The Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail finished first in four of the seven sources we analyzed: Babylist, Cubby at Home's 1,000-parent survey, Two Mama Bears' multi-year head-to-head, and MomLovesBest. That is a broader consensus than any other pail earned.
The steel body is the key differentiator. Plastic pails absorb diaper odor into the material itself over months of use, and no amount of washing gets it out. MomLovesBest rated the Ubbi's odor control at 4.5 out of 5 specifically because the powder-coated steel does not absorb smell the way plastic does. Editor Cambria Bold at Cubby at Home used hers through two children and confirmed the steel stayed odor-neutral with regular cleaning.
Then there is the bag situation. The Ubbi accepts any standard kitchen trash bag. Wirecutter calculated that proprietary refill systems (Diaper Genie, Munchkin, Dekor) cost hundreds of dollars more over two to three years of diapering. For a product you will use 8 to 10 times per day for two-plus years, those savings compound fast.
Two Mama Bears tested the Ubbi alongside a Diaper Genie for five years across three children. The Genie broke four times, each time requiring a full repurchase. The Ubbi never needed replacement. That durability gap, combined with bag freedom and competitive odor control, makes the Ubbi the clear overall pick.
What It Won't Do
The sliding lid is not hands-free. When you are holding a squirming, freshly changed baby in one arm, having to slide a lid open with the other hand is genuinely annoying. The Dekor EKO and Diaper Genie both offer foot pedals that let you drop a diaper in without using your hands at all. BabyGearLab ranked the Ubbi dead last in their testing (35/100), citing worse immediate odor containment than the Munchkin STEP's twist-seal mechanism. The narrow slot also jams on bulkier toddler diapers.
The Dekor EKO costs $40, roughly half what the Ubbi charges and a third of the Foundations Tall. BabyGearLab named it their "Best Bang for Your Pail Buck" for good reason.
The hands-free foot pedal is the headline feature. Step on the pedal, drop the diaper, walk away. No sliding, no pushing, no bending. Babylist specifically recommends the Dekor for cloth diaper users because the wide opening accommodates bulkier cloth diapers that jam in narrower pails.
The EKO model is made from 70% recycled plastic and includes a child-proof lock. The continuous liner system lets parents cut bags to custom sizes, which reduces waste compared to pre-sized refill cartridges. At $40, it provides the convenience features (foot pedal, child lock, wide opening) that usually cost $60 or more.
What It Won't Do
Odor control is the Dekor EKO's weakness. BabyGearLab scored it 64/100, well behind the Munchkin STEP (84/100). Babylist warns that once your baby starts eating solid food, the EKO cannot contain the increased smell. The plastic construction also feels flimsy in hand per BabyGearLab, and it will not match the Ubbi's multi-year durability.
Who Should Buy Which
Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail
Steel that locks in smell and works with any trash bag
- Parents who will use a diaper pail for 2+ years and want steel durability that outlasts plastic
- Anyone tired of buying proprietary refill bags and wanting to use standard kitchen trash bags
- Families planning multiple children who need a pail that survives being passed down
- Design-conscious parents who want a nursery-friendly pail available in 20+ colors
- Parents who empty the pail daily and can tolerate the brief smell when opening the sliding lid
Dekor EKO Diaper Pail
Hands-free foot pedal at half the price of steel pails
- Budget-conscious parents who want hands-free foot pedal convenience for under $40
- Cloth diaper users who need a wide opening that accommodates bulkier diapers
- Eco-conscious families attracted to the 70% recycled plastic construction
- Parents who value the foot pedal over steel material and are willing to accept weaker odor control
- Families with limited nursery space who need a compact, affordable pail with a child-proof lock