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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Buy the InSinkErator Badger 5 for most kitchens: a 1/2 HP motor in a compact 11-1/2-inch body with a 5-year in-home warranty. Step up to the Badger 5XP for 3/4 HP and stainless grind parts. The Badger 500 is grouped with the Badger 5 in InSinkErator’s manual, and the Badger 1 is for light use.
Our pick for most kitchens: the InSinkErator Badger 5, 1/2 HP with a 5-year in-home warranty. Check the Badger 5 on Amazon
InSinkErator’s Badger line is its basic disposal range, and the model names are confusing: Badger 1, 5 and 5XP on InSinkErator’s site, plus other names like the Badger 500, 100 and 700 that its manual lists alongside them. This page sorts out which InSinkErator Badger is which, from InSinkErator’s own product pages, spec sheet and Badger installation manual. If you are choosing between brands or want a quieter unit, our best garbage disposal guide compares the Badger 5 with InSinkErator’s Evolution models.
InSinkErator Badger Models Compared
| Model | Motor (InSinkErator) | Grind parts | Height | Average load | In-home warranty (InSinkErator) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger 1 | 1/3 HP | Galvanized steel | 11-1/2 in. | 5.6 A | 2 years |
| Badger 5 | 1/2 HP | Galvanized steel | 11-1/2 in. | 6.3 A | 5 years |
| Badger 500 | 1/2 HP (Amazon listing) | Not published | 11-1/2 in. (manual) | Not published | 5 years (manual) |
| Badger 5XP | 3/4 HP | Stainless steel | 12-5/8 in. | 9.5 A | 6 years |
From InSinkErator’s Badger product pages, Badger 5 spec sheet and 2025 Badger manual. InSinkErator lists the Badger 1, 5 and 5XP as continuous feed with one grind stage, a 26-ounce chamber, a manual reset overload and a dishwasher connection; the Badger 500 listing says continuous feed. Every linked listing was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on October 6, 2026.
Which Badger Name Is Which
InSinkErator’s current Badger shop lists three Badger models: the Badger 1, 5 and 5XP. Its 2025 Badger installation manual covers nine names, and it sorts them into three groups by height and warranty:
| Names in the Badger manual | Height (manual) | In-home warranty (manual) | Closest current InSinkErator model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badger 1, Badger 1XL, Badger 100 | 11-1/2 in. | 2 years | Badger 1 |
| Badger 5, Badger 5XL, Badger 500 | 11-1/2 in. | 5 years | Badger 5 |
| Badger 5XP, Badger 7XL, Badger 700 | 12-5/8 in. | 6 years | Badger 5XP |
The manual groups these names; it does not say they are identical inside. Use the group to match height and warranty when you replace one Badger with another. InSinkErator also lists a Badger 1HP, but its page now says the model has been discontinued. For anything not in this table, the model number on the label under the disposer is the one to search.
How to Choose a Badger
Motor size
The Badger 1 has a 1/3 HP motor, the Badger 5 a 1/2 HP and the 5XP a 3/4 HP, all Dura-Drive induction motors per InSinkErator. All three have one grind stage, which InSinkErator describes as a dependable grind for most food scraps. Its Power and Evolution models use two to four grind stages, which InSinkErator says give a finer grind. More horsepower in a Badger means more motor on the same single stage, not a finer grind.
Grind parts
InSinkErator lists galvanized steel grind components for the Badger 1 and 5, and rust-resistant stainless steel for the 5XP. That is the main build difference between the Badger 5 and 5XP besides the motor. One conflict in InSinkErator’s own paperwork: the Badger 5 spec sheet’s feature list says galvanized steel grind components and stainless steel lugs, while the sample specification on the same sheet says stainless steel grinding elements. We go by the feature list and the product page.
Height under the sink
The manual lists 11-1/2 inches for the Badger 1 and 5 groups and 12-5/8 inches for the 5XP group. Measure from the bottom of the sink to the top of the trap arm before you step up to a 5XP. The manual says the drain line needs at least 1/4 inch of pitch per foot of run from the disposer down to the drain connection, so a taller unit can run out of room on a low trap. InSinkErator’s Badger 5 spec sheet also disagrees with itself: its table says 11-1/2 inches overall, like the product page and the manual, but the dimension drawing on the same sheet is marked 12-5/8 inches. If space is tight, measure for the larger figure.
Warranty
Badger warranties run 2, 5 or 6 years of in-home service by group. Under the 2025 manual, the term starts on the latest of the install date, the purchase date or the manufacture date in the serial number. It covers residential use only, and the manual says it is void if you attempt to repair the disposer yourself. Two Amazon listings here state shorter terms than InSinkErator does, so keep the receipt and the serial number.
InSinkErator Badger 5 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal
1/2 HP Dura-Drive induction motor · 1-stage grind · galvanized steel grind components · 26 oz. grind chamber · 11-1/2 in. tall · 6.3 A average load · continuous feed, wall switch · Quick Lock mount with Lift & Latch · manual reset overload · dishwasher connection · sold with or without a factory cord · 5-year In-Home Limited Warranty (InSinkErator)
The Badger 5 is the middle of InSinkErator’s three current Badgers, and it is the one we would start with. InSinkErator lists a 1/2 HP Dura-Drive induction motor, a single grind stage, galvanized steel grind components and a 26-ounce grind chamber. It stands 11-1/2 inches tall, the same height as the Badger 1, and draws 6.3 amps at average load. InSinkErator calls its single-stage grind a dependable grind for most food scraps.
The warranty is the clearest step up from the Badger 1. InSinkErator’s product page and its 2025 Badger manual both list 5 years of in-home service for the Badger 5, against 2 years for the Badger 1. The first button is the version with a factory-installed cord; the second has no cord, for a hardwired circuit. InSinkErator’s comparison chart lists the Badger 5 as standard sound, the same as every Badger, so if a quiet kitchen matters, read our garbage disposal picks for the Evolution models instead.
- 5-year in-home warranty, per InSinkErator
- 1/2 HP in the same 11-1/2 in. body as the Badger 1
- Twist-on Quick Lock mount for replacing an InSinkErator
- Sold with or without a factory cord
- Galvanized steel grind parts, not the stainless of the 5XP
- Single grind stage
- Standard Sound on InSinkErator’s chart, the tier with no reduced or quiet label
Verdict: The Badger to buy for most kitchens: enough motor for everyday scraps and a 5-year warranty in a compact body.
InSinkErator Badger 5XP 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal
3/4 HP Dura-Drive induction motor · 1-stage grind · stainless steel grind components · 26 oz. grind chamber · 12-5/8 in. tall · 9.5 A average load · continuous feed, wall switch · Quick Lock mount with Lift & Latch · manual reset overload · dishwasher connection · this listing includes a cord · 6-year In-Home Limited Warranty (InSinkErator)
The 5XP has the most horsepower of the Badgers InSinkErator still lists. It moves to a 3/4 HP motor and, per InSinkErator, rust-resistant stainless steel grind components instead of the galvanized steel in the Badger 1 and 5. It keeps the single grind stage and the 26-ounce chamber, so it is more motor and better metal, not a finer grind. InSinkErator lists 9.5 amps at average load, against 6.3 for the Badger 5.
Two things to check before you buy it. First, it is 12-5/8 inches tall, 1-1/8 inches taller than the Badger 5 (our arithmetic), so measure from the sink bottom to the trap. Second, the warranty paperwork disagrees: InSinkErator’s product page and 2025 manual list 6 years, while the Amazon listing says 4. Keep your receipt and register the unit, and ask InSinkErator which term applies if it matters to you.
- 3/4 HP, the most motor in the current Badger line
- Stainless steel grind components, per InSinkErator
- Longest Badger warranty on InSinkErator’s page
- Same Quick Lock mount as the other Badgers
- 1-1/8 in. taller than the Badger 5
- Still a single grind stage and standard sound
- The Amazon listing and InSinkErator disagree on the warranty term (4 vs 6 years)
Verdict: The Badger for a busy kitchen that wants more motor and stainless grind parts without moving up to the Evolution line.
InSinkErator Badger 500 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal
1/2 HP (per the Amazon listing) · continuous feed · Badger Series · 11-1/2 in. tall and 5-year In-Home Limited Warranty, both per the Badger manual, which groups it with the Badger 5 and 5XL · no separate InSinkErator spec sheet found
The Badger 500 is sold on Amazon as a Badger Series disposal, and the obvious question is whether it is a Badger 5. InSinkErator’s Badger manual puts the Badger 500 in the same group as the Badger 5 and Badger 5XL. All three share the 11-1/2-inch height in the manual’s dimension table and the same 5-year in-home warranty. The Amazon listing calls it a 1/2 HP Badger Series continuous-feed disposal.
What we could not find is a separate InSinkErator spec sheet for the Badger 500, and it is not on InSinkErator’s own Badger shop page. So we can confirm the size and warranty from the manual, but not that the grind parts or amp draw match the Badger 5 exactly. The Amazon listing gives almost no detail. If the Badger 5 is in stock, buy that; the 500 is the fallback when it is not.
- Same height and 5-year warranty as the Badger 5, per the Badger manual
- 1/2 HP, per the Amazon listing
- Covered by the same Badger installation manual
- Continuous feed, per the Amazon listing
- No separate InSinkErator spec sheet
- Amazon listing gives almost no product detail
- Not on InSinkErator’s own Badger shop page
Verdict: A reasonable stand-in for the Badger 5 when that one is out of stock; buy the Badger 5 when you can.
InSinkErator Badger 1 1/3 HP Garbage Disposal
1/3 HP Dura-Drive induction motor · 1-stage grind · galvanized steel grind components · 26 oz. grind chamber · 11-1/2 in. tall · 5.6 A average load · continuous feed, wall switch · Quick Lock mount with Lift & Latch · manual reset overload · dishwasher connection · sold with or without a factory cord · 2-year In-Home Limited Warranty (InSinkErator)
The Badger 1 has the smallest motor of the three current Badgers: 1/3 HP in the same 11-1/2-inch body and 26-ounce chamber as the Badger 5. InSinkErator lists 5.6 amps at average load and the same galvanized steel grind components. It suits a household that runs the disposal for light scraps, or a rental where the old unit was a Badger 1 and the plumbing is already set for its height.
The trade-off is warranty. InSinkErator’s page and manual give the Badger 1 two years of in-home service, against five for the Badger 5. The corded Amazon listing goes further the other way and says 1 year, so the documents disagree; keep the receipt. For most kitchens the Badger 5 is the better buy for the longer warranty alone.
- Same compact 11-1/2 in. body as the Badger 5
- 5.6 A average load, the lowest InSinkErator lists for the Badger 1, 5 and 5XP
- Twist-on Quick Lock mount
- Sold with or without a factory cord
- 1/3 HP, the smallest motor in the line
- Shortest warranty: 2 years per InSinkErator, 1 year per the corded Amazon listing
- Galvanized steel grind parts
Verdict: Fine for light use or a like-for-like swap; the Badger 5 is the better buy for most kitchens.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Before You Buy
- Check the mount. If you are replacing an InSinkErator, InSinkErator says the Quick Lock mount is for fast replacement of an existing InSinkErator disposer. Replacing a Waste King or Moen means a new mount and flange; see InSinkErator vs Waste King mounts and Moen vs InSinkErator mounts.
- Cord or hardwire. Look under the sink: a plug in an outlet needs a corded unit or a cord kit; a cable into the disposer needs the no-cord version. The manual recommends InSinkErator’s CRD-00 cord accessory for a disposer that did not come with a cord.
- Dishwasher. The Badger manual, which covers all four models here, shows a dishwasher inlet and says to knock out the drain plug only if you connect a dishwasher, and that the plug cannot be put back once it is out.
- Height. 11-1/2 inches for the Badger 1, 5 and 500; 12-5/8 inches for the 5XP.
- Splash guard. Badgers take a Badger baffle, not the Evolution Quiet Collar. Our splash guard replacement guide covers which part fits.
Installing and Using a Badger
InSinkErator’s manual walks through the job: turn off power at the breaker, disconnect the trap and any dishwasher hose, release the old unit from its mount with the wrenchette, then hang the new one. With Lift & Latch, the lower mounting ring is fixed to the disposer so you can lift it with two hands; you turn it to the right up the three ramps on the flange, then lock it with the wrenchette until all three tabs are past the ridges. The manual warns not to put your head or body under the disposer while you mount or remove it, because it could fall.
For wiring, the manual says the disposer must be grounded, all wiring must follow local electrical codes, and the ground wire must never go to a gas line. It says not to use plumber’s putty anywhere but the sink flange, and not to use thread sealant or pipe dope on the disposer. For use, it says to run cold water while grinding and for a few seconds after, and to keep grease out of the disposer and every drain.
Plumber’s note: if the old disposer leaked from its body, replace it; if it leaked at the flange or the dishwasher hose, see why a garbage disposal leaks first. If it hums and will not turn, try the wrenchette and the red reset button before you buy anything; see disposal humming but not spinning. Running a new circuit or outlet under the sink is a job for a licensed electrician.
FAQ
Is the Badger 500 the same as the Badger 5?
InSinkErator’s Badger manual groups the Badger 500 with the Badger 5 and Badger 5XL: same 11-1/2-inch height and same 5-year in-home warranty, and the Amazon listing calls it 1/2 HP. We found no separate InSinkErator spec sheet for the 500, so we cannot confirm every part matches. If the Badger 5 is in stock, buy the Badger 5.
What is the difference between the Badger 5 and Badger 5XP?
Per InSinkErator, the Badger 5 has a 1/2 HP motor and galvanized steel grind components, stands 11-1/2 inches and carries a 5-year warranty. The 5XP has a 3/4 HP motor and stainless steel grind components, stands 12-5/8 inches and carries 6 years. Both have one grind stage and a 26-ounce chamber.
Will a new Badger fit my old InSinkErator mount?
That is what the mount is for. InSinkErator lists a twist-on, twist-off Quick Lock mount for fast replacement of an existing InSinkErator disposer, and its Badger manual asks whether the new mounting is the same as the old one and lets you skip ahead if it is. A Waste King or Moen mount has to come off first.
How long is the InSinkErator Badger warranty?
InSinkErator’s 2025 Badger manual lists 2 years of in-home service for the Badger 1, 1XL and 100; 5 years for the Badger 5, 5XL and 500; and 6 years for the Badger 5XP, 7XL and 700. It covers residential use only, and a claim needs the model and serial number and, on request, a purchase or installation receipt.
Which Badger is quietest?
None stands out. InSinkErator’s comparison chart lists the Badger 1, 5 and 5XP all as Standard Sound, the one tier on the chart with no reduced or quiet label. Its Power Series is listed as reduced sound and its Evolution models as Quiet or Quietest SoundSeal. If noise is the reason you are replacing the unit, look past the Badger line.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents linked below, or from the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On October 6, 2026, every linked listing was in stock and sold by Amazon.com. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- InSinkErator: Badger Series garbage disposals (series page and disposal comparison chart)
- InSinkErator: Badger 1 garbage disposal, 1/3 HP (features and specifications)
- InSinkErator: Badger 5 garbage disposal, 1/2 HP (features and specifications), Badger 5 specification sheet
- InSinkErator: Badger 5XP garbage disposal, 3/4 HP (features and specifications)
- InSinkErator: Badger 1HP product page (discontinued notice)
- InSinkErator: Badger Series Installation, Care and Use Manual 81168 Rev B (models, dimensions, warranty)
- Amazon listings for each linked disposal (linked above)
Bottom Line
The Badger line is InSinkErator’s basic range, and the names come down to three sizes. The Badger 5 is the one to buy for most kitchens. The 5XP adds a 3/4 HP motor and stainless grind parts in a taller body, the Badger 500 is grouped with the Badger 5 in InSinkErator’s manual, and the Badger 1 suits light use. Check the mount, the height and the cord before you order, and keep the receipt for the warranty.