If you have ever pushed open a swinging lid with your elbow while holding a cutting board full of onion skins, you already know why touchless bins sell. The EKO Mirage-X 47 Liter aims squarely at that moment, pairing a fast motion sensor with a removable inner bucket that keeps leaks off the steel.
At 18.5 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and roughly 25.5 inches tall, it slots into a cabinet gap or sits against a wall without dominating the room. The removable liner is the feature that separates this model from cheaper sensor bins: bag leaks land in a plastic bucket you can rinse in the sink, not in the bottom of a stainless shell.
- [47L / 12GAL LARGE CAPACITY] This 12 gal automatic kitchen trash can measures 18.5" W x 11" D x 25.6" H, with a 34" lid-open height, great for kitchens and home offices. The removable inner bucket lifts out for quick emptying and easy rinsing, and it fits EKO Code Z trash bags and includes Code Z samples to use right away
- [FAST & SMOOTH MOTION SENSOR] The advanced motion sensor opens the lid in 0.2s and closes automatically after 5 seconds, so you can toss scraps into this touchless trash can without touching the lid. For longer cooking sessions or other tasks, tap the stay-open button to keep this EKO 12 gallon motion sensor kitchen trash can open for up to 20 minutes—ideal for meal prep and cleanup
- [SOFT CLOSE & STAY-OPEN LID] Engineered for easy use, the soft-close lid opens smoothly for meal prep, food scraps, or quick liner changes in your kitchen garbage can. The whisper-quiet close prevents slamming, so this kitchen can with lid stays quieter and lasts longer in busy homes
Four AA alkaline batteries handle the power, the finish resists fingerprints, and a stay-open button lets you keep the lid up while you work through a pile of prep scraps.
Bottom Line
If you want a full-size kitchen bin with hands-free access and a liner you can actually clean, this EKO model earns its place. Check current availability and pricing on Amazon here.
EKO Mirage-X 47 Liter Touchless Trash Can Overview
Brushed stainless steel over a rectangular frame, 47 liters of capacity, and a lid that lifts to 34 inches when open define this bin. It weighs about 15 pounds empty, which keeps it planted when a dog or a toddler leans into it.
The shape matters for placement. The narrow 11-inch depth means it tucks beside a refrigerator or into a pantry nook where a round bin would waste floor space.
EKO sells this size against its own Code Z bags, and samples come in the box. It sits in the upper tier of the smart trash cans category on price, closer to premium sensor bins than to budget plastic models.
Hands-Free Motion Sensor and Stay-Open Control
Lid response is quoted at 0.2 seconds, with an automatic close five seconds after the sensor stops detecting motion. In practice, that means a quick wave of a wrist or a nudge of a hip opens it while both hands stay full.
The stay-open button is the more useful control. Press it and the lid holds for up to 20 minutes, which covers a full round of vegetable prep or a fridge cleanout without repeated triggering.
Sensor sensitivity is the trade-off. A bin placed in a busy walkway or near a swinging cabinet door picks up more passing motion than one tucked into a corner, so positioning is worth a moment of thought.
47-Liter Capacity and Removable Inner Bucket
Roughly 12.4 gallons of usable volume puts this bin above the standard 13-gallon bag’s typical fill line, which is why liner fit gets discussed so much by owners. The inner bucket lifts straight out with a handle, so you swap bags at waist height instead of wrestling with a tall steel shell.
That bucket is also the cleaning story. Rinse it in a utility sink or hose it off outside, then drop it back in dry.
The design keeps odors contained better than an open-body bin, a point apartment dwellers raise often. Compared with a compact sealed model like the Townew T1S, the EKO trades automation for volume.
Brushed Stainless Steel Finish and Soft-Close Lid
The brushed, fingerprint-resistant surface shrugs off the smudges that make polished steel bins look grimy by Wednesday. A damp microfiber cloth clears cooking splatter in one pass.
Soft-close damping stops the lid from clapping shut, which keeps late-night kitchen trips quiet and reduces stress on the hinge over thousands of cycles.
Build quality reads as solid: the steel does not flex under a hand, and the lid seats evenly. Owners of other brushed-steel sensor bins, including the iTouchless SensorCan, describe similar maintenance habits, so the finish behaves as expected for the material.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Removable plastic inner bucket catches leaks and lifts out for rinsing
- Fast 0.2-second sensor with a 20-minute stay-open mode
- Narrow 11-inch depth fits tight kitchen gaps despite the large capacity
- Fingerprint-resistant brushed finish wipes clean quickly
- Four AA batteries run for months, not weeks
- Weight and footprint resist tipping from pets
Cons
- Standard 13-gallon bags fit tightly, and EKO’s Code Z bags are the intended match
- Sensor can register passing motion in high-traffic spots
- Reports of lid mechanisms failing after a few months appear in owner feedback
- Higher cost than basic step-can alternatives
- 15-pound empty weight makes moving it for floor cleaning less casual
What Customer Reviews Reveal
Owner sentiment splits cleanly between people praising the liner system and people reporting sensor failures after a few months. Repeat buyers exist: one reviewer bought additional units specifically because the inner bucket contains spills that would otherwise pool inside a bare steel body.
Odor control draws consistent praise, including from small-apartment owners through summer months. Battery life also lands well, with several noting infrequent replacements.
The complaints cluster around phantom triggering. A subset of owners describe lids that begin opening and closing unprompted after one to two months, with the problem surfacing outside the shortest return windows.
Bag fit generates its own thread. Costco-brand 13-gallon liners work for some owners, while others found the fit tight enough to require practice before it went smoothly. If sensor reliability is your main worry, comparing notes against the Ninestars DZT is worthwhile.
Conclusion
Buy this bin for the removable liner and the capacity, and treat the sensor as a convenience rather than the main draw. The combination of a 47-liter volume with an 11-inch depth is unusual, and the lift-out bucket solves the single messiest problem with tall kitchen cans.
Set expectations on bag fit before ordering: EKO Code Z liners are the intended consumable, and standard 13-gallon bags require a snug stretch over the rim.
Position it away from doorways and heavy foot traffic to reduce unwanted triggering, keep the receipt through the first few months, and check the best smart trash can comparisons if you want a shortlist before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are touchless garbage cans worth it for a kitchen?
For kitchens where raw meat, greasy pans, and full hands are routine, yes. Skipping the lid contact keeps cross-contamination down and speeds up cleanup, though you trade a mechanical lid for batteries and electronics that eventually wear out.
Do standard 13-gallon trash bags fit the EKO Mirage-X?
They fit, but tightly. EKO designed the bin around its Code Z bags and includes samples, while owners report that 13-gallon liners including Costco’s white bags can be stretched over the inner bucket rim with a bit of practice.
How long do the batteries last in the EKO Mirage-X trash can?
EKO rates four AA alkaline batteries at up to eight months of hands-free use. Real-world life shifts with how frequently the sensor triggers, so a bin in a busy walkway drains faster than one in a quiet corner.
Can the EKO Mirage-X lid stay open during meal prep?
Yes, a dedicated stay-open button holds the lid up for as long as 20 minutes. Press it again or wait out the timer to return to normal sensor operation, which closes the lid five seconds after motion stops.
Is the EKO Mirage-X large enough for a family kitchen?
At 47 liters, roughly 12.4 gallons, it handles a family of four’s daily waste without needing to be emptied midway through the day. Households that generate a lot of recycling or regularly cook large meals often pair it with a second bin instead of choosing a larger one.
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