Most people who want a hidden bin aren't renovating. The kitchen is already there, the cupboards are already built, and the bin is still standing in the corner getting kicked.
That's a different problem from choosing a bin for a kitchen that hasn't been installed yet. You're not specifying — you're retrofitting, and the cupboard you've got decides almost everything.
This guide covers the retrofit: which cupboard to use, what's likely to be in the way, what to do about a fixed shelf, and what size suits each cupboard width. If you're specifying a bin for a new kitchen instead, our pull out bin sizing guide is the better starting point.
What Is a Kitchen Cupboard Bin?
A kitchen cupboard bin is a waste bin installed inside a cabinet so it stays hidden when the door is closed. It sits on a frame or door bracket and slides forward when you open the cupboard, keeping rubbish out of sight and the floor clear.
In Australia you'll see overlapping terms such as in-cupboard bin, cabinet bin, integrated bin, kitchen unit bin, under-bench bin and pull out bin. In everyday shopping they often refer to concealed kitchen-bin systems, although mounting and opening mechanisms can differ.
Which Cupboard Should You Use?
This is the decision most people skip, and it's the one that determines whether the retrofit works.
· A base cupboard next to the sink is often a practical starting point. It's where food prep and scraping happen, it's typically 400–600mm wide, and it has a full-height opening with nothing above it.
· The sink cupboard is an obvious place to consider, but it can also be one of the more difficult cabinets to work with. It's often the widest, but the sink bowl takes the top of the space and the plumbing can occupy the middle or back. It does work — under-sink systems are made for it — but it needs measuring around the waste trap rather than measuring the cupboard. Our under sink bins buying guide covers that properly.
· A cupboard with a drawer above it loses height to the drawer box, which often rules out taller twin systems. Measure from the cupboard floor to the underside of the drawer, not to the benchtop.
· An end-of-run or corner cupboard needs extra checking. Door swing, adjacent walls and access in front of the cabinet can limit how comfortably a pull-out system works.
· What makes a cupboard suitable: a clear opening, enough internal width, depth and height for the chosen bin system, minimal fixed obstructions, and comfortable access in front of the cupboard.
What's Likely to Be in the Way?
In a new kitchen the cupboard is empty. In an existing one it rarely is. A few recurring obstacles are responsible for many cupboard-bin fit problems:
· A fixed shelf. A common blocker. See the next section.
· Hinges and hinge plates. European hinges mount to the cupboard side wall and project inwards. They steal width exactly where a side-mounted frame wants to sit.
· The kickboard height. Base-mounted frames sit on the cupboard floor. If your cupboard floor sits above a deep kickboard, check the bin still clears the door opening on the way out.
· Plumbing and services. Not just under the sink — dishwasher hoses, water filters and gas lines often run through the neighbouring cupboard.
· Whatever currently lives in there. Cleaning products under the sink, the recycling tub, a fire blanket. Worth deciding where those go before you commit the cupboard to a bin.
Measure the clear internal width, clear internal depth and clear height — the space actually free of all of the above, not the cupboard's nominal size. A cupboard sold as 450mm gives you noticeably less than 450mm inside.
What If the Cupboard Has a Fixed Shelf?
Many existing base cupboards have one, and it's the point where a lot of people give up. You have four options, roughly in order of effort:
· Remove it. If the shelf sits on adjustable pins, it can often be lifted out without tools, giving you a full-height cupboard. Check first that it isn't contributing to the cabinet's structure.
· Work under it. If the shelf sits high enough, a compact single bin may fit underneath. Check the exact product height and allow enough clearance to remove the bucket.
· Use a door-mounted system. These hang from the door rather than standing on the cupboard floor, so a shelf above them is often irrelevant as long as the bucket clears it on the swing.
· Cut it back. A cabinetmaker can trim a fixed shelf to a half-depth shelf, keeping some storage and freeing the front of the cupboard. Worth a quote if the cupboard is otherwise ideal.
Frame-Mounted or Door-Mounted for a Retrofit?
In a new kitchen this is mostly a preference. In a retrofit it's often decided for you.
· Frame-mounted systems attach to the cabinet base or side and operate independently of the door, making them less dependent on door hardware. They are available across a broad range of capacities and configurations, and they need a clear cupboard and a few screws into the carcass.
· Door-mounted systems attach to the door itself, so door condition, hinge capacity and opening clearance need to be checked carefully. They can be the better answer when the cupboard has a fixed shelf, a shallow floor, or an obstruction low down.
We've compared the two in detail in Pull Out Bins vs Door Mounted Bins if you're weighing them up.
What Size Kitchen Cupboard Bin Fits Your Cupboard?
Once you know your clear internal width, you can work straight from it:
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Cupboard width |
Current range at The Kitchen Bins |
|
|
400mm |
Approx. 12L–40L |
|
|
450mm |
Approx. 30L–74L |
|
|
500mm |
Approx. 34L–84L |
|
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600mm |
Up to 94L |
The range is also divided into 13 capacity bands from 1–10L up to 84–94L, so you can match the bin to how often you empty it rather than taking the nearest available size.
One thing worth resisting: choosing the biggest bin the cupboard will take. A larger bucket holds more, but it's heavier to lift out and it leaves less room if you later want a second compartment for recycling. Think about how often you currently take the rubbish out.
Why Choose The Kitchen Bins?
Choosing the right cupboard bin is easier when you can compare options by cabinet size, mounting style, capacity and replacement-part availability in one place.
- Kitchen bins are our speciality. Our range focuses on pull-out bins, door-mounted bins, door-operated systems, free-standing bins and replacement buckets.
- Shop by cupboard width. Instead of starting with litre capacity alone, you can browse options for common cabinet widths including 400mm, 450mm, 500mm and 600mm.
- Replacement parts are available for selected systems. We stock replacement buckets and components for selected Wesco, NINKA, Hailo and Hafele-compatible systems, so a damaged bucket does not necessarily mean replacing the complete unit.
- Ask us before you buy. Send us your clear internal cabinet width, depth and height and we can help narrow down suitable options. If nothing in the range is appropriate for your cupboard, we'll tell you.
Our range includes systems from Wesco, Hailo, Hafele, Blum, Kia Ora, Hideaway and NINKA, giving you options across different cabinet sizes, capacities and mounting styles.
Why Shop With Us?
- Australian-owned, operating since 1992 and based in Lonsdale, South Australia
- Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $200
- 30-day returns and exchanges
- 24/7 online support, with phone support available on (08) 8296 0044
Already measured your cupboard?
Browse kitchen bins by cabinet width, or send us your clear internal width, depth and height and we'll help you narrow down the options.
About The Kitchen Bins
The Kitchen Bins is part of The Storage Shop, an Australian-owned business operating since 1992 and based in Lonsdale, South Australia. It began with a cabinet maker — which is why our advice tends to be about carcass openings, runner clearance and travel paths rather than colour options.
The range spans roughly 1L to 94L across 400mm to 600mm cupboard widths, in single, twin, triple and quad-compartment configurations, from Wesco, Hailo, Hafele, Blum, Kia Ora, Hideaway and NINKA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a bin inside a kitchen cupboard?
Yes. A kitchen cupboard bin mounts inside an existing cabinet on a frame or door bracket and slides out when you open the door. What matters is that the cupboard has a clear opening, enough internal width, depth and height for the system you choose, and no fixed obstructions in the way.
What's the difference between a cupboard bin and a pull-out bin?
They usually describe the same thing. "Cupboard bin" refers to where the bin lives — concealed inside a cabinet — while "pull-out bin" refers to how it moves. A bin can be both. The meaningful differences are the mounting style and the capacity, not the name.
How do you fit a bin in a cupboard that has a fixed shelf?
Four options: lift the shelf out if it's on adjustable pins, fit a compact single bin underneath it, use a door-mounted system that doesn't rely on the cupboard floor, or have a cabinetmaker trim the shelf back to half depth. Check the shelf isn't bracing the carcass before removing it.
Do cupboard bins need to be screwed into the cupboard?
Most frame-mounted systems do — a few screws into the cupboard base or side walls. Door-mounted systems fix to the inside of the door instead. Either way it's a small number of fixings in places that aren't visible once the door is closed.
Can a cupboard bin go under a drawer?
Sometimes, but height is the constraint rather than width. Measure from the cupboard floor to the underside of the drawer box, not to the benchtop — the drawer can take 100mm or more, which often rules out taller twin systems.
What size cupboard bin do I need for a 400mm cupboard?
Our 400mm range runs from about 12L to 40L, covering single bins and twin configurations. Measure the clear internal width first, though: a cupboard sold as 400mm gives you less than that once the carcass sides and hinge hardware are accounted for.
Getting It Right
For many existing kitchens, adding a cupboard bin is a relatively small upgrade compared with changing the cabinetry. The key is to choose the cupboard first, measure the clear internal space, and then shortlist systems that match those measurements.
Following that order gives you a much better chance of choosing a system that fits without unnecessary trial and error.
Browse cupboard bins by width, or send us your measurements and we'll check it for you.