Best Diaper Pails (2026): Refill Costs Compared
Seven diaper pails sold by Amazon.com compared on how each is designed to hold in odor, which bags it takes, and how many newborn diapers each refill holds.
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Quick answer
To avoid being tied to a refill, buy the Ubbi Steel pail: it takes any standard trash bag. For a pedal pail with refills sold by Amazon.com, the Diaper Genie Complete. The Munchkin STEP seals itself and takes Munchkin and select other rings. To compare refills, divide today's price by the newborn diapers each holds.
In this guide
- Self-sealing lid, flexible refillsMunchkin STEP Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & HammerFrom the listing · not tested
Before choosing a diaper pail, decide whether you need one at all, and then which refill system you're willing to live with. Seven pails sold by Amazon.com are compared on what each takes to keep running: which bags it needs, how many diapers a refill holds, and how it is designed to hold in odor.
How we chose: all seven are sold by Amazon.com and compared on design, bag type and refill capacity as their listings state them, with odor claims left as the brands' own. We have not tested these pails.
Seven pails by opening, odor design and bag type
| Pail | Amazon price | Opening | Odor design (per listing) | Bags it takes | Holds (newborn diapers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diaper Dekor EKO Classic | $47.99 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:02 PM UTC)Check price | Foot pedal | Trap door; ABS that "won't absorb odors" | Dekor Classic continuous liner | Refill holds up to 495 |
| Diaper Genie Complete | $75.90 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:01 PM UTC)Check price | Foot pedal | Double Air-Tite clamps, carbon filter | Diaper Genie round refills; Munchkin rings listed as fitting | Refill holds up to 270 |
| Diaper Dekor Plus | $64.95 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:02 PM UTC)Check price | Foot pedal | Trap door; ABS that "won't absorb odors" | Dekor Plus continuous liner | Refill holds up to 495 |
| Munchkin STEP | $70.99 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:01 PM UTC)Check price | Foot pedal | Self-sealing lid, baking soda cartridge | Munchkin and select other rings | Not stated |
| Ubbi Stainless Steel | $69.99 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:01 PM UTC)Check price | Sliding lid | Powder-coated steel, rubber seal | Any standard trash bag | Pail holds up to 55 |
| Diaper Genie Platinum | Check price | Foot pedal, soft close | Odor-locking clamps, stainless steel | Easy Roll refill | Pail holds up to 47; refill up to 846 |
| Munchkin UV | $105.83 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:02 PM UTC)Check price | Step pedal | Self-sealing lid, UV light | All Munchkin rings, Snap, Seal & Toss | Not stated |
Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details
Some brands give capacity for the pail and others for the refill, so the last column is not like for like.
Refills: what each one holds
To compare refill costs, divide the Amazon price in this table by the number of newborn diapers the listing says the refill holds. Prices change, so do the sum on the day you buy.
| Refill (sold by Amazon.com) | Amazon price | Newborn diapers (per listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Ubbi Diaper Pail Bags, 25 count | $9.99 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:01 PM UTC)Check price | 25 bags × 50 = 1,250 |
| Diaper Genie Essentials Round Refill, 4 pack | $13.99 (Amazon, as of Nov 12, 2026, 11:02 PM UTC)Check price | 1,280 |
| Munchkin Arm & Hammer Refill Rings, 8 pack | Check price | 2,176 |
Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details
Three things to know about those numbers:
- They are newborn counts. Bigger diapers fill a bag faster, so the cost per change rises with every size, for every brand.
- Ubbi's own bags are optional. The Ubbi takes any standard trash bag that fits.
- Two refills are missing. We found Diaper Dekor refills only from resellers, not Amazon.com or Dekor, so we don't list them, and we did not price the Diaper Genie Platinum's Easy Roll refill separately.
Pro tip: check refill compatibility before you buy the pail. Munchkin's refill listing says its rings are "Guaranteed to fit Diaper Genie Complete", which gives a Diaper Genie owner a second source. Diaper Genie's Essentials refill lists the Complete and Expressions pails.
Four ways the pails hold in odor
We can't rank odor control without testing, so here is how each is designed, per the brands:
- Sealed metal (Ubbi, Diaper Genie Platinum). Ubbi says its powder-coated steel and rubber seal contain smells, and that the sliding lid limits air movement when opened. The Platinum is stainless steel with clamps.
- Clamps and a filter (Diaper Genie Complete). Double Air-Tite clamps close the bag below the lid, and a carbon filter sits in the lid. Diaper Genie says its refill film has an antimicrobial built in.
- Self-sealing lids (Munchkin STEP and UV). Munchkin says the bag stays sealed whether the lid is open or closed. The STEP adds an Arm & Hammer baking soda cartridge; the UV adds a UV light.
- Trap door (Diaper Dekor). The diaper drops through a trap door into a continuous liner. Dekor says its recycled ABS plastic "won't absorb odors" and can be cleaned with household cleaners.
Munchkin says the UV pail's light "eliminate[s] up to 99% of bacteria and viruses". That is Munchkin's figure, not ours, and it doesn't replace emptying the pail and washing your hands after changes, which the CDC lists among the times to wash: "after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet."
Pedal or sliding lid
With a baby in one arm, a foot pedal helps. Six of the seven have one: both Diaper Genies, both Munchkins and both Dekors. The Diaper Genie Platinum adds a soft-closing lid, which the brand says is quieter.
The Ubbi's sliding lid needs a hand, but it has a childproof lock, which matters once a crawler starts exploring.
Standard bags or a refill system
A standard-bag pail (the Ubbi) never ties you to a refill. If one brand is out of stock, any bag of the right size will do, and after diapers it is an ordinary bin.
A refill-system pail (Diaper Genie, Munchkin, Dekor) seals each diaper or batch in its own film, which is the design the brands credit for odor control. You buy the refill for as long as you use the pail.
The Dekor pails sit in between: the continuous liner lets you cut off only what you need, and removing the trap-door insert turns them into hands-free trash cans later.
If you can skip the pail
If an outdoor bin is a short walk away and you empty a lidded kitchen trash can daily, you may not need one. A pail is worth buying when:
- the nursery is upstairs or far from the outdoor bin;
- you use cloth diapers and want a separate container (Dekor's Plus listing title says "Great for Cloth Diapers");
- you want odors contained between trips outside.
Related: the baby registry checklist on a budget, best baby bathtubs and our baby gear recalls page, where you can search a brand and model before buying secondhand.
The products in this guide
In the order this guide discusses them, from listings and published standards. Where a price appears it is Amazon's, with the time it was read.
No proprietary refills
Ubbi Stainless Steel Diaper Pail
From the listing · not testedNo refill system to buy into, since any trash bag fits.
Pros
- + Takes any standard trash bag; no special refills required
- + Powder-coated steel with a rubber seal and a sliding lid
- + Childproof lock; holds up to 55 newborn diapers
Cons
- - No foot pedal; you slide the lid open by hand
A pedal with easy-to-find refills
Diaper Genie Complete Diaper Pail
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a foot pedal and refills from either Diaper Genie or Munchkin.
Pros
- + Foot-pedal lid, Double Air-Tite clamps and a carbon filter
- + Comes with one refill that holds up to 270 newborn diapers
- + Takes Diaper Genie Essentials refills; Munchkin lists its rings as fitting too
Cons
- - Needs Diaper Genie (or compatible) refills; listed as low stock when we checked
Steel with a soft-close lid
Diaper Genie Platinum Pail
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a steel Diaper Genie with a quieter, soft-closing lid.
This exact listing was unavailable at our last check; the button opens current Amazon results for it.
Pros
- + Stainless steel body with odor-locking clamps
- + Soft-closing lid and a foot pedal
- + Easy Roll refill holds up to 846 newborn diapers, which Diaper Genie says lasts up to 5 months
Cons
- - Holds up to 47 newborn diapers at a time, fewer than the Ubbi
Self-sealing lid, flexible refills
Munchkin STEP Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & Hammer
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a self-sealing pedal pail that takes Munchkin and select other rings.
Pros
- + Self-sealing system that Munchkin says keeps odors in with the lid open or closed
- + Comes with a starter refill ring, a Snap, Seal & Toss bag and an Arm & Hammer baking soda cartridge
- + Takes Munchkin refill rings and select other rings
Cons
- - The listing does not state how many diapers the pail holds
Cloth diapers, then a trash can
Diaper Dekor Plus Hands-Free Diaper Pail
From the listing · not testedBuy it for the largest Dekor; it turns into a trash can after diapers.
Pros
- + Hands-free pedal and a trap door; comes with a refill that holds up to 495 newborn diapers
- + Continuous liner you cut and tie at any length
- + Made from 70% recycled ABS plastic; converts to a trash can later
Cons
- - Dekor asks for genuine Dekor Plus refills, which we found only from resellers
A hands-free trap door
Diaper Dekor EKO Classic Diaper Pail
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a hands-free trap door and a trash can once diapers end.
Pros
- + The same pedal and trap door as the Plus
- + Pre-installed refill holds up to 495 newborn diapers
- + 70% recycled ABS; converts to a trash can later
Cons
- - Needs genuine Dekor Classic refills, which we found only from resellers
Parents who want a UV light
Munchkin UV Diaper Pail
From the listing · not testedOnly for parents who want the UV feature.
Pros
- + Self-sealing lid and step pedal, like the STEP
- + UV light that Munchkin says eliminates up to 99% of bacteria and viruses
- + Compatible with all Munchkin refill rings; USB cable and adapter included
Cons
- - Needs power for the UV light
Frequently Asked Questions
How many diapers does a diaper pail hold?
It depends whether the brand counts the pail or the refill. The Ubbi pail holds up to 55 newborn diapers and the Diaper Genie Platinum up to 47; the Complete's included refill holds 270, Dekor refills 495 and the Platinum's Easy Roll refill 846.
How long should I wash my hands after emptying the pail?
At least 20 seconds. The CDC says to "scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds," and lists "after touching garbage" as well as after changing diapers among the key times to wash.
Can I use hand sanitizer after a diaper change?
Only when soap and water aren't available. Then the CDC says to "use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol."
Proof
Sources
Everything this guide relies on, as linked in the text. Last checked September 28, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC
Amazon prices and availability change often; cards with a live Amazon price show when it was last checked. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
