10 Best Short Compact Garbage Disposals 2023

Compact garbage disposals are short in size and less than 14 inches in height. Their low profile is apt for compact spaces, like under a deep farmhouse sink, where taller garbage disposal cannot be installed.

Most of these low profile garbage disposals have a high drain outlet. This shortens the distance between the bottom of the sink and the drain pipe center to as small as 6 inches. Since deep sinks leave only a short space between them and the drain outlet, only a garbage disposal with a high drain outlet will fit there.

If you are looking for a compact garbage disposal, here are the best ones;

Compact garbage disposals	Total Height	Drain height	Horsepower
InSinkErator Badger 1	11.375 inches	6 inches	1/3 HP
InSinkErator Badger 5	11.5 inches	6 inches	1/2 HP
InSinkErator Evolution Compact	12.25 inches	6 inches	3/4 HP
InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR	12.25 inches	6 inches	3/4 HP
InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist	12.625 inches	6.6875 inches	3/4 HP
Waste King L-1001	12.75 inches	6.5 inches	1/2 HP
Waste King L-111	12.75 inches	6.5 inches	1/3 HP
InSinkErator Evolution Excel	13 inches	6.6875 inches	1 HP
Waste King L-2600	13.5 inches	7 inches	1/2 HP
Waste King L-3200	13.75 inches	7.5 inches	3/4 HP

1. InSinkErator Badger 1

InSinkErator Badger 1 is the smallest garbage disposal with a maximum height of 11.375 inches and a drain height of 6 inches. It is 6.3125 inches wide, giving it a low profile to fit in the tight space under a farmhouse sink.

It is an entry-level garbage disposal with a 1/3 HP induction motor. This is a continuous feed type disposer. It runs at 1725 RPM and is the right choice for a small household with up to two people.

Badger 1 uses 3-bolt mounting assembly for installation. This 3-bolt assembly involves a twist and lock mechanism making the installation hassle-free.

As this is an entry-level disposer, it doesn’t come with any fancy features or brute grinding power. It is built with galvanized steel grinding components and comes under an in-home warranty of 1-years. This warranty covers both parts and labor.

2. InSinkErator Badger 5

Badger 5 is the second shortest garbage disposal, with an overall height of 11.5 inches and a drain height of 6 inches. It is only 6.35 inches wide, giving it a low profile.

A 1/2 HP DuraDrive induction motor powers it, and it can handle all kinds of soft food wastes. This is a continuous feed type disposer, and it runs at 1725 RPM.

This garbage disposal uses a 3-bolt assembly for mounting. This is a twist and lock mechanism that makes the installation easier. The unit is available with an optional power cord, which I generally prefer.

The grinding components of Badger 5 are constructed with Galvanized steel, and its rotor also has two swivel lugs made of stainless steel. This is an inexpensive garbage disposal suitable for a household of 2 to 3 people. It has a 3-year in-home warranty, covering labor and part costs.

3. InSinkErator Evolution Compact

Evolution series is the premium range of garbage disposals made by InSinkErator. Evolution Compact is a continuous feed type 3/4 HP garbage disposal powered by a DuraDrive induction motor that runs at 1725 RPM. As you might have noticed, all InSinkErator garbage disposals use the DuraDrive induction motor. They all run at 1725 RPM; only their power ratings change based on the garbage disposal model.

Evolution Compact is a powerful garbage disposal made for the average home. It can grind almost all food wastes, including tough foods like chicken bones.

It comes with premium range technologies like MultiGrind and SoundSeal. MutiGrind is a technology by InSinkErator where the food wastes undergo multiple stages of grinding, in this case, two stages.

SoundSeal is InSinkErator’s noise insulation technology, which reduces the disposal noise by 40%. Besides, it also comes with a QuietCollar sink baffle that muffles the sound from the disposal unit through the sinkhole. If you are looking for a quiet and powerful compact garbage disposal, this is the one.

Speaking of dimensions, Evolution Compact has a height of 12.25 inches, making it one of the smallest garbage disposals with 3/4 HP power. Its maximum width is 8.75 inches. Even though it is small in size, this garbage disposal can accommodate up to 34.6 oz of food wastes.

Even though this is a much larger garbage disposal than Badger 1 & 5, the drain pipe’s distance from the sink is the same 6 inches. This higher drain height from the base suits deep farmhouse-style sinks.

The build quality of Evolution Compact is outstanding. All its grinding components and the grinding chamber are high-quality stainless steel. It is installed with a 3-bolt mounting assembly, just like the other InSinkErator garbage disposals on this list. The unit has an 8-year warranty, which is good in its class.

4. InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR

InSinkErator Essential XTR is a very similar garbage disposal to Evolution Compact. It has a 3/4 HP DuraDrive induction motor that powers it, and it runs at a speed of 1725 RPM. Its 2-stage MultiGrind technology vastly improves its grinding ability; it grinds food wastes into very small sizes. Since the ground food particles are smaller in size, this reduces any chances of clogs in the drain pipes. This technology also enables this disposer to grind tough food items like small bones.

This garbage disposal is also 40% quieter than a standard garbage disposal, thanks to the SoundSeal technology and the QuietCollar sink baffle which muffles any noise coming from this machine.

Now, let’s get to the important part; dimensions. The dimensions of Essential XTR are precisely the same as that of the Evolution Compact model. Its height is 12.25 inches and its width is 8.75 inches. The distance between the drain outlet and the sink is 6 inches, shorter than most. Its grinding chamber can accommodate 34.6 oz of food wastes, exactly as much as an Evolution Compact disposal can.

One of the differences between Evolution Compact and Essential XTR is that the latter comes with a sink top air switch and a power cord kit to make its installation easier and safer. It also has a 9-year warranty, 1-year longer than that of Evolution Compact. Also, this unit is quieter because the SoundSeal technology used in this one is a slightly advanced version of the one implemented in the Compact disposer model.

The grinding components and the grinding chamber of Essential XTR are made of high-quality stainless steel. The sink flange and the 3-bolt mount are also made of stainless steel (so are those of all the InSinkErator models in this list), making the connection with the sink firmer and vibration-free. If you have a large household of three to five people, Essential XTR is an excellent choice.

5. InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist

Evolution Septic assist is specially made for those homes with a septic system. When used with a septic system, a garbage disposal may easily overload the system. To prevent this, the Evolution Septic Assist comes with an enzyme that it automatically injects into the system to create micro-organisms to help break down food wastes accumulated in the septic tank.

This is a 3/4 HP model powered by the same DuraDrive induction motor seen in all InSinkErator garbage disposals. It runs at 1725 RPM and uses a 2-stage MultiGrind technology to grind tough food wastes into smaller sizes. MultiGrind technology doesn’t involve multiple grinding chambers as some people may think; it involves multiple grinding components. Some disposals have 3 grinding stages, but this one has only two.

This disposer also uses SoundSeal technology, which makes it quieter than standard garbage disposals. It is so quiet that you can hold a normal conversation near it while it is grinding food waste.

Speaking of dimensions, Evolution Septic Assist garbage disposal has a height of 12.625 inches and a maximum width of 13 inches. It is considerably wider than the Evolution Compact and Essential XTR models. So it has a bigger grinding chamber that can accommodate up to 40 oz of food waste at a time. The disposal drain is at a distance of 6.6875 inches from the sink outlet.

Evolution Septic Assist garbage disposal is made of stainless steel. It is more durable than galvanized steel, and so this disposal will last for years without rusting or leaking. If you are on the hunt for a septic system-friendly garbage disposal, this is the one for you.

6. Waste King L-1001

Waste King L-1001 is the smallest garbage disposal made by Waste King. It is also an entry-level disposer with a power of 1/2 HP. It uses a permanent magnet motor as opposed o the induction motors in InSinkErator disposal models. Therefore this garbage disposal runs at a high speed of 2600 RPM.

The motor’s high speed increases the power per pound of the disposer so it can grind food wastes faster and smaller. Unlike the InSinkErator disposal models, this one comes with an EZ mounting assembly to connect it to the kitchen sink. This is a similar twist and lock mechanism as 3-bolt mounts, but this has plastic construction. It is a bit easier to install, though. This model also comes with a pre-installed power cord for easier installation.

Waste King L-1001 garbage disposal has galvanized steel grinding components and a corrosion-resistant polymer grinding chamber. The grinding chamber material is time tested and used in all Waste King models, so there is no need to worry about its quality.

This garbage disposal has a height of 12.75 inches, making it the 6th smallest garbage disposal on my list. It has a very narrow design, many people call it the pencil sharpener shape, so it is only 5.25 inches wide. So widthwise, this is the smallest garbage disposal available in the market.

The drain outlet of this garbage disposal sits 6.5 inches away from the sink; this is small enough to be used with a deep sink. It comes with a 2-year in-home limited warranty which covers labor and parts costs. This one is a good choice for those who are looking for a low cost but powerful entry-level garbage disposal unit.

PS: This cannot be installed on sinks thicker than 0.5 inches

7. Waste King L-111

Waste King L-111 and L-1001 garbage disposals look the same. This is because both of them have the exact shape and dimensions. But the L-111 model is powered by a 1/3 HP motor, so this is an entry-level continuous feed garbage disposal suitable for a small household with 1 or 2 people. Another difference is the RPM of the motor, it runs at a speed of 1900 RPM, and this is the only Waste King disposer that runs at such a low speed.

The height and width of L-111 garbage disposal are 12.75 inches and 5.5 inches respectively. There is a distance of 6.5 inches between its drain outlet and the sink’s outlet. This compact size makes it an apt choice for deep farmhouse sinks. Unfortunately, if the sink is thicker than 0.5 inches this garbage disposal cannot be used as the EZ mounting assembly it has is not extendable.

The grinding components of L-111 are made of galvanized steel, and the grinding chamber is corrosion-resistant plastic. It comes with a 2-year warranty, just like the L-1001 disposer model.

8. InSinkErator Evolution Excel

InSinkErator Excel is the best garbage disposal in the industry; it is a bit costly but if you have the budget, go buy this one without further reading this article; you cannot be wrong!

InSinkErator Evolution Excel is powered by a 1 HP, DuraDrive induction motor, and it is packed with the best technologies from InSinkErator. It comes with a 3-stage MultiGrind technology where the food wastes are ground into tiny particles that pass easily through any drain pipes. It is the quietest garbage disposal in the market; it is 60% quieter than the average garbage disposal. While it is running, the only sound hears will be the water falling into the sink. It uses SoundSeal Plus technology which includes multiple layers of insulation around the disposer, as well as anti-vibration mounts and a QuietCollar sink baffle to reduce noise and vibrations.

In addition to MultiGrind, this garbage disposal also has JamSensor and Auto-Reverse technologies. The Jam Sensor technology involves a circuit designed to sense the probability of jams, and it will increase the motor’s torque by 500%. It will also add a hammering effect to the blades to break through any jams. The AutoReverse technology automatically reverses the cutting disk’s rotation in the event of any jams without any manual intervention. This helps to reduce jams, and it also evens the wear and tear of the disposal parts.

Combined with all these technologies, the InSinkErator Evolution Garbage disposer can grind heavy-duty food scraps like beef bones without missing a beat, quietly.

As said earlier, Evolution is a premium series of garbage disposal models. And InSinkErator is the crown jewel of this series. It comes with the best build quality, and it is made of high-quality alloy stainless steel. It also has one of the most extended InSinkErator warranties; 10-years.

Even with all this grinding power and technologies, InSinkErator still managed to make Evolution Excel compact in size. This small-sized garbage disposer has a height of 13 inches and a maximum width of 9 inches. Its drain is located 6.69 inches from the sink drain. Compact and powerful, this garbage disposal is the best you can install on any deep sink.

Like all other InSinkErator garbage disposals, this one also uses a 3-bolt mounting assembly. You can opt to buy this with or without a pre-installed power cord. Please check their product page to know more details about Evolution Excel.

9. Waste King L-2600

Waste King L-2600 is a 1/2 HP, low-profile model. Even though it has the same power rating as the L-1001 model, it comes with better build quality and features. Its permanent magnet motor runs at a speed of 2700 RPM, and it is capable of chewing through any garbage disposal-friendly food wastes thrown at it.

Waste King L-2600 measures 13.5 inches from bottom to top and 6.75 inches diagonally. Its drain is at the height of 7 inches. Even though it is not as low in profile as the other garbage disposals on this list, this is still the right choice for farmhouse sinks.

Compared to the Waste King L-1001 disposer, the WK L-2600 disposer is slightly better in build quality since it has stainless steel grinding components. This stainless steel construction ensures that the grinding components withstand their daily usage and constant contact with water. The grinding chamber is made of the same high-quality plastic material used in all other Waste King disposer models. As said before, this material is time-tested, so no worries about quality there.

Another thing common among all Waste King disposals is that their sink flange is made of high-quality polymer instead of stainless steel like in InSinkErator models. This holds true for L-2600 as well. Its installation is done via an EZ sink mount, and it has a pre-installed power cord. The disposer is covered under a 5-year in-home warranty. In my opinion, this is a better deal than buying an L-1001.

10. Waste King L-3200

Waste King L-3200 is the slightly more powerful version of L-2600 garbage disposal. It is powered by a 3/4 HP, 2700 RPM permanent magnet motor that handles all soft food wastes and then some hard food items like chicken bones.

The build quality of L-3200 is the same as that of its predecessor. Its grinding components are stainless steel, and the grinding chamber is a top-quality polymer; both are resistant to rust and corrosion.

One thing I like about Waste King garbage disposals is the warranty. They give the longest warranty in any segment. This garbage disposal model comes with an 8-year warranty even though it is much cheaper than the Evolution Compact disposer of InSinkErator.

Waste King L-3200 is 13.75 inches in height and 7.75 inches in width. Its drain at the height of 7.5 inches below the sink. This is the largest of the small garbage disposals on this list. This comes with an EZ mounting assembly and a preinstalled power cord to make its installation more manageable.

Note: Garbage disposals can be installed only if the sink’s thickness is less than 0.5 inches. If it is any thicker, like in some fireclay sinks, use a sink flange extension like this one, which can work on sinks that are as thick as 1.75 inches. This is possible only if the garbage disposal mount is 3-bolt type; this won’t work with EZ mounts. Please check the spec sheet of the manufacturer before buying.

For additional reading:

• 9 stainless steel garbage disposals
• Waste King vs InSinkErator