Best litter boxes in 2026: 5 picks from $12 to top-entry

The five litter boxes at a glance

The five picks cover the main box styles: a plain open pan, a high-sided open box, a stainless steel box, a hooded box with a filter and a top-entry box. Prices were seen on the maker's own site on Oct 18, 2026, unless marked.

The 2020 version of this list featured decor boxes such as a fake plant pot and a box built into a side table, plus little-known Amazon brands. Those were dropped in favor of boxes whose makers publish sizes and prices. The Modkat Flip stays, in its current kit form.

How many boxes, how big and how much litter

The Humane Society of the United States gives a short set of rules that apply to every box on this list:

• Keep one box per cat, plus one extra, placed in different parts of the home.
• The box should be large enough for the cat to turn around comfortably and low enough for easy entry and exit.
• Most cats prefer about 2 inches of litter. Adding more does not reduce the need to scoop daily.
• Covered boxes can reduce scatter and smell in the room, but they can also trap odor inside and make some cats feel trapped, especially in homes with several cats. If a cat avoids a covered box, switch to an open one.
• Box liners often catch on claws, and many cats avoid boxes with them.

A common rule of thumb on cat care sites is a box at least one and a half times the cat's length from nose to the base of the tail. Many standard boxes sold as large are smaller than that for a big adult cat, so measure before buying.

If a cat that used its box well starts going elsewhere, the Humane Society's first step is a vet visit, since urinary tract infections and arthritis are common causes. A vet can say whether a lower entry or a different box would help.

Under $25: Van Ness and IRIS open boxes

Van Ness Large Framed Cat Litter Pan

Van Ness makes the plain plastic pans many shelters and vet offices use. The Large Framed pan has a snap-on rim that helps keep litter in when a cat digs. Chewy's listing showed a list price of $11.79, with a lower sale price, in search results seen in October 2026. Walmart and Petco also carry Van Ness pans. The same company sells a High Sides box, which Chewy listed at $13.95 in the same results, for cats that kick litter.

Who it is for: a second or third box in a multi-cat home, kittens, or anyone testing what a new cat likes before spending more.

IRIS USA Large Open Top with Tall Scatter Shield

The IRIS USA open-top box was $22.99 on irisusainc.com and comes with a scoop. Tall walls on three sides act as a scatter shield and contain spraying, while the open top lets the cat see around it and lets the owner see when it needs scooping. IRIS says it is made in the USA with global materials, and its smooth surfaces and rounded edges are meant to be easy to wipe out.

Who it is for: most single-cat homes. It follows the Humane Society advice on open, accessible boxes and adds the scatter control most owners want.

Stainless steel: IRIS USA enclosed high-sided box

Plastic boxes scratch over time, and the scratches hold odor. A stainless steel pan avoids that. The IRIS USA Stainless Steel Litter Box was $49.99 on irisusainc.com on Oct 18, 2026. IRIS lists it at 19 in long, 15 in wide and 11.75 in high, with a stainless steel bottom and tall plastic walls around an open top. Felt pads on the base protect floors.

IRIS also sells an XXL version for $89.99. At 19 in long, the standard size may be short for a very large cat by the length rule of thumb above, so owners of big cats should compare the XXL dimensions.

Who it is for: owners who plan to keep a box for years and want a surface that wipes clean without holding smell.

Hooded: Arm & Hammer Large Hooded Litter Pan

The Arm & Hammer Large Hooded Litter Pan, made by Petmate, was $36.99 on petmate.com on Oct 18, 2026. Petmate says the pan has Microban antimicrobial protection to slow the growth of odor-causing bacteria, a carbon filter in the hood, a large carry handle and locking side latches. It is made in the USA from 90% recycled material.

A hood keeps litter in the box and hides the view, which is why many owners like them in small apartments. The Humane Society's point about trapped odor matters here: a carbon filter helps, but a hooded box still needs daily scooping, and some cats refuse a hood. Introducing it with the hood off for a few days is a common approach.

Who it is for: cats that already accept a covered box and homes where the box sits in a shared space.

Top-entry: IRIS USA for $28 or Modkat from $139

Modkat Flip Starter Kit

The Modkat Flip Starter Kit was $139.47 on modkat.com on Oct 18, 2026, against a list price of $154.97. The kit includes the Flip box, a litter mat, four Type F liners, a hanging scoop and an odor filter holder with two filters. Modkat's specs: 20.5 x 15.8 x 16.8 in overall, a 17.5 x 13 in base, an 8 x 9.5 in entry that sits 6.75 in off the floor, and a lid rated to hold 24 lbs. The lid has three positions: fully open, half open or closed. The base is one piece with no joints, which Modkat says prevents leaks from cats that pee against the wall. Modkat says a reusable liner lasts up to three months.

The Modkat XL, at $189.99 for the box alone, is the larger option. It can be set up for top entry, front entry or both, measures 21 x 16.5 x 17 in, and has a lid rated to 30 lbs. Modkat calls it its largest top-entry box.

Two cautions from the box rules above apply. Both Modkat boxes are built around liners, which some cats dislike, and a raised or top entry is harder for older cats or cats with arthritis.

A cheaper top-entry box

IRIS USA's Top Entry Cat Litter Box, Large was $27.99 on irisusainc.com. The lid has grooves that catch litter from paws as the cat climbs out, and the high walls hide the litter. It is a low-cost way to find out whether a cat will accept top entry before paying for a Modkat.

Who it is for: young, agile cats that scatter or track litter, and homes with dogs that raid the box.

Where to buy litter boxes and litter for less

A box is a one-time cost. Litter is the bill that repeats, so the bigger savings come from how litter is bought. Points from the October 2026 check:

• Amazon's Subscribe & Save lowers the price of eligible items on a delivery schedule, with bigger savings when five or more subscriptions arrive on the same day. Delivery is free and subscriptions can be cancelled any time. Heavy litter is a good fit for it.
• On Amazon product pages, look for a clip-on coupon before adding to cart. Amazon rarely offers sitewide promo codes.
• Prime costs $14.99 a month. Prime for Young Adults is $7.49 a month for ages 18-24 and students, and Prime Access is $6.99 a month for eligible assistance recipients. Prime shipping matters for bulky boxes and litter.
• Most items can be returned to Amazon within 30 days of delivery in original or unused condition. Keep the packaging until the cat has used the new box.
• Compare the brand sites. IRIS USA, Petmate and Modkat all sell direct, and Modkat was showing kit prices below list on Oct 18, 2026.
• Petco and Chewy carry Van Ness, IRIS and Arm & Hammer boxes, and Petco stores let a buyer see the real size before buying.

PickedBox keeps current offers on the Amazon coupon page and the Petco coupon page. If scooping every day is the real problem, see best self-cleaning litter boxes.

The row below is the same row as on the Amazon page. Amazon opens in a new tab.

Deal Subscribe & Save: save on repeat deliveries, more with 5 or more items Eligible products only. Savings increase when 5 or more subscriptions arrive on the same day. Delivery is free; cancel any time. Deal · Worked Oct 9, 2026 · listed since Oct 2026 Get deal Opens Amazon in a new tab. No code needed.

How we checked this

On Oct 18, 2026, PickedBox read the product listings on irisusainc.com, petmate.com and modkat.com and recorded prices, sizes and features. Chewy, Petco, Walmart and Amazon blocked automated access, so the Van Ness prices come from Chewy listings as shown in search results. Box count, size, litter depth, covered box and liner guidance comes from the Humane Society of the United States. Amazon programs and policies come from the PickedBox Amazon store page, checked Oct 13, 2026. No litter boxes were bought or used for this guide.

• Humane Society: preventing litter box problems
• Chewy: Van Ness Large Framed Cat Litter Pan
• Chewy: Van Ness High Sides Cat Litter Box
• IRIS USA: Large Open Top with Tall Scatter Shield
• IRIS USA: Stainless Steel Litter Box
• IRIS USA: Top Entry Cat Litter Box, Large
• Petmate: Arm & Hammer Large Hooded Litter Pan
• Modkat: Flip Starter Kit
• Modkat: Modkat XL
• Amazon Subscribe & Save

How we test codes and what the labels mean: How we verify coupons.