When choosing the right diaper pail for your nursery, look for multiple seals to help trap diaper stink. Take into consideration how many diapers your pail can hold and whether it opens with a foot pedal or other hands-free method for easy use. We considered design, value, additional costs, and odor control when reviewing products. Here are the best diaper pails to help keep unwanted odors away. The Diaper Genie is designed to be hands-free—the top opens by pressing a foot pedal—and comes with a carbon filter in the lid to control bad odors. The bags can be removed via a front tilt bin. The only downside is that they must be replaced with a Diaper Genie branded bag rather than a regular garbage bag. The ease of the design and the effectiveness of the odor control helped the Diaper Genie to win the 2018 Women’s Choice Award as America’s Most Recommended Diaper Pail. Price at time of publication: $48 Each refill bag lasts through multiple loads of diapers. In order to change it, users cut the top of a full bag with a child-safe cutter mounted on the front-loading service door and tie a knot on the end of the remaining bag. Many Dekor Classic fans keep their bins long after they stop changing diapers and repurpose them to dispose of animal or garden waste. Price at time of publication: $35 The diaper pail’s oval shape also allows it to slide neatly into smaller spaces—but beware that the bin holds 50 diapers, far fewer than some of its competitors. As a result of its innovative design, as well as effective odor control, the Ubbi Diaper Pail has also won multiple awards. Price at time of publication: $90 Other features include a childproof locking system and an opening that is compatible with both diaper pail rings and “snap, seal, and toss” bags. Plus, each Munchkin Step Diaper Pail comes with an Arm & Hammer Puck Baking Soda Cartridge and a snap, seal, and toss refill bag, both scented with lavender. Price at time of publication: $68 Thanks to a dual airlock system and steel disposal bin, the diaper pail easily traps odors. While the Skip Hop diaper pail fits standard kitchen trash bags, the actual fit of each bag may be different. The company recommends smoothing all wrinkles around the top edge of the bag before closing the lid, to ensure a proper seal. Price at time of publication: $70 The diaper pail requires Munchkin refill bags (UV Snap, Seal & Toss bags are recommended, but also compatible with refill rings and Nursery Fresh refills) instead of standard trash bags, but they hold up to 272 newborn diapers. Bonus: The company plants a tree for each UV diaper pail sold. Price at time of publication: $130 The Dekor Plus features the same quiet self-closing lid, dual rubber seals, and odor-trap door as the classic version. There’s also a hidden childproof lock to keep curious kiddos out and a foot pedal for hands-free diaper disposal. Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $50 We also reviewed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the proper disposal of dirty diapers. We chose diaper pails that are easy for parents and caregivers to use while trapping odors effectively.
What to Look for in a Diaper Pail
Capacity
Consider how many diapers your pail can hold before it’s time to empty the load. The more diapers that can fit inside, the less often you will have to take the time to dump the pail and add a new liner. While that might sound like a simple task, anything that gives you even a little bit more time can make a big difference while taking care of a baby. As your little one grows, the size of their diapers will, too (taking up more space inside the diaper pail).
Hands-Free Operation
Bending over to open a diaper pail can be inconvenient and unhygienic, and even hurt your back, especially if you’re also carrying your little one. Diaper pails that open with a foot pedal or another hands-free method, such as the Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Pail, are the easiest and most convenient. This type of pail may also be more hygienic, though you will still need to wash your hands after every diaper change. A diaper pail with a different opening mechanism doesn’t mean that you must sacrifice comfort to throw away diapers. For example, the Ubbi Diaper Pail features a sliding door for its opening mechanism, but thanks to its height, you can still throw away diapers at a comfortable distance.
Odor Control
This is one of the most important features to look for in a diaper pail. The more diapers your pail holds, the more odor control matters. Look for multiple seals to help trap diaper smells. Some pails also use deodorizing bags or other features, such as the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & Hammer and the Munchkin UV Diaper Pail, which uses UV lights to kill germs and bacteria.
Maintenance Costs
A diaper pail comes with a price tag, but remember to consider ongoing costs, too. For example, replacement bags can add up, especially for diaper pails that don’t accommodate standard trash bags. Look for a diaper pail that refills the same bag multiple times or uses regular kitchen trash bags to lower your overall costs.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer for Verywell Family with nearly eight years of experience under her belt. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her B.A. in professional media. Her love for service journalism, helping others, and becoming a parent led to her commerce writing role, which allows her to research and recommend the best products for families, pregnant women, and kids of all ages. She used the Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Pail when her son was born, and loved it. However, the main downside was the cost of buying refill bags instead of using standard trash bags.
