7 Best Garbage Disposals (2023 Guide)

A garbage disposal is a key kitchen appliance that helps you get rid of your food waste. As food particles pass through garbage disposal units, they’re pulverized into smaller pieces to prevent pipe clogs.

To help you select the disposal that’s right for you, we researched the best garbage disposals available.

Here are our top recommendations.

Top 7 Garbage Disposals

• Best Overall: InSinkErator Evolution
• Best for Shallow Sinks: InSinkErator Badger 5
• Best Brand Warranty: Moen GXS75C Host Series
• Best Value: Waste King L-1001
• Best for Large Sinks: Waste King L-3200
• Best for Septic Systems: InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist
• Most Durable: Waste Maid WM-658-3B

Best Garbage Disposal Overall

Pros and Cons

✔ Uses an anti-vibration horse clamp
✔ Is equipped with a protective liner to prevent leaks
✔ Uses an average of 3-4 kilowatts of energy per year

✘ Does not include a power cord
✘ Has a higher price point than many other garbage disposals on the market

What Customers Are Saying

Our team found that those who left positive reviews for this product said that it had a slim design, strong motor, and long life. However, we also noted that those who left negative reviews complained that it was difficult to mount under a sink and that it struggled to break down larger food particles.

Best for Shallow Sinks

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with a wrench and other tools and components for installation
✔ Has a compact design that’s just over 6 inches wide
✔ Fits with existing InSinkErator hardware for quick installation

✘ Does not come with sound-reducing technology
✘ Is made with galvanized steel, which is more prone to rusting than stainless steel

What Customers Are Saying

We noticed that happy customers said this product was easy to install, made of high-quality materials, and long-lasting. However, we also saw that some dissatisfied customers said it was prone to leaks.

Best Brand Warranty

Pros and Cons

✔ Grinds food quickly with a 2,700-revolution-per-minute motor
✔ Uses a 0.75-horsepower motor for tough food scraps
✔ Is designed with SoundShield technology for sound insulation

✘ Isn’t as compact as some top-rated garbage disposals
✘ Doesn’t fit with all existing plumbing systems

What Customers Are Saying

Our team noticed that satisfied customers often said the splash guard on this product was easy to remove for cleaning, and the chamber and motor could handle a large quantity of food. Customers liked that this product didn’t require a lot of tools for installation. However, we saw some customers that said they had to push food into the grinder manually. Other unhappy customers disliked that it was loud.

Best Value

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a corrosion-resistant polymer grind chamber
✔ Has a compact design that’s just 5.25 inches wide
✔ Is equipped with an accessible front-mounted reset button

✘ Has weaker horsepower than some other disposals
✘ Is noisy, according to several customer reviews

What Customers Are Saying

We found that those who were happy with this disposal said that it was quiet, featured a powerful motor, and had a compact design. However, we saw some unhappy customers that said it was difficult to install and its drain size was smaller than expected.

Best for Large Sinks

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with a power cord
✔ Has a removable splash guard for convenient cleaning
✔ Is made with rust-resistant stainless steel components

✘ Can be difficult to install, requiring several tools
✘ Is not designed to grind raw meat or fish

What Customers Are Saying

Our research showed that those who were happy with this disposal liked its mounting system, low noise level, and easy-to-follow instructions. However,, dissatisfied customers that we saw didn’t like that the stopper was made from plastic instead of more durable steel.

Best for Septic Systems

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a handy lift-and-latch feature that makes disposal simple
✔ Uses MultiGrind Technology to grind down waste quickly
✔ Has a quiet operation

✘ Does not include a power cord
✘ Is hardwired

What Customers Are Saying

We saw that customers who left positive reviews for this product often liked that it worked quietly, ground food quickly, and had a durable design. However, some reviewers found it challenging to operate, while others had issues with the bio charge pump not working properly.

Most Durable

Pros and Cons

✔ Has three-bolt mounting for easy installation
✔ Uses anti-odor technology to keep bad smells away
✔ Is a continuous feed model, so you can add more food while it’s running

✘ Can sometimes be slow to drain
✘ Has a bulky design

What Customers Are Saying

When looking through customer reviews for this product, we noted that several customers liked that this disposal was highly durable, had a quiet operation for its size, and was easy to install. However, we also found that some reviewers found that it had weaker suction than anticipated, and others said it arrived missing parts.

Garbage Disposal Buying Guide

Before buying a garbage disposal to eliminate your food waste, we find that it’s important to consider how its specifications impact its performance. Here are key factors to think about when purchasing a disposal.

Garbage Disposal Dimensions

A garbage disposal’s dimensions impact its compatibility with your kitchen sink. For example, our research shows that larger models might not fit in the cabinet under all kitchen sinks. While purchasing a compact garbage disposal removes the hassle of fitting the model under your sink, most compact garbage disposals sacrifice power for size.

Horsepower

A garbage disposal’s horsepower influences the type of food it can grind. For example, we found that a 0.25-horsepower disposal can tackle meat trimmings and other soft food, while a 0.75- or one-horsepower disposal can grind tougher particles, such as melon rinds.

Grinding Technology

Garbage disposals are split into two different types: continuous-feed and batch-feed models. Continuous-feed disposals run continuously once their power is turned on, making it easy for users to throw large amounts of food into their grind chambers. Most batch-feed garbage disposals we researched run only when their drain covers are in place, limiting the amount of food that can be ground at once.

Material Composition

Most residential garbage disposals have grinding chambers that we saw are made from stainless or galvanized steel.

If you can afford the extra cost, we recommend stainless steel grind components because they are more resistant to corrosion and rust. While galvanized steel has a rust-resistant coating, the metal starts to rust as soon as this coating chips.

You’ll also find plastic grinding chambers. Though affordable and corrosion-resistant, plastic eventually cracks.

Extra Garbage Disposal Features

Some high-quality garbage disposals have unique features that help them stand out from other models. Some features our research found to look for include:

Anti-Jamming

Some disposals are designed to prevent larger food particles from jamming the device. This can help your disposal last longer and allow you to put more food in at once.

Plug-In Power Cord

Some non-hard-wired disposals come with a power cord, making them easier to install and preventing you from buying your own cord. If you need to buy your own power cord, we find that it will likely cost between $15-$20 dollars.

Garbage Disposal Noise Reduction

Garbage disposals can be noisy, but some models include noise-reduction technology that can keep the noise level minimal or even whisper-quiet. Typically, disposals we’ve seen with more RPM and horsepower will have louder operations unless they are designed to reduce noise.

Warranty

The warranty of a disposal varies based on the brand and model. We find that anything with a lower than eight-year warranty is considered lower than average. Some warranties will extend well past 10 or even 15 years, giving you added peace of mind.

Garbage Disposal Brands

We noticed a few select brands dominate garbage disposal sales. Most top-selling models come from InSinkErator, Waste King, Moen, or Waste Maid. These are well-established and trusted brands.

How To Install a Garbage Disposal

Installing a garbage disposal can be a simple or difficult task depending on how the area under your sink is set up. Corded disposals that come with three-bolt mounting hardware are the easiest to attach, but most disposals must be hardwired.

Contacting an electrician to help with the installation is one option. Garbage disposal installation cost varies depending on the type of disposal and overall labor costs. However, we find it typically costs around $400-500.

If you have the tools, you can try to install a garbage disposal yourself. The video below gives step-by-step instructions on how you can install your own garbage disposal.

Garbage Disposal Dos and Don’ts

A backed-up garbage disposal can turn a cumbersome meal cleanup into a nightmare. To get the most use out of your new disposal, here are some important tips we gathered that will help you maintain your garbage disposal.

Dos

• Do cut or tear large food particles into smaller pieces before loading them into the disposal.
• Do keep your garbage disposal clean.
• Do run your disposal regularly, as this prevents rust and corrosion.

Don’ts

• Don’t put the following items down your garbage disposal:
  – Anything that isn’t food
  – Bones
  – Fibrous vegetables
  – Fruit pits
  – Oils, fats, and other fluids that congeal

• Don’t overload your disposal by putting too much food down at once.

• Don’t stick your hand down the disposal to remove a jammed item without turning off the power first.

Garbage Disposal FAQs

How does a garbage disposal work?

Garbage disposals mount to the underside of your kitchen sink drain to catch solid food as it enters the drain. Once the food is in the disposal’s grinding chamber, you turn on the device to grind the food into small particles. These particles easily pass through your plumbing pipes instead of causing clogs.

How long do garbage disposals last?

We find that most garbage disposals last around ten years. If your model has difficulty grinding food, makes more noise than usual, or frequently clogs, it might be time for a replacement.

How do I use a garbage disposal?

To use a garbage disposal, we recommend running cold water in your sink before turning the disposal on. Once the device is on, gradually drop food into the drain. When you’ve finished disposing of the food, turn off the device. Leave the water on for a few more seconds to flush your pipes.

How do I clean my garbage disposal?

To clean your garbage disposal, pour ice, lemon juice, or vinegar down the drain to clean the device naturally. You can also find various cleaning products on the market that unclog and freshen garbage disposals.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. To date, we have written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record with trusted retailers, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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