What can I do with empty Coffee cans?

Sloe Jenn
by Sloe Jenn
any unique ideas for empty plastic or metal coffee cans besides the typical storage or luminary projects?
  17 answers
  • Ella Frierson Bond Ella Frierson Bond on Mar 29, 2017

    LOL! Can't repurpose everything all the time. Just recycle ! They can repurpose.

  • Debbie Debbie on Mar 30, 2017

    The metal ones, not as common as the plastic, are great to use in the garage with parts washer. You can't use the plastic ones because it will eat through it, but whether you clean with parts washer or gasoline - you need metal and coffee cans are larger.


    I also use a smaller plastic one turned upside down on my oil fill pipe on the exterior. Yes, it has a metal screw on lid, but the can keeps snow off.


    I keep one in the car with ice melt and another one with sand in it for winter.


    Of course, the endless storage uses, and can be decorated when out of cabinets in any matter you wish. Grab a couple small ones, couple large ones and have a canister set for camping - or kitchen. You can remove the painted on part of the plastic with acetone (fingernail polish remover) and leave them the color they are if that works too. Easy peasy

  • McLyN McLyN on Mar 30, 2017

    My Father used his metal coffee cans and made an outdoor Christmas decoration. He created a christmas tree by basically building them up from the bottom to form a triangle O shaped tree. Spray paint the outside of the can with pine green and drill a OO hole in the bottom center of each can big enough to support one bulb on OOO a string of colored lights. Stack the cans and secured with a simple OOOO screw to each other from the inside. String lights through back OOOOO of cans (starting at the top so the plug is on the bottom. You can OOOOOO add a star to the top, if you wish. The inside of the cans really reflect the light and looks pretty when lit at night.

  • Kelly Fidik Kelly Fidik on Mar 31, 2017

    Donate to a local preschool or school for projects.


    They are great for baking breads and giving as gifts! The bread bakes right in the can, cool and pop on the plastic cover! (Metal type only)

  • MadameRã MadameRã on Apr 01, 2017

    •... I had collected enough hot choco cans that i had a cupboard full, so i came up with making a moveable wall.. I stuck them together in a brick formation & had them laying down so the lids were in front view, the bottoms looked good to.. Picked up 'rust proof & prima/with colour sprays of gold & bronze, then mixed sprayed them... after all was painted nice,& while damp, i then used a glitter fine gold hair spray..attached a piece of board on the bottom(also painted) ,& added black roller wheels.... my rolling wall was the size of a door, additionally i made sure i picked some random cans, that the lids would open, the rest i glued tight so if persons wanted to check if it could be opened it appeared not, as most were glued..(just remember your pattern as a code,& then you can hide extra cash ect..)

    •I didn't bother taking labels off, this made the piece look better & it also ensured better holding of glues.... *a quick glue along with a metal/wood base glue... a good super fast drying glue keeps your cans together while the harder glue has its time to set it all properly...•I did not want any silicone look, as when painted it doesn't look as good//& proffessional.

    Either side of this roller wall looks fab, the blending of two 'metal' shades along with a fine glitter look(which adds reflection, thus only a little is required) ,i gaurantee if you have enough this is an incredible look & can be used anywhere inside as a part 'blocker'( just inside a bedroom door blocking the view of a bed is excellent... * for good energy flow )..

    One can make a smaller version & use on a counter top; or if your kitchen is designed in a certian way, it could be used as a disguise from dirty dishes//in offices ect..... so large or smaller it has many uses, including a hiding spot or three:)))

  • Linda Fast Linda Fast on Apr 10, 2017

    I use empty coffee container to store my extension cords and those plastic grocery bags. I cut and X in the plastic lid and then thread the bottom of one bag through the handle loops of the next bag and then feed a bit thru the X and they automatically pull up the next bag for use.

  • Dfm Dfm on Apr 10, 2017

    i'v stacked a few together, well, more than a few.. taped them together to make table legs for a toddler sized desk. piece of plywood across the top.

  • Rene Foster Rene Foster on Apr 11, 2017

    You can paint the plastic ones and make cute canister sets. The tin ones can be made into a tin man yard ornament or used to make cute herb planters painted or rusty whatever your preference!

  • Yom20985858 Yom20985858 on Apr 11, 2017

    GOOD MORNING.. POWERFUL STORMS LEFT US WITHOUT POWER AND COLD FOR THE DAY RECENTLY. WE HAD DRIED FOODS FROM SOME EMERGENCY FOOD WE'D BOT. WE HAD WATER. WE HAD CANS OF COOKING FUEL AND CAMP DISHES. BUT NOTHING WE COULD PUT A PAN ON TO HEAT THE WATER..DUH.. WORKING ON MAKING A COFFEE CAN PAN HOLDER / OR STOVE TOP TO HOLD THE PAN AND THE FUEL UNDERNEATH. ANY IDEAS WELCOME!!!

  • Bwarner50 Bwarner50 on Apr 11, 2017

    Use your empty coffee cans for flower pots - you can spray paint them, cover with decoupage, or just let them age naturally - or save a few for Hats - you can make a really cute hat for St. Patrick's Day centerpiece, the 4th of July, and fall just by planting real flowers or using silk ones for arrangements. You can always use coffee cans for storage - they're particularly good for nuts, bolts, embellishments for craft projects - just label them on the outside.

  • Me Me on Apr 14, 2017

    Recycle.

  • Deb K Deb K on Sep 04, 2022

    Hello, hope this helps you out, some fantastic ideas!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEMHPXptL7o

  • I use a plastic one in the kitchen for compost - before I take it out to the big composter in the yard.

  • I'd make planters for faux flowers or greenery using decoupage rice paper or fabric. You could also make a unique and colorful tissue dispenser, they're all the rage on TikTok and Instagram now.

  • Recycled coffee cans can be used to make planters, baking pans, birdhouses, kitchen canisters, wine racks, storage bins, and supplies. You can even cover them with burlap. For your reference, consider this useful guide: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/480055641531403087/#:~:text=Turn recycled coffee cans into racks for storage containers and supplies.