The Best Dog Poop Bags, Dispensers, and Bag Holders of 2025

For this update, we didn’t test our former top pick, the Amazon Basics Dog Poop Leak Proof Bags because the manufacturer does not claim to use any recycled or biobased plastics. Other options are available that perform just as well and feel thicker, so we’ve sent this pick to the Wirecutter landfill for the last time.

Gorilla Supply Dog Poop Waste Bags performed well in most categories and cost the least when bought in bulk. But they weren’t as easy to tear at the perforation or to start a new roll as our picks. The plastic they use is something they vaguely refer to as “EPI technology.” EPI makes an additive that is restricted in the European Union because it is thought to cause the material to break down into microplastics. Since this technology is controversial and potentially harmful, we dismissed these bags for now.

We had high hopes for Only Natural Pet 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Unscented Dog Poop Bags because they’re made of 100% recycled postconsumer plastic. Unfortunately, they weren’t as durable as our picks. They ripped more easily, developing larger holes when scraped against both the sidewalk and grass than our picks did. They also didn’t contain odors as well, and they have no warning when you’re approaching the end of the roll.

Pets N Bags Poop Bags are a former runner-up, but they didn’t hold up well on the sidewalk, they were difficult to open, and they felt thin.

Pogi’s Dog Poop Bags with Easy-Tie Handles are a former also-great pick. These were the only bags we tested with handles. And while tying them was easier than with regular bags, they don’t come on a roll, so you have to make sure you grab enough for each walk. They also did poorly when scraped in grass and on pavement, and they broke in our weight tests. Both of our picks come in a version with handles, if you prefer holding and tying them this way.

Greener Walker Dog Poop Bags were one of the cheapest options we tested, but they ripped badly in our sidewalk and grass tests, and the rolls were hard to start without tearing the first bag, rendering it useless. The box claims the bags are made from a “bio corn starch blend,” but there’s no information on how much of that material the bags contain.

Pet N Pet Dog Poop Bags carry the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label and are certified to contain at least 38% plant-based content, similar to our runner-up. But they weren’t nearly as strong, and they felt the thinnest of all the bags we tested.

Give A Shit 100% Certified Home Compostable Dog Poop Bags are a compostable option that carries a high price and underperforms. The bags were near the bottom of the pack in terms of durability and were one of the worst at containing odor.

Doggy Do Good Poop Bags failed early on in our testing. It was the only bag that repeatedly leaked through the bottom seams when filled with water.

PoopShark Paper Poop Bags contain no plastic at all. These paper bags are adorable but they don’t do well under irregular conditions. They easily tore during our miso paste tests, and they aren’t waterproof. While we like the idea of using less plastic, we’d only recommend using these for solid poops in dry conditions, and with a sink and some soap nearby in case of failure.

We tested Bags on Board Economy Pack Refill Bags in 2019. The thin plastic made them extremely easy to open and tear off the roll. The downside of the thinner plastic is that you feel what you’re picking up in great detail, and you can smell it, too.

Poop Bag Hooks

The Hilihali Dog Poop Bag Holder attaches to the leash with a small carabiner clip so it’s one of the easiest to set up, but it felt unbalanced when we used it with only one bag, and it dangled more than our picks.

The Gentle Creatures Poo Buddy limited dangling more than any other option we tested because it attaches to the leash at two points using wide silicone straps. But we lost one of the silicone straps within a few days, a common complaint in the product’s reviews. The company includes two zip ties in the package, but they’re not as nice as the straps.

The Kitiimeow Dog Poop Bag Holder is large so it’s easy to get the bag through the opening, but it dangled a lot. It also feels cheap. I didn’t get to fully test it because my spouse thought it was trash and threw it away.

Dumper Cables use a plastic clip to grab your sack of poop like a tiny set of jaws. It worked well, but the whole thing jutted out from the leash at nearly a 90-degree angle, making it awkward to carry. Each clip only holds one bag, but they come in a pack of two.

This article was edited by Harry Sawyers. Susan Arendt wrote a previous version of this guide.