When you search for the right garbage disposal for your need, there are many things to consider such as which type I should use, which brand is the best and what size of garbage disposal I should buy. It is very important to choose the right size before you pick the best garbage disposal for yourself. You could encounter many issues if you don’t get a garbage disposal that’s the right size. If you don’t get the right size garbage disposal, you can expect to have issues such as clogs and overflows. The harder the garbage disposal has to work means that it won’t last as long. If you constantly have problems with the garbage disposal because it isn’t the right size, you can’t expect it to last a long time.

What Size Garbage Disposal Do I Need?

The size of garbage disposal you need depends on many factors. One of the factors you need to consider is how much food you plan on disposing in your garbage disposal. The more food you need to dispose of means that you’ll need a larger garbage disposal. The more people you have in your household is another factor. If the food you plan on disposing of is tough, you’ll need a garbage disposal with a higher horsepower.

Measure Space Underneath Your Sink

Before you consider purchasing a garbage disposal, you need to determine the amount of space you have underneath your sink. Be sure to use a tape measure to measure the length, height and width underneath your sink. The more horsepower a unit has means that you’ll need more space under your sink. If you don’t have much space underneath your sink, you’ll need to purchase a smaller, less powerful unit.

How Many People Live in Your Home?

If you have one or two people in your household, a ⅓ or ½ horsepower disposal is the minimum you’ll need.

If you have three to six people in your household, a ½ to ¾ horsepower disposal is the minimum you’ll need.

If you have five to eight people in your household, a ¾ horsepower disposal should be the minimum, but a one horsepower disposal is recommended.

If your household has over eight people, you’ll need to purchase a one to two horsepower disposal.

Garbage Disposal Sizes

1/3 Horsepower Disposal

This horsepower is the lowest one available on the market. If you have only yourself and one other person in your household, a ⅓ horsepower garbage disposal should do just fine. Unfortunately, since it doesn’t have a lot of horsepower, it can only grind soft food such as vegetables and fruits. Since the horsepower is so low, you will often have issues with the disposal getting stuck.

Many components in a ⅓ horsepower garbage disposal aren’t stainless steel. This means that they’ll rust easily, and it won’t be reliable. Since there isn’t a lot of horsepower, these garbage disposals tend to get stuck. Not only will you have to deal with it getting stuck, but you’ll also have to deal with it possibly clogging your sewage system.

If you don’t plan on using a garbage disposal much and you only need to grind soft food such as vegetables and fruits, this may be suitable for you, but it definitely isn’t recommended.

If this size is right for you, we recommend Waste King Legend Series 1/3 HP Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal with Power Cord – (L-111). Click here for Waste King Legend Series L-111 Garbage Disposal review.

1/2 Horsepower Disposal

If you have a household with only yourself and one other person, the ½ horsepower disposal is recommended if you don’t plan on using it much. It’s strong compared to the ⅓ horsepower disposal, and it can grind general food items. A ½ horsepower disposal is recommended for standard home usage.

You can expect to pay under $100 for a ½ horsepower disposal. Usually, these units are small, so there shouldn’t be a space issue under your sink. If you decide to purchase a ½ horsepower disposal, be sure to purchase one that has all stainless steel components so that it’ll last longer.

If this size is right for you, we recommend Waste King L-2600 (1/2 HP) Garbage Disposal. Click here for Waste King L-2600 garbage disposal review.

¾ Horsepower Disposal

A ¾ horsepower disposal is recommended for a family of four. It has more power, and it’s typically the common size for most households. Since this unit will be bigger and more powerful, it’ll tend to make more noise compared to the previous units, but since it is louder, they usually come with sound protection features. If you get one that has sound protection features, it’ll be quieter compared to the previous units in this article.

Luckily, a ¾ horsepower disposal doesn’t get stuck easily. If you decide to purchase this size unit, be sure to purchase one that has all stainless steel components so that it’ll last longer.

If this size is right for you, we recommend InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Household Garbage Disposer. Click here for InSinkErator Evolution Compact review.

One Horsepower Disposal

If you have a large family and you use your kitchen a lot, a garbage disposal with one horsepower should be suitable. A one horsepower disposal is so powerful that it can grind chicken bones, coffee grounds and other food items. Since the unit is bigger, you can grind more food in it at once. The only disadvantage is that since the unit has more horsepower, you’ll need a bigger space underneath your sink.

If this size is right for you, we recommend InSinkErator Evolution Excel 1.0 HP Household Garbage Disposer. Click here for InSinkErator Evolution Excel review.