When buying a garbage disposal one of the main concerns is whether there is enough space under the sink to install it. For a vast majority, this concern is misplaced.
The average space required to install a garbage disposal is 18 inches in height and 11 inches in width. I reached this estimate by calculating the average width and height of 47 garbage disposals.
However, the heights of some disposal units vary greatly. So it is better to consider the table below to find the right space requirements.
Space needed to install popular garbage disposals
In order to calculate the space required to install a garbage disposal, we need to have the dimensions of the unit as well as some extra space at the bottom and sides. It is recommended to leave at least 5 inches of space under the disposal unit for easy installation, troubleshooting, and removal. Also, a 3-inch space is recommended to be left on one of the sides to install the drain elbow.
- Minimum height required = Height of the garbage disposal + 5 inches
- Minimum width required = Maximum width of the garbage disposal + 3 inches
Here is is a list of 47 popular garbage disposals and the space required under the sink to install each of them;
| Brand | Garbage disposal model | Height | Maximum width | Power | Space needed for installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InSinkErator | Evolution Excel | 13 inch | 9 inch | 1 HP | 18 x 12 x 12 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Pro 1100XL | 13 inch | 9 inch | 1.1 HP | 18 x 12 x 12 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Supreme SS | 13 inch | 9 inch | 1 HP | 18 x 12 x 12 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Prestige | 13 inch | 9 inch | 1 HP | 18 x 12 x 12 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Esteem Plus | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 1 HP | 17.25 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 1 HP | 12.625 inch | 6.75 inch | 1 HP | 17.625 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Pro 1000LP | 11.33 inch | 10 inch | 1 HP | 16.4 x 13 x 13 inches |
| Waste King | 9980 | 16 inch | 8.5 inch | 1 HP | 21 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Waste King | L-8000 | 16 inch | 8.5 inch | 1 HP | 21 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Waste King | L-8000TC | 18.15 inch | 8.5 inch | 1 HP | 23.15 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Moen | GX100C | 16 inch | 7.5 inch | 1 HP | 21 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches |
| Moen | EXL100C | 16 inch | 8.375 inch | 1 HP | 21 x 13.375 x 13.375 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Cover Control Plus | 16.25 inch | 10 inch | 3/4 HP | 21.25 x 13 x 13 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Select Plus | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.25 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evergrind E404 | 12.625 inch | 6.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.625 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Essential XTR | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.25. x11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 15SS | 12.63 inch | 6.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.63 x 9.75. x9.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 5XP | 12.625 inch | 6.31 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.625 x 9.31 x 9.31 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Compact | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.25 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Space Saver XP | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.25 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Septic Assist | 12.625 inch | 13 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.625 x 16 x 16 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evolution Pro 750 | 12.25 inch | 8.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.25 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 900 | 12.625 inch | 6.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 17.625 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches |
| Waste King | 9900TC | 16.5 inch | 8.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 21.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Waste King | 9950 | 14.5 inch | 8.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 19.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Waste King | L-3200 | 13.75 inch | 7.75 inch | 3/4 HP | 18.75 x 10.75 x 10.75 inches |
| Waste King | L-5000TC | 16.75 inch | 8.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 21.75 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Moen | GT75 | 13.375 inch | 6.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 18.375 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches |
| Waste King | L-3300 | 14.5 inch | 8.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 19.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches |
| Moen | GXS75C | 13.375 inch | 7.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 18.375 x 10.5 x 10×5 inches |
| Moen | GXB75C | 15.625 inch | 7.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 20.625 x 10.5 x 10×5 inches |
| Moen | GX75C | 14.375 inch | 7.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 19.375 x 10.5 x 10×5 inches |
| Moen | EX75C | 13.375 inch | 7.5 inch | 3/4 HP | 18.375 x 10.5 x 10×5 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 5 | 11.5 inch | 6.625 inch | 1/2 HP | 16.5 x 9.625 x9.625 inches |
| InSinkErator | Evergrind 202 | 11.5 inch | 6.625 inch | 1/2 HP | 16.5 x 9.625 x9.625 inches |
| Waste King | 9930 | 13.5 inch | 6.75 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.5 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches |
| Waste King | L-1001 | 12.75 inch | 5.25 inch | 1/2 HP | 17.75 x 8.25 x 8.25 inches |
| Waste King | 9920 | 13.5 inch | 7.75 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.5 x 10.75 x 10.75 inches |
| Waste King | L-2600 | 13.5 inch | 6.75 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.5 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches |
| Moen | GXP50C | 13.375 inch | 5.375 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.375 x 8.375 x 8.375 inches |
| Moen | GX50C | 13.375 inch | 7.5 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.375 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches |
| Moen | GT50C | 13.375 inch | 5.375 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.375 x 8.375 x 8.375 inches |
| Moen | EX50C | 13.375 inch | 7.5 inch | 1/2 HP | 18.375 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches |
| InSinkErator | Badger 1 | 11.5 inch | 6.625 inch | 1/3 HP | 16.5 x 9.625 x 9.625 inches |
| Waste King | L-111 | 12.75 inch | 5.25 inch | 1/3 HP | 17.75 x 8.25 x 8.25 inches |
| Moen | GXP33C | 13.375 inch | 5.375 inch | 1/3 HP | 18.375 x 8.375 x 8.375 inches |
| Moen | GT33C | 13.375 inch | 5.375 inch | 1/3 HP | 18.375 x 8.375 x 8.375 inches |
Sources: The dimensions given above are taken from the websites of the corresponding brands.
An analysis of the heights of different categories of garbage disposals
Average height of a garbage disposal
I calculated the average height of a garage disposal using the dimensions from the above table. Here is it;
- Total of all heights = 637.93
- No. of models considered = 47
The average height of a garbage disposal = 637.93/47=13.58 inch
I also calculated the average width;
- Total of all widths = 362.56
- No. of models considered = 47
The average width of a garbage disposal = 362.56/47=7.714 inch
So to install a garbage disposal you must have a space that is at least 18 inches high and 11 inches wide.
But to be honest I believe using this average of dimensions makes the data a little skewed. Here is an example; As you can see from the above table, the heights of 1 HP garbage disposals by InSinkErator are 13 inches or below. For Waste King and Moen units, it is 16 inches with the exception of the model L-8000TC which is 18.15 inches high. So if you have only 18 inches space under the sink, installing a Waste King model may not work.
Which is the shortest garbage disposal?
The shortest garbage disposal is InSinkErator Evolution Pro 1000LP. It has only a height of 11.33 inches. But it is wider with 10 inches in diameter. This shape allows this disposal unit not only to be compact but also to manage large quantities of food wastes at a time.
Which is the thinnest garbage disposal
Waste King L-111 is the thinnest garbage disposal. It is only 5.25 inches wide.
It is powered by a 1/3 HP motor running at 1900 RPM. If you are interested in knowing more about this unit feel free to check my detailed review.
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know through the comments section.
