Look up garbage disposal horsepower and see how much you need for your use. I have a 3/4 hp Moen and it's pretty compact and reasonably quiet. The size gives me extra space under the sink. I like it. I don't put anything too tough down my disposal like coffee grounds or chicken bones, so 3/4 hp works well. I have also had InSinkErator and liked it.

IMO no garbage disposals ever . Either cpmpost or at least not putting this crap back into waterways. Do you have a house and a yard compost . Where I live we have weekily compost collection and all waste goes in the compost like meat, bones, leftovers etc Even used paper towels and parchement paper

Look up garbage disposal horsepower and see how much you need for your use.

That isn't quite accurate advice. How does one know "how much you need for your use"? What @Jhanani Ravi should buy is a disposal that is 3/4 hp or 1 hp, not less. If you buy a disposal with less than 3/4 hp, it will not be powerful enough. When plumbers talk about disposals clogging, they are always the disposals with less than 3/4 hp. You also do not want any disposal that has the word "Badger" in it, which are the cheaper, less well-made disposals.

@Jhanani Ravi should look at how much space she has under her sink. Some people have a lot, some do not. A 1 hp disposal may be too large, or it may not. A 3/4 hp disposal should be fine. As @Verbo mentioned there are only two manufacturers of disposals, Insinkerator and Waste King. Both companies make very good disposals. Waste King disposals cost less, yet have longer warranties. Here are the models you should look for:

Insinkerator Evolution Essential XTR 3/4 hp

Insinkerator Evolution Excel 1 hp

Waste King L-3200 3/4 hp

Waste King L-8000 TC 1 hp (this one is very large)

@M Miller I know "how much I need for my use" because I don't put anything down my disposal that might require more than 3/4 hp. If someone uses theirs to grind up bones, they might want to opt for 1 hp. I wouldn't pay for more hp than I need.

Waste King is owned and manufactured by Moen.

Thanks a lot everyone - these inputs are super helpful

“I don't put anything down my disposal that might require more than 3/4 hp.”

Why should someone be limited to that? If you’re going to the trouble of installing a disposal, why not install one that is high quality that you don’t have to carefully pick and choose what goes into it?

“If someone uses theirs to grind up bones”

For the underpowered disposals that are less than 3/4 hp, it is not a question of bones. That is hyperbole. The Badger-style and low-powered disposals cannot handle fruit rinds or even celery strings - really, much of everyday foods that could go into a 3/4 hp disposal is risky to those underpowered disposals.

“I wouldn't pay for more hp than I need.”

The Waste King L-3200 3/4 hp disposal I recommended above is $115 and comes with an 8-year warranty. The larger Waste King L-8000 TC is also about $115 and comes with a 20-year warranty. How much was your low-powered disposal, and how long the warranty? You are missing the point that it’s not only about the grinding ability. When you buy a 3/4 hp disposal (not a Badger), you are also buying better quality parts, longevity and long warranties.

“Waste King is owned and manufactured by Moen.”

Not sure why you mentioned this, but to be clear, Waste King garbage disposals are manufactured by Anaheim Manufacturing, which is owned by Moen. Moen is an American faucet manufacturer with an international scope, including its ownership of Anaheim Manufacturing. Moen is known for its many innovations and inventions in the faucet industry. In plumber polls, Moen is usually the first or second preferred faucet. I am mentioning this since you think Moen’s ownership of Anaheim Manufacturing is important, so the OP might appreciate some background on it.

Save some money, Costco has good prices. They have one model labeled Moen.

https://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?dept=All&keyword=garbage+disposals

Certain Elkay composite sinks will only accept an Insinkerator style disposal.

@M Miller Did you read my original post? I didn't recommend that the OP buy less than 3/4 hp or something low-quality. Nor did I say mine was a cheap, low-powered disposal. Mine is 3/4 hp, high quality, and has a 10-year warranty. Where are these assumptions coming from?

When doing my own research before buying a disposal, I weighed 3/4 hp and up. I don't do a lot of major cooking, just everyday stuff. So I chose a disposal that would work for my family, and don't feel "limited" by it. Bigger isn't always better. If that were the case, why not go for a 2 hp to grind up potato peelings, kids' uneaten cereal, and casserole leftovers that sat in the fridge for a week? Those things are my experience. I didn't need anything more than 3/4 hp.

All I did was make a recommendation to the OP based on MY experience. If somebody does more cooking where they grind more intense stuff than I do (grinding up bones is not hyperbole- people do grind up chicken bones in their disposals, for example) then maybe they should consider a 1 hp. But I didnt feel the need, where 3/4 hp was sufficient for how I cook and how I will continue to cook in the future.

I made a recommendation, you quoted me, disputed my recommendation as inaccurate, went on to also recommend 3/4 hp, then said there are only 2 manufacturers of disposals - InSinkErator and Waste King. My disposal is Moen, which I mentioned in my recommendation, so I pointed out that Waste King is manufactured by Moen - excuse me, manufactured by a company OWNED by Moen. That's why I brought it up.

I'm not sure why you're arguing with my recommendation, then basically go on to recommend the same thing? Seems to me like we're on the same side here?

I've had the Evolution series since they came out with them. I think my first was in 2000. I have another one in my new house. They are the best!

“Nor did I say mine was a cheap, low-powered disposal. Mine is 3/4 hp, high quality, and has a 10-year warranty.”

@CeeWhy - you said 3/4 hp, that was all. You did not provide any information on what model your disposal is or its warranty. The OP asked for recommendations, and you could have helped her by recommending your model. Just mentioning 3/4 hp with no specifics could still be a lower-grade Badger model. No way to know what you were talking about.

I responded to exactly what you wrote. That’s why I copied what you wrote in my responses. Your comments were unclear for an OP unfamiliar with disposals. In particular, I was clarifying: (1) disposal hp, (2) prices, (3) warranties, and (4) avoiding ”Badger” models which are made with 3/4 hp but nevertheless won’t have the quality and longevity of non-Badger disposals. Your comments in this thread needed clarification on those points.

”Bigger isn't always better. If that were the case, why not go for a 2 hp”

Please know that only commercial disposals for restaurants come in that size, and cost $2,000+. In any case, I explained that the OP should get 3/4 hp or 1 hp, with the warning that a 1 hp model may be too big or not depending on the OP’s undersink space.

You appear upset because I clarified what you said. My priority is to try to help the OP.

@M Miller I apologize for any miscommunication or if I appear upset, I am not. You spoke about the OP in third-person in your post and quoted me, so it sounded directed at me and I responded, answering your question. I am still confused why you said my recommendation was inaccurate or needed clarification? To be fair, you didn't mention warranty or price in your original response, either. Neither did the posters whose responses followed mine. Those posters also didn't recommend specific models of the brands they recommended. Yet I am the least helpful person in this thread and my comments needed clarification? 🤷‍♀️😂

I *did* specify that I had a 3/4 hp Moen in my original post. Moen only has a couple of 3/4 hp models. I told the OP that I chose the more compact one because I said that I needed more room under my sink. I will go back to my original post and add the model number.

I didn't mention Badger because Moen - which is the brand I recommended to the OP - does not even offer Badger in 3/4 hp. In fact, I can't find a Moen Badger disposal of any hp online.

I only brought up prices because the 1 hp disposal *I* was considering (I am aware there are other high-quality 1 hp disposals that are lower priced) was a lot more expensive than the 3/4 I ultimately decided on.

Insinkerator is my go-to brand. Talk to your general contractor/plumber about the horsepower he recommends. Then have it installed based on the unit's downloadable installation instructions.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000DZGN7Q?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Waste King L-8000 1 Hp disposer

$119.39 Amazon

20 year warranty

Plenty of power, great price, quiet operation. I don't bother with any other disposer.