Head-to-head · Best Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP vs InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 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 Excel 1.0 HP comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.0 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about 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. — 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 #1 in Best Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP

4.7

$379

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
— 40 oz stainless steel grind chamber with alloy stainless components resists corrosion and odor buildup over years of daily use

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
— Premium pricing more than triples a 1/2 HP starter unit

$379 · 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 Excel 1.0 HP

Sits a clear tier above the 3/4 HP Evolution Compact in motor power and grind stages, with a 40 oz chamber against the Compact's 34.6 oz. Significantly quieter and finer-grinding than the entry-level Badger 5 1/2 HP and a meaningful step up from the 3/4 HP Septic Assist for non-septic homes that want a third grind stage.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP	InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP
Motor	1/2 HP Dura-Drive induction	1.0 HP Dura-Drive induction
Grind Stages	1 (single-stage)	3 (MultiGrind)
Feed Type	Continuous	Continuous
Chamber Capacity	26 oz galvanized	40 oz stainless steel
Mounting	3-Bolt Quick Lock with Lift & Latch	3-Bolt Lift & Latch
Overall Height	11-1/2 in	—
Weight	13 lb 10 oz	25.5 lb
Warranty	5-year We Come To You in-home	7-year We Come To You in-home
Sound Insulation	—	SoundSeal Technology

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