DIY compost bins are easy to make for your homestead, so it should be the last thing you have to worry about. Check out these DIY compost bins ideas and choose one that best fits your homestead. Begin composting today with these ingenious DIY compost bins from simple to slightly complex!
Your Ultimate Guide for DIY Compost Bins on a Budget
1. Compost Bin Out of Pallets
First up in this list of DIY compost bins is this low-cost repurposed pallets compost bin. If you have a supplies depot near you, then this project would come practically free. Building it is quick and easy which takes less than an hour. You will have a properly-ventilated compost bin, thanks to the pallet’s structure.
2. Garbage Can Compost Bin
If you want DIY compost bins you can have fun spinning around and roll to mix, then this garbage can compost bin is perfect for you. Gather your supplies: Garbage can with lid, drill, 2 bungee cords, and of course someone to share the fun when making this compost (your kids or hubby). Simply create holes around your trash can and lid. Attach the bungee cord to secure the lid and your bin is ready to use!
3. Easy Compost Bin
No more throwing away kitchen scraps ever again! This easy compost bin will make your life easier and happier. It’s made out of milk crates, weed blocker, paper bags, and a hot glue gun. With a little portion of your time, you’ll change your life for the better.
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4. Under $5 Compost Bin
Want to start vermicomposting but space is an issue? This simple compost bin will work even in the tiniest place. The great news is the bin is under $5–all the more reason for you to get started with vermicomposting in your own space.
5. DIY Compost Tumbler
You will need equipment and cutting skills to build this DIY compost tumbler. Its wooden frame horizontally supports a 55-gallon drum. Drill holes into the drum’s base and top which will allow the PVC pipe to be horizontally threaded and works as the drum’s revolving shaft.
6. Kitchen Compost Bin
Search for a sealable container. Cover it up with a decent piece of paper and leave the cover. Using a driller, create holes in the cover. Your easiest kitchen compost bin is ready for work – it is definitely rewarding to create such DIY compost bins.
7. Concrete Blocks Compost Bin
This concrete blocks compost bin is uniquely created using concrete blocks. Depending on your needs you can easily make the necessary adjustment for changing seasons, added ventilation, or pest control.
8. Compost Bin From Wood
To build this lumber compost bin, look for wooden lumber planks and cut it to your preferred height and width. Once done creating the base, the upper and side panel, use screws or glue to assemble all pieces. Don’t forget to create a removable lid so that it is easier for you to work with your compost.
9. Low-Cost DIY Compost Bin
This low-cost compost bin is very manageable. You can easily remove any side and transfer it from one place to another. This is an ultimate easy garden project you can make out of your old fence pickets.
10. Plastic Tub Compost Bin
You can make simple DIY compost bins using large plastic containers with a tight lid. You can use what you already have or get a new one. Use a drilling machine to punch 6-8 holes so the compost will have enough air when kept inside. After making your bin, you need some bedding for your plastic bin. Your amazing worm compost bin is good for business!
11. Cardboard Box Composter
Perhaps not the toughest solution but without a doubt, one of the easiest and cheapest DIY compost bins. Grab some large cardboard boxes from your local grocery store. The box’s cover can be closed to avoid excess rainfall from penetrating. You can also line the bottom of the box with bricks to hold its form. The box will eventually compost itself, this is only for a short-term solution and best during the dry season.
12. Efficient Wooden Compost Bin
Create the end panels – use screws to join the wooden slats together. Make sure to leave enough space for removable planks. Create the center panel just as you adjust the end panels. Make sure that all the wooden panel are aligned in a row.
13. Hardware Cloth Compost Bins
This DIY compost bin from hardware cloth was made as a functional garden accessory that also doubles as a piece of art. How cool is that?
14. Double-Decker Drum Composter
This amazing double-decker drum composter can be made by hand. It will allow you to easily turn the compost that in return will help the composting process go a lot quicker.
15. Decorative Brick Compost Bin
If you’re looking for a compost bin design that will also improve your backyard aesthetics, your search ends with this decorative brick compost bin. It will give you a permanent compost structure as well as spruce up the look of your yard. A sure winner indeed!
16. Perfect Compost Bin
Who does not want a compost bin that is simple to make, easy to use, yet very much effective in producing compost? If that’s what you’re looking for in a bin, you’d better take a look at this perfect compost bin and build one for your garden.
17. Used Tire Compost Bin
Utilizing old tires as a compost bin is an ingenious way of recycling and providing continuous assistance to Mother Nature! I know there are lots of used tires lying around junkyards, so what are you waiting for? Collect a few and stack together 4 or more tires to create a simple compost bin.
18. DIY Wheelie Bin Composter
Don’t throw your old wheelie bin just yet and learn to make a compost bin from a wheelie bin in this Instructables tutorial. It’s a mobile compost bin you can easily transfer in ideal locations around your homestead.
19. Old Refrigerator Worm Composting Bin
One of our home appliance which inevitably breaks down in a few years or so is a refrigerator which ends up taking up a valuable space in our home. Put them to good use and make this outdoor worm composting bin.
20. Cedar Board DIY Compost Bins
This cedar board composter has baseboards that slide out, making it easy for you to harvest finished compost from the end of the pile but still able to continue to add items to compost at the top of the pile.
21. Composter Drum Style
This composter drum style rotates, allowing the compost matter to have enough air which also minimizes odor in the process and making the composting process a bit faster.
22. Ultimate Compost Bin
It’s hard to tell through these pictures just how tough and stable this ultimate compost bin is but this is ready for tons of composting for many years to come.
23. Wattle Composter
A compost pile or composter can be an eyesore that ruins your garden landscape. So is a big container that has “composter” written all over it even if it has precious black gold in it. When I found this wattle composter idea, I just fell in love with it. It’s simply made of thin long branches woven together. The materials are all natural, which complements the garden.
24. Corrugated Iron Composter
If you are into vermicomposting and want more out of it, a plastic container won’t be enough. That is where this corrugated iron composter falls into place and the best thing is it won’t cost you an arm and a leg despite being very sturdy. And for your wood frame, wood pallets will do the magic, low cost or even free. Be careful, though, that your pallets are safe to use and won’t cause any harm to your precious worms.
25. Wine Barrel Compost Station
If you can get a wine barrel without breaking the bank, then perfect for you and for your garden. There are plenty of ways you can make use of wine barrels in the garden. As a matter of fact, wine barrels can be very stylish in the garden most especially the real ones. Wine barrels can be best for indoor composting or at least under a roof to make it last longer.
26. Willow Composter
Who does not love something that comes for free? Look around your homestead environment, I’m sure you have what it needs to create this simple DIY willow composter. Made out of branch cuttings from bushes or trees, easily weave them together to create this wonderful bin. Learning this skill could make a huge difference around your garden. Aside from compost bins, you can also build fences, garden edgings, and raised beds with this material.
27. Keyhole Garden and Compost Bin
What we like most about this amazing keyhole garden and composter is the fact that it serves a double purpose which is amazing. You can grow climbing vegetables in them, such as cucumber and beans. Your vegetables will love the nutrients they’ll get inside and while the vegetables are growing around it, the compost at work stays hidden.
28. Metal Drum Compost Tumbler
Metal drums are one of the most useful materials when it comes to repurposing in the garden. However, they’re not ideal for worm composting because they rust and release heavy metals that might harm your worms. They can be best as metal drum compost tumbler because they can rotate easily. Plus, with the additional fitted car tires on both ends, you can easily roll it over to mix the compost items.
29. Log Compost Bin
The idea of this DIY log compost bin is basically the same with the game stack sticks. Simply stack unused logs in your garden over the other, secure it, and your DIY composter is ready in no time. This is perfect for piling up weeds and fallen leaves that you plan to use for winter composting.
30. Wire Mesh Compost Holder
This wire mesh compost holder simply shows the versatility of wire mesh when it comes to composting. You can easily fashion it into a compost tumbler. Use old bike wheels to form its frame, simply wrap the wire around. Your compost items can be easily loosened up and mixed this way. But, it would be best to cover it up a little more to avoid your finished organic compost from spilling all over.
31. Straw Bales Compost Bin
If straw bales are readily available in your homestead, then straw bales composting is a must-try. The bales are also organic which will also decompose, so this is just a temporary solution.
32. DIY Indoor Worm Compost Bin
Composters are not always made for the outdoors, like this indoor vermicomposting bin you may place in a good spot in your kitchen. It looks like a funnel form worm container. This plan gives you easy access to separate worms from compost. Plus, it does not require more than a day to get the finished design.
33. 3-Tier Worm Compost Bin
To create this 3-tier worm compost bin you’ll need 3 stackable plastic bin, lid, plastic sheet, and a cork. Create a couple of holes at the peak of the bin for ventilation. Then, at the base create a bigger hole to fix the tap. Use the plastic sheet as cover for the bin. You can now start composting.
34. DIY Plastic Crate Composter
If you find a milk or plastic bread crate, don’t hesitate to grab it. It can be transformed into a unique compost bin which allows lots of air to enter. Line the crate with mesh, cloth, or landscape fabric to suppress the compost.
35. Multiple Compost Bin System
If space and materials are not an issue, then a multiple composting bin system is in order. Imagine how much you can save if you got this kind compost bin in your homestead!
36. Teapot Compost Bin
A compost bin doesn’t need to be ordinary. Take a look at this teapot compost bin, it does not only helps with composting but also becomes a wonderful ornament for the garden.
37. Wheelbarrow Compost Bin
An old wheelbarrow could become an inventive compost bin for the garden. If the wheels are still in good shape, well you’ve got yourself a portable bin and will also aid in mixing the compost when necessary.
38. Wooden Pallet Planks and Wire Mesh Compost Bin
This DIY bin is made only of wood and wire, easy, cheap, and measures a good 3-feet tall by 3-feet wide. Wire mesh is put around the frame to ensure enough air is circulated to speed up the composting process.
39. DIY Rotating Compost Barrel
A rotating compost barrel is an amazing idea since it provides an easy way to combine new compost materials thoroughly with the already composting materials. This process allows a faster decomposition.
40. Super-Sized Compost Bin
If you compost a lot, I’m sure you would love to have a bin that has a traditional look of a farmstead silo. Build your silo to have a super-sized compost bin.
41. Wood Barrel Compost Bin
If a food-grade barrel doesn’t appeal to you, I’m sure you’ll love this wood barrel compost bin. It’s all natural and you can customize it to your heart desires.
42. Mini Worm-Composting Bins
These mini worm-composting bins are a great project for kids. We want to teach kids early about the importance of composting, so this is it!
43. 5-Gallon Bucket Compost Bin
What can you get from a 5-gallon bucket? A 5-gallon black gold! So if you have a 5-gallon available, make the most of it by transforming it into a simple bucket compost bin for your kitchen or garden.
44. DIY Kitchen Counter Compost Bin
A kitchen compost bin is basically used to store scraps until it’s ready to be moved to an outdoor compost bin. You can purchase this type of bins for $10 or you can simply DIY it with items already in your house.
45. Open Compost Pile
Composting does not really require any building. You can actually create an open compost pile anywhere in your yard or dig a pit to keep your compost out of sight.
Want to know how to compost manure in 30 days? Check out his video from GrowPoppies:
Composting is a truly popular method of recycling, doable no matter where you live and what size your home is. Exactly how you compost will vary depending on your state’s regulations, climate, and amount of rainfall. Choose the right one for your need in this roundup of DIY compost bins and start composting today!
Which of these DIY compost bins will you make for your homestead? Let us know in the comments section below.
Up Next: How To Compost (Infographic) | Homesteading Composting Guide
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 5, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Thanks for the post. I have been looking for a big list of ideas on compost bins. I’m between making my own or finding a “pretty” one since I live in town! I just started my blog and posted on composting as one of my first topics, so I included your link in my resources. This post is great! Thanks!
Great ideas in this article.
Cool. I can do some of those and git rid of some of my trash before it go’s to the dump. I see paper mixed in some of those bins. What is the best recommended mix of paper and other waste and soil to make good compost?
I attached welded wire panels to the wall set on bricks… we put every thing on the top. We take from the bottom. By the time it reaches the bottom we dig out dark rich soil. This way we never have to turn the pile and we have been able to harvest potatoes and tomatoes from the sprouts at the top.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/30a667eda178ddaa04d51b141c4ed67f1773d99e8c693e12206b5be4b6f2e2d8.jpg
Love this idea!
Great post. Some of these tips i will relay on my customers as the compost it can generate is fantastic for your lawn.
Jack,
Pest Control Newcastle