If you’re in the market for a new garbage disposal for your kitchen it’s likely that you’ll encounter two main companies that offer the most well known products: Waste King and InSinkerator. While other garbage disposals exist on the market, these two heavy weights are often the best rated and most commonly found, so if you’re trying to decide between the two, here’s a tale of the tape to lean on. Check out all top garbage disposal brands.
Contents
Waste King vs InSinkerator
Waste King
The Waste King line of disposals is produced by the Anaheim Manufacturing Company. The company has been around for more than 50 years, and is a division of Moen Incorporated, which specializes in many plumbing faucets and fixtures. The company has a long history of providing products with strong utility for any home that adds them.
InSinkerator
The InSinkerator was the very first garbage disposal manufacturer. The founder, John Hammes, designed and built the first garbage disposal to help his wife in the kitchen. After the initial disposal was created by Hammes in 1927, he continued to tinker with the design and improve it. In 1933 the first patent was filed for and was later granted in 1935. Hammes worked diligently to perfect the device and began manufacturing the product for the market and selling it in 1940.
The King Versus the Original
InSinkErator has only one grinding speed (1725 RPM) whereas Wasteking’s garbage disposals have different grinding speed. However, the former company offers MultiGrind technology in higher-tier disposals to add more grind stages. This technology reduces food scraps into smaller particles by breaking down food waste again and even again.
The InSinkErator also has only one type of mounting system which is “Quick Lock Sink Mount.” This mounting system is the same as EZ mount style. On the other hand, Waste King offers both EZ mount or 3-bolt mount disposals. Learn more about differences between 3-Bolt and EZ Mount garbage disposals.
When it comes to comparison, it would be fruitless to measure a top of the line product against the entry level product of the other. This is because both companies manufacture different product lines and qualities. Therefore, we will compare both brands in each product tier.
Related: Best Garbage Disposal Reviews
Entry-Tier Garbage Disposal
A good starting point to look at is the entry level products. The lowest level disposal for Waste King comes in a bit cheaper than the InSinkerator’s. However, it has garnered better reviews in many cases. The entry tier for each company carry rather short term warranties that don’t cover very much. The units have been known to break down shortly after the warranties expired. This is usually caused by usage that goes beyond what this level product were meant to handle. If you plan to use a disposal sparingly and won’t chop up large quantities of waste then both options can have an extended life that pleases their owners. In this category, however, because the warranty for the Waste King lasts a bit longer and because the price is a bit lower for the same amount of power.
| Waste King Legend 111 | Waste King Legend 1001 | Waste King Legend 9910 | Waste King Legend 9920 | InSinkErator Badger 1 Garbage Disposal | InSinkErator Badger 5 Garbage Disposal | InSinkErator Badger 5XP Garbage Disposal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |   |   |   |   |   |   | |
| Feed Type | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous |
| Horsepower | 1/3 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/2 | 3/4 |
| Warranty | 2 Year | 2 Year | 2 Year | 2 Year | 1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year |
| Mounting System | EZ Mount | EZ Mount | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount |
| RPM (Speed) | 1900 | 2600 | 1900 | 2600 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 |
| MultiGrind Stages | 1 Stage | 1 Stage | 1 Stage | ||||
| Sink Drain Flange Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Internal Grind Material | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel | Galvanized Steel |
| Sound Insulation | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Power cord included | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Review | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Review | Review | Coming soon | |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Mid-Tier Garbage Disposal
At the mid-range products we start to see some separation in performance and capability. While the Waste King still manages to be the less expensive option, it has less features than the InSinkerator line. With both brands providing the same horsepower, the Waste King models provide a faster blade, as indicated by the higher rpm. While that stands out, the features that the InSinkerator provides balance that out. The InSinkerator at this level introduces multiple grinding stages to refine the waste further and reduce the amount of large chunks of debris that can sneak through. Also, the InSinkerator has “whisper quiet technology” that are quieter and vibrate less than the Waste King counterparts. One other point is that the InSinkerator disposals are smaller and take up less space under the sink.
My personal preference at this level leans towards the multiple grinding stages and quieter operation, so for the mid-range products I believe the InSinkerator brand is a step ahead.
| Waste King Legend 2600 | Waste King Legend 3200 | Waste King Legend 3300 | Waste King Legend 9930 | Waste King Legend 9940 | InSinkErator Evolution Compact | InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist | InSinkErator Evolution Essential XTR | InSinkErator Evolution Cover Control Plus | InSinkErator Evolution Excel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | |
| Feed Type | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Batch | Continuous |
| Horsepower | 1/2 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 1.0 |
| Warranty | 5 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 8 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 10 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 5 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 8 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 4 Year | 4 Year | 6 Year | 7 Year | 7 Year |
| Mounting System | EZ Mount | EZ Mount | EZ Mount | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount |
| RPM (Speed) | 2600 | 2700 | 2800 | 2600 | 2700 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 |
| MultiGrind Stages | 2 Stages | 2 Stages | 2 Stages | 2 Stages | 3 Stages | |||||
| Sink Drain Flange Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Internal Grind Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Quiet SoundSeal | Quieter SoundSeal | Quieter SoundSeal | Ultra-Quiet SoundSeal | Ultra-Quiet SoundSeal | ||
| Power cord included | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Review | Review | Review | Coming Soon | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | ||
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
High-Tier Garbage Disposal
The top tier are geared more for commercial enterprises to use, such as restaurants or cafeterias. When you start reaching the top end products, then the differences start to really disappear. The high end products can chew through mounds of waste without slowing down. They also operate in much the same way as their lower level brethren. At this level the products are unlikely to break down for many years or decades depending on usage. However, with the products having such similar performance the advantage goes to the cheaper product with the better warranty. The winner is the Waste King.
One detraction from the InSinkerator brand is that when you purchase one, the power cord is an optional addition. That’s not to say that the units don’t need power, because they do. If you have a power cord from a previous disposal it may work with the new unit, but if not then it’s an additional purchase to pay for the power cord. Some models also have the cord available as a built in option, but those models carry a higher price tag than the versions without the cord included, so either way you end up paying for the power cord.
| Waste King Legend 8000 | Waste King Legend 5000TC | Waste King Legend 9950 | Waste King Legend 9950 | Waste King Legend 9980 | Waste King Legend 9980TC | Waste King Legend 9900 TC | Waste King A1SPC Knight | InSinkErator PRO750 | InSinkErator PRO880LT | InSinkErator PRO1000LP | InSinkErator PRO1100XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | |
| Feed Type | Continuous | Batch | Batch | Continuous | Continuous | Batch | Batch | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous |
| Horsepower | 1.0 | 3/4 | 1.0 | 3/4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3/4 | 1.0 | 3/4 | 7/8 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Warranty | Lifetime In-Home Service Warranty & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 10 Year | 10 Year | 10 Year & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | Lifetime In-Home Service Warranty & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 10 Year | 10 Year | Lifetime In-Home Service Warranty & LIFETIME Corrosion Warranty | 6 Year | 8 Year | 10 Year | 12 Year |
| Mounting System | EZ Mount | EZ Mount | EZ Mount | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | 3-bolt | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount | Quick Lock Sink Mount |
| RPM (Speed) | 2800 | 2700 | 2800 | 2700 | 2800 | 2800 | 2700 | 2700 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 | 1725 |
| MultiGrind Stages | 2 Stages | 2 Stages | 3 Stages | 3 Stages | ||||||||
| Sink Drain Flange Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Internal Grind Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | Sound Insulation | SoundSeal | SoundSeal | SoundSeal | SoundSeal |
| Removable Splash Guard | ✔ | ✔ (not in top control units) | ✔ (not in top control units) | |||||||||
| Power cord included | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Check before purchasing | Check before purchasing | Check before purchasing | Check before purchasing |
| Auto-Reverse Grind System | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Jam-Sensor Circuit | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||
| Anti-Microbial Baffle | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||
| Review | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | Review | Review | Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon | |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Verdict
Ultimately, both companies make strong products and they can please any consumer that is in need of, or wanting, a new disposal. With Waste King consistently carrying the better warranty and the lower cost compared to the same level products from InSinkerator, along with having the faster blade, the general overall winner is Waste King.
