Litter & Litter Boxes
Best Stainless Steel Litter Boxes
(opens Amazon in a new tab)Stainless steel litter boxes are sold on the promise that metal won't hold odor the way scratched plastic can. We looked for evidence and found none: the feline vet guidelines on litter boxes don't discuss box material at all [1]. What they do cover is size, cleaning and sides, and that's how we judged these boxes.
We picked three: an extra-large box with high walls, a smaller all-steel open pan, and a covered steel box with a lid.
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best OverallWoofiGo XL Stainless Steel Litter BoxLongest pan here at 23.5 inches, with a high plastic wall and a scoopCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best All-Steel Open PanKirecoo Large High-Sided Stainless Steel Litter BoxOne-piece steel pan with 6-inch sides and rounded edgesCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best Covered Steel BoxAIPERRO XL Enclosed Stainless Steel Litter BoxSteel box with a lid, plus a litter mat and metal scoopCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we picked
We searched Amazon for stainless steel litter boxes. Many results were unbranded look-alikes, so we kept branded listings rated at least 4 out of 5 with thousands of ratings, and read each one in full.
We compared each box's listed size against the AAFP and ISFM house-soiling guidelines [1], and the covered box against a study of covered versus open boxes [2]. For litter itself, see our odor-control litter guide.
What the vet guidelines say about litter boxes
Size first. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend a rectangular box 1.5 times the length of your cat, measured from nose to base of tail [1]. For a cat that's 18 inches long, that means a box about 27 inches long. None of our picks quite gets there, so choose the longest one that fits your space.
On cleaning, the same guidelines say to scoop at least once a day and wash the box every 1 to 4 weeks. Use soap and hot water only, and avoid strong chemicals and ammonia-based products [1].
High sides help: the guidelines say a high-sided box gives some security and catches urine from cats that stand to pee. A box with one side cut low is easier for older cats or cats with joint problems to get into [1]. If your cat seems stiff or avoids the box, ask your vet.
On lids, the guidelines say cats are about evenly split between large covered and open boxes. They still recommend open boxes where possible, because they're easier for you to check and scoop [1]. A study of 27 cats given one of each, with both boxes scooped daily, found no overall preference [2].
WoofiGo XL Stainless Steel Litter Box
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
This is the biggest box here: 23.5 by 15.6 inches, with a curved high wall (the listing gives its height as both 6 and 12 inches). That's the closest of our picks to the 1.5-times-your-cat guideline [1], and the high wall fits the guidelines' point about cats that stand to pee [1].
Only the pan is stainless steel. The high wall around it is ABS plastic, clipped on with buckles, and the listing includes a scoop and a pedal it says reduces tracked litter.
Good to know
- Longest pan of our picks
- High wall for cats that stand to pee [1]
- Scoop included; sold by Amazon
Keep in mind
- The wall is plastic; only the pan is steel
- The listing calls the walls both "6 inch" and "12 inch", and the title says open top while the spec says covered
- Odor-free and "never rusty" are the listing's claims, not something the guidelines address
Kirecoo Large High-Sided Stainless Steel Litter Box
Sold by Kirecoo Direct, ships from Amazon.
If you want a box that is all metal, with no plastic parts listed, this is it. It's a simple open pan with 6-inch sides, a smooth rim and rounded edges, according to the listing.
It's smaller than the title's "Large" suggests: 17.5 by 13.6 inches. By the 1.5-times guideline [1], that suits a kitten or small cat, and the listing itself mentions small cats and kittens. The open top follows the guidelines' preference for open boxes where possible [1].
Good to know
- All stainless steel, per the listing
- Open top, easy to check and scoop [1]
- Weighs 2.27 pounds, per the listing
Keep in mind
- Small: 17.5 inches long, short for most adult cats by the guideline [1]
- No scoop listed
- The listing's claim that it won't hold smells is its own; we found no study on this
AIPERRO XL Enclosed Stainless Steel Litter Box
Sold by AIPERRO Store, ships from Amazon.
Some cats and people prefer a covered box. The guidelines say cats split about evenly between covered and open [1], and a study found no overall preference [2], so a lid is mostly your call. This one is stainless steel with a top cover and a 30° angled plate that the listing says keeps litter from being carried out.
It comes with a litter mat and an all-metal scoop that hooks onto the lid, and it lists a one-year warranty.
Good to know
- Lid for cats or homes that prefer one
- Mat and metal scoop included
- One-year warranty listed
Keep in mind
- The listing gives two sizes: 23 × 15 × 11 in and 20 × 13 × 17 in
- A lid makes daily checks harder, which is why the guidelines favor open boxes [1]
- "Leak-proof" and "no odor" are the listing's claims
- The title says enclosed with a lid; the spec calls it a pan litter box
Side by side
| Product | Length × width | Sides | Top | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WoofiGo XL | 23.5 × 15.6 in | High wall, plastic (listed as 6 in and 12 in) | Open | Scoop |
| Kirecoo Large | 17.5 × 13.6 in | 6 in (steel) | Open | None listed |
| AIPERRO XL | 23 × 15 in (also listed as 20 × 13) | Covered; 11 in tall overall (17 in per detail table) | Covered | Mat, metal scoop |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked September 2026.
What to look for
Length first
Measure your cat from nose to base of tail and multiply by 1.5 [1]. Most steel boxes fall short for a big cat, so buy the longest that fits.
High sides, easy entry
High sides catch urine from cats that stand [1], but a low entry makes it easier for older cats or cats with joint problems to get in [1]. If your cat seems stiff or avoids the box, ask your vet.
What's actually steel
Some "stainless" boxes have plastic walls or lids. Check which parts are metal.
Cleaning
Scoop daily and wash every 1 to 4 weeks with soap and hot water, never ammonia-based cleaners [1].
The bottom line
- Best Overall: The WoofiGo XL is the longest pan here with a high wall, though the wall is plastic.
- Best All-Steel Open Pan: The Kirecoo is all steel and open, but small: best for kittens and small cats.
- Best Covered Steel Box: The AIPERRO is for cats and homes that prefer a lid, with a mat and scoop included.
Questions pet parents ask
Are stainless steel litter boxes better than plastic?
We couldn't find evidence either way. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines don't discuss box material [1]; claims that steel doesn't hold odor come from the sellers. Size, daily scooping and regular washing are what the guidelines stress.
What size litter box does my cat need?
The guidelines recommend 1.5 times your cat's length from nose to base of tail [1]. For an 18-inch cat, that's about 27 inches.
Should I get a covered or open litter box?
How often should I clean a stainless steel litter box?
Scoop at least once a day and wash the whole box every 1 to 4 weeks with soap and hot water, avoiding strong chemicals and ammonia [1].
How many litter boxes do I need?
The guidelines give a rule of thumb of one more box than the number of cats, and suggest two boxes in separate spots even for one cat [1].
Sources
- AAFP and ISFM Guidelines for Diagnosing and Solving House-Soiling Behavior in Cats, Carney HC et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 16:579–598 (2014). journals.sagepub.com
- Grigg EK, Pick L, Nibblett B. Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15(4):280–284 (2013). journals.sagepub.com