Badger 5 Vs. Badger 5XP Vs. Badger 5XL – What’s The Difference?

The Badger 5 garbage disposal made by insinkerator is one of the most popular disposals - it has over 14,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Amazon in 2023. You might think that this garbage disposal would fit everyone's needs, but in addition to the Badger 5, Insinkerator also has the Badger 5XP - to add to the confusion, they also make a Badger 5XL We'll take a look at the differences between the three models below: 

What Is The Difference Between Badger 5, 5XL and 5XP?

The only mechanical difference between the three disposals is that the Badger 5XP is the most powerful, with a 3/4 horsepower motor. The Badger 5, Badger 5XL and the Badger 500 are all physically the same unit - the only difference is that the Badger 5XL is only sold at Lowes, and the Badger 500 is only sold at The Home Depot. Both the Badger 500 and Badger 5XL are identical to the Badger 5 in all aspects - the only difference is brand name sticker on the unit. 

Typically, the three models are sold at different prices, with some retailers pricing theirs higher that what is available online, so if you are looking for the Badger 5, then simply go for the retailer with the lowest price. When we did our search, we found amazon to have the best price, with their Badger 5 - and this also saves a trip to the hardware store. 

Just to be sure that they are all identical, we even went through the specifications sheet for the Badger 500, the Badger 5 and the Badger XL to confirm that they are all in fact identical. We also checked out each model side by side and we could not spot any differences physically aside from the label. We took out the spec sheet info and created this comparison table below:

Badger 500 Badger 5 and Badger 5XL Comparison Table

As you can see above, there is nothing different between these three models. There is however, some difference in the price. The Badger 5 is usually the cheapest and is available for around $110. The Badger 500 and the Badger XL are slightly more expensive depending on the region and can cost as much as $135. The cheapest place we were able to find the Badger 5 was on Amazon.com

Insinkerator Badger 5 Review

So now that we have cleared up the confusion and established that the Badger 5, Badger 500 and the Badger 5XL are all in fact identical, is the Badger 5 a good garbage disposal choice? 

We've reviewed the Insinkerator Badger 5 on our website before - you can check out the full in-depth review of the Badger 5 here, but we will list the key things that make this garbage disposal stand out from other brands:

Value & Price

The Badger 5 from Insinkerator is great value. For garbage disposals priced around $100, the Badger 5 simply offers features that other similarly priced models don't provide. The main features to consider are:

Warranty

‎3-Year We Come to You In-Home Service Warranty - this may not seem like much, but other competing brands typically only offer a 1 year limited warranty, meaning that even if you are still under warranty you may still need to pay out of pocket. With the Badger 5, you can rest assured that any problems you may have will be handled by Insinkerator and they will come to your house and service the unit for free during the 3 year period.

Noise Insulation 

Other competing models at this price point usually do not provide any sound insulation at all - the noise the Badger 5 makes when it's running may not be as quiet as, say the premium Insinkerator 3/4 HP Evolution Compact, but it certainly is quieter than most models priced at around $100. Noise is one of the biggest compliants with entry level model garbage disposals, with the Badger 5, you can rest assured that running the disposal won't be too loud and distracting. 

Power And Performance 

The Insinkerator Badger 5 comes with a powerful 1/2 horsepower motor to grind away food scraps. Typically, with other competing brands, entry garbage processors are equipped with a 1/3 horsepower motor only. 1/2 HP should be enough for most households typical food disposal needs and should still be able to handle most of what you throw at it. It's patented one stage grind technology, includes a GrindShear ring that turns tough-to-grind-foods into mincemeat, reducing the chance of clogs forming. 

Installation

The QuickLock installation system makes installing the Badger 5 quick and easy. All it takes is to unscrew the old garbage disposal from its place under the sink and screw the new one in – sort of like changing a lightbulb. It should take no more than 20 minutes to install a Badger 5, and even less if you are upgrading from an existing Insinkerator as they are all interchangeable once you have installed the QuickLock flange into the kitchen sink. 

When it comes down to picking a garbage disposal, going with the crowd is usually a good choice - we actually have a Badger 5 installed at our apartment - and are one of the 11,000+ families who have given the Badger 5 a full 5 stars out of 5 rating. You won't go wrong with this choice! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Reset The Badger 5?

The Badger 5 reset button is located on the base of the unit. It is the red button in the image below. 

Where is the Allen Key Hole on the Badger 5?

If your Badger 5 is jammed or not spinning and making a humming noise, you can loosen the jam and get the blades spinning freely by unplugging it or removing all power and then inserting the allen key into the allen key hole on in the center of the base of the unit, see photo below. Turn the allen key (with some force) to free the mechanism inside and unjam the unit. Follow our full instructions on how to safely fix a jammed garbage disposal here.