How To Make A Compost Bin On A Budget: 7 Easy DIY Projects For Beginners

Many gardeners want to learn how to make a compost bin, and for good reason. Not only is composting a low-cost way to nourish your plants with the most nutritious soil improver, but it also recycles food and garden waste that might otherwise be sent to landfill. The alternative is to contribute to your municipality's compost program, but that has no benefit for your own garden.

So, we all know the value of starting a compost bin – but not everyone knows how to do it. To the uninitiated, learning how to compost at home can seem like a mysterious art, mixing the perfect blend of ingredients to awaken microorganisms that produce enzymes. As if by magic, the pile heats up, helping to kill harmful bacteria and weed seeds, and breaking down the waste into rich, loamy compost.

For those who have the space (and it may take less space than you think) and the inclination, a DIY compost bin is the first step on your composting journey, putting the resulting nutrient-rich material directly in your hands with little to no cost. Of course, you could just buy one of the best compost bins on the market – but once you know how easy it is to make one, you won't look back. Then, all you need to do is learn what can be composted and maintain your pile.

DIY Compost Bin Considerations

Composting can be as simple as starting a pile of yard waste in an out of the way corner of your yard. However, this doesn’t often get the attention it needs to become compost, instead becoming a sprawling giant of detritus that is unsightly and never goes away. If you’re against this vision, you’ll want to know how to make a composter.

A DIY bin is an option to contain the compost, making it easier to work with, less unsightly and more efficient. These bins can be made out of a myriad of materials – from wood to concrete to stone or wire – and can be free to fairly inexpensive.

Before choosing what type of bin you want, consider the cost, the amount of effort you’re willing to put in, and the size of the structure.

1. Wood Slat Compost Bin

There are so many materials that can be used to make a compost bin, and wood is a good option. The main downside is that wood will eventually decompose, and even cheaper wood can be costly when used to make a large bin. However, if you have access to reclaimed – from an old fence, a home remodel, or other structure – you can significantly cut costs while minimizing waste.

A basic wood compost bin is a rectangular, four-sided structure made from slatted wooden planks or boards that are screwed or nailed together. You will need enough wooden planks or slats for the sides, four wooden corner posts – ideally 4x4 inches (10x10cm) or 2x4 inches (5x10cm) – and deck screws or nails.

To extend the bin's lifespan, use pressure-treated wood (rated for ground contact) or a naturally rot-resistant type like cedar or redwood.

Choose a level, well-drained area of the garden to site your bin. Ideally, it should be a fairly sunny spot, as compost breaks down more slowly in the shade.

A good size for a compost bin is between 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2m) wide and 3 to 4 feet high (0.9-1.2m). However, in a small garden, 3 by 3 feet (0.9 by 0.9m) is a usable size.

1. Cut the four corner posts to your desired bin height. Measure the distance between the posts and cut your wooden planks or slats for the sides.
2. Attach the slats horizontally to the corner posts, spacing them about ½ to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5cm) apart. These gaps are important to allow for airflow, which helps the compost to break down. Secure the slats to the posts with deck screws or nails.
3. For easy access to the compost, attach slats to only half the height of the bin front, or better yet, install a removable or hinged front panel.
4. For added protection against pests like mice and rats, and to keep the contents securely inside, you can wrap chicken wire around the exterior.

2. Pallet Compost Bin

This is another wood bin option that's very economical if you can source the pallets for free. Check industrial areas that often have stacks of these out for the taking. Be sure to ask if they are not labeled as such though!

You will need 3-4 pallets; it depends on if you want a three-sided structure or a fourth pallet for use as a gate or enclosure.

The beauty of a pallet compost bin is not only its affordability, but its fairly lightweight construction with panels that can be easily opened to turn the compost material or access it when done while still providing a structure to contain these materials.

To make a pallet bin, take a pallet for the back of the bin and stand it on its long edge. Then, position the two side pallets at right angles. To secure the palettes in place, you can either attach them with deck screws or nails, reinforcing the corners internally with corner brackets, or drive stakes through the open ends of the pallets on both ends to secure them into the ground.

You can leave the front open for easy access to the compost, but a better solution is to make a stable door-type opening by cutting the front pallet in half horizontally and affixing it to the bin on one side using door hinges, fitted to the outside so the pallet sections swing outwards. Leave a slight gap between the floor and the palette, and between the top and bottom sections, for easy movement.

3. Compost Trash Can

A compost trash can is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to start composting. All you need is a plastic or metal garbage can with a locking lid, a drill with a hole saw bit, and three or four cinder blocks for drainage.

To make your bin, drill holes all around the can, including the bottom and lid, for airflow and drainage. If using a plastic can, place a 2x4 inside while drilling to prevent it from warping. Once assembled, set the can on cinder blocks to keep it elevated and improve drainage.

To use, layer kitchen scraps with soil, shredded newspaper, or sawdust each time you add waste. Stir occasionally to aerate, and add water if it dries out. This bin can also be used in winter to store compost until spring, when it will break down quickly. For stability, keep it on solid footing to prevent tipping from animals or wind.

4. Bucket Compost Bin

Making 5-gallon bucket compost couldn’t be any easier – and it's the perfect solution for small space composting. All you need to do is purchase a plastic bucket from your local hardware store or, ask nicely at a restaurant that uses large quantities of say, pickles or mayonnaise. You might get one for free.

Drill several holes in the bottom of the bucket. Add a layer of shredded leaves or newspaper (carbon), followed by a layer of food scraps (nitrogen). Repeat, alternating your carbon layer with a nitrogen layer.

Turn the mixture every few days and keep it slightly moist to aid in decomposition. The downside of this method of DIY composting is that it can smell, so take it outside or dump it frequently into a larger outdoor composting pile.

If you want to take it up a notch, use a bucket with a lid and try bokashi composting. This Japanese method involves sprinkling a bran mix containing microorganisms over each layer of food waste to kickstart a fermentation process that produces plantable compost in just one to two months.

5. Chicken Wire Compost Enclosure

Chicken wire is inexpensive and easy to find, making it a great option for a DIY compost enclosure. Start by driving stakes about 6 inches (15cm) into the ground along the edges of a rectangular shape – sized to suit your needs – spacing them about a foot (30cm) apart. Alternatively, you can make a small circular bin, using 3-4 stakes.

Wrap chicken wire around the outside of the stakes and secure it by looping baling wire around both the stakes and the wire. To keep the stakes from spreading outward, tie lengths of baling wire across the width of the bin at the top or middle, creating cross supports that help maintain the structure while allowing plenty of room for compost.

When it's time to turn the compost pile, cut the baling wire securing the chicken wire to the stakes by cutting or untwisting it. Then, remove the cross-bracing wires and simply roll back the chicken wire to access the compost. Depending on the size of the enclosure, you may only need to remove one side when turning. Once you're done, you can reattach the chicken wire and cross supports as before.

6. Cinder Block or Brick Compost Bin

You can build a simple, durable compost bin using cinder blocks, bricks, or even rocks – often available for free or at low cost through social media, resale sites, or leftover from landscaping projects. This type of bin is sturdy, long-lasting, and easy to access.

To build it, stack the blocks to form three sides of a square, leaving the front open or at half height for easy access to fill, turn, and use the compost. There’s no need for mortar – just stack the blocks securely, leaving small gaps between them to allow for air circulation. Alternatively, build a circular brick design that will add to the character of your garden.

This no-mortar design makes the bin breathable, simple to build, and easy to adjust or move if needed.

7. Straw Bale Composter

Straw bales can be used to make a highly eco-friendly DIY composter. The walls become part of the pile and, when the bales break down, composting the straw will increase the carbon content and balance out the pile. Straw bales will also help to retain moisture and heat in the compost while allowing air to circulate.

Use three or more bales (depending on the size of bin you want) to form a C-shape. These become the walls of the compost bin, helping to enclose the yard waste and food scraps. It's as simple as that.

As the straw bales break down, you can add them to the compost bin and replace them with new ones.

Getting the Best Out of a DIY Compost Bin

Whatever method you use for building your own DIY compost bin, make sure it is easy to access. If you make it too difficult to fill or turn, very likely it won’t get the attention it deserves and will just become a pile of yard waste that doesn’t break down. The whole point is to create something that will turn what is waste into black gold for your garden which does require some tending.

Along with turning compost, remember to keep it moist and add both carbon and nitrogen sources to the pile – known as compost greens and browns. To speed up the decomposition process, either break or cut up debris or run it through a lawn mower or shredder.

Compost piles also need air to aid in the decomposition process, so never cover your pile with plastic unless it is finished compost. If you find the pile is getting too wet, you can cover it with a compost blanket, a special covering made from composted materials that allows for air exchange yet sheds rainwater.

Good things come to those who wait and you can expect finished compost within a year – less if you combine some of these clever ways to speed up composting.

Your Next Read

• Learn how to make amazing organic compost with worms, in our essential vermicomposting guide.
• Browse composting solutions in the Gardening Know How Shop – from a clever in-ground worm bed to a state-of-the-art electric composter.
• Discover the secrets of hot composting – the faster way to make rich, organic compost at home.
• Are electric composters the future of sustainability? Find out whether a countertop food recycler is the right choice for you.