What is the best ash bucket for hot or cold ashes?
It needs to be metal to withstand the heat of hot embers and ash—many house fires have been started by people putting hot ashes into plastic buckets, which rapidly melt and catch fire.
The best ash buckets are made from steel, cast iron, copper, or other heat-resistant metal, and we’ve got a bunch to share with you.
Best ash buckets
 | Panacea Ash Bucket With Shovel |
| View On AmazonView On Tractor Supply |
 | Plow And Hearth Double-Bottom Ash Bucket |
| View On Amazon |
 | AMAGABELI Fireplace Ash Bucket |
| View On AmazonView On Home Depot |
There are many different styles of ash buckets, but at the end of the day, they’re just metal containers for carrying ashes from one place to another.
You can use them to clean ash from fireplaces, wood stoves, or fire pits. Some are also large enough to carry coal or kindling to your burner.
Before buying one, decide whether you want one with or without a lid. After that, you mostly decide on the look, style, and color.
However, another important feature to look out for is whether the ash bucket has a double bottom. A double-bottom pail is much more durable and can handle warm and hot ashes for much longer.
Here are our 7 top picks for the best ash bucket in various styles, metals, and price points.
1. Panacea Ash Bucket With Lid And Shovel
This basic ash bucket is great for those wanting an affordable, no-frills option. However, it does have a couple of frills: a lid and a shovel!
The Panacea Ash Can is a best-seller on Amazon. It’s a good size, looks tidy, and does the job.
It’s a steel container that is 13 inches high by 12.5 inches wide at the top. It’s powder-coated and comes in black.
The other cool thing about it is the pocket on the side of the bucket for holding the shovel, which means you don’t have to make room for it elsewhere.
Pros:
- One of the cheaper options
- It comes with a lid and shovel
- Looks good and has a strong handle
Cons:
- Not double bottomed
- Not as durable as some alternatives
2. Plow & Hearth Metal Fireplace Ash Bucket
This stunning black or copper-colored ash bucket with a lid can sit nicely beside your wood burner all year round.
It’s a double-bottomed galvanized iron pail, which means it’s extra tough and will last many years.
You can put warm to hot ashes in it without worrying about whether or not you’ll damage it. Hot ashes will burn through some types of metals, but you’ll be fine with this one.
It’s a 3-gallon ash bucket, so it’s not huge. Check the listing to see it in scale next to other items. The wooden handle won’t conduct heat and makes it easy to move.
Pros:
- Looks great
- Solid, durable, and heat-resistant
- Tight-fitting lid
- Choose black or copper
Cons:
- Not the cheapest
- The black should really be called grey
3. Amagabeli Fireplace Ash Can
For those wanting a more traditional shaped ash can, this one from Amagabeli is a top pick.
No, you don’t get a lid on a bucket like this, but not everyone needs or wants one.
My ash bucket doesn’t have a lid, and I only use it once a month or so through winter.
I empty out the ashes and then my bucket stays outside, so I don’t need a lid. I’m not going to leave ashes inside once they’ve been put in the bucket.
This model has some nice design features, a solid handle, and is made from durable steel. Use it for cleaning up ash after you’ve put out the fire pit, wood stove, or fireplace.
Pros:
- Nice design and shape
- Solid construction
- Tough handle
Cons:
- No lid
- Not double-bottomed
4. Smedley & York Coal And Ash Bucket
The Smedley & York Ash Bucket is helpful because it has a brush and a shovel.
The overall design is similar to others we’ve listed, but the brush is an added benefit.
It comes in two sizes, 1.5 gallon or 2.15 gallon, and can be purchased in a classic matte black finish or white. The lid fits on tight to keep any smokey odors inside the can and to prevent ash from blowing around when you’re emptying it.
It’s made from galvanized iron and can be used to carry ashes, coal, wood pellets, charcoal, or small bits of firewood.
Pros:
- Good accessories
- Tight-fitting lid
- Stylish design
Cons:
- Quite small
- Not double-bottomed
5. Minuteman Copper Ash Bucket
Despite the name ‘copper ash bucket,’ this product is only copper-colored, and the metal is iron.
It looks great, with a nice hammered finish, but the metal is not copper. That’s not because copper can’t be a good container for hot stuff—check out these copper fire pits, for example—but it is a more expensive metal than iron or steel.
This ash bucket comes in two different sizes: the small is 14.5″ tall, while the large is 18″ tall.
Pros:
- Double bottomed
- Looks fantastic
- Powder-coated steel handles
Cons:
- No lid
- Can be dented
6. Snow Joe Ash Vacuum
The Snow Joe Ash Vac is a best-selling vacuum for cleaning fireplaces, wood stoves, and fire pits.
If you have a small wood stove, you may be able to do the entire clean with the vacuum and not worry about a preliminary shovel out first.
IMPORTANT: It’s designed for sucking up cold ashes, so make sure your fire has been out for at least a day before using this to clean up.
The vacuum has fine dust cartridges, filters, and a strong 4-amp motor that provides great suction. The over 8-foot long hose also makes cleaning much easier.
There is also a 5 amp version of the ash vac if you want something even stronger, but check out our Snow Joe Ash Vac review for all the details.
Pros:
- Long hose with aluminum wand
- Great filtration
- Stong motor
Cons:
- Not for warm or hot ashes
- You have to clean filters etc
7. US Stove Ash Vacuum
The AshVac AV15 from US Stove is a more interesting way to clean out your fireplace or log burner.
It has about a 4-foot reach between the hose and wand and is fine for use on warm and cold ashes. Personally, we’d wait and only suck up cold ashes.
It also has a plastic crevice tool for removing cold ashes from hard-to-reach places.
If you’re considering this route, here are the best ash vacuum cleaners to help you decide which is best for you.
Pros:
- Easy and fast to clean up all ashes
- An effective method for a full clean
- Powerful suction
Cons:
- More expensive than a bucket and shovel
- Not for hot ashes (and not best for warm either)
- Could do with a longer hose
The best materials to look for
It probably goes without saying, but an ash bucket should be made of metal—not plastic.
If you were only ever emptying completely cold ashes, then an old paint bucket or something would suffice, but it is a fire risk, and ashes stay warm for up to 2 or 3 days after you put the fire out.
The best metals for ash buckets:
- Galvanized iron
- Iron
- Galvanized steel
- Steel
- Cast iron
Cast iron ash buckets are few and far between and very heavy, so they’re not ideal. However, iron and/or steel ash buckets are the most common metal for holding warm and hot ashes.
The best features to look out for
You can get a standard, basic metal bucket for ashes, but some features can make them more helpful or functional.
Double-bottomed
A double-bottom ash can has two layers of metal lining the bottom of the bucket.
This area receives most of the heat and can deteriorate fastest if you empty hot ashes. However, this type will last much longer than a single layer of metal.
Ash bucket with a lid
An ash bucket with a lid isn’t essential, but it can be good.
If you store your bucket inside after emptying the ashes, a lid will keep the smells in the bucket. An open pail will smell a bit.
Also, if it’s windy while putting your ashes to use, a lid will stop them from blowing everywhere while in transit.
Shovel and brush
Some ash buckets can be bought with a shovel and brush.
If you don’t already have these tools, this can be a good way to kill a few birds with one stone. However, don’t let that be the only reason you buy a particular bucket.
You can buy plenty of excellent fireplace tool sets separately from a bucket, so it’s best to get the bucket you like most.
Ash bucket reviews
By our analysis, the best ash bucket for sale right now is this one from Plow & Hearth.
It looks really good, can be purchased in copper or black, and is tough and durable. Plus, it has a snugly fitting lid, leaving the bucket looking really tidy on the hearth, beside the wood stove, or outside in a safe spot.
The cheaper Panacea Ash Bucket is also good for those who want something cheaper and more basic.
Let us know if you have any questions in the comment section below, and while you’re cleaning out your fireplace have you considered cleaning the fireplace brick?
I just use an old metal bin that used to be our local district garbage can back in the 70s. Hardly ever empty my wood stove of ashes so doesn’t need to be fancy. Do need a new fireplace shovel though!