11 Best Rated Garbage Disposals 2023 Reviewed

Given below is a list of the best garbage disposals to buy. I have included garbage disposals for across all power ranges so you won’t have trouble finding the right size choice.

InSinkErator Evolution Excel

InSinkErator Evolution Excel garbage disposal

Specifications:

  • Power: 1 HP
  • Height:13 inches
  • Drain Height: 6.6875 inches
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • SoundSeal Plus technology
  • MultiGrind Plus technology
  • 40 oz. chamber capacity
  • 10 years warranty

Detailed review

The Evolution Excel is perhaps one of the best garbage disposals currently out there. With a combination of some of the most advanced grinding features in the market, the garbage disposal is simply unparalleled in terms of performance.

It features a powerful 1 horsepower motor that is capable of grinding hard food items, including chicken bones. This is a continuous feed-type disposal where you can keep on adding food waste without turning it off.

What makes Evolution Excel even more special is its SoundSeal technology; it makes little to no sound when grinding kitchen waste. This feature is by far the most praised feature of this garbage disposal.

Other than that, the Evolution Excel boasts grinding features such as the three-stage grinding technology, Jam-Sensor Circuit, and auto-reverse grinding system. On top, it also has a stainless-steel 40 oz chamber which is one of the biggest chamber capacities in the market.

Overall, InSinkErator is a great machine for grinding waste in huge volumes at once. To top it off, the machine is covered by a 10-year in-home warranty.

However, with these many features, the pricing of the product is, of course, a bit high. Nonetheless, it is completely justified due to the qualities of the machine.

Pros

  • Powerful and reliable
  • Noiseless operation
  • Long warranty
  • Compact in size

Cons 

  • Costly

Waste King L-8000

Waste King 8000 garbage disposal
A Waste King 8000 garbage disposal

Specifications:

  • Power: 1 HP
  • RPM: 2800
  • Motor: Permanent magnet type
  • Mount: EZ
  • Feed: Continuous
  • Grinding Components: Stainless steel
  • Height: 16 inches
  • Drain Height: 6 inches

Detailed review

Until now, Waste King has managed to sell above 10,000 units of the L-8000. This popularity is due to the product’s affordability and heavy-duty performance. It comes with a low price tag but a powerful 1 HP, 2800 RPM motor. Its grinding power is unmatched by other Waste King products.

With a continuous feeding system, you can expect nonstop waste grinding from the L-8000. It also has high build quality thanks to its stainless steel grinding components.

The L-8000 has a removable splash guard that can be taken off for easy cleaning. It uses an EZ mounting assembly for easy installation and comes with a lifetime in-home warranty.

Considering the price and features of the machine, L-8000 is undoubtedly one of the best high/medium-range garbage disposal machines you can get your hands on. You’ll find it to be a perfect fit for a kitchen that feeds a large family.

Pros

  • Affordable for a 1 HP disposal
  • Powerful
  • Grinds almost all food wastes including chicken bones

Cons

  • No noise insulation
  • May not be suitable for deep sinks due to its height

InSinkErator Badger 1 HP

Specifications:

  • Power: 1 HP
  • Height: 12-5/8 inches
  • Drain Height: 6 inches
  • 26 oz. chamber capacity
  • 7 years warranty
  • 1725 RPM
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • 3-bolt mounting

Detailed review

This variant is the most powerful continuous feed garbage disposal in the Badger series. So, what makes this one special? It has a 1 HP motor with 1725 RPM and brings loads of power in a lightweight design along with an economical price tag.

Badger 1 HP comes with stainless steel grinding components but with galvanized steel grinding chamber. This model is meant to be economical, so InSinkErator has cut corners to build this. It comes with a galvanized steel grinding chamber instead of the standard stainless steel ones you see across other 1 HP models. Basically, this unit is a 1 HP version of Badger 5 because they all share common parts like the grinding chamber and grinding components.

It also doesn’t have any noise insulation. Even though the DuraDrive induction motor is more pleasant to hear the 1 HP power can make it noisy.

However, it comes with a commendable 7-year warranty. Like a typical InSinkErator model, it comes with a 3-bolt assembly for easy installation. You can also buy a power cord separately.

Overall, if you are looking for powerful InSinkErator garbage disposal at a pocket-friendly price tag, Badger 1 HP is the right choice.

Pros

  • Easy-to-install
  • Powerful
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Can be noisy due to lack of insulation

Waste King L-3200

Waste King 3200 garbage disposal
Waste King 3200

Specifications:

  • Power: 3/4 HP
  • Height:13.75 inches
  • Drain Height: 7.5 inches
  • Speed: 2700 RPM
  • Mounting: EZ
  • Feed Type: Continuous
  • Warranty: 8-years

Detailed review

Waste King L-3200 is equipped with a 3/4 HP motor. The motor has an RPM of 2700, which is way above average for a 3/4 HP machine. This makes it one of the fastest, continuous feed garbage disposals in this category. In fact, this is the best garbage disposal in the 3/4 HP power range in terms of price and performance.

L3200 garbage disposal doesn’t have any fancy features or noise insulation. However, it has a good price tag as well as proven build quality. It has a corrosion-resistant grinding chamber and stainless steel grinding chamber, which are time-tested.

In addition, it comes with an excellent 8-year warranty.

This garbage disposal is also compact in size, so it can be installed under deep sinks. The installation is done via an EZ mount which is standard across all Waste King garbage disposals.

If you’re looking for a garbage disposal that doesn’t break the bank but breaks bones, then the L-3200 is for you.

Pros

  • Compact and powerful
  • Price is fair
  • Ideal for daily use

Cons

  • Nothing really

InSinkErator Evolution Compact

InSinkErator Evolution Compact

Specifications:

  • Power: 3/4 HP
  • Height:12.25 inches
  • Motor: Dura drive induction motor
  • Grind chamber capacity: 34.6 oz
  • Features: Compact size, 40% quieter than standard disposals, MultiGrind, & stainless steel construction
  • Warranty: 8-years

Detailed review

InSinkErator Evolution Compact is the most popular premium-grade garbage disposal.

It brings you 3/4 horsepower and two-stage grinding technology. The two-stage grinding helps to grind food waste into finer particles that avoid clogging. This technology helps to grind tough food waste like fibrous vegetables and bones with ease.

Another notable feature of this garbage disposal is its size. It is just 12.25 inches tall, which can pretty easily fit even in small under sink spaces. Even though it is small in size, it has a large grinding chamber with 34 oz capacity to handle large volumes of food waste at once.

This is a premium garbage disposal with premium build quality. Its grinding components and chamber are made of stainless steel. It also has an eye-catching yet simple design giving it a premium look.

The installation of the Evolution Compact garbage disposal is pretty straightforward with its 3-bolt mounting assembly. It also has a hex hole to help with unjamming and a reset button at the bottom.

Another notable feature is its quiet operation. Evolution compact garbage disposal comes with top-notch noise insulation that makes it 40% quieter than a standard garbage disposal.

In addition, it has an 8-year in-home warranty. It is a premium garbage disposal, so naturally, the price is high, but not that high. I can confidently say, Evolution Compact is the best garbage disposal of all for its high-end features, build quality, and price.

Pros

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Noiseless operation
  • High build quality
  • Multi-stage grinding technology

Cons

  • No power cord included, need to be bought separately

Waste King L-1001

Specifications:

  • Power: 1/2 HP
  • Height:12.75 inches
  • Drain Height: 6.5 inches
  • Speed: 2600 RPM
  • Warranty: 2-year
  • Mount: EZ

Detailed review

Waste King’s L-1001 is part of the Legend series; it comes with a ½ HP permanent magnet motor and runs at 2600 RPM.

It is priced below $100, making it a great choice in terms of affordability.

There’s no denying that the power of this machine is average and nothing too great, but the speed and price compensate for it. Although this is a continuous feed garbage disposal, it cannot handle big chunks of organic waste at once. So, make sure not to overload it with too much food and risk it getting jammed.

As far as installation and space are concerned, this garbage disposal unit is small (just 12.75 inches tall) and lightweight. It will not take much space below your sink, which makes it an ideal pick for deep sinks. You’ll also find it to be easy to install since it comes with an EZ mount feature. A pre-installed power cord is included as well to take care of the electrical connections.

Taking the L-1001’s low-power, physical features, and installation process into account, it’s safe to state that this disposal is all you will need if you’re looking for something cheap and efficient. It also has a 2-year warranty which is good in its class. Though it lacks in certain aspects, such as sound insulation and power, other features compensate for these. 

Pros

  • Small and lightweight
  • Inexpensive
  • Fast and high-speed grinding

Cons

  • It lacks sound insulation

InSinkErator Badger 5

InSinkErator Badger 5 garbage disposal

Specifications

  • Power: 1/2 HP
  • Height: 11.5 inches
  • Drain Height: 6 inches
  • Speed: 1725 RPM
  • Motor: DuraDrive induction motor
  • Type: Continuous feed
  • Mounting: 3-bolt assembly
  • Chamber capacity: 26 oz
  • Warranty: 3-years
  • Power cord: Optional

Detailed review

The Badger 5 of InSinkErator is one of the most popular garbage disposals ever. The main reasons for this include an affordable price tag and decades of tested reliability.

It features a ½ HP DuraDrive induction motor. Even though its motor is of no significant power compared to other garbage disposals, the Badger 5 fulfills almost all requirements of a regular-sized household. The ½ HP motor runs on 1725 RPM, which is neither too good nor bad.

What matters the most is the disposal’s ability to make waste into a fine paste, and the Badger 5 does it effortlessly. However, considering the motor’s strength, it won’t be a wise decision to put too much load on the disposal. So, it’s best to avoid throwing bones and corncobs into it.

Other features of Badger 5 include a Quick-Lock mounting system, a pre-installed power cord, a jam-buster wrench, and single-stage grinding technology. As you can tell, these features are nothing special for a general disposal, but in this price range, they do make the machine superior. 

The Badger 5 is a small compact machine that can fit under your sink with ease. It has a chamber that is no bigger than 26 ounces, which makes the machine perfect for small or medium-sized families. Badger 5’s friendliness with small households is what made the machine popular. If taken care of, it can easily handle your kitchen waste for a decade. Lastly, if any component of the machine malfunctions within 3 years of being bought, InSinkErator’s warranty has got you covered.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Handles basic kitchen waste 
  • Small and lightweight

Cons

  • No noise insulations

Waste King L-2600

Specifications:

  • Power: 1/2 HP
  • Height:13.5 inches
  • Drain Height: 7 inches
  • Speed: 2600 RPM
  • Motor: Permanent magnet
  • Feed Type: Continuous
  • Warranty: 5-years
  • Grinding Components: Stainless Steel

Detailed review

If the above picks have not proven to be your type, then this might be the one.

Waste King’s L-2600 is specially designed for small households, and yet it comes with a ½ HP motor. Every garbage disposal has its specialty, and for the L-2600, it has to be the value for the money. As it has already been established, Waste King has a thing for giving its customers the best while charging the least, and such is the case with their L-2600. The machine is although not the cheapest that they offer, but it’s a perfect choice for couples and small families looking to get rid of that small pile of kitchen waste. 

The continuous feed disposal has a speed of 2600 RPM, which is indeed above normal for a ½ HP disposal. The best part, however, is that the L-2600 is one of the most energy-efficient disposals out there. Even though its energy consumption and water usage are relatively low, it can still grind some chicken wing leftovers with ease.

The L-2600 has a removable splash guard, stainless-steel grinding parts, and an EZ mount for easy installation. In regards to its dimensions, the disposal can fit in tight spaces thanks to its compact build. 

To summarize, the L-2600 not only saves you money on its price but will also cut down your utility bills in the long run. It’s fast, reliable, fits anywhere, and a bit noisy but that’s not that big of a problem.

This brings us to the warranty – Waste King offers two warranties for this unit, the 5-year in-home warranty, and a lifetime corrosion warranty. Note that labor costs will not be covered in the latter.

Pros

  • Energy efficient
  • High RPM
  • Doesn’t cost a leg

Cons

  • No noise insulators

Waste King L-111

Waste King L-111

Specifications

  • Power: 1/3 HP
  • Height:12.75 inches
  • Drain Height: 6.5 inches
  • Speed: 1900 RPM
  • Motor: Permanent magnet type
  • Installation: EZ mount
  • Warranty: 1-year

Detailed review

Built for tiny compartments and tight spaces, the L-111 is a small garbage disposal that brings a 1/3 HP motor with itself. The L-111 can go for 1900 RPM speed with ease.

Initially, the L-111 was a competition for InSinkErator’s Badger 1/3 HP. Both machines have similar and distinct features, but L-111 has taken the lead when it comes to quietness and durability.

All of the internal grinding components of the L-111 are made from stainless steel. Now, let us come back to the grinding power of the machine. The L-111 comes with a Vortex permanent magnet motor which can easily turn your solid food particles into pulp. Considering the 1900 rotations/minute speed, the machine is pretty fast for a small unit.

In terms of installation, Waste King gives you a clear set of instructions with the product such that even folks with no prior knowledge of installing a disposal would mount the machine. The EZ mount system and plug cord are worth appreciating.

It also will not cost you more than $100 and Waste King has got your back for 2 years of in-home warranty.

Pros

  • Gets the daily grinding done
  • Durable

Cons

  • Not made to handle hard food items

InSinkErator Badger 1

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Compact Garbage Disposer

Specifications

  • Power: 1/3 HP
  • RPM: 1725
  • Grind Chamber Capacity: 26 Oz
  • Motor: Induction motor
  • Warranty: 1-year
  • Height: 11.375 inches
  • Drain Height: 6 inches
  • Mount: 3-bolt
  • Grinding Components: Galvanized steel

Detailed review

The Badger 1 is one of the most affordable garbage disposals introduced by InSinkErator. You won’t find its price to be above $100 anywhere.

It comes with a 1/3 HP induction motor that is capable of grinding your regular kitchen waste. However, the Badger 1 is not designed for tougher food wastes such as peels, bones, corncobs, and fibrous vegetables. So, you’ll have to keep an eye on what goes into the machine.

In regards to noise, the Badger 1 has no special insulation to suppress its noise, but it’s not too loud either.

It has a small 26 oz grinding chamber made of galvanized steel which is enough for a small household or an apartment rented by a couple of students. Installation won’t be a headache since the Badger 1 comes with a 3-bolt quick-lock assembly that allows you to mount the machine under your sink. Moreover, the disposal is light and compact, which makes it easy to fit anywhere.

We don’t have to state the obvious but looking at its features, the Badger 1 is designed for minimal use. It can handle soft food waste with no worries and that’s what it does best. Though you might be disappointed by the warranty that’s no more than just 1 year, then again, it shouldn’t be a problem since InSinkErator is a reliable and renowned brand.

Pros

  • Ideal for light use
  • Low priced
  • Small and light

Cons

  • Not made for hard food items
  • Short warranty coverage

Comparison of features of the best garbage disposals

Let’s compare the best garbage disposals against each other. The main things people look for when buying a garbage disposal are their horsepower, noise, dimensions (whether compact or not), build quality, and warranty. Given below is a quick comparison;

Performance comparison

Given below is a comparison of the horsepower of each garbage disposal, what they are suitable for, and what they can grind.

Garbage Disposal ModelHorsepowerBest Suitable forWhat can it grind
InSinkErator Evolution Excel1 HPLarge householdsRibs and chicken bones, large fruit pits, raw meat etc
Waste King L-80001 HPLarge householdsRibs and chicken bones, large fruit pits, raw meat etc
InSinkErator Badger 1 HP1 HPLarge householdsRibs and chicken bones, large fruit pits, raw meat etc
Waste King L-32003/4 HPSmall & medium householdsChicken bones, cooked meat, fish bones, fruit pits etc
InSinkErator Evolution Compact3/4 HPSmall & medium householdsChicken bones, cooked meat, fish bones, fruit pits etc
Waste King L-10011/2 HPStudent accommodationsFishbones, cooked meat, fruits, and veggies
InSinkErator Badger 51/2 HPStudent accommodationsFishbones, cooked meat, fruits, and veggies
Waste King L-26001/2 HPStudent accommodationsFishbones, cooked meat, fruits, and veggies
Waste King L-1111/3 HPVacation homesSoft foods like fruits and vegetables
InSinkErator Badger 11/3 HPVacation homesSoft foods like fruits and vegetables
Performance comparison

As you can see above, the 1 HP garbage disposals can grind almost anything, while you have to be picky for 1/3 HP disposals.

Noise Levels

Given below is a comparison of the noise levels of the best garbage disposals. Here, sound levels are compared against a standard garbage disposal with no noise insulators. Let’s see which ones are the quietest.

Garbage Disposal ModelNoise compared to standard garbage disposals
InSinkErator Evolution Excel60% quieter (quieter than a normal conversation)
Waste King L-800030% quieter
InSinkErator Badger 1 HPStandard sound levels
Waste King L-3200Standard sound levels
InSinkErator Evolution Compact40% quieter
Waste King L-1001Standard sound levels
InSinkErator Badger 5Standard sound levels
Waste King L-2600Standard sound levels
Waste King L-111Standard sound levels
InSinkErator Badger 1Standard sound levels
Noise level comparison of best garbage disposals

As you can see, only the InSinkErator Evolution series garbage disposals have any noise insulation. This doesn’t mean that the others are very noisy, only that they are not quiet.

Here is a list of the quietest garbage disposals if you are keen on this aspect.

Warranty & Build quality comparison

Longevity is an important buying consideration. Nobody wants to buy an expensive item only for it to stop working after a few months. The indicators of a product’s longevity are its build quality and warranty coverage.

Here is a comparison of the warranty periods and material of construction of the top-rated garbage disposals against each other;

Note: SS = Stainless Steel, GS= Galvanized Steel, Chamber=Grinding chamber, Components=Grinding components

Garbage Disposal ModelWarrantyBuild quality
InSinkErator Evolution Excel10-yearSS chamber & components
Waste King L-8000Lifetime warrantySS chamber & components
InSinkErator Badger 1 HP7-yearSS components & GS chamber
Waste King L-32008-yearSS components & plastic chamber
InSinkErator Evolution Compact8-yearSS chamber & components
Waste King L-10012-yearSS components & plastic chamber
InSinkErator Badger 53-yearSS components & GS chamber
Waste King L-26005-yearSS components & plastic chamber
Waste King L-1111-yearGS components & plastic chamber
InSinkErator Badger 11-yearSS components & GS chamber
Comparison of warranty and build quality

Profile size comparison

Many people prefer a low-profile, compact garbage disposal for their kitchen. This is mostly due to the low space available under the kitchen sink. In such cases, the height of the garbage disposal matters. A low profile disposal is one that is less than 13 inches in height. Given below is my comparison of the heights of the best garbage disposals;

Garbage Disposal ModelHeight
InSinkErator Evolution Excel13 inches
Waste King L-800016 inches
InSinkErator Badger 1 HP12-5/8 inches
Waste King L-320013.75 inches
InSinkErator Evolution Compact12.25 inches
Waste King L-100112.75 inches
InSinkErator Badger 511.5 inches
Waste King L-260013.5 inches
Waste King L-11112.75 inches
InSinkErator Badger 111.375 inches
Height comparison

As you can see from the table, not all garbage disposals in the best picks list are not compact. The smallest one is InSinkErator Badger 1 at 11.375 inches, and the tallest is Waste King L8000 at 16 inches.

I have written in detail about why this height matters, and how much space you need under the kitchen sink to install a garbage disposal, feel free to refer to it for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are batch feed and continuous feed garbage disposals?

These are the two types of garbage disposals based on how food is fed. For a batch feed garbage disposal, the food particles are fed in batches; you first fill the garbage disposal with food and then turn it on by covering it with a magnetic stopper. For a continuous feed garbage disposal, there is no cover, so you feed food waste into it continuously. You can read more about batch feed vs continuous feed disposals here.

Are garbage disposals compatible with septic tanks?

All garbage disposals are compatible with spetic systems as long as the septic tanks are properly sized. The use of garbage disposals adds more load to the septic system; however, it doesn’t mean that the tank will overflow. You can read more about this in detail here: Garbage disposal septic tank compatibility

Other resources

Given below are some articles that will help you find the right garbage disposal;