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The Best 5Aggregated review·12 sources·updated May 23, 2026·checked July 19, 2026

Best Garbage Disposals

Top kitchen garbage disposals ranked by aggregate score from 12 published reviews.

This guide aggregates 12 published reviews across 5 products; the thinnest-sourced pick rests on 2. No publisher printed a score for the top pick — its rating is derived from what reviewers wrote. How we rank.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
Quick answer

InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP is our top pick for garbage disposals — an averaged 4.6/5 across 2 published reviews. Runner-up: InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP (~$429).

Read the InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP review →Check Price on Amazon
At a glance5 products ▾
1InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HPTop Score
2 sourcesall derived
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.
Check Price on Amazon
2InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
2 sourcesall derived
$429Best 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.
$429 · Check Price on Amazon
3InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist 3/4 HP
3 sourcesall derived
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
4InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP
2 sources1 derived
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
5InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed
3 sourcesall derived
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

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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
2 sourcesall derived
▾Why it's ranked here

Every other 1 HP disposer chases the Excel, InSinkErator's top-of-line continuous-feed unit. Reviewers at 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
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
2 sourcesall derived$429as of Aug 1
▾Why it's ranked here

Most of the Excel's quiet performance and grind quality, in a shorter cabinet-friendly chassis at a meaningfully lower price: that's the Compact. Shouldit.com rated it 7.8 out of 10 and placed it in the top three for noise. The cord-not-included gotcha applies, so 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
$429 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP →
InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist 3/4 HP
#3
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
3 sourcesall derived
▾Why it's ranked here

On a septic tank rather than a city sewer connection, Septic Assist is the disposer to buy. 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
#4
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
2 sources1 derived
▾Why it's ranked here

No disposer is installed more often in North America than the Badger 5, the default 1/2 HP swap-out unit for two decades. Reviewers (shouldit.com 5.3/10, This Old House 4.6/5) agree on the same three things: reliable, easy to install, 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 →
InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus 3/4 HP Batch Feed
#5
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
3 sourcesall derived
▾Why it's ranked here

Batch-feed safety is the whole point of Cover Control Plus: the disposer only runs when the magnetic cover is locked in place. InSinkErator pairs that mechanism with the full Evolution-series 3/4 HP MultiGrind chamber and SoundSeal insulation, which makes it the quietest premium batch-feed unit reviewers found. Homes with small children will find the upcharge worth it.

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 →
Reviews aggregated from
FamilyhandymanConsumer ReportsEngineerfixPlumbinglabThisoldhouseGarbagewastedisposal

Spec comparison

5 products
vs
SpecInSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HPInSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP
Motor1.0 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
Sound InsulationSoundSeal TechnologySoundSeal Technology
Mounting3-Bolt Lift & Latch3-Bolt Lift & Latch
Weight25.5 lb16 lb
Warranty7-year We Come To You in-home8-year We Come To You in-home
MaterialStainless Steel—
Overall Height—12-1/8 in
Dimensions—13.38 x 10 x 12.63 inches
Voltage——

Frequently asked questions

What's the top-rated garbage disposal right now?
InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP holds the top score for garbage disposals — 4.6/5 averaged from 2 published reviews. Every other 1 HP disposer chases the Excel, InSinkErator's top-of-line continuous-feed unit. Reviewers at 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.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. Prices, links, and source ratings are re-verified on a rolling basis, and the ranking updates when the underlying scores change.

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