Best Compost Tumbler (Dual Chamber)
Compost Tumblers are extremely useful garden instruments. They allow for rapid production of compost and prevent rodents, bees, and other troublesome creatures from getting into your compost pile. They also make the mixing of compost much easier than ground-based bins. After carefully considering several of the best compost tumblers on the market, we have found that the Jora JK270 is the Best Compost Tumbler for those looking for a high quality, dual chamber rotating compost bin with a large capacity.
This unit has it all, with insulated panels, Swedish design, dual chambers, easy rotation, and a 70-gallon capacity.
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
See below for more information on the Jora JK270 Rotating Compost Bin.
Runner Up: Best Compost Tumbler (Single Chamber)
The Mantis Compost Tumbler CT02001 is a compost producing beast (literally — look at it!) that is built very well, offers a large capacity, and is quite easy to use, thanks to the crank arm. Rotating the compost tumbler is pretty easy, and adding and removing compost is also a breeze. While not cheap, these are built to last a long time and are a very high-quality product.
See below for more information on the Mantis Compost Tumbler.
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Budget Pick: Rotating Compost Bin
If you’re on a budget, it’s hard to beat the Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler for features, capacity, and functionality. With an 80 gallon capacity, and a rock-bottom price point, this large single batch compost tumbler is an excellent choice. The big downsides of this unit are its assembly time, and the difficulty some have in rotating the bin when full.
We should also add the corollary: If you don’t need a huge capacity, and want to use a dual batch design, then the Yimby Tumbler is a great bargain choice as well.
Tumbling Composter Reviews
In this section, we will look at several different compost tumblers, examine the major features of each, and consider their positive and negative aspects. If you’re trying to decide between a compost tumbler and a compost bin, see our article on Compost Tumblers vs. Bins for information).
Jora Composter JK720 Joraform
The Jora Composter JK270 is the best compost tumbler on our list today. Designed in Sweden and built extremely well, with solid components and a great attention to detail, this extra large, dual chamber composting tumbler is the top of the line, with a top of the line price to go with it.
If you’re looking for a large dual batch composter, this is almost certainly the one for you.
For a full review of this rotating compost bin, please see our Joraform Jora JK270 Compost Tumbler review here.
Key Points
- Dual-Batch Composter
- Capacity: 70 gallons
- Dimensions: 44″ x 28″ x 52″
- Weight: 52 pounds
- Made of galvanized steel
- 24″ clearance from the ground
- Designed in Sweden
The Details
The Jora JK270 Compost Tumbler has it all. It is well designed, more attractive than most tumblers (including, ahem, the EnviroCycle below), and looks like something out of the Lost TV show. It is insulated to help speed up cook time, and the aeration through the unit works quite well, allowing air to pass through both chambers, and exchange with the outside.
The cook time on these units is typically 2-5 weeks, depending on temperature, air flow, and the mixture of components in the humus. The tumbler works well and typically produces high-quality compost in short order. There are locks to prevent access from rodents and pests (though not bears, we note).
Functionality
The large capacity and dual chamber nature of the Joraform JK270 composter make it an outstanding choice for many. With 70 gallons to work with and an insulated, dual chamber design, this composter is big!
The good news is that the footprint is not all that large, and even when full, this composter is not terribly difficult to rotate. There are multiple handles to help get a good grip on the tumbler, and the system is pretty well balanced.
The tumbler sits about 20″ off the ground, and is high enough for many wheelbarrows to get underneath. However, there is a cross-support on the back of the stand, preventing some wheelbarrows from maneuvering under the tumbler enough to get the humus easily into a wheelbarrow.
Materials and Build Quality
The Joraform Compost Tumbler is made of Galvanized Sheet Metal with an insulating layer. This ensures the exterior is hardy and ready for outdoor use, and the interior is nice and warm, and a good temperature for a fast cook.
The metal may rust when left out in the environment for long periods of time, so keep your eye on the finish — if you start to see bare metal, it may be wise to spray the areas with Rustoleum paint to protect against rust.
The frame is made of steel as well and is quite sturdy. There is a cross-bar across the back of the frame that helps support the tumbler.
Assembly
Assembly is perhaps the biggest downfall of the Jora JK270. With a complex system comes a complex build process, and the assembly of this composter is difficult. Be prepared for several hours of struggle to get all of the pieces properly assembled.
A second person helps make assembly a bit easier, and there are instructional videos out there (see our full review) to aid in the process.
The assembly process is certainly the biggest negative here, along with the high price.
The Bottom Line
The Jora JK270 is the finest compost tumbler around, though you should be prepared to pay a significant amount for the best quality available. This tumbler is large, well insulated, and uses the dual-chamber system that we are very fond of. Assembly is difficult, but once it is done, you’ll be good for years.
If you want the best, then the Jora JK270 is the best compost tumbler for you!
- Save Time and Effort - The Jora Composter is thoughtfully designed for...
- Incredibly Well Built - Unlike most outdoor composting bins, the Jora...
- High Volume Capacity - With a generous volume of up to 70 gallons and...
- Improved Aeration - The Jora Composter stands out as one of the few...
- Attractive Backyard Addition - Designed with our customers'...
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
YIMBY Compost Tumbler
The YIMBY Compost Tumbler is the cheapest tumbler on our list, and it works very well! YIMBY stands for Yes In My Back Yard, and we love the spirit and spunk of this company and their little dual batch compost tumbler. It is small, with only a 37 gallon capacity between the two chambers, but this size is reasonable for many with a small garden or yard.
The dual chamber aspect makes it very convenient, as users can have two staggered compost cooks going at the same time, one chamber for adding new scraps to as needed, and the other one to cook fully as quickly as possible.
The air flows between the two chambers, helpfully encouraging compost activity on both sides.
Please see here for a complete review of the YIMBY dual batch tumbler.
Key Points
- Dual chamber design for staggered composting
- Capacity: 37 Gallons total
- Dimensions: 36″ x 21″ x 28″
- Weight: 26.8lbs
- Recycled Plastic tumbler, with steel frame
- Airflow and design allows for compost to cook in 2-5 weeks
- Excellent aeration with adjustable vents
The Details
The dual chamber design and low price point are the two prime attributes of the YIMBY compost tumbler that set it apart from the pack. It does not have a large capacity, but it is large enough for many families, and the dual batch nature allows for two staggered cooks to occur.
There is no need for an additional staging area for scraps to be stored while waiting for compost currently in the tumbler to complete its process.
Functionality
The YIMBY works quite well at what it was designed for, producing quality compost in rapid succession, and keeping everything organized and sanitary with a two chamber design. Once the chamber is filled, the YIMBY should be rotated 5-6 times every couple of days, and in 2-5 weeks, users will have healthy, dark compost to use to grow healthy vegetables and fruits!
The speed of compost depends on air temperature, air flow, and on the proper mix of lawn scraps and kitchen waste.
There are no grips or handles on the YIMBY, but it is small enough that most users do not struggle to rotate it (unlike a full Lifetime 60058).
The tumbler sits off the ground on a metal frame. The frame is pretty utilitarian and has very little decoration. It does its job well enough and keeps the tumbler elevated. The tumbler is high enough to allow a bucket or perhaps a wheelbarrow to be placed underneath for easy extraction.
Materials and Build Quality
The materials are simple, and appropriate for the system. The tumbler is made of recycled plastic, BPA-free resin plastic, UV Protected and rust-free. This material is ideal for outdoor use, as it won’t fade, crack, split, chip, rust, etc. It isn’t beautiful but is relatively nondescript, and it likely won’t be noticed in a corner of the garden.
The frame is made of metal and is sturdy and powder coated to prevent rust.
Assembly
The directions to assemble the YIMBY tumbler leave… something to be desired. Be prepared for headaches and curses, as many find the assembly process to be a pain. There are a large number of screws, and figuring out what goes where can be a pain.
Once it’s assembled, put it in a sunny spot and start adding compost to it!
The Bottom Line
The YIMBY is a nice dual batch composter at an aggressive price point and is the cheapest compost tumbler on our list. For those that don’t need a huge capacity, the YIMBY may be a great choice, as the two chamber design is a huge plus in our eyes, and the system works well. The YIMBY will tick a lot of YES boxes for many consumers, and for that, we say Yes In My Back Yard.
- Made in Canada from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic - The original...
- TUMBLING COMPOSTER – Avoid digging and mixing your compost pile by...
- EASY TO USE – Fantastic for beginners! The large openings and...
- TWO COMPOSTER CHAMBERS ARE BETTER THAN ONE – Two separate sides...
- EXCELLENT AERATION – All our composter models feature aeration holes...
Last update on 2024-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler
The Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler is our favorite single-batch compost tumbler, give its price, feature set, capacity, and the Lifetime Warranty it is covered under.
It is well designed, well built, and useful. With a steel stand and a recycled plastic barrel, there’s little to no maintenance, and with a few daily rotations, The Price is Right style (there’s no handle on this tumbler), you’ll have beautiful dark compost in a few weeks.
For more information, please see our review of the Lifetime 60058 Composter here.
Key Points
- Single-chamber compost tumbler
- Capacity: 80 gallons, 10.72 cubic feet
- Dimensions: 38.5″ x 36″ x 44″ inches
- Weight: 42.1 lbs
- Constructed of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic, with a Powder-Coated steel stand
- Internal mixing system with multiple vents mixes compost and encourages airflow
- Tumbler turns easily on its axis for balanced rotation
- Lock to secure it in a stable position
- Lifetime Warranty (hard to beat that!)
The Details
The Lifetime 60058 is a fine product, one of the best on our list, and it succeeds even at a very low price point. It is quite well thought out, and well built, and will keep you generating high-quality compost, and high-quality fruits and vegetables for your family, for years to come.
This is only a single batch composter, so you’ll need a place to store your scraps while you wait for the batch in the tumbler to finish its cooking process.
This aspect is the primary reason we like dual chamber compost tumblers, but as we have said elsewhere, these are cheap enough that it may make sense to purchase two of these, rather than a single dual batch composter!
Functionality
The Lifetime 60058 does a great job of creating high-quality compost, as long as you are dutiful in rotating the tumbler a few times a day over the course of the composting period. The humus takes somewhere between 3-6 weeks to complete processing, depending on weather conditions and the balance of food waste and kitchen scraps.
We should note that there is no handle on this compost tumbler, and many find it difficult to rotate the bin when it is at capacity.
If you’re one of those who is not looking to do a whole lot of work when rotating the bin, you may want to look elsewhere or make sure that the tumbler is not completely full when you begin the composting process.
The frame is high enough off the ground that one can get a bucket, or perhaps a wheelbarrow, underneath the tumbler to get the finished humus out in an easy fashion. It also has a locking mechanism on it, should you want to hold the tumbler in place to fill it.
Materials and Build Quality
The primary material these compost tumblers are constructed of is HDPE plastic. HDPE plastic is quite sturdy and has a lot of great attributes that are good for outdoor garden tools. HDPE doesn’t fade, crack, rust, or chip, and the black coloration helps to heat up the compost inside. The panels are BPA free and UV protected, which is a comfort.
The stand and some fasteners are made of steel, and are quite sturdy.
Assembly
Assembly of the Lifetime 60058 is one of its few negatives. Most users find that it is realistically a two person job to get this put together, and getting all of the holes lined up properly is a bear. Some have encountered holes improperly drilled, and issues with construction that may cause some headaches and cursing.
Still, once it’s done, it’s done, and you’ll be able to move on to creating great compost for years.
The Bottom Line
The Lifetime 60058 Compost Tumbler is a great buy at its price, given the capacity, build quality and utility of this tumbler. For single-chamber compost tumblers, it’s hard to beat the specs of this rotating compost bin, and while we still prefer the dual chamber design of tumblers like the Jora JK270, you could realistically purchase two of these tumblers for less than the price of a single Jora JK270, and have 160 gallons of capacity!
Of course, that might start to look silly, but the Lifetime really is an excellent choice for many gardeners.
Mantis Compost Tumbler CT02001 88 Gallon
The Mantis Compost Tumbler is a solid, sturdy tumbler that is extremely well built, and will likely last forever. It literally looks like military surplus equipment (or a smiling vampire, depending on the angle you’re viewing it!), and that aspect of this tumbler makes it a bit awkward to be placed in a garden, especially in a location where it may be visible.
Still, it is a very high-quality single chamber compost bin with a handy easy-turn lever that makes churning your compost a breeze.
For a complete review of this compost tumbler, please see our Mantis Compost Tumbler Review here.
Key Points
- Single Chamber Design
- 88 Gallon Capacity
- Dimensions: 43″ H x 42″ W x 33″ D
- Easy-crank handle included
- Comes with a two-year warranty
The Details
Mantis advertises that compost can be completed in as little as two weeks using the Mantis Compost Tumbler, but it really takes closer to six weeks for a batch of compost to run its course. As this is a single chamber compost tumbler, this means you’ll need to find a place to store your newly generated kitchen scraps and yard waste while you wait for the current batch to finish.
You’ll find that the process is faster if you use a garden mulcher to chip your yard waste before insertion.
Functionality
It functions very well, with about 12″ of clearance underneath the tumbler for easy removal of finished compost, once ready, and it has a securely-latched lid that allows easy addition and removal of compost.
The arm crank is a nice addition, easing the rotation process compared to some of the other tumblers on our list. When the tumbler is completely full, it can be heavy, so having a hand crank is definitely helpful.
Materials and Build Quality
The materials and build quality of the Mantis Compost Tumbler CT02001 are outstanding, and this unit should last quite a while. It is primarily constructed of galvanized sheet metal, with plastic sides and gear mechanism. The frame is tubular steel and is quite sturdy.
We do suggest you make sure your tumbler is on level ground, as working on uneven ground can cause the rotation to get a little funky.
Over time, some of the metal may rust, and you may want to cover it for winter when not in use. But be sure to uncover it in spring, as the air vents need plenty of fresh air to move over the compost to speed composting time. Also, the heat of the sun will help cook the compost more quickly.
The fact that Mantis offers a two-year warranty on this rotating compost bin shows that they stand behind their products.
Assembly
Assembly of the Mantis CT02001 is not terribly difficult, compared to some of the other compost tumblers on our list. It will take a few hours to complete, and we encourage users to assemble the tumbler in the approximate location where it will live, as it is a bit of a pain to move.
The Bottom Line
If you prefer to work in single, large batches, then the Mantis Compost Tumbler is a great choice. It is extremely well made, and fairly easy to use. It is ideal for those who don’t want to work too hard to rotate their composter.
However, it is fairly expensive, given that it only offers one chamber, and for a little more money, one could pick up the Jora JK270 and work with two chambers with a similar overall capacity, a more effective design for many gardeners.
- Enclosed composter drum eliminates odors and prevent access to pets...
- Air vent at top of compost bin allows free flow of oxygen into drum
- Drainage vents allow excess moisture to escape composter.Drum...
- Compost tumbler barrel features removable door for easy loading and...
- Compost Tumbler is made in USA. Time to finish compost: finished...
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Envirocycle Compost Tumbler 35 Gallon
The Envirocycle Compost Tumbler advertises itself as the Most Beautiful Compost Tumbler in the World. Frankly, we don’t see it. Not that it’s bad looking, but it doesn’t look any better than the Lifetime 60058 Composter above, to our eyes.
This compost tumbler sits low to the ground, on a small recycled plastic base, and is rotated by turning the barrel on the base. The base serves an additional function, which is to collect Compost Tea, the super-concentrated liquid plant food that forms during the composting process. The EnviroCycle separates this liquid from the rest of the compost and collects it in the bottom chamber.
For a complete review of this compost tumbler, please see our EnviroCycle 35 Gallon Compost Tumbler review here.
Key Points
- Creates and collects both Compost and Compost Tea
- Single Batch Design
- Dimensions: 25.4″ x 21.5″ x 27.7″
- Capacity: 35 gallons
- Compost Tea Collection Capacity: 2.5 US gallons
- Attractive design
- Comes with a 5-year limited warranty
The Details
The EnviroCycle Compost Tumbler is an interesting design, with no metal frame, and a simple black recycled plastic look. The look is fine, to us, and it certainly is not obtrusive in a garden space, so that is a plus.
Functionality
The capacity of this tumbler is 35 gallons, which is not huge. We should mention that EnviroCycle sells a 17-gallon version, as well, though that is far too small to be useful to most gardeners, in our opinion.
Typically, the humus takes about 3-5 weeks to cook, depending on air temperature, air flow, and the quality of the mix of kitchen scraps and lawn waste.
It’s a bit of a different design than the others on our list, as no metal frame is required, and it works well. However, one cannot simply put a bucket or wheelbarrow underneath the bin and dump everything right in.
Materials and Build Quality
The EnviroCycle composter is made completely of recycled, BPA-free plastic, which is great. It won’t rust, fade, or degrade over time. The material is sturdy, solid enough, and nondescript so that it will not draw attention to itself. There’s even a little guide to how to use the tumbler, imprinted right into the plastic itself.
EnviroCycle backs this product with an outstanding 5-year warranty, so you can be confident that it won’t be failing on you in short order!
Assembly
One of the best aspects of the EnviroCycle composter is that it comes pre-assembled. If you hate putting things together, then the EnviroCycle may be the one for you! Also, with no need to assemble anything, there’s no risk of getting shipped the wrong items or having damaged screws, misaligned holes, etc.
It makes life much easier and is a significant plus for many.
The Bottom Line
The EnviroCycle Compost Bin is a nice system, and we like the unique design and the way that the Compost Tea is collected and separated. We also like the 5-year warranty. But still, for the price it hits and the capacity of compost it can produce, we feel many gardeners can get better value for their dollar.
If you think it looks as good as EnviroCycle’s marketing department thinks it looks, and if you only need 35 gallons, then it’s a great choice, but we encourage you to review some of the other items on this list for price comparison before you jump.
- The most beautiful composter in the world. Produces solid and liquid...
- Made of high quality food safe, BPA and rust free, UV and antioxidant...
- Proudly made in America. Let’s bring jobs back to America.
- No assembly required. And our customer service? Not bad at all…
- We invented it. They try to copy it. We keep improving it.
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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