The main advantage of a compost tumbler over a standard compost bin is the speed with which you can make finished compost. Typically, a compost tumbler will make compost in 6 to 8 weeks. Frequent turning by rotating the drum gets aerobic bacteria mixed through the organic waste, quickly working to break it down. The process happens even quicker if the composter is positioned in a sunny spot as the extra heat speeds up the composting process.
For some gardeners, another advantage a compost tumbler has over a conventional bin is that since compost material is kept enclosed and up off the ground, pests are kept out. That allows you to be less selective about which kitchen scraps you add to the mix.
Here we review some of the best compost tumblers available:
Envirocycle Composting Tumbler – 133 Litres
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- RRP: £229.99 | Amazon UK Price: £229.99
- Capacity: 133 litre
- Single tumbler
- Food safe, BPA free and UV protected recycled plastic construction
- Produces compost and liquid plant feed
- No assembly required
- Rapid decomposition in 6 to 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 70cm, Width 65cm, Depth 55cm
We like:
The Envirocycle compost tumbler is a good looking unit, compact enough for a small garden or back yard. The innovative design allows liquid compost tea to gather in the base. The compost tumbler drum rotates on top of the base to create solid compost, while and the base allows you to collect the excess liquid from the drum as liquid fertiliser. Just dilute with water to give your plants a boost.
It’s best to fill the drum to the top, then stop adding material when it’s full, while turning it 3 times, every 3 days to aerate and mix the pile. In the meantime, new compostable material should be added to a separate composter. Once the composting process is finished, simply roll the drum off the base to where you would like to use the compost. To get the compost out, you just remove the lid and take out as much of the compost as you can with a shovel.
The drum, base and door are made from thick, BPA free, UV protected recycled plastic. The door is equipped with an eye-pin and hinge system, which combined with the shape of the door provide a reliable seal, keeping compost in and pests out. Nylon vent plugs allow air circulation to get into the composter, keeping the compost aerobic and speeding up the composting process.
The Envirocycle makes composting easy and is a great addition to a small garden. It’s clean, compact and stylish enough to be positioned on the patio or terrace – you don’t need to hide this one away at the bottom of the garden.
We’re not so keen on:
The composter sits on the ground rather than mounted on a frame like some other models. This makes it easy to get your compost out, but potentially vulnerable to being accessed by rodents. On earlier models, we heard stories of squirrels, etc, chewing through the latch on the door. Envirocycle have now replaced the latch with a toughened nylon version. Plus, the plastic construction of the tumbler is thick and tough enough that only a very determined rodent would stand a chance of getting in.
The Envirocycle is also available in a smaller 65 litre capacity, ideal for smaller gardens. However, if you have enough green waste to fill the larger bin, opt for that one as it will heat up better and therefore make better compost in a shorter time.
Available from:
Lifetime Dual Compost Tumbler – 378 Litres
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- RRP: £249.99 | Amazon UK Price: £202.99
- Capacity: 378 litre
- Dual tumbler
- Black, double wall construction absorbs and retains heat
- Extra large, removable lids allow easy access
- Internal bar mixes compost and allows air to circulate
- Rapid decomposition in 6 to 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 116cm, Width 102cm, Depth 90cm
We like:
The Lifetime Dual Compost Tumbler is a large capacity, heavy duty composting machine. Everything feels high quality and gives the impression it will hold up to years of consistent use. The dual drums turn independently on their axis and despite their large capacity are relatively easy to turn until.
An aeration bar through the centre of both barrels serves to mix the compost as you tumble and lets air flow in, which is so important for the decomposition process.
The plastic panels are made from high density polythylene (HDPE) which has been UV protected for durability. The thick-walled, black construction is designed to absorb and retain heat to accelerate the composting process. You need a critical mass of material in there to really get it working, but once it’s at least half full, it gets really quite hot. Place the palm of your hand against the outside and you can feel the reassuring warmth of crumbly compost in the making.
Extra large removable lids makes getting your finished compost out a breeze. A thoughtful feature is the spring-loaded pin that independently locks the rotation of each drum making filling and removing compost even easier. The powder coated steel frame brings the composter up to a convenient height.
Full assembly instructions are provided including a list of tools you’ll need. The process is quite involved with over 50 nuts and bolts to screw in place, so expect to spend a good couple of hours. There’s also some straightforward drilling required through pre-prepared divots in the plastic panels. Lifetime provide the drill bit you’ll need and all parts are well packed.
If you have a lot of garden waste and plan to make lots of compost, the Lifetime Compost Tumbler is a great option that will provide years of service. It’s also available in single tumbler 305 and 246 litre capacities.
We’re not so keen on:
Some customers have experienced metal parts corroding over time. We should add that on newer models, Lifetime have applied a more rust resistant paint to all metal parts.
The drums can be heavy to roll when full.
The assembly is quite involved with some drilling required, but the instructions are detailed and clear.
Available from:
Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler – 220 Litres
Our Rating: 5/5
- RRP: £158.00 | Amazon UK Price: £158.00
- Capacity: 220 litre
- Single tumbler
- UV protected recycled plastic construction
- Powder coated frame
- Symmetrical design with access at each end
- Built-in stainless steel breaker bar
- Rapid decomposition in 6 – 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 117cm, Width 85cm, Depth 65cm
We like:
This Australian made compost tumbler has been thoughtfully designed to make composting as simple and easy as possible. You just have to load the barrel with a mixture of kitchen scraps, garden prunings and lawn clippings, then turn it every few days. A large bin lid at each end of the drum makes it easy to add and remove material.
A stainless steel “breaker bar” runs through the centre of the barrel and serves to break up and aerate your mixture as you turn it over. This speeds up the decomposition process meaning you’ll have a good mulch in just 4 weeks and a rich garden compost in 6 to 8 weeks.
Assembly is straight forward and full instructions are provided. You start by putting together the centre shaft, or “breaker bar”. With the shaft in place, you assemble the drum by joining both halves together using 16 drum joining screws. Finally, you build the galvanised steel frame. The final construction is solid and all the parts feel very well made.
At 220 litres, the Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler is ideal for smaller gardens and provides a no mess, no fuss solution to recycling your organic waste.
We’re not so keen on:
Some people find the tumbler difficult to turn when full, so it could benefit from some kind of handle or grab to assist in actually spinning the tumbler round.
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Good Ideas Twin Chamber Tumbling Composter – 140 Litres
Our Rating: 4/5
- RRP: £84.99 | Amazon UK Price: £79.95
- Capacity: 140 litre
- Dual chamber tumbler
- Heavy duty plastic drums on a metal frame
- Approx. 45 minutes to assemble
- Rapid decomposition in 6 to 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 79cm, Width 82cm, Depth 61cm
We like:
Another dual chamber rotating composter, but with less than half the capacity (and less than half the price) of the Lifetime Dual above. This composter will suit smaller households who are just getting started with composting and need an easy-to-use solution with the advantages of a twin barrel system.
The drums are made from heavy duty plastic which are held off the ground by a sturdy metal frame. The drums are equipped with vents that allow air to penetrate your mix and excess liquid to drain off. If you find your compost is drying out too much during hot weather, you can close the vents.
For best results, fill one drum to two-thirds of capacity with a good mix of greens and browns and allow your compost to cook down while you fill the other drum. If you follow the guidelines and rotate the bin every 2 to 3 days, your finished compost should be ready in 6 to 8 weeks.
The composter comes flat-packed but assembly is reasonably straightforward using the instructions provided. Make sure you do read them though as there are some spacers required that it would be easy to overlook.
We’re not so keen on:
Some people find the composter’s doors hard to slide open as there’s no handle or knob to grab hold of.
Each individual drum only has a 70 litre capacity, so if you want to rely solely on your own compost made in this composter to supply your vegetable patch, you may need to buy a second one, or consider something larger like the Lifetime Dual.
Available from:
Draper Compact Compost Tumbler – 180 Litres
Our Rating: 4/5
- RRP: £127.97 | Amazon UK Price: £121.49
- Capacity: 180 litre
- Single tumbler
- Lightweight polypropylene construction
- Symmetrical design with access at each end
- Tumbling action speeds up composting
- Rapid decomposition in 6 – 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 77cm, Width 75cm, Depth 75cm
We like:
Draper, a family-run UK company has been selling high-quality garden tools for more than 90 years. Draper’s quality signature extends to this compact compost tumbler which uses a tumbling action to speed up the composting process. Just rotate the barrel every 2 to 3 days and if you have enough volume and your mix is right, you’ll feel the drum warm to the touch and you’ll have crumbly compost within a few weeks.
It has a lightweight plastic construction and its symmetrical design means you can add your green waste at either end. It is held off the ground by a frame which has lock and pivot points and as the compost bin is off the ground, air and moisture are evenly distributed and pests are kept at bay.
The composting drum has drainage holes around the top to allow any liquid to escape, so ideally place the tumbler on soft ground so the drips don’t stain the patio.
If you have a small garden and you’re after a good quality, easy to use compost bin, the Draper Compost Tumbler is certainly worth considering.
We’re not so keen on:
Some customers have said that the twist lids can be hard to open, especially if it’s been raining.
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Squeeze Master Dual Chamber Composting Tumbler – 160 Litres
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- RRP: £103.00 | Amazon UK Price: £97.99
- Capacity: 160 litre
- Dual chamber composting
- Easy to use and ideal as a first composting system
- Durable UV inhibited recycled polypropylene construction
- Tumbling action for quick and efficient composting
- Rapid decomposition in 6 – 8 weeks
- Dimensions: Height 91cm, Width 79cm, Depth 71cm
We like:
Everything about this tumbler is designed to make composting as quick and easy as possible.
Deep sunken handholds in the composter barrel make rotating a breeze. These double up as deep fins which help break up clumps inside the chamber, stop compost from sticking to the sides and mix in lots of oxygen. Large, easy slide doors allow you to easily add material and keep an eye on each batch of compost.
The tumbler’s two large chambers have an 80 litre capacity each. The idea is that you can fill one side while the other is curing. Once the compost is dark and crumbly and ready to use you empty that chamber. That side then becomes the one to fill up while the other completes the cycle.
The composter barrel is constructed from 50% recycled plastic. It is contact safe and will not degrade under direct sunlight. The powder-coated steel frame is corrosion resistant.
The compost tumbler is delivered flat-packed and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Assembly is fairly straightforward and it should take you about 45 minutes to put it together. You fix the side panels and the doors in place first using self tapping screws. You then add the panels one at a time screwing them in as you go. The barrel sits on a corrosion resistant, powder-coated steel frame secured with nuts and bolts.
We’re not so keen on:
Each compartment has an 80 litre capacity. If you have big garden or a large family and you produce a lot of green waste and kitchen scraps, then the Squeeze Master will seem quite small. One option is to remove the divider and buy a second tumbler, so you can have one for adding fresh waste and one that you leave to mature.
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Compost Tumbler FAQs
When you use a compost tumbler, you don’t need a garden fork, pitchfork or aerator tool. Simply rotating the drum by hand does the trick. Rotating the tumbler mixes micro-organisms through the compost and gets plenty of oxygen into the system, speeding up the decomposition process. With regular turning and a good mix of organic waste, you can expect rich, crumbly compost in as little as 6 to 8 weeks. Even quicker if your composter is positioned in a sunny spot.
For best results, aim to turn your compost tumbler every 2 to 3 days. It just needs 5 or so rotations to mix up the compost pile and get plenty of air circulating. The micro-organisms which are so important for decomposition need oxygen to survive, so regular turning speeds up the composting process. As your compost matures, you can turn the tumbler less frequently.
No, you can’t put earthworms in a tumbler. Compost tumblers are designed to be hot composting systems and as there’s no contact with the ground, there’s nowhere for the worms to escape to and they will die. The heat aside, the worms won’t appreciate being tumbled – they prefer a habitat that isn’t being disturbed all that much. Having said that, some people have had some success adding red wigglers to their compost tumblers, but our advice remains that you’re better adding worms to a standard compost bin instead.
You can leave them open as long as the compost remains moist. If you find your compost becomes too dry, you can try closing a few vents. With the vents open, you’ll find that some liquid escapes, but that’s nothing to worry about. Some people put a tray under the composter to catch the liquid and use it as plant feed.
We would recommend a 50/50 mix of both organic kitchen scraps (including fruit and vegetable peelings and egg shells, but excluding meat and dairy scraps) and garden waste (including prunings, leaves and lawn clippings). If you don’t have a lot of garden waste to go into the bin, add some shredded cardboard or egg boxes to the mix to stop the compost being too wet. Make sure you remember to rotate the tumbler every few days – every 2-3 days is ideal.