Garbage disposals actually vary in weight quite significantly. Different brands, unit sizes, features, and manufacturing components can all play a role in determining the weight of a particular garbage disposal.
How much do garbage disposals weigh?
Based on our research, garbage disposals range in weight from about five pounds on the low end to about 20 pounds on the high end. Of course there are exceptions to those norms - and we're excluding industrial-strength disposals.
Anywhere from about five to 20 pounds
Here are some of the factors that can contribute to the how much a garbage disposal weighs:
- Size of the unit
- Number of grinding stages
- HP and RPM rating
- Brand (Waste King models tend to be lighter)
- Sound suppression components
Generally speaking, the more powerful the disposal, the more it's going to weigh.
If you look at some of the best garbage disposals and the brands that create them, you can get an idea for a typical weight. We did this in the following pargraph with six different garbage disposal base units.
Some Typical Garbage Disposal Weights
Here are few exact weigh-ins for popular units:
- InSinkErator Badger: 15.47 lbs
- Waste King L-3200: 8.6 lbs
- Waste King L-8000: 11.94 lbs
- Waste King Knight A1SPC: 16 lbs
- InSinkErator Evolution Compact: 19.5 lbs
- InSinkErator Evolution Excel: 20 lbs
Between these six disposals, you get an average weight of about 15 pounds. This is a good number to settle one if you're looking for an approximation. If you want an exact number for a particular disposal you might be considering, you'll have to dig through the information provided by the manufacturer.
This is usually available in a bulleted list within the product description, per the following screenshot from Amazon:
When you're looking for the garbage disposal's weight, make sure you look for a list of "technical specifications" or specs, like the one in the above screenshot.
If you're shopping on Amazon, what you'll often be drawn to is the technical and shipping details section that Amazon provides for every product. This has a "shipping weight" which is not necessarily the exact weight of the product itself.
Sometimes they match up, but this content is generated automatically and isn't always correct.
You might also want to check and see if it lists "Item Weight" as opposed to "Shipping Weight." If the two are different (and the shipping weight is higher) than that should be an accurate number.
Notice in the above screen shot, the shipping weigh is slightly more than the item weight listed in the left-hand column.
Why does the garbage disposal weight matter?
In some cases you might want to install a lighter garbage disposal which should - of course - depend on the recommendation of your contractor. Sometimes the way your kitchen sink is setup and mounted will also play a role in determining how heavy of a garbage disposal you should install.
If you're not sure about the weight levels and stress being put on your cabinet's framing, make sure you contact a professional contractor or address it with the one you're already using.
Additional Garbage Disposal Resources
AUTHOR: Ryan is a DIYer, homeowner, and general fan of a clean, good-smelling kitchen.