A trim tray catches what falls off buds while you hand trim, and the screen in it decides how much of that is worth keeping. The pages that rank for this search are mostly the brands that make trays and the shops that sell them. This guide compares four trays and trim bins from $44.99 to $99 using their makers’ and sellers’ published specifications. It also explains why nearly every tray uses the same 150-micron screen. The reason is the size of trichome heads: a 2023 study measured them at 40–110 microns across, so they fall through a 150-micron mesh while most leaf stays on top.
How we chose: Specifications and prices come from the manufacturer’s page or a named retailer listing, checked on 26 September 2026. We did not test these trays by hand. UprightCBD does not sell trim trays and earns nothing from the links on this page.
Table of Contents
Trim trays at a glance
- Stalked glandular trichome heads on cannabis measured 40–110 µm in diameter in a 2023 study in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
- All four trays in this guide use a 150 µm stainless steel screen.
- Working areas run from about 260 to 320 square inches.
- The AC Infinity system is the only one here with three stainless steel trays and two screens, at $99.
- The Harvest More Trim Bin is plastic, made in California, with one wall lowered to reduce strain on shoulders and wrists, according to its maker.
- Mogobe’s stainless tray has a detachable screen that can be replaced for about $20; the tray weighs 4 kg.
| Tray | Material | Size (in) | Work area (approx.) | Screen | Price (26 Sep 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIVOSUN 2-in-1 Trimming Tray | Not stated; stainless mesh, rubber-padded base | 20 × 13 | 260 sq in | 150 µm stainless | $44.99 | Best value |
| Harvest More Trim Bin | Polypropylene | 20 × 16 × 5.75–6 | 320 sq in | 150 µm stainless, fixed | $43.44–$48.16 (out of stock) | Trimming in your lap |
| Mogobe Trim Tray | Stainless steel, 4 kg | 19.5 × 13.5 × 4 | 263 sq in | 150 µm stainless, detachable | $70.90 | Replaceable screen |
| AC Infinity Large Trim Tray System | SUS 304 stainless steel | Trim tray 20 × 13.89 | 278 sq in | 150 µm sifter + sorting screen | $99.00 | Sorting and sifting in one kit |
Work area is length times width of the top tray, calculated by UprightCBD. Prices change often. Harvest More’s bin was listed as out of stock at both retailers we checked.
What is a trim tray?
A trim tray is a shallow tray you trim buds over, usually with a fine mesh screen and a collection bin underneath. Leaves stay on top, and trichomes that fall through the screen collect below as kief.
Most trays stack in two layers. The top tray holds buds and trimmings. The screen forms its floor, and the bottom tray catches what passes through. “Trim bin” and “trim tray” describe the same thing, and search volume splits between both names. Trays are for hand trimming with trimming scissors. Machines collect trim in their own ways, covered in our weed trimming machine comparison.
Why trim trays use a 150-micron screen
Trim trays use a 150-micron screen because trichome heads are smaller than that. A 2023 study measured stalked trichome heads at 40–110 µm, so they pass through while most leaf and stem stays on top.
Punja and colleagues, writing in the Journal of Cannabis Research in 2023, measured the glandular heads of stalked-capitate trichomes on high-THC cannabis. They reported that heads “ranged from 40 to 110 μm in diameter.” Mean head size grew as flowers matured, reaching 75 µm in one cultivar and 90 µm in the other at six weeks. Smaller bulbous trichomes measured 15–30 µm.
| Particle | Size | Passes a 150 µm screen? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stalked-capitate trichome head | 40–110 µm | Yes | Punja et al., 2023 |
| Mean head, one cultivar at 6 weeks | 90 µm | Yes | Punja et al., 2023 |
| Bulbous trichome head | 15–30 µm | Yes | Punja et al., 2023 |
| Screen opening in all four trays | 150 µm | — | Manufacturers |
A 150 µm screen does not sort perfectly. Any leaf dust smaller than 150 µm falls through with the trichomes, so the kief collected is a mix rather than pure resin heads. Finer grading needs smaller screens, which belongs to kief and rosin making rather than trimming.
The best trim trays, compared
The best trim tray for most home growers is the VIVOSUN 2-in-1 at $44.99. Choose the Harvest More Trim Bin for lap trimming when in stock, and the AC Infinity system if you also sort and sift.
1. VIVOSUN 2-in-1 Trimming Tray: best value
- Size: 20 × 13 in, two layers (a 4.1-inch-deep version is also sold)
- Screen: 150 µm stainless steel mesh
- Base: fully rubber-padded
- Included: bottom harvest bin, brush, magnifying card
- Warranty: 2 years; 30-day returns
- Price: $44.99 (listed down from $49.99, vivosun.com, 26 Sep 2026)
This tray has the same 150 µm screen as the $99 kit, a padded base, and a 2-year warranty, twice Harvest More’s. The magnifying card helps check trichomes. Drawback: at 260 square inches it has the smallest work area here, and VIVOSUN does not say whether the screen can be replaced. Skip it if you trim for hours at a time in your lap. The Harvest More bin is built for that.
2. Harvest More Trim Bin: best for lap trimming
- Size: 20 × 16 in, 5.75–6 in deep (sellers differ)
- Material: recyclable polypropylene; made in California
- Screen: 150 µm stainless steel, fixed to the top bin
- Included: top bin, mirror-finish bottom bin, static brush
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: $43.44 (GrowersHouse) to $48.16 (HTG Supply); out of stock at both on 26 Sep 2026
The Trim Bin has the largest work area here at 320 square inches, and it makes the most detailed ergonomic claims in this guide. Harvest More says its “steep walls are lowered on one side to avoid stressing shoulders, arms and wrists” and that the edges are wide and rounded. Drawback: the screen is fixed, so a torn screen means a new top bin. Both retailers we checked had it out of stock. The maker’s claim that lap use “instantly reduces back pain” is its own and untested. Skip it if you need a tray this week. The VIVOSUN is listed at a similar price.
3. Mogobe Trim Tray: best replaceable screen
- Size: 19.5 × 13.5 × 4 in
- Material: stainless steel tray and screen; 4 kg; non-slip rubber pad
- Screen: 150 µm, detachable; replacement about $20
- Price: $70.90 (listed down from $74.90, mogobe.co, 26 Sep 2026)
A stainless tray with a removable screen can outlast a plastic one. When the mesh wears or tears, you replace the screen, not the tray. Drawback: at 4 kg it is heavy for a lap, and it costs $26 more than the VIVOSUN for a similar work area. Skip it if you trim in your lap. Choose the lighter plastic Harvest More bin.
4. AC Infinity Large Trim Tray System (AC-TTA3): best complete kit
- Trays: three SUS 304 stainless steel trays. Trim tray 20 × 13.89 × 2.63 in; sifter tray 19.68 × 13.58 × 3.34 in; sorting tray 19.68 × 13.58 × 4.64 in
- Screens: 150 µm sifter screen and a sorting screen
- Included: stainless pruning shears, soft-bristle brush
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: $99.00 (acinfinity.com, 26 Sep 2026)
AC Infinity’s kit separates the jobs. You trim in one tray, sort buds from trim with the sorting screen, and sift kief through the 150 µm screen, all in food-grade stainless steel. Pruning shears are included. Drawback: at $99 it costs more than twice as much as the VIVOSUN for the same 150 µm screen, and three stainless trays are heavier and bulkier to store. Skip it if you only need somewhere to trim over. A single tray does that.
Plastic vs stainless steel trim trays
Plastic trays are lighter for lap trimming. Stainless steel trays are heavier and suit a table. The 150 µm screen is stainless steel in all four trays, whatever the tray is made of.
The difference that matters is where you trim. The Mogobe stainless tray weighs 4 kg, which is fine on a table and a lot to hold in your lap for hours. Harvest More makes its bin from polypropylene and designs it for lap use, and Mogobe adds a non-slip rubber pad for tables. Screen replacement is the other difference. Mogobe sells replacement screens, while Harvest More’s screen is fixed to the bin.
How to use a trim tray
Trim buds over the screen, brush trim to one side as it builds up, and tap or brush the screen gently at the end of a session to move trichomes into the bottom bin.
- Set up where you will stay. Use a lap tray on a chair, or a table tray at a comfortable height. Cannabis Business Times recommends adjustable tables and chairs and regular breaks for long trimming sessions.
- Trim over the screen. Leaves land on the mesh, and trichomes knocked loose fall through.
- Clear trim as you go. Brush trimmings aside or into a bag so they do not bury the screen.
- Collect the kief. Brush the bottom bin with the included brush. Harvest More includes a static brush for this.
Trim tray FAQs
What micron screen is best for a trim tray?
150 microns is the standard. All four trays here use it, and trichome heads measured 40–110 µm in a 2023 study, so they pass through while larger leaf stays on top.
Is a trim bin the same as a trim tray?
Yes. Both names describe a tray you trim over, usually with a screen and a collection bin underneath. “Trim bin” is also the product name of Harvest More’s version.
Is a stainless steel trim tray better than plastic?
Not in the screen, which is 150 µm stainless steel in all four trays here. Stainless trays are heavier (Mogobe’s weighs 4 kg) and suit a table, while plastic bins like Harvest More’s are built for your lap.
Is the kief from a trim tray pure?
No. A 150 µm screen lets through trichome heads but also any leaf dust finer than 150 µm, so tray kief is a mix. Finer screens give purer grades.
Do I need a trim tray if I use a trimming machine?
Usually not. Trim trays are for hand trimming. Some machines, such as Tom’s Tumble Trimmer TTT 1900, ship with their own fine kief net, as our trimming machine comparison notes.
Which trim tray to buy
For most hand trimmers, buy the VIVOSUN 2-in-1. It has the standard 150 µm screen and a 2-year warranty, and costs $44.99. If you trim in your lap for long sessions, look for the Harvest More Trim Bin when it is back in stock. If you want a tray that lasts, with a screen you can replace, choose the Mogobe. Pair the tray with a light non-stick pair from our trimming scissors guide, then move on to our guide to drying and curing cannabis. Home cultivation is legal only in some states, so check your state’s rules first.
Sources: product pages and listings for VIVOSUN (vivosun.com), Harvest More (GrowersHouse, HTG Supply), Mogobe (mogobe.co) and AC Infinity (acinfinity.com); Punja et al., “Glandular trichome development, morphology, and maturation are influenced by plant age and genotype in high THC-containing cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescences,” Journal of Cannabis Research (2023); Christine DeJesus, “5 Tips to Refine Hand-Trimming Techniques,” Cannabis Business Times (2023). All checked 26 September 2026.
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