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The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hunter·July 7, 2026·checked July 3, 2026

Best Garbage Disposals

Top kitchen garbage disposals reviewed and ranked.

At a glance5 products ▾
1InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HPTop Score
(3 sources)
$196.67Best for: Large families and heavy daily cooks who want the quietest continuous-feed grinder available and will pay premium for finer particle output and a manufacturer-dispatched warranty.
$196.67 · Check Price on Amazon
2InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
(3 sources)
$239Best for: Mid-size households swapping an older entry-level disposer who want quieter operation and finer grinding than the Badger 5 delivers, in a chassis short enough to clear tight under-sink layouts.
$239 · Check Price on Amazon
3InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed
(3 sources)
Best for: Households with small children where push-to-start safety matters more than throughput speed, and noise-sensitive open-plan kitchens that want the quietest batch-feed disposer available.
Buy at homedepot.com
4InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist 3/4 HP
(3 sources)
Best for: Homes on septic systems where chronic sludge buildup is a real concern and the buyer wants to use a disposer without compromising tank health.
Buy at homedepot.com
5InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP
(3 sources)
Best for: Apartments, rental units, vacation homes, and small kitchens with only occasional cooking, where reliability and the lowest installed cost outweigh noise and grind-quality concerns.
Buy at insinkerator.com
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The full ranking

How we rank →
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP
#1 · Top Score
Best for: Large families and heavy daily cooks who want the quietest continuous-feed grinder available and will pay premium for finer particle output and a manufacturer-dispatched warranty.
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP
from 3 sources$196.67as of Jun 7
▾Why it's ranked here

The Excel is InSinkErator's top-of-line continuous-feed unit and the benchmark every other 1 HP disposer chases. Reviewers across shouldit.com, Consumer Reports, and Family Handyman rank it the quietest and most thorough grinder they have tested, processing 90 oz of mixed scraps in about two minutes. Plan for the heft and the cord-kit add-on.

Strengths
  • — 1 HP Dura-Drive induction motor with 3-stage MultiGrind handles bones, fruit pits, and dense scraps in roughly two minutes
  • — SoundSeal Technology insulation blanket plus anti-vibration tailpipe and sink baffle make it the quietest continuous-feed unit reviewers tested
Watch-outs
  • — Heaviest disposer on the consumer market at ~25.5 lb, awkward to support during install
  • — Power cord sold separately as a kit add-on
$196.67 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP →
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
#2
Best for: Mid-size households swapping an older entry-level disposer who want quieter operation and finer grinding than the Badger 5 delivers, in a chassis short enough to clear tight under-sink layouts.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
from 3 sources$239as of May 26
▾Why it's ranked here

The Compact is the right pick for buyers who want most of the Excel's quiet performance and grind quality in a shorter cabinet-friendly chassis and at a meaningfully lower price. Shouldit.com rated it 7.8 out of 10 and placed it in the top three for noise. The cord-not-included gotcha applies; budget another $15 for the kit.

Strengths
  • — 3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction motor with 2-stage MultiGrind delivers finer particle output than any single-stage disposer at this price tier
  • — SoundSeal Technology with multi-layer insulation blanket places it in shouldit.com's top three for quietest operation
Watch-outs
  • — No power cord in the box (CRD-00 kit sold separately)
  • — Stops short of the Excel's 3-stage MultiGrind, leaving fibrous and bone waste slightly coarser
$239 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP →
InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed
#3
Best for: Households with small children where push-to-start safety matters more than throughput speed, and noise-sensitive open-plan kitchens that want the quietest batch-feed disposer available.
InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed
from 3 sources
▾Why it's ranked here

Cover Control Plus is InSinkErator's answer for buyers who specifically want batch-feed safety: the disposer only runs when the magnetic cover is locked in place. It pairs that mechanism with the full Evolution-series 3/4 HP MultiGrind chamber and SoundSeal insulation, making it the quietest premium batch-feed unit reviewers found. Worth the upcharge for homes with small children.

Strengths
  • — Magnetic CoverStart batch-feed activation means the unit cannot run without the cover locked in place, eliminating accidental starts from dropped utensils or curious hands
  • — 3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction motor with 2-stage MultiGrind handles dense and fibrous scraps refined enough for hassle-free drain flow
Watch-outs
  • — Batch loading is slower than continuous-feed for big cleanup sessions
  • — Cover requires precise alignment to engage the magnetic switch; some owners report cover-stuck issues that need cleaning
Buy at homedepot.comFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP →
InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist 3/4 HP
#4
Best for: Homes on septic systems where chronic sludge buildup is a real concern and the buyer wants to use a disposer without compromising tank health.
InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist 3/4 HP
from 3 sources
▾Why it's ranked here

Septic Assist is the disposer to buy if your home is on a septic tank rather than a city sewer connection. It pairs an Evolution-series 3/4 HP MultiGrind chamber with InSinkErator's Bio-Charge injector, which doses enzyme-producing microorganisms into every cycle to keep septic-tank sludge from accumulating. Plan on cartridge refills as an ongoing cost.

Strengths
  • — Bio-Charge cartridge automatically injects 300 million enzyme-producing microorganisms per cycle to break down food waste and reduce septic-tank sludge buildup
  • — 3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction motor with 2-stage MultiGrind chamber matches the Evolution Compact's grinding performance
Watch-outs
  • — Bio-Charge cartridge needs replacing every 3-4 months at typical use (~$8 per cartridge, recurring cost)
  • — Some owners report the cartridge bottle dislodging during operation and splashing inside the cabinet
Buy at homedepot.comFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP →
InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP
#5
Best for: Apartments, rental units, vacation homes, and small kitchens with only occasional cooking, where reliability and the lowest installed cost outweigh noise and grind-quality concerns.
InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP
from 3 sources
▾Why it's ranked here

The Badger 5 is the most installed garbage disposer in North America and has been the default 1/2 HP swap-out unit for two decades. Reviewers (shouldit.com 5.3/10, This Old House 4.6/5) agree it is reliable, easy to install, and noisy. Buy it for small kitchens, apartments, and rentals; skip it for daily heavy cooking or noise-sensitive layouts.

Strengths
  • — Most widely installed 1/2 HP disposer in North America, with parts and service technicians available anywhere
  • — Compact 11-1/2 inch height fits the tightest under-sink cabinets
Watch-outs
  • — Single-stage grinder; struggles on fibrous waste, fish bones, and raw chicken in bench tests
  • — No SoundSeal insulation, so noticeably louder than any Evolution-series unit
Buy at insinkerator.comFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP →
Reviews aggregated from
Familyhandyman.comShouldit.comConsumerreports.orgEngineerfix.comGarbagewastedisposal.comPlumbinglab.comThisoldhouse.com

Spec comparison

5 products
vs
SpecInSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HPInSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
Motor Power1.0 HP Dura-Drive induction3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction
Grind Stages3 (MultiGrind)2 (MultiGrind)
Feed TypeContinuousContinuous
Chamber Capacity40 oz stainless steel34.6 oz stainless steel
MaterialStainless SteelStainless Steel
Warranty7-year We Come To You in-home8-year We Come To You in-home

Frequently asked questions

What is the best garbage disposal?
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP is our top pick for garbage disposals, with an averaged rating of 4.7/5 from 3 published reviews. The Excel is InSinkErator's top-of-line continuous-feed unit and the benchmark every other 1 HP disposer chases. Reviewers across shouldit.com, Consumer Reports, and Family Handyman rank it the quietest and most thorough grinder they have tested, processing 90 oz of mixed scraps in about two minutes. Plan for the heft and the cord-kit add-on.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed rates 4.4/5 in our analysis. Cover Control Plus is InSinkErator's answer for buyers who specifically want batch-feed safety: the disposer only runs when the magnetic cover is locked in place. It pairs that mechanism with the full Evolution-series 3/4 HP MultiGrind chamber and SoundSeal insulation, making it the quietest premium batch-feed unit reviewers found. Worth the upcharge for homes with small children.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in July 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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