Modern kitchens serve so many purposes; we cook, clean, socialise and work here, so it’s no surprise that we want to make sure they’re as functional as possible. And one of the most practical ways to do this is by maximising the available space with clever storage solutions.
Installing an in-cupboard kitchen bin comes with a host of benefits, with many customers highlighting their integrated bin as one of the kitchen essentials they couldn’t do without. A bin that you fit into your cabinet frees up floor space and keeps waste hidden while also providing a convenient recycling station.
These bins are also relatively simple for the competent DIYer to install – so long as you have the right instructions! It’s worth noting that a carpenter or handy person can install a bin for you, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a kitchen fitter. Here’s what you need to know before installing your integrated kitchen recycling bin.
How to Turn a Kitchen Cabinet into a Bin
There are several ways to turn your kitchen cupboard into a recycling bin, with a great selection of products for cabinets with pull-out doors, hinged doors and options suitable to fit under sinks. How you fit your bin will largely depend on what kind of cupboard you’re installing it into, as the corresponding bin units will have different frames and measurements.
Anyone can turn their kitchen cabinet into a bin as in-cupboard bins can be retrofitted into existing cabinets or added to your new build. If you’re in the design stage and you or your kitchen fitter would like any more details on any of our in-cupboard products, get in touch with the Binopolis team, and we’ll be happy to help..
If you’re sold on the idea of an in-cupboard bin but aren't sure where to start or are still considering products, check out our guide to the best kitchen bins from the best brands for a snapshot of some of our bestselling bins. We stock bins from industry-leading brands like Wesco, Hailo and Vauth-Sagel, so you can be sure you’re getting the utmost quality.
Where to Install Your Integrated Bin
While most people probably don’t have a spare cupboard that doesn't get used at all, you might have one that doesn’t make the most of its storage potential and would serve you better when repurposed as a bin.
Where you install a bin in your existing kitchen will likely come down to your layout and the dimensions of your cabinets. If you have a 600mm-wide cupboard you can spare, this will allow you to fit some of our biggest capacity bins, ensuring you won’t have to empty rubbish as frequently.
However, you’d be surprised by how much capacity even a narrow 300mm cabinet can hold. If you can devote a cabinet like this to a bin, you can have up to 40 litres of recycling capacity ingeniously hidden inside.
Measuring Up for Your Kitchen Bin
When you’re choosing an in-cupboard bin, you’ll first need to establish three key measurements that’ll indicate which bin you can fit. These include:
- Cabinet width (internal and external)
- Cabinet height (typical cabinets are usually 680mm)
- Cabinet depth (kitchen cabinets are generally somewhere between 450mm and 600mm)
We stock an extensive range of products to fit numerous cabinet sizes, so you will likely find something to fit your cupboards even if they have non-standard measurements. You can see the measurements and dimensions for all our products in their product description, so provided your own measurements are accurate, you should have no problem finding a bin to fit your cupboard.
You can read our buying guide to in-cupboard bins for more information and some additional tips on measuring up.
How to Install In-Cupboard Bins for Cabinets with Pull-Out Doors
Bins for cabinets with pull-out doors are a precise fit to the internal width of the cabinet. Where we say bins for 400mm doors, for example, that is the starting point to identify the size of base unit or cabinet that the model is designed to fit, but from there it’s important to check that your internal width is correct for the product. For instance, the internal width for a cabinet with a 400mm wide door is likely to be within a tolerance of 362-368mm, which the bin needs to fit to in order to function properly.
Once you’ve checked the internal width, please then check the internal depth you have, from front inner edge to the back panel or wall, as depth is the dimension which varies most across cabinets and also bin models. Finally check the height inside the cabinet, you may have the full height to devote to a bin, but if you have a top drawer or simply don’t need the tallest capacity bins, there are lower height models to choose from.
Most of our pull-out products come with soft-close runners to allow for easy operation. You will need to fit these runners to the sides of the cabinet casing, which can take some skill as you’ll need to ensure they are level.
You will also need to attach the bin unit to the back of your cabinet door, again ensuring everything is properly aligned.
All of our bins for cabinets with pull-out doors come with instructions or fitting templates specific to each model to ensure installation is as straightforward as possible. If you would particularly like a model with a fitting template included, look for Vauth-Sagel, Hailo, Gollinucci and Blanco models which all come with a card template which is held up to the cabinet sides and door, giving you the exact fixing positions.
However models from Wesco, Ninka and Tecnoinox do come with printed instructions and we also send our customers buying these models our own detailed fitting notes by email. So, you or your fitter will have all the necessary fitting information, and we are here to answer any additional fitting queries.
Pull-Out In-Cupboard Bins Frequently Asked Questions
We are often asked about these particular points:
Can I convert a hinged door cabinet to a pull-out?
In principle you can remove a door from its hinges so that it becomes a panel to apply to the front of a bin unit for pull-out doors. One issue is that if you have a handle down one side of the door, this may not be ideal over years of pulling out a finely-balanced pull-out bin, which are best pulled out from the centre of the door, but if you can alter the handle position, or possibly create a routing or groove for pulling out, this will help.
I have an in-frame cabinet: how do I fit a pull-out bin?
The key dimension here is the width of the ‘exit’ through the frame, which will be the door width. Because the bin unit needs to pull out through the frame, this width will determine the size of the bin unit to fit. If the internal cabinet width is wider than the width of the frame/door, you will need to line or batten the inside cabinet sides to achieve the correct fitting width for the bin model.
For example, if you have a 600mm base unit with a framed door, you will likely need a bin unit from the section for ‘500mm doors’, because these will fit to an internal width of 462-468mm and therefore should pull out through the frame. One point to check here is with doors which may have a thinner central panel – if the door has a thicker surround, this needs to be wide enough to accommodate secure fixing of the door brackets.
My cabinet is a non-standard size: can I fit a bin for pull-out doors?
The internal width of a cabinet is the key dimension in determining which bin unit you can fit. If you have a bespoke or unusual internal width, you should be able to batten or line the internal sides to achieve the correct width as specified on the product page.
If you have a restricted depth front to back, or lower height, there are many options with shorter fitting depths or lower heights. Remember, if it appears that your internal depth is not enough to fit the bin you’re interested in, it can be possible to remove the upper part of a back panel in order to free up more depth.
If you’re still unsure about which bin is right for you, explore some of our most popular products in our guide to the best integrated bins for 600mm-wide pull-out cabinets.
How to Install In-Cupboard Bins for Cabinets with Hinged Doors
Generally, the bins for cabinets with hinged doors are the simplest installations. Many of these bins have a metal frame which screws to the base of the cabinet, giving you some leeway as to where you position it within the width of the cupboard.
These bins are very easy to fit, with most requiring just 4-6screws to hold the bin in place – when installed, you simply open the door and pull the bin out from the cabinet with the panel at the front. When pushed back in, the door then closes.
As these models are self-contained units, each bin will fit any cabinet with the minimum designated width or wider. It’s worth noting that the largest capacity double compartment bins for hinged door cabinets are under the heading of ‘400mm hinged doors’ – these can fit cabinets of this size upwards. You could position the bin unit on one side of a wider cabinet and use the remaining space for extra storage.
Each in-cupboard bin for cabinets with hinged doors comes with specific measurements, so you can get a good idea of how it will fit within your cupboard.
We also have a selection of bins which attach to a hinged cabinet door and swing out when the door is opened, allowing for easy access. These bins tend to be cylindrical or in a rectangular shape to fit across the back of the door. Please check the space that you have inside the cupboard if looking at this type, as many have lids which stay inside the cupboard and the volume of the bin itself needs to swing back into the cabinet too.
In-cupboard Bins for Hinged Door Cabinets Frequently Asked Questions
We are often asked about these particular points:
I have a 600mm or wider hinged door cabinet, what are my bin options?
There is one Blanco bin model (pictured below shown under a sink) made to fit across a 600mm cabinet, but you can also fit any hinged door model by positioning it either in the centre or to one side of the cabinet (checking the depth and height of each model too).
It can be possible to fit two bins for a 300mm cabinet into a 600mm unit, side by side. This method could offer up to 80 litres of capacity by fitting two 40L single bins, or perhaps one single and one double compartment bin, to create a 3 compartment recycling set up.
How do the bin units fit round the hinges inside the cabinet?
The product widths given for the bins which fix to the base of hinged door cabinets are measured at the maximum point, which is across the back of the lid. The height of these bins is designed to fit below the top hinge in most installations, and, at the bottom front of the bin, the combination of tapered bin containers and the open nature of the steel frame means that the units are designed to fit away from the bottom hinge in most common hinge sizes and designs.
How to Install In-Cupboard Bins for Under-Sink Cabinets
The same general fitting instructions as above will likely apply to bins for under-sink cabinets, with some additional considerations.
If you are installing a bin in an under-sink cupboard, the bin you choose will need a lower height and shorter depth than other in-cupboard options as you’ll have to fit it in front of or below pipework and plumbing.
This is why understanding the correct measurements is essential, whether you would like a pull-out door for your sink cabinet or whether the door will be on hinges. To find out which of our bins are most suitable for under-sink installation, see our guide to the best kitchen bins for under-sink cabinets.
Our bins in this range will come with specific fitting instructions for each product, along with a fitting video for additional guidance. The simplest installations include bins for cabinets with hinged doors, or lower height and depth models for pull-out doors. Blanco, Hailo and Vauth-Sagel bins all come with a card template giving you all fixing positions needed for accurate fitting.
So long as you choose the correct size model and follow the fitting instructions supplied with your bin, whether a template or working from our emailed detailed notes, installation shouldn’t be a problem.
There are plenty of ways to get the most out of your waste storage systems, and installing an in-cupboard bin might just be the perfect space-saving solution for your kitchen!
