Best Garbage Disposals Under $150

In terms of kitchen gadgets, garbage disposals have gone from something for the rich and famous (when they first appeared on the scene in 1927) to  a modern convenience many of us “common consumers” can’t live without.

That familiar, satisfying sound of food waste being ground up and magically disappearing down the drain is truly a time and aggravation saver worth quite a lot to many people. But just because a disposal is worth a lot doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for one.

In fact, there are many options for disposals on the market in the 100 to 150 dollar price range.

We’ll go through a roundup and recommendation list of garbage disposals under $150.

A Note About Horsepower

Note that disposals come in several horsepower ratings, usually from 1/2  to 1 HP.

Choosing a power level depends on the number of people in your household or how much use the disposal gets. For example, a family of five with triplet teenage sons may be harder on a disposal than a family with a couple little kids so just keep this in mind while shopping around.

We have given you a sampling of different power levels and brand names that will provide the variety you need to make an informed decision within the stated price range.

Best Garbage Disposals under $150 (our top 4 picks)

All of the garbage disposals in this list are under $150 and over $100. If you need more general recommendations, checkout our parent best garbage disposal guide, which is not based on a particular price range.

1. GE GFC252V 1/2 HP GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Despite being the least powerful disposal on our list, this little guy is great for smaller families (four people and under) or those who live alone.

Reviewers cite the attached power cord as a main perk and also mention easy installation as a draw. In fact, some even say a DYIer will not have trouble installing this disposal with no previous experience. At $115 you get the brand reliability of GE and a disposal that is also rated to be compatible with septic systems.

We’d recommend it for townhouses, condos, small single-family houses, homes with a lower number of occupants (as mentioned above) or where cooking isn’t handled in-house a lot.

Pros:

• Small, narrow size
• Low price point (even cheaper when bought on Amazon than through GE)
• Quiet
• Easy installation

Cons:

• Splash guard is hit or miss
• Warranty doesn’t extend to technicians’ visit to repair unit, only to parts itself
• 1/2 HP (on the weaker side) and not designed for heavy use.

2. INSINKERATOR BADGER 5XP 3/4 HP GARBAGE DISPOSAL

For about 10 more dollars, InSinkErator offers an option with similar specs but more horsepower.

This model also comes with a power cord already wired into the unit which is helpful. Like the GE model the Badger is super simple and quick to install. Homeowners should also note the toughness of this disposal and it’s ability to handle a lot of different kinds of food waste. At 3/4 HP it’s capable of handing fatty meats and certain fibrous vegetables.

A few more from the Badger series. A safe bet in this price range.

It’s a good fit if you’re feeling like the GE above just isn’t going to be strong enough, or if you’re a small family but you still cook at home a lot.

Pros:

• Small size (narrow profile)
• Quiet, especially when using drain insert which may be purchased separately
• More power/good performance
• Cord comes pre wired
• 5 year warranty
• Long lasting (up to 10 years)

Cons:

• Some Customers noted trouble with water squirting up when they turned on the unit

3. WASTE KING L-3200 GARBAGE DISPOSAL WITH POWER CORD 3/4 HP

Another good option for a mid-sized household with a power cord, the Waste King series consistently gets high marks for installation and overall performance.

One caveat here is that Waste King is known for its EZ Mount which must be assembled in a particular order so just be aware that this aspect could cause you an issue if you aren’t organized at the time of installation.

For customers who followed directions installation was quick and painless which made this $110 disposal that much more enticing.

We’d recommend for larger families or single-family homes with big kitchens that get a lot of use.

Pros:

• Comes with a 10-year warranty
• Easy installation
• Low price point
• Good overall performance
• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Has a clicking sound that is normal but jarring when the unit first comes on, even though the disposal is quiet while it runs. Despite being a normal sound for this particular disposal, many customers disliked hearing this metallic sound.
• Cannot easily access the shaft to free jams
• Does not include a video for how to install the EZ Mount system

4. WASTE KING L-8000 GARBAGE DISPOSAL WITH POWER CORD 1 HP

The L-8000 is the big brother of the last unit we covered at a mere $10 price increase.

If you are in the market for a disposal that can handle anything a large household can dish out, this might be your answer. Customers say this Waste King lives up to its royal name by not only being easy to install and use but durable and not prone to jamming.

At $120 for 1 HP this is a winner heavy use and large families, and should be able to handle almost any type of food waste (we’d still recommend avoiding meat bones and fruit pits).

Pros:

• Powerful unit able to obliterate heavy waste (ie apple cores) quickly
• Quieter than weaker units
• Excellent customer service by Waste King
• Power cord comes pre wired
• EZ Mount system helpful to installation process

Cons:

• Some customers reported a tendency to leak
• Inadequate packaging leaves disposal unprotected
• Large unit

What to Look for in this Price Range

Garbage disposals under 150 dollars should have at least the following features:

• Single grinding stage
• 1/2 to 1 HP rating
• Included electric cord
• Reliable brand recognition
• Steel blades and turntable

These are some of the features we’d recommend looking for in the $100 to $150 price range. They’re what we would consider “normal” and high-value for when you’re paying that much.

We’ve also used this list of features to help standardize our own recommendations for this article.

Conclusion

Let’s recap:

There are plenty of options on the market that won’t break the bank whether you need a mere 1/2 HP or  1 HP garbage disposal.

At under $150 it’s safe to say that cost is a plus for all of these units. The GE model and the InSinkErator are both small and relatively quiet but won’t as easily handle your heavier waste. The Waste King models provide significantly more power but are also larger and in the case of the L-3300 have an odd clunking sound when turned on.

However, all these disposals all have excellent reviews from customers for installation and noise with the vast majority of customers rating them five stars on Amazon.

Hopefully this roundup of different brands and power will help you narrow down your  choices and choose the one that’s right for your kitchen.