What size composter for my household? Recommended volume and useful accessories

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200, 400, 600 litres or more: when buying a composter, the question of volume always comes up. Too small, and it overflows by the first spring; too big, and it takes up space for nothing and fills so slowly that it struggles to get going.

The good news is that a few simple guidelines are all you need to choose. In this guide, we help you estimate what your household produces, choose the right volume for your garden, and then equip yourself with the few accessories that make composting truly practical day to day.

How much organic waste does a household produce?

It is estimated that each person produces around 70 kg a year of kitchen and household waste that could be composted. Once broken down, this gives roughly 8 kg of compost. The difference is no surprise: most of this waste is water, and a large part of the matter is consumed by micro-organisms. Composting also reduces the volume of organic waste by about two thirds.

Unfortunately, not all of these 70 kg end up in the compost. According to an analysis of bin contents carried out in 2017, around 100 kg of waste per person per year that could have been composted or collected as organic waste was still ending up in the general waste bin. So there is plenty of room for improvement.

Garden or no garden: what difference it makes

A garden changes everything. Green waste (grass clippings, leaves, prunings) often accounts for far more volume than the kitchen: to give an idea of scale, there are around 160 kg of green waste per French person per year. And this waste arrives in waves: a spring mowing can fill a bin in one go, as can dead leaves in autumn.

Before buying a giant composter, remember that some of this waste can be put to good use in other ways: leaving grass clippings on the lawn, mulching beds with leaves or shredded material. We explain these solutions in detail in our guide on garden green waste. Whatever is left goes into the composter, and that is what you should size it on.

What volume for which household?

There is no official standard, but the commonly suggested guidelines are fairly similar. For example, a 200-litre composter is considered enough for the kitchen waste alone of a four-person household, a 400-litre bin suits kitchen and garden waste when the garden is under 400 m², and beyond that, a 600-litre bin or two 400-litre bins are a better choice. Other similar guidelines put this threshold at 500 m² of garden.

Based on these guidelines, here is our advice:

• Kitchen waste only, 1 to 4 people: 150 to 300 litres. A rotating composter such as our Maze 180L dual-chamber rotating composter works well on a patio or in a courtyard, and the 245-litre model suits a larger household.
• Kitchen and small garden (under 400 to 500 m²): around 300 to 400 litres, for example a wooden bin such as our Compostys wooden composter.
• Kitchen and large garden: 600 litres or more, preferably split between two bins, one for fresh additions and the other for maturing.
• Very large garden, vegetable plot, orchard: a two- or three-bin system, supplemented if needed by a heap for leaves and prunings.

To set an upper limit, a 1 to 1.5 m³ composter can process 1 to 2 tonnes of waste a year, and above 1,000 litres it is better to install two bins. The differences between these systems are explained in our guides Compost heap or compost bin and Rotating composter.

Key points

Kitchen only: a small bin or a rotating composter is enough. With a garden, allow 300 to 400 litres for a small plot, and move to two bins as soon as the garden gets bigger. Two medium bins are better than one very large one.

The kitchen caddy (6 to 9 L)

This is the most useful accessory, and often the one people forget. Without it, you end up throwing your peelings in the bin for convenience. A small lidded caddy, placed on the worktop or under the sink, collects the day's scraps before the trip to the composter.

For most households, a volume of 6 to 9 litres is the right compromise: large enough to last two or three days, small enough to be emptied before the scraps start to ferment. Choose a model with a well-fitting lid that is easy to wash. We offer several in this range: the Urbalive 6L compost bin, the Kaylis 7L and the Maze 9L.

The aerator

We recommend mixing your compost at least once a month, using an aerator or a corkscrew-shaped tool. In a closed bin, where there is not enough room for a fork, this is the tool that makes all the difference: push it into the compost, twist it, and pull it back up, lifting the material as you go. Our Brass'Compost works on this principle. The ideal frequency for your equipment is explained in detail in our guide Moisture and aeration.

The trolley for harvesting

At harvest time, the compost needs to be carried from the bin to the vegetable plot or flower beds. A wheelbarrow will do the job, but a low trolley is more practical for harvesting right at the base of the composter and moving the compost without spilling it everywhere. That is what the 55-litre compost collection trolley in our catalogue is designed for.

The supply of dry material

The last "accessory", and by no means the least: a supply of brown material. To balance kitchen waste, you need roughly as much dry material as wet material. So keep a stock of leaves and twigs next to the composter.

Set aside a spot for it right from the start: a few large bags of dead leaves gathered in autumn, a small bin of shredded material or a box of torn brown paper.

Willy's tip

Before buying, count how many times you empty your kitchen caddy over one or two weeks. This will give you a concrete idea of the kitchen volume to plan for, bearing in mind that waste settles and loses a lot of volume as it breaks down.

In summary

A household produces around 70 kg of compostable waste per person per year, plus garden green waste, which is often bulkier. For kitchen waste alone, a small bin or rotating composter of 150 to 300 litres is enough; with a small garden, allow 300 to 400 litres; with a large garden, move to two or more bins. Complete your set-up with a 6 to 9-litre kitchen caddy, an aerator for mixing at least once a month, a trolley or wheelbarrow for harvesting, and a supply of dry material always close at hand.

Related products

Compostys wooden composter | 305 litres

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Maze 180L Double Chamber Rotating Composter

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245L Maze Rotating Composter with Double Chambers

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