Best Worm Composters

How to Choose a Worm Composter

Vermicomposting turns food scraps into garden gold using red wiggler worms. Indoor-friendly, odor-free when done right, and producing the best fertilizer nature offers. Here's how to start.

Vermicomposting Basics

Red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida) eat half their weight in food scraps daily. They produce "castings" (worm poop)—incredibly rich fertilizer—and liquid "worm tea" for plants. It's composting on fast-forward.

### System Types

Stacking Tray Systems
Multiple trays stack vertically. Fill one tray; when full, add another on top. Worms migrate up, leaving finished castings in lower trays to harvest. Most popular home systems.

Flow-Through Systems
Feed at top, harvest from bottom. Castings naturally migrate down while worms stay up. Continuous harvest without disturbing the colony.

Simple Bins
Single container with bedding and worms. Cheapest but harvest requires separating worms from castings manually. Good for learning.

### Size Considerations

1-2 people: Compact system (2-3 trays, small bag)
3-4 people: Standard system (4+ trays, regular bag)
Large family/serious gardener: Premium systems or multiple units

One pound of worms handles roughly half a pound of food scraps daily.

### Location Requirements

Indoor or outdoor (protected from temperature extremes). Worms thrive 55-77°F. Basements, garages, kitchens under sinks all work. Proper systems don't smell—if it stinks, something's wrong.

### Getting Worms

Most systems don't include worms. Order red wigglers online (not earthworms—different species). Start with 1 pound (1,000 worms); they'll multiply. Local bait shops sometimes carry them.