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The best wormeries in 2026 – as tested by our gardening experts

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BBC Gardeners' World Magazine wormeries review

The best wormeries in 2026 – as tested by our gardening experts

Sue Fisher

Published: Wednesday, 11 February 2026 at 11:01 am

Looking for a wormery for your kitchen and garden waste? Browse our experts' picks, from stacked wormeries to single-chamber models

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A wormery is a great way of recycling kitchen and small amounts of garden waste, using worms to turn this material into nutrient-rich natural compost. A sump within the wormery also holds any excess liquid produced during this process, and this can be used to feed your plants, too. Simply drain it with the tap, every few days, dilute it to a 1:10 ratio of water, and you have a nitrogen-heavy liquid feed ready to use.

Wormery composting worms are different species from the earthworms you see in your garden, which aren't suitable, and are known as brandlings, red, manure or tiger worms. They live inside the waste in the wormery bin and, thanks to big appetites and a fast metabolism, quickly break down food waste like egg shells, vegetable peelings and tea bags and turn them into compost for your garden. For help getting started, our helpful step-by-step guide explains how to set up a wormery.

Best wormeries at a glance

Best wormery for high capacity and ease of use: WormCity
Best wormery for longest warranty and best design: WormBox
Best wormery for worm composting and self-draining: Hungry Bin Worm Composter

Jump to:

The best wormeries
The best of the rest
How to choose a wormery
How we tested the wormeries
Troubleshooting tips for your wormery

Our expertise Getting the right wormery for you means making sure it's the correct size, has an adequate number of trays and is simple to use. We've tested a range of different wormeries and each one has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up, value for money, ease of use and storage. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on wormeries that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list. Every wormery in our round up below has scored a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars, so you can buy with confidence.

In every review, we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best wormeries, below.

The best wormeries

WormCity

RRP: £87-£110 (75-125 litres)

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy stacking wormery: WormCity

Reasons to buy:

Largest capacity and well-designed
Easy and efficient to use
Stable square base
100 per cent recycled, good warranty
Well priced for size

Reasons to avoid:

More accessible to slugs than most

This wormery by WormCity has a large tray capacity of 75 litres, which is impressive considering its size on the ground (75cm x 43cm x 43cm). Our testers found that the deep trays produced a high amount of good-quality compost. We were also impressed by the well-planned design, which features a V-shaped sump and stepped interior. It’s made in the UK from 100 per cent recycled materials, and 500g of worms are included along with food and bedding. We judged this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy as the best stacking wormery.

Read the full WormCity Wormery review

Buy the WormCity Wormery from Amazon

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WormBox

RRP: £92.50

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy for most versatile design: WormBox

Reasons to buy:

Smart, versatile design in many colours
Suits indoors or outside – fully rainproof
Mostly recycled plastic
Longest warranty

Reasons to avoid:

Tap close to the ground, so not easy to drain

Unlike most stacking wormeries, the WormBox model (38cm x 50cm x 50cm) is rainproof. We found it to be sturdy and were impressed with the versatile design, which includes castors for easy moving. Each tray has a capacity of 16 litres, which produces a moderate amount of compost, and the sump works well. Worms and a coir mat are included with the starter model, and there is the option to add a planting tray to the top or use it as a seat, with a load of up to 100kg. A generous 15-year warranty is included, and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the most versatile design.

Read the full WormBox wormery review

Buy the WormBox from Amazon

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Hungry Bin Worm Composter

RRP: £275.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Best Buy low maintenance choice: Hungry Bin Worm Composter

Best Buy low-maintenance choice: Hungry Bin Worm Composter

Reasons to buy:

Substantial capacity to process waste
Drains itself
Easy to harvest finished compost
Rainproof with a hinged lid

Reasons to avoid:

The open drain tray attracts flies
Largest footprint
Expensive

This conical-shaped wormery (60cm x 65cm x 95cm) sits on a metal frame, which is on wheels to make it easier to manoeuvre. It has a total capacity of 80 litres, but the large surface area means worms can process up to 2kg of waste per day. You can access finished compost by unclipping the base, which our testers found to be a simple process. It's guaranteed for two years and is made from between 15 and 20 per cent recycled plastic. We awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best low-maintenance choice.

Read the full review: Hungry Bin worm composter review

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Maze Worm Farm

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon and The Range

Maze Worm Farm - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Maze Worm Farm

Reasons to buy:

Lightweight, compact and portable
Pull-out tray and hook for hanging lid
Mostly recycled plastic

Reasons to avoid:

Lowest capacity per tray
Slowest to process waste

This compact wormery (28cm x 38cm x 38cm) features 12 litre trays and a central drain. This model had the smallest capacity of those we tested and took the longest to compost overall, although we found the quality of what was produced to be good. A pull-out central tray harvests small amounts of castings, and it can be customised with a range of accessories. It's guaranteed for one year.

Buy the Maze Worm Farm from Amazon and The Range

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Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Mano Mano and On Buy

BBC Gardeners' World magazine wormery review Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery Wormery

Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery

Reasons to buy:

Neat and compact
Good-sized trays with handles for easy, clean handling
Removable and visible collector for liquid
Clearly written and illustrated printed instructions
Made from recycled plastic

Reasons to avoid:

The liquid collector is small and needs frequent emptying
The lid warps slightly and doesn’t fit snugly
Worm blanket mentioned in instructions, but not included

This wormery has a neat, square design and is primarily designed for indoor use. It has a smart appearance, although the bright green lid does stand out and may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s quick and easy to assemble and has clearly written, printed instructions. It also has many well-thought-out design features, including two good-sized trays, each with 13 13-litre capacity and lift-up handles, a lid with internal hooks that sits vertically on the edge of the wormery unit whilst filling, and a clear plastic collector that slots beneath the lowest tray to fill with worm liquid. It’s also easy to see the level inside, and it's simple to remove.

However, this collector is small and fills up quickly, so if you’re using it indoors, it can easily overflow and make a mess. This is a particular drawback if you’re away for any length of time, and you’d need to plan ahead and replace it with something larger. Hooking the lid on the side works fine unless there’s condensation inside, which then drips onto the ground. Of course, both these issues wouldn’t be much of a problem if you used the wormery outside, but unfortunately, outdoors, the lid warped very slightly, blew off easily and needed to be weighted down. Most of the worms moved upwards through the wormery into the upper tray containing fresh waste, and this model has good eco-credentials. It’s made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and has a 12-month warranty.

Buy the Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery from Mano Mano and On Buy

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Urbalive Worm Farm

RRP: from £142.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Urbalive Worm Farm - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Urbalive Worm Farm

Reasons to buy:

Attractive design
Available in four colours
Produced good quality/quantity of compost

Reasons to avoid:

Worms drowned in the sump
Needs a sheltered site
Made from new plastic

The Urbalive Worm Farm (60.5cm x 50.5cm x 38cm) has a large capacity of 21.7 litres per tray. Our testers liked the contemporary design and larger capacity and found it composted well. The wooden legs were tricky to fit, though, and needed a screwdriver, which is not supplied. We found the mesh “worm catcher” did not work, and if used outdoors, it must be under cover. A two-year warranty is included.

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Original Wormery

RRP: £124.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Original Wormery - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Original Wormery

Reasons to buy:

Large capacity for small footprint
Well priced for its size
Rainproof with a hinged lid

Reasons to avoid:

Hard to harvest compost
Drain tap close to the ground, so hard to drain
Made from new plastic

This single-chamber wormery (73cm x 53cm x 43cm) has an overall capacity of 100 litres. It's styled in a wheelie bin design, including a hinged lid, and is rainproof. The compost is harvested by emptying the bin completely, which means separating it from the worms and unprocessed waste. It's guaranteed for one year.

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If you're interested in other types of composting, see our review of the best garden compost bins and if you're planning on keeping your wormery sheltered or somewhere enclosed, our guides to garden storage ideas and the best garden sheds may also be helpful.

How to choose a wormery

When you're choosing a wormery, there are a few details to consider:

What types of wormeries are there?

Stacking wormeries: These have multiple trays with mesh bases stacked on top of each other and making up to three or four layers in total. Waste and worms are added to the first tray until it's full, and then the second tray is added on top. The worms work their way up through the mesh base of each layer as they fill up, and another tray is added. Finished compost is removed from the bottom tray, and once emptied, this is placed back on top of the other trays to repeat the process. Trays range in capacity from 12 and 25 litres
Single-chamber wormeries: These consist of one large, single chamber where the waste is processed all together. Waste material is placed on the top and harvested from below once the worms have worked their magic. You need to empty it all to access the finished compost

Where should I place my wormery?

The optimum temperature for a wormery is between 15 and 25°C; anything above 35°C and your worms won’t be able to survive. You should therefore place your wormery in a sheltered, shaded spot, somewhere you can access it easily to fill it up and drain the liquid a couple of times a week. An outbuilding or porch is a good place, and some models can even be kept in the kitchen. Be aware, though, that they can start to smell if they're left for too long.

What should I put in my wormery?

Kitchen waste is best for a wormery, although small amounts of garden waste can also be added. Raw or cooked vegetables, fruit, coffee grounds, teabags and eggshells are all ideal food for worms. Avoid meat and fish, dairy products and tough woody plant material.

How we tested wormeries

The wormeries were set up in the summer and tested throughout the year. A regular mix of cooked and raw kitchen waste with paper and brown cardboard was added, and their performance was assessed according to the following criteria, each with equal weight:

Design and setup: Assessed clarity and ease of instructions, siting conditions and any extra features
Ease of use: Looked at how straightforward it is to add waste and harvest liquid, any design flaws and features or accessories which affected use
Compost quality and harvesting: Focused on the quantity and quality of the compost and liquid produced and whether the worms were thriving
Value for money: Considered the quality and durability of the model as well as the RRP, warranty and eco-credentials

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Troubleshooting tips for your wormery

Soggy and smelly?

Drain liquid from the new waste before adding, and drain off liquid regularly to reduce condensation. If the model lets in rain, cover loosely.

Lots of tiny flies

These fruit flies, although harmless, can be annoying. Bury fresh waste or cover with damp newspaper or brown card.

Mouldy contents

Damp conditions are essential for worms as they breathe through their skin, so they actually like mouldy food. However, lots of uneaten waste may be a sign that you’re adding too much at one go – little and often is best. Chopping up waste first helps.

What to do in winter

If possible, move your wormery into an outhouse or porch. But outside is fine with care; cover with insulating material, put thick layers of card and paper inside the top, and drain often.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

These wormeries were reviewed in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

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