What size Garbage Disposal To Select (HP)

The size of a garbage disposal is the horsepower (HP) rating of its electric motor. This term is used to specify the power and performance levels of garbage disposals.

The common garbage disposal sizes are 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, and 1 HP.

The size of garbage disposal you need depends on the amount of food waste your household generates daily.

For households with 1-2 people and minimal food waste, a 1/3 HP or 1/2 HP garbage disposal should be sufficient.
For households with 3-5 people and moderate food waste, a 3/4 HP or 1 HP garbage disposal is recommended.
For households with more than 5 people and heavy food waste, a 1 HP or larger garbage disposal is recommended.

It’s important to note that larger garbage disposals are generally more expensive than smaller ones, so it’s a good idea to choose a size that fits your needs without overspending.

Table of Contents

What size to select?

Given below is a detailed comparison of the most popular sizes 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP and 1 HP to help you decide what size you need to choose.

1/3 HP: Not recommended, but if you must

1/3 HP garbage disposals are entry-level disposals suitable for those who rarely cook. If you are a person who lives on a diet and eats healthy foods, this size is an apt choice. But don’t ever think of putting leftover pizza in it.

Even though 1/3 HP is the entry size, most plumbers wouldn’t recommend it. It is too underpowered and practically cannot grind non-veg foods. Trying to grind any hard food items or adding lots of food can easily jam these disposers. If you live on soft foods, vegetables, and fruits, this is a good choice, but you can get a decent 1/2 HP garbage disposal for a few bucks more.

Also, an entry-level size like this doesn’t come with any noise insulation technologies as the companies focus more on making them cheaper. If you want a quiet disposal with more features, look for a 3/4 or 1 HP disposal.

1/2 HP: Entry level size

Most plumbers recommend this as the entry-level size for garbage disposals. This is suitable for a household of one or two people who are not seriously into cooking. This size can handle food wastes like fish bones, cooked meat, veggies, fruits, and soft foods.

Add food waste in small amounts when using a 1/2 HP garbage disposal. While it can handle almost all disposal-friendly food wastes in a regular household, don’t expect it to grind loads of food at a time. If you had a party or a special occasion, I recommend using the trash can instead.

Like 1/3 HP size disposals, 1/2 HP garbage disposals do not have any premium features or noise insulation. But they are very popular due to their low pricing and the right grinding capabilities.

3/4 HP: Most popular size

This is my favorite garbage disposal size. It is not too big nor too small, it is just the right size garbage disposal for my taste.

3/4 HP garbage disposals are suitable for a family with two to four people, ideally a couple with two kids. These disposals can grind most household food wastes, including chicken bones, fruit pits, raw meat, etc., but don’t try to grind beef bones in them. Some models like Evolution Compact can grind celery and other fibrous veggies, which are not normally put in a garbage disposal, thanks to a premium feature called MultiGrind, where food wastes undergo multiple grinding stages, which makes them finer and less prone to clog.

Many 3/4 HP garbage disposal models come with noise insulations and some premium features (click here to check those). These premium ones cost much more than a 1/2 HP disposal, but there are pocket-friendly models like Waste King 3200 if you are not looking to spend much money.

1 HP: Most powerful

1 HP garbage disposals are the most powerful among household garbage disposals. They have bigger motors that provide ample grinding power to dispose of all sorts of household food wastes. Many models in this power range also come with impressive noise insulation technologies that muffle their large motors’ sound.

1 HP garbage disposals suit a large family and those who cook daily. It can even grind beef bones when fed in small quantities. Some premium models are also equipped with anti-jamming technologies to reduce jams, even though a 1 HP disposal rarely jams.

Detailed comparisons;

Relevance of garbage disposal size

The size of a garbage disposal holds significant importance as it directly impacts its performance, efficiency, and functionality. Here are the key aspects highlighting the relevance of size:

Grinding Power Increases with size

The horsepower rating determines the grinding power of the disposal. A higher horsepower rating signifies a more powerful motor, enabling the disposal to grind and break down food waste more effectively.

For example, the grinding power of a 1 HP garbage disposal is significantly more than that of a 1/3 HP model. This means that a large size garbage disposal can handle versatile food wastes ranging from soft vegetables to hard bones.

Here is a quick comparison of what each horsepower size can handle;

Garbage disposal size	What it can grind
1/3 HP	Soft foods, fruits, and vegetables
1/2 HP	fish bones, soft foods, cooked meat, vegetables, etc
3/4 HP	chicken bones, meat, vegetables, etc
1 HP	Beef bones, chicken bones, meat, vegetables, etc

Jamming reduces size

Garbage disposals occasionally get stuck. The frequency of these jams is significantly more for low-horsepower models. On the other hand, higher horsepower disposals can easily cut through most obstructions thanks to their extra horsepower. They can also process more volume of food waste without effort.

Durability and Longevity

Higher horsepower disposals are generally built with sturdier components and can withstand heavier loads. They are designed to handle hard food wastes and prolonged use, resulting in increased durability and longevity. In addition, higher HP garbage disposals come with longer warranties than the rest.

Noise levels vs size

Large size disposals are supposed to be noisier since they have higher horsepower motors. However, they often incorporate advanced noise reduction technologies. These features minimize noise and vibrations during operation, providing a quieter kitchen environment. Therefore, in practice, the noise from most large garbage disposals is equal to or less than that of smaller models.

Price vs horsepower

The cost of garbage disposals varies with their horsepower ratings. A 1/3 HP garbage disposal always costs less than a more powerful 1/2 HP model from the same brand. Given below is the approximate cost of different garbage disposal sizes;

Garbage disposal size	Price range
1/3 HP	$50 to $100
1/2 HP	$80 to $140
3/4 HP	$140 to $300
1 HP	$150 to $500

garbage disposal size vs price

This means that you will be wasting money if you choose a high-horsepower unit instead of the weaker one you need.