The Best Diaper Pails, According To Extensive Testing

Diapering is a smelly, time-consuming business, but the best diaper pails can effectively contain even the foulest odors. They’re also simple to operate, durable and easy to clean—especially important qualifications if you’re planning to use a pail for more than one baby. After testing 10 of the most popular diaper pails on the market and evaluating for each of these factors, as well as overall capacity, childproofing and aesthetic, I found the Ubbi Diaper Pail to be the best diaper pail overall. It offers superb odor-blocking, as well as an easy-to-use, streamlined but durable design, plus it fits easily into most settings and doesn’t require the purchase of specific bags.

These are the top diaper pails, according to my testing:

The Diaper Genie Select Pail is my pick for the best value diaper pail. It costs about $20 less than the Ubbi, blocks smells exceptionally well and doesn’t rely on a baking soda puck or charcoal filter to mask odors (it does use refill bags, however). The Munchkin Step won best step diaper pail, because its step mechanism allows you to use it one-handed, a sought-after feature for busy parents, plus it has strong odor-masking abilities. (Read my in-depth review of the Ubbi Diaper Pail.)

Most estimates suggest that newborns use somewhere between eight and 12 diapers per day, meaning they easily go through 3,000 diapers during the first year of life, so your chosen pail is going to get quite the workout.

The Best Diaper Pail For Odor Control

There’s something about sniffing the downy head of a newborn that’s intoxicating. When you walk into your infant’s nursery, you want to be reminded of that sweet scent, not soiled diapers. The Ubbi diaper pail is made of sturdy steel and does a masterful job of containing odors. Its sleek design uses a tight seal to prevent even truly offensive smells from escaping. It’s an ideal choice for shoppers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on refill bags and air-freshening cartridges, because it works with standard kitchen trash bags. The Ubbi was the only diaper pail to receive a 10/10 score in one of the odor tests I conducted. I never once detected smells emanating from the closed pail during the 48-hour testing window, even when it was packed full with 20 toddler diapers.

“The No. 1 consideration is that it contains odor,” says Patty Wu, the former executive vice president of BuyBuyBaby. Across demographics, most shoppers want a diaper pail that minimizes stink. The Ubbi accomplishes this in a couple ways. To access the pail, you release a child lock and slide back a lid that’s just large enough to accommodate toddler-size diapers. When the lid is closed, a secure seal prevents aromas from escaping from the pail. This seems to quell most smells. The pail is also made of steel, which absorbs odors less readily than plastic, according to Mike Hahn, an industrial designer.

When loading diapers into the pail, I barely noticed the stench of poopy diapers (and my nose registered every smell during the initial phase of testing, as I was 5 months pregnant). I didn’t pick up any odors during the testing window when playing with my toddler in her room, which led me to remark one evening to my husband, “The Ubbi is a vault of bad odors.”

That said, removing a bag of dirty diapers is a less pleasant process. To do so, you lift the entire top lid of the pail, detach the plastic bag from the lollipop-shaped ring that holds the trash bag in place and lift the entire stinky mess out of the pail. I definitely noticed some odors when removing a full bag of diapers. That said, the stench was considerably less when using the Ubbi plastic bags, which are unscented but do a better job of containing odors than standard kitchen bags.

Easy To Use And With An Impressive Capacity

The Ubbi is a cinch to set up, and its petite nature (less than 2 feet tall) means it fits into almost any nursery, bathroom or home setting. Even with its compact size, the Ubbi accommodates about 20 large toddler-size or 40 newborn diapers, according to my testing, meaning that you have to change it only once or twice a week. The Ubbi’s capacity is about average compared with the other pails I tested, the most spacious of which are the Skip Hop and Safety 1st Easy Saver; both fit 30 toddler-size or 50 newborn diapers. The Munchkin Step, another top pick, accommodates 18 toddler-size or 30 newborn diapers, despite taking up more space.

Regardless of capacity, retail experts and manufacturers recommend changing the diaper pail more often as an effective strategy for reducing foul smells. This also becomes a clear strategy once you’ve let the diapers linger too long in your nursery.

Two Hands Required

The main drawback of this pail is that it requires two hands to open, even without the child lock engaged. To access the pail, you must first twist open the child lock, then use one hand to hold onto the diaper as you use the other to pull open the top lid. This somewhat cumbersome process is impossible to do while holding an infant.

The Ubbi is also the most expensive pail I reviewed, at $80 when not on sale (the white color is often available for less). The brand’s own diaper pail bags, which I liked, cost $20 for 75 bags. If each bag fits 30 to 40 diapers, you may need to purchase only one box of bags during your baby’s first year; still, you’re looking at about a $100 investment.

That said, if you’re thinking about using the diaper pail for a subsequent baby, the Ubbi might be worth it, considering that its steel construction means that it may be less likely to retain diaper smells over time, according to those I interviewed.

The Ubbi’s simple, elegant design is easy to wipe down, with fewer nooks and crannies to clean around compared with the other top picks, the Creative Baby Tidy and Munchkin Step, both of which have slightly more complicated constructions and bits and pieces to access. It is important to note that Ubbi suggests using only a dry cloth to clean the pail, indicating that liquids like vinegar, bleach or even water could damage the pail and possibly cause it to rust. If this makes you squeamish, you may want to opt for another pail you can sanitize from time to time. Finally, the Ubbi also comes with a 3-year warranty, if you can demonstrate the damage is due to a manufacturer defect.

Long-Term Testing Update

I used the Ubbi Diaper Pail every day for two and a half years with my older child (now 4) and for approximately one year with my younger child (now 14 months). I disposed of soiled diapers five to 10 times per day, and I changed the bag once (occasionally twice) per week. I like that the pail contains odors (I never catch a whiff of dirty diapers when it’s properly closed/locked) and that it fits a lot of diapers: My 14-month-old goes through about 35 diapers a week, and I typically have to change the bag only once a week.

The biggest drawback with this product is that it involves two steps to open—you first unlock the child lock, then slide open a door at the top of the pail to deposit the diaper. I’m able to do this one-handed while holding my baby, but some parents might feel more comfortable putting the baby down and using two hands. I don’t love that I have to bend down a bit to insert the diaper (I’m 5 foot 3). The Ubbi is easy to wipe clean and maintain, and it’s held up well over time. I appreciate this pail from a sustainability perspective: You often see these pails at consignment stores and on Facebook Marketplace, and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to sell mine or give it to a friend when I’m done with it.

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The Diaper Genie Select Pail is a stainless steel can that traps odors extremely well. It uses a self-sealing technology that’s similar to the Munchkin Step and Diaper Genie Complete Pail, but it forgoes a baking soda puck or carbon filter, so it costs a little less to maintain over time. At less than 2 feet tall and less than a foot deep, it’s compact and works well in tight spaces. It usually costs $25 less than the popular Ubbi. I enjoyed using this pail so much that I continued using it in my baby’s room for weeks after product testing was complete.

Its Stainless Steel Construction Blocks Odors

Stainless steel diaper pails like the Ubbi and the Simplehuman Diaper Can garner attention because experts say that stainless steel blocks odors more effectively than plastic. Stainless steel also tends to cost more. That’s in part why the Diaper Genie Select Pail is impressive: At $50, it’s on par with more affordable pails on the market, yet, unlike many cheaper pails, it blocks odors incredibly well. I never caught a whiff of dirty diapers when walking by this pail in the nursery, and I continued using it after the testing period was complete.

The stainless steel design also resists smudges and stains and is easy to wipe down with a wet cloth.

Its Self-Sealing Design Means You Never Have To Breathe Over An Open Bag Of Dirty Diapers

Standing over an open pail of stinky diapers is one of the more unsavory elements of taking care of babies and toddlers; the best diaper pails help caregivers avoid this altogether. This is true for the Diaper Genie, which has a step pedal and a self-sealing design that lets you avoid opening the lid and inhaling the aroma of baby poop.

Here’s how it works: When you depress the step pedal, a little chute that’s lined with the refill bag opens slightly, allowing you to slide your diaper into the bin’s contents without opening the can. Note: You must use this pail with Diaper Genie Jumbo Square refill bags; at the time of writing, cheaper knockoff options aren’t available. On the plus side, the refill bags are unscented and multilayered, so they block odors without introducing a new fragrance to your or your kiddo’s room.

It’s Compact, Lightweight And Easy To Operate

The Diaper Genie is short and squat and doesn’t take up much space—it’s just 1 inch taller than the Ubbi and a little less deep. Its step pedal design makes it easier to drop diapers into than the Ubbi. The trade-off is that it fits fewer diapers. My 14-month-old currently goes through about 35 size 3 diapers a week, and I found myself changing the bag on this pail twice a week, rather than once a week like with the Ubbi.

The Diaper Genie Select Pail is also very lightweight. One evening, I realized our trash would be picked up early the next morning as I was putting my little one to bed. Thanks to a convenient handle on the back of the pail, I was able to soundlessly remove it from my little guy’s room and complete the bag exchange in the hallway after I’d put my kiddo down.

Its Capacity Is Less Than Our Top Pick

This pail reliably fits 35 newborn diapers and 25 size 3 diapers, which is my 14-month-old’s current size. This means that I end up changing the pail twice a week. If this sounds like a hassle, consider one of the other pails I tested with a roomier capacity. Remember, too, that the more frequently you change the diaper pail, the less it will stink—regardless of its capacity.

It’s Hard To Tell When This Pail Is Full

Unlike with the Munchkin Step, with its front door that swings open to reveal the pail’s contents, there’s no easy way to determine that the Diaper Genie is full. In a perfect world, there would be an easier way to peek inside this pail. Over time, I came to anticipate that I’d need to change the bin twice a week, but that isn’t ideal on weeks when you’re spending less time at home, or there’s another baby or toddler in the house.

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The last thing you want is poop on your hands when you’re carrying a fussy baby. That’s why many parents turn to a step-pedal diaper pail, such as the Munchkin Step, which lets you deposit a soiled diaper into the pail with a single hand. This is a game changer for many caregivers, especially during the newborn phase, when you’re likely changing 10 diapers a day for a babe who may not be thrilled about it. You can have one hand on the baby on the changing pad while your foot opens the pail for diaper disposal, or an older baby on your hip while you deposit it.

Excellent Odor Control

The Munchkin Step is a breeze to operate (thanks to the step pedal), and its self-sealing construction does an excellent job of keeping odors at bay. Because of its design, the pail does require a specific style of refill bags; a regular kitchen trash bag won’t work here. It also relies on scented bags and a baking-soda-based air freshener puck to control odors, but knockoff