside a cabinet, you want a lower-profile can without a step pedal. The pedal gets in the way when the cabinet door closes, and you don't need hands-free opening when the can is behind a door.

This is the exact can I use under my kitchen sink. It's small (2.6 gallons), so you empty it more often, but the benefit is you can't let trash build up and smell. The integrated handle makes it easy to pull out when you want to empty it. At $22, it's cheap enough to buy two and rotate them while one is in the wash.

Most Underrated: The Retro Enamel Slim Can

For kitchens that lean vintage or eclectic, the retro enamel slim can looks like a $200 British import but costs under $60. It's a real step can with a slim footprint and a surprisingly solid build.

The sage green is the one that people stop and comment on. It reads as designer, but it's not. The capacity (7 gallons) is smaller than the slim step pick, so this is a better choice for one- or two-person households than for a family of five.

Best for Recycling: Dual-Compartment Slim Can

If you're trying to fit both trash and recycling in a galley, the dual-compartment slim step can is the only real answer. It's slightly wider than single-bin slim cans (about 15 inches) but still fits most galleys.

The motion sensor is the feature worth paying for here. With two compartments, a step-pedal system gets complicated (you have to pick which side you're stepping on). Motion-sensor opening bypasses that problem entirely. Batteries last six to eight months with daily use.

Best for Pet Households: Locking-Lid Slim Can

If you have a dog or an extremely ambitious cat, the step pedal can't be the only thing keeping them out of the trash. A locking-lid slim can has a mechanical latch that holds the lid down when you're not using it.

This is the only way to keep a determined 60-pound dog out of chicken bones. The lock is magnetic, so you disengage it by stepping on the pedal (normal operation) but the lid stays down when nothing is pressing the pedal. It's the upgrade that's worth the extra $15 over the base Simplehuman if you have pets.

Quick Tips for Picking a Slim Can for Your Galley

• Measure your gap before buying. The number you want is the narrowest point (including any molding or baseboard), not the widest.
• Height matters as much as depth in small kitchens. If your slim can is taller than your counter (36 in.), it visually chops up the sight line.
• Pedal cans need clearance to open the lid. Add 3 to 4 inches above the can's height for the lid swing.
• Stainless finishes show water spots near sinks. Black or enamel finishes hide them better in splash zones.
• Buy custom-fit liners (13-gallon rectangular, not standard) for slim cans. Standard round liners bunch up inside rectangular slim cans and tear constantly.

Slim trash cans are the fix for the "there's nowhere to put this" problem every galley kitchen has. Pick the Simplehuman if you use the kitchen every day and want it to feel polished. Pick the Rubbermaid if you just need the problem solved. Pick the retro enamel if you care how it looks more than how it performs. Any of these beats the alternative, which is a standard trash can blocking your walkway.