A home composting bin is sustainable, practical and a must-have in any garden. We’ll show you how to build your own wooden composter.
17.01.2025
Compost is created when microorganisms convert organic waste into humus – recycling in its purest form! Compost improves soil structure and provides valuable nutrients when applied to growing beds.
Or to put it in practical terms: you can dispose of your garden and kitchen waste in a composter, then later fertilise your garden with the composted matter – a great reason to set up a composter!
Always keep in mind how to compost correctly and what you can dispose of in your composter.
Ready-made composters come in different sizes and price ranges, but you don’t need to buy one; with a little craftsmanship and patience, you can build your own wooden composter.
You can also download our instructions for building a composter in PDF format for printing – including a clear list of materials and tools for your trip to the DIY store.
Before you start work, here is the list of everything you need to build a garden compost bin:
Posts:
4 pieces 850 mm x 54 mm x 54 mm
Slats for the walls and the removal flap:
32 pieces 1000 mm x 80 mm x 18 mm
2 pieces 280 mm x 18 mm
Base frame:
2 pieces 1000 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
2 pieces 936 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
Flap connector to which the removal flap is screwed:
2 pieces 280 mm x 80 mm x 18 mm
Screws:
8 screws 4.5 x 100 mm for the frame, two per corner
8 screws 4.5 x 75 mm for fixing the 50 x 30 mm frame
timbers to the posts
124 screws 4.0 x 50 mm for the slats
12 screws 3.5 x 30 mm for the front panel boards
12 screws 3.5 x 16 mm for the hinges
Hinges and cabin hooks:
2 hinges measuring 100 mm x 70 mm for removal flap
3 cabin hooks 80 to 100 mm for the bottom flap
110 x 110 cm fine rabbit or aviary wire for mouseproofing mesh
Wood preservative oil or stain for outdoor use and a brush
STIHL tip:
Leftover wood panels are ideal for cost-effective upcycling as building material for your DIY composter if you have them available.
- Cordless chainsaw, e. g. STIHL MSA 140 C for the posts and frame wood
- Garden pruner, e.g. STIHL GTA 26 for the boards
- Stapler
- Cordless screwdriver
Spruce wood for the frame:
2 pieces 1000 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
2 pieces 936 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
Spruce wood for the two support triangles:
2 pieces 400 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
2 pieces 300 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
2 pieces 472 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm, inner angle of long side, 123° at the bottom and 147° at the top
Hinges to attach the screen to the compost container:
2 measuring 100 mm x 70 mm
Hinges for the two support triangles:
4 measuring 75 mm x 50 mm
Screws:
24 screws 3.5 x 50 (for the 4 hinges of the triangular frame) 8 screws 4.5 x 100 (for the frame), two per corner
3 screws 4.5 x 75 for the triangle, one at each screw point
1 roll of aviary wire 1 x 1 cm or fine rabbit wire to use as a sieving screen
Reed mat the size of the compost bin
Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing. Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with garden pruners and chainsaws. This includes, for example, safety glasses, gloves and more.
You will find more information in the owners manuals for your product. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use. On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for working safely.
Would you like to build your own practical garden compost bin and do you have all the necessary materials and tools to hand? Then you just need the following building instructions to get going. Enjoy!
First, cut the posts for your DIY composter with the STIHL MSA 140 C cordless chainsaw. With the STIHL GTA 26 cordless garden pruner, you can cut the boards to the right size of 28 x 100 cm and the frame wood to the size of 100 cm. Also remember to sand the corners and oil the boards.
Place two posts on the ground to align them. To do this, use two pieces of scrap wood cut to 89 cm as spacers to set them at the correct distance.
Now align the two posts with the first slat of the wall so that they are exactly level. Both sides of the slat should extend 18 mm beyond the posts – this is the thickness of the slats. The slats of the two side walls will later be fixed in this protruding section.
To be on the safe side, check the protrusion with another piece of wood of the appropriate thickness before screwing the first slat in place. For each additional slat, place a piece of waste wood cut to 3 cm on both sides as a spacer, so that all slats are spaced evenly.
Secure the slats using two 4.0 x 50 screws on each side so that the wood does not bend under the influence of moisture or dryness. Each side consists of eight slats. The front side initially only has five slats, as the removal flap later contributes the missing three.
Screw together three 100 cm long slats with two 28 cm long cross struts. To do this, place the three slats on the workbench using the usual 3 cm spacer and adjust the slats so that their ends are all lined up. Now screw the two cross struts in place at a distance of 20 cm from the edge.
Place the front side of your DIY composter bin on the workbench. Screw the removal flap with two hinges to the lowest slat on the front side, leaving a good 12 cm spacing from the edge.
Place the rear side on the floor and screw on the slats for the two side walls to it, in such a way that they fit into the protrusions of the horizontal posts on the rear side. Use two 4.0 x 50 mm screws on each side for this. The slats of the two side walls are now upright.
Now position the front side precisely on the upright side wall boards. Secure the front side by screwing through the slats of the side walls using two 4.0 x 50 mm screws on each side.
Now it’s time to screw on the cabin hooks. Start by attaching the two eyes to the removal flap, two hooks on one side of the composter – top and bottom – and one hook at the bottom on the other side of the composter. The two lower cabin hooks hold it closed, while the top hook holds the flap open when needed.
Mark the position of the hooks and screw them on based on their length – do so in such a way that they are easy to open and safe to close. One eye is already firmly attached to the hook, and this can be used as a lever during the screwing-in process.
To ensure that your DIY composter has sufficient space between it and the ground, and that the removal flap can be opened more easily, the composter stands on a 3 cm high surrounding frame made of 50 x 30 mm strips. Screw together the already cut-to-size strips for the frame with two 4.5 x 100 mm screws per corner. Then turn the wooden composter upside down and place the frame on the base of the composter. Screw through the frame and into the posts using two 4.5 x 75 mm screws.
The contents of the DIY composter will later be in direct contact with the garden soil. Tightly meshed rabbit or aviary wire blocks out mice that would otherwise like to nest in the compost. Tack the wire onto the composter’s wooden frame and cut it cleanly at the edges using wire scissors. Finally, turn over the composter and place it in its final spot in the garden – your DIY composter bin is now ready for use!
You can also screw on a sieving grid with hinges and attach two brackets to it. This screen helps to ensure the compost has a finer consistency before it is used in the garden. Coarse compost components such as roots or nut shells may detract from your growing bed.
Below, you can also download the building instructions for the sieving screen in PDF format for printing – including a clear list of materials and tools for your visit to the DIY store.
If you want to also assemble this sieving screen to match your home-made composter, we have the perfect guide for you with our video.
STIHL tip
Remember to moisten the compost regularly in summer so that its rotting down doesn’t stagnate in dry conditions.
More typical compost problems
When selecting a composter for your garden, you can choose between different types of composters, such as a thermo-composter or wooden composter.
A thermo-composter is used for rapid composting.
A thermo-composter is usually made of plastic and is covered for thermal insulation, so that the compost is protected from cold and dryness. The decisive advantage of these is fast composting, in just four to six months. Layer the compost every four weeks if possible, as it has only a small amount of air supply.
DIY wooden composter on a garden plot, with a dense hedge and trees in the background
Another option is a wooden composter. You should set this up in a weather-protected and semi-shaded location and turn over the contents at least once a year. It is best to use a hard-wearing wood such as larch to avoid wood rot.
If you have decided to build a home compost bin yourself, there are a few tips that you should take into account beforehand. Find out how to choose the right location and conceal the composter. This will make the composter a practical addition to your garden in no time.
Before you build your own composter, you should decide on a suitable location. It’s best to place your composter in shade or semi-shade, on a level surface. You should be able to easily reach the location with your wheelbarrow, and there should also be sufficient space next to the composter to sieve the raw compost.
STIHL tip
It’s best to choose a location for your composter that means it is in contact with the garden soil. This allows earthworms and other beneficial organisms to penetrate, and seepage water to run off without any problems.
A composter is certainly very practical, but you might prefer to position it discreetly. It’s best to hide the composter behind shrubs, a hedge or a summerhouse, so that it’s not visible from your terrace or your favourite place to sit. In this way, you can discreetly integrate the composter into the garden.
A reed mat is sustainable and protects compost.
For optimal moisture balance, cover your homemade compost bin with a bamboo or reed mat, for example. This provides effective protection against drying out and direct sunlight, as well as against rain,
while also guaranteeing the heat and moisture the compost need. Bamboo and reed mats are also very sustainable as they can be used over and over again. A plastic tarpaulin is only suitable for short-term use as a cover, as it allows very little air circulation.
The best composters include various kinds of open and closed composters. The advantages of a thermo-composter include fast composting, high nutrient content and the compost being broadly weed-free, while a wooden composter is a proven garden classic that you can easily build yourself.
A composter should have a lid or a cover to prevent the compost pile from drying out, cooling down or becoming too wet.
A composter converts organic material such as garden waste, via microorganisms, into stable humus which is crucial for healthy soil life.
Resistant wood, which is very durable due to its high resin content is suitable for a composter; one example of this kind of wood is larch.
It is best to place a garden compost bin in a semi-shaded location to help prevent drying out and rotting. Behind a garden room or somewhere protected by a hedge are suitable places. For sufficient fresh air, the location should be partially but not completely protected from wind. You can also place your home composting bin at the edge of your property, as it is generally permitted to locate it anywhere in your garden.
Compost should always be covered to protect it from direct rain and sunlight. This can be achieved with a tarpaulin or – as a more sustainable alternative – with a reed mat.
Yes, you are permitted to have a composter in your garden without any restrictions, as long as it is on your own property. It’s also ok to locate them close to the property boundary.
If you build a composter yourself, make sure you have an easily accessible, airy location and choose a durable building material such as larch wood. Also remember that not all garden waste should be disposed of in your DIY compost bin.
If a wooden composter is pressure treated and therefore weatherproof, it will last five to ten years depending on what conditions it is exposed to.
The right size to make a composter depends on the size of your garden and household. A rule of thumb is one cubic metre in size.
