The 7 best weed trimming trays and containers for your crop

For the cultivation enthusiast, few things feel quite as good as finally harvesting your plants after months of nurturing them through each phase of the cannabis life cycle. But every grower knows that the work doesn’t end when you pull your plants out of the ground.

While trimming is an activity that many dismiss as monotonous, repetitive, or tedious, the fact is that trimming is an essential part of the post-harvest process. It’s an opportunity to prime and trim your buds so all your hard work gets a chance to shine.

Don’t you grow so hot? Find flower deals near you

What are trimming boxes and trays used for?

Once the plants have been harvested and the buds have been ‘polished’ from their branches, the finer work of trimming begins. Trimming removes sugar leaves, stems, and crow’s feet (the leaves around the bottom of a bud). And not trimming only separates buds from trimmings and waste, but these components mostly need to be organized and stored separately for their individual use.

Gone are the days of covering your trimming workstation with tarpaulins to contain the mess and then tossing the trimmed buds into boxes. With the advent of specialty equipment, you can now make trimming a cleaner, more efficient, and easier process with containers and bowls designed specifically for trimming cannabis.

What should I look out for when buying exercise baskets and bowls?

There are a variety of intelligently designed containers and bowls. You should consider the following when comparing products:

• Design Features: Design features such as arm grooves, non-slip floors and micro-strainers for the kief collection are now available.
• Height and weight: The size not only differs in depth (containers are deeper than trays), but also the work surfaces and sieve sizes vary from product to product. Some products are also lighter than others.
• Material: Most trays and containers are primarily made of plastic, but some are made of stainless steel. Plastic trays and containers can be lighter and easier to clean, while stainless steel trays and containers are more durable but heavier.
• Other Accessories: Some trays and containers come with scissors, brushes for collecting kief, and/or a magnifying glass for examining your buds.

7 trim bins and trays to try

There are many trimming bowls and containers to choose from, but here is a selection of the most popular and top rated options.

TrimBin by Harvest More

One of the first specialized clipping bins on the market, the Harvest More TrimBin is still widely used and loved. It’s also available from many vendors and is priced in the mid-range. Harvest More also offers bin accessories such as a side bag attachment for waste and clippings.

advantages

• High-wall design that prevents random parts from flying out and making a mess in your workspace
• Side handles for carrying and transporting
• Ergonomic design that allows hands to rest comfortably in the container when working on your lap or a tabletop
• Two-piece system that includes a top bin with a 150 micron screen for kief collection and an anti-static brush to aid in kief collection
• Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic

Disadvantages

• Heavier than some of the other containers and trays on the market
• Can be difficult to use if the container gets too full and needs to be emptied frequently
• The floor will be slippery on some surfaces

Price: $48.99 at Amazon

Harvest More TrimBin filter

The TrimBin filter is almost identical to the TrimBin, but instead of the kief micron screen, it features a grading screen base, allowing the trimmer to separate unwanted materials from their trimmings as you work.

advantages

• Same design features, ergonomics and recycled materials as the TrimBin
• Can be used in conjunction with the TrimBin for a complete trim system

Disadvantages:

• Similar disadvantages as the TrimBin in terms of weight, size and a potentially slippery floor
• Does not allow gathering of kief

Price: $42.99 at Amazon

Round trimming bowl from Lawnful

These round trays are the most affordable and compact option on this list. For those looking for a simple and smaller no-frills trimming tray, this tray has an understated design that fits right on a kitchen shelf when not in use.

Advantages:

• Two-tray system with fine mesh screen for kief collection
• Built-in kief scraper stored in handle
• Made from a non-slip material
• Lightweight at about 2 lbs
• With handles for easy carrying

Disadvantages:

• small capacity
• Gaps between the shells can cause material to fall into the kief

Price: Trays only – $29.99 at Amazon

Bonus: Scissors and magnifying glass kit – $39.99 at Amazon

Trimming tray from Common Culture

For those who prefer the tray style over a container, Common Culture’s Trimming Tray is a two-tray system that allows you to collect kief with a flatter design that’s lighter than most container options.

Advantages:

• No exposed rivets to get dirty
• Smooth bottom that can be made non-slip with included rubber feet
• A 20″ x 13″ trim area that is larger than other comparable trays
• Two tray system with a 150 micron screen for kief collection
• Comes with a brush to help with kief collection and a handy scraper/magnifying glass combo

Disadvantages:

• Lower walls can allow more trim to fly out and create a mess
• Does not have the ergonomic properties of other containers

Price: $45.35 on GrowersHouse

Ablaze Tray by Ablaze

The Ablaze Tray is very similar to Harvest More’s TrimBin, but at a lower price point. It offers largely the same functionality and most of the same features with just a few small differences.

Advantages:

• Ergonomic design with arm grooves to allow hands to rest in bin while working
• High wall design to reduce clutter
• Side handles for easy portability
• 150 micron sieve for kief collection
• Made from recyclable polypropylene plastic

Disadvantages:

• The filter screen is not flush with the bottom of the bowl
• Heavier than some of the other containers and trays on the market
• Can be difficult to use if the container gets too full and needs to be emptied frequently
• The floor will be slippery on some surfaces

Price: $39.99 at Amazon

Trim Tray by Heavy Harvest

Heavy Harvest’s Trim Tray is quite similar to Common Culture’s Trimming Tray but has a few additional features that set it apart and give it a slightly higher price tag.

Advantages:

• Lighter weight than other containers and trays on this list (1.5lbs vs ~3 – 3.5lbs)
• Additional 100 and 200 micron screens are available for different trichome sizes
• Non-slip and non-stick pad on the bottom tray
• Comes with a tool that can be used to scrape kief and as a magnifying glass

Disadvantages:

• Lower walls can create more clutter
• Does not have the same ergonomic design as other containers

Price: $55.85 at Monster Gardens

bottom line

There are many quality trimming bowls and containers out there for home and commercial growers alike. With a variety of design features and price points, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and finding a tray or container that suits your preferred style of trimming.

Editor’s Note: Weedmaps does not receive affiliate revenue from the brands featured in this article and all products are independently selected. The only influence Weedmaps News is subject to is Weed.

Lauren Wilson

Lauren is a best-selling author and a versatile nerd. When she’s not writing books, she’s watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, playing her ukulele, or pondering the future of AI. You can find her on social media at @laurendoesthis.