Worm Bin Calculator
Worm Bin Calculator
How many worms do you need, and how big should your bin be? Enter your daily food scraps.
A typical 2-person household produces about 0.5-1 lb of worm-safe scraps a day.
Results
- Worms needed
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- Approx. worm count
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- Recommended bin size
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- Bedding to start (dry)
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- First harvest
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- Estimated cost to start
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Formula (estimates): 1 lb of red wigglers eats about 0.5 lb of scraps a day, so worms needed (lb) = scraps (lb/day) x 2. 1 lb is about 1,000 worms. Red wigglers cost about $20-40 per lb. Worms thrive at 55-77°F. First castings are ready in about 60-90 days.
Estimates only. Start with fewer scraps than you think — overfeeding is the most common beginner mistake.
Bedding Ratio Helper — 3 : 1
Cover every feeding with about 3 parts bedding to 1 part food, by volume. This keeps the bin damp like a wrung-out sponge, not wet.
Results
- Bedding needed
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- Food to bedding
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Use shredded newspaper or plain cardboard as bedding. Avoid glossy paper and coloured inks.