FAQ: GETTING STARTED: What SIZE DO I NEED?
What size composter do I need?
The right size depends on how much food waste your home or business produces, how often you want to load the composter, and how much finished compost you would like to make.
A simple way to choose
Most customers are happiest with a system that is slightly larger than their current needs. Extra capacity provides flexibility for seasonal garden waste, larger food scrap volumes, and future growth, while helping maintain ideal composting conditions. Smaller systems are best for limited spaces and lower compost volumes.
Why bigger can be better
Composting works best when there is enough material to hold heat, moisture, and microbial activity. A very small composter can work well for light use, but larger systems generally make it easier to maintain active composting conditions.
For most homes, a 300L system offers the best balance of capacity, performance, and ease of use.
Compare Durvela sizes at a glance
Seeing the systems together makes it easier to understand the difference between compact household composting, larger property use, and commercial-scale food waste processing.
One Consistent Sizing Basis
How Durvela size recommendations are calculated
- Four-week active composting period: sizing is based on the active volume present in the drum during approximately four weeks of rotary hot composting.
- Working fill by model: Durvela allows mixing and airflow space by sizing to approximately 65% working fill for the 120 L, 70% for the 300 L, and 75% for the 900 L and 2000 L systems.
- Balanced to 30:1 available C:N: browns are not assumed as a fixed equal volume. The compost calculator estimates the carbon-rich material required to bring the mix close to the 30:1 available carbon-to-nitrogen target.
- Browns count toward capacity: food scraps, recommended browns, and any added moisture all contribute to the active drum volume.
- Approximately 40% volume reduction: the sizing model assumes the blended material retains about 60% of its input volume during the four-week active composting period.
The weekly food-scrap examples shown below are simplified kitchen-scrap estimates using the same calculator model. Exact recommendations depend on feedstock, browns, moisture, bulk density, and how often material is added.
Want the most accurate recommendation?
Use the Compost Calculator when your mix includes grass, leaves, cardboard, wood pellets, animal bedding, brewery waste, meat, dairy, or other feedstocks. It calculates browns and water before recommending a Durvela size.
Smaller spaces
Durvela 120
Best for condos, patios, couples, and smaller households.
- Example kitchen-scrap input: up to about 13 kg (29 lb) per week when balanced with recommended browns
- Best for smaller households and lower-volume use
- Compact footprint
- 1010 × 900 × 1350 mm / approx. 40 × 35 × 53 in
Most homes
Durvela 300
The best choice for most households and hobby gardeners.
- Example kitchen-scrap input: up to about 36 kg (79 lb) per week when balanced with recommended browns
- Best for most households, frequent cooking, and active gardens
- Excellent heat retention
- 1380 × 1100 × 1610 mm / approx. 54 × 43 × 63 in
Higher volume
Durvela 900
Designed for hobby farms, acreages, schools, cafés, and eco-resorts.
- Example kitchen-scrap input: up to about 117 kg (258 lb) per week when balanced with recommended browns
- Best for acreages, farms, schools, cafés, and high-volume properties
- Frequent loading capability
- 2180 × 1350 × 1800 mm / approx. 86 × 53 × 71 in
Pro
Durvela 2000
Designed for restaurants, institutions, farms, resorts, and commercial operations.
- Example kitchen-scrap input: up to about 259 kg (571 lb) per week when balanced with recommended browns
- Best for restaurants, institutions, resorts, and commercial operations
- Continuous high-volume processing
- 3140 × 1350 × 1940 mm / approx. 124 × 53 × 76 in
Quick Size Guide
Not sure which size to choose?
For most homeowners, the safest choice is the 300 size. It gives you more room to balance food scraps with browns, holds heat better, and gives the composting process more stability.
Still not sure which size is right for you?
Estimate your food waste volume, compost output, and potential savings with the Durvela Cost-Benefit Calculator.
Think in daily habits, not just volume
A smaller household that cooks occasionally may only need a compact system. A family that cooks most meals at home, gardens, or wants to compost more consistently will usually benefit from a larger system.
Choose smaller if:
You have limited space, cook lightly, or generate small amounts of food scraps.
Choose larger if:
You cook often, garden regularly, have a family or business or want more consistent hot composting performance.
Learn more about:
Common sizing questions
What if I am between two sizes?
If you are between two sizes, choose the larger system. Extra capacity gives you more room to balance food scraps with browns, helps retain heat, and provides flexibility for seasonal garden waste or heavier use.
Can I add garden waste?
Yes. Garden waste can be added, especially when balanced with food scraps and suitable browns. Avoid overloading the system with bulky branches or woody material unless it has been chipped or shredded. If you are unsure how much garden waste your system can handle, use the Durvela Compost Calculator to estimate the ideal mix of food scraps, browns, and garden waste for your composting system.
Can I compost meat and dairy?
Durvela systems are designed for controlled hot composting, which can make more challenging food scraps easier to manage than in a basic backyard pile. Meat, dairy, and cooked foods should still be added carefully and balanced with enough browns to manage moisture, odour, and composting activity. If you are unsure how much garden waste your system can handle, use the Durvela Compost Calculator to estimate the ideal mix of food scraps, browns, and garden waste for your composting system.
Can I expand later?
Yes. Many customers start with one system and add additional capacity later as their household, property, garden, or business needs grow.
How much finished compost will I produce?
Finished compost output depends on the type of food scraps, the amount of browns added, moisture level, and how actively the system is managed. The Durvela Compost Benefit Calculator provides approximate output ranges for each Durvela model.
Ready to Choose Your Durvela?
Explore the full range of Durvela composting systems and find the model that best fits your household, property, or business.