Best Budget Garbage Disposals of 2023

Every kitchen should have a reliable garbage disposal because it makes it easier to get rid of food waste. When food scraps pass through the garbage disposal, they are pulverized into smaller pieces to prevent clogging in pipes. Food scraps easily flow down the drain and down sewer pipes to your sewage system instead of being sent to decompose in a landfill.

Garbage disposals are now affordable to most, with budget models costing less than $100. The best model for you will depend on your budget, the quantity of food you need to grind regularly, and the size of your home. Below, we will take a look at the top 5 budget garbage disposals that won't break the bank. 

Top 5 Budget Garbage Disposal Comparison

• Best for Small Sinks: GE Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal
• Best for Large Sinks: Whirlaway 191 Garbage Disposal
• Best Value: Waste Maid 10-US-WM-058-3B
• Best Warranty: Moen GXP33C Lite Series PRO 
• Most Popular: Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal

What To Consider WHen Choosing A Garbage Disposal 

The following factors should be considered when shopping for the best garbage disposal:

Motor size

The smaller the motor size, the smaller the amount of food the disposal can handle at one, and also the softer the food scraps need to be. A 1/3 or 1/2 horsepower (HP) engine, for example, is ideal for a single householder who sometimes grinds soft vegetables. A 3/4 or 1 horsepower motor, on the other hand, is far better suited to a big family that frequently eats at home and will give smoother operation, smoother pulverization, and fewer clogs – all of which means less load on your wastewater system. However, more space is often required for higher-horsepower garbage disposals. Check out our full guide on the right garbage disposal size if you are not sure - though make sure you have enough under-sink space for a garbage disposal if you don't have one already installed.

Grinding chamber size and material

Chambers in disposals with more horsepower will be bigger since their motors can process more food. A strong corrosion-resistant polymer(thick plastic), galvanized steel, or stainless steel is usually used to make the disposal chamber. All are designed to withstand the rigors of running the garbage disposal. It's also critical to understand the blade's construction to ensure its durability. Most of them are typically made of stainless steel. Any garbage disposal with stainless steel chambers and blades will be more efficient, last longer, be easier to clean, and will not rust.

Cost

For a household of two, you can get a garbage disposal for about $100, but if you have a large family or prepare a lot of food, you may want to invest $170 to $250 on a 1-horsepower machine with special features. If you decide to go with a batch feed model rather than a continuous feed, your average cost will skyrocket. For a device with the same horsepower, the price may double depending on the brand.

The cost of installing a garbage disposal for the first time, including a new receptacle, fitting, switch, and labor, is around $400. It'll likely take an hour or two.

Noise & Sound Insulation

Waste disposals are renowned for the grinding and cracking noises they produce. However, some are definitely louder than others. Look for sound insulation features and where they are located on the unit if noise levels are a concern. Only a little amount of insulation will surround the grinding chamber in inexpensive, entry-level garbage disposals. Premium units, on the other hand, are fully enclosed from the mounting ring to the bottom, where the motor is located, and have two or more layers of insulation.

Our picks for the best garbage disposal under $100

Best for Small Sinks: GE Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal   

The GE continuous feed garbage disposal (1/3 HP) features a dishwasher drain connector, stainless steel sink flange, wall switch, and sink stopper. It has a two-level precutter and an armature shaft made of durable, cold-rolled carbon steel. This best low-price garbage disposal also has Drain Boost technology that uses an angled fin to forcibly push water, preventing clogging and simply draining food waste.

This dependable food disposal with a speed of over 2,300 RPM efficiently grinds tough foods like cooked pasta, fruit peels, rice, and cereal. A faster motor means the disposal operates faster and can process more food waste at a time and should make up for it's relatively small grinding chamber size.  

This easy-to-install food disposal takes only a few minutes and comes with everything you need. It also includes a 3-bolt, simple-to-install adaptor kit for select replacement installations. It fits perfectly beneath a kitchen sink where it won't take up too much space - perfect fit for a single kitchen sink typically found in smaller apartments. This garbage disposal is recommended for a household of 1-2 people. For added piece of mind, this garbage disposal comes with a 1-year limited guarantee.

Price at the time of publishing: $87.94 on Amazon

Best for Large Sinks: Whirlaway 191 Garbage Disposal

The Whirlaway 191 1/3 horsepower garbage disposal is a solid, compact garbage disposal that is both high-powered and easy to install.  Furthermore, this disposal is manufactured by Waste King - one of the top garbage disposal manufacturers known for their garbage disposal durability. The Whirlaway 191 has the largest grinding chamber capacity out of the 5 disposals we tested in this line up, meaning you can put more food waste through the disposal at a time. It has a Vortex(Tm) Permanent Magnet Motor with a high speed of 1900 RPM that is designed to reduce jamming.

This Whirlaway 191 has kept the same design for some 10 years now, and during this time this particular unit has quite a following. In fact we did a full review on it a little while back. It's rugged yet simple construction means there are few points of failure. It's powered by a 1/3 horsepower motor and operates on a continuous feed. As it operates at 1/3 HP, it would be best to place bones or fibrous vegetable waste like celery into the bin instead of down this disposal.

It features a handy red reset button at the bottom and is operated by a wall switch. It comes with a 2-year over-the-counter replacement warranty.

Price at the time of publishing: $76.60 on Amazon

Best Value: Waste Maid 10-US-WM-058-3B

The Waste Maid garbage disposer has a 1/2 HP 2600 RPM permanent magnet motor that allows it to attain maximum power on the first spin. Despite its high grinding speed, this inexpensive garbage disposal is relatively quiet according to our analysis of reviews online.

Despite its affordable pricing, the Waste Maid 10-US-WM-058-3B garbage disposal is a beast with a 1/2 HP engine, anti-jam stainless steel impellers, and a corrosion-proof turntable. The continuous feed design, which swiftly and effectively performs disposal tasks, and the exclusive "bio shield" technology, which helps to lessen smells associated with moist food wastes, were both well-liked by users.

This top-budget garbage disposal has a standard 3-bolt mounting mechanism that allows for quick installation and direct replacement for most garbage disposal brands that use 3-bolt mounting systems. The Waste Maid 10-US-WM-058-3B comes with a two-year warranty.

Price at the time of publishing: $69.99 on Amazon

Best Warranty: Moen GXP33C Lite Series PRO 

For households who only sometimes cook and need a simple and quick cleanup, the Lite Series is ideal. The GXP33C Lite from Moen is also the newest model in the lineup - the little brother to the larger GX50C. Both feature a modern, compact design and a strong, permanent magnet based high-speed engine to dispose of light food waste like fruit peels, cereal, and soft foods.

Installation of this inexpensive garbage disposal is quite easy with its compact size and the universal XPRESS Mount that fits most existing 3-bolt mounting systems, including the ones from other brands.

The GXP33C also comes backed by a 5-year guarantee from Moen - which is much longer than any of the other budget disposals reviewed, and indeed even much longer than some more costly models. With the Moen GXP33C, you won't have to worry about replacing your garbage disposal for quite a long time.

Price at the time of publishing: $69.52 on Amazon

Most Popular: Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal

Low price does not always mean low quality, case and point is the Waste King L-1001 Garbage Disposal. This garbage disposal packs a powerful punch with it's 1/2 horsepower motor which spins at a very respectable 2600 RPM. This makes it one of the most powerful garbage disposals in the less than $100 category. 

Great for everyday food scraps (no bones or pits) in a 3-4 person household. Manufactured with high-speed, energy efficient durable motor that will grind all scraps down the drain. Acceptable 2 year warranty. Waste King is a great brand if you decide you need a larger disposal - we just completed our guide to the top Waste King models. 

Price at the time of publishing: $69.52 on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need continuous or Batch Feed?

There are two main types of garbage disposals in terms of feed, they are batch feed and continuous feed:

Continuous-feed garbage disposal: This works continually, allowing users to switch it on and progressively add food waste while it's running.

Batch-feed garbage disposals: This crushes food into tiny batches and is, therefore, safer for families with young children. Before the disposal can function, a stopper must be firmly in place. The major advantage of batch-feed disposals is their safety, although they are often more expensive. More info on the differences between batch and continuous feed here

What Horsepower Do I need?

Greater horsepower necessitates a larger motor, which often increases the unit's size. While sizes vary greatly across brands, the smallest 1/3-hp disposals are 6 to 7 inches in diameter and 9 to 12 inches in height. A 1-hp disposal, on the other hand, can be up to 13 inches in diameter and 18 inches in height. The only time unit size may matter is when customers have limited room under the kitchen sink. If you are unsure what horsepower you should get, check out our guide on what size garbage disposal you need.

Why Do I Need A Garbage Disposal?

A budget Garbage Disposal is Better than none. Garbage disposals are an excellent way to dispose of everyday meal leftovers. Apart from reducing your kitchen tasks, they also allow you to participate in environmental conservation by sharing the burden of already congested landfills. According to the evaluations above, there are numerous top-of-the-line cheap yet durable garbage disposals for households.

It can be confusing when shopping for a garbage disposal and a  durable yet cheap garbage disposal is hard to find - which is why we created this list. A cheap disposal is better than no disposal. Garbage disposals are good for the environment and makes it easy to keep your kitchen clean. A garbage disposal also keeps your trash can and compost bin free of nasty and unpleasant foods and odors.