Head-to-head · Best Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP vs InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.0 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about 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. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP

4.0

$119

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
— Lift & Latch 3-bolt mount means most homeowners install it themselves in under an hour, especially as a swap-out for an older Badger

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
— Only a 5-year warranty (half the warranty of mid-range Waste King units at similar street price)

$119 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP

4.5

$219

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
— 12-1/8 inch overall height clears most under-sink layouts that the taller Excel cannot fit

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
— Premium price point for a 3/4 HP unit versus simpler Waste King competitors

$219 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP

Roughly half the motor of the Evolution Compact 3/4 HP and a third of the Excel 1 HP, with single-stage grinding instead of MultiGrind. Lacks the bio-charge mechanism of the Septic Assist and the safety mechanism of the Cover Control Plus. The Badger's only structural advantage against any of those is its shorter cabinet footprint and roughly half their sticker price.

InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP

Steps down from the Excel by losing one grind stage and roughly 5 oz of chamber capacity, but it fits cabinets the Excel cannot. Significantly quieter than the Badger 5 1/2 HP at not quite double the price. Shares the 3/4 HP MultiGrind chamber with the Septic Assist and Cover Control Plus but without the bio-charge or batch-feed safety mechanism, which is the right trade for city-sewer homes that don't need either.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP	InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
Motor	1/2 HP Dura-Drive induction	3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction
Grind Stages	1 (single-stage)	2 (MultiGrind)
Feed Type	Continuous	Continuous
Chamber Capacity	26 oz galvanized	34.6 oz stainless steel
Mounting	3-Bolt Quick Lock with Lift & Latch	3-Bolt Lift & Latch
Overall Height	11-1/2 in	12-1/8 in
Weight	13 lb 10 oz	16 lb
Warranty	5-year We Come To You in-home	8-year We Come To You in-home
Sound Insulation	—	SoundSeal Technology

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