Garbage Disposal Installation cost at a glance
- Typical range: $250 – $550
- Most homeowners pay: around $400
- Prices vary most by: The disposal unit (45–55% of the budget)
Cross-checked against three published sources for this project. Sources used for this page: Angi's garbage disposal replacement cost guide, HomeGuide's garbage disposal installation cost guide and This Old House's garbage disposal installation cost guide. Sources last checked: October 2026 — This Old House, HomeGuide, Angi. Last updated October 2026 · How we calculate these costs
Cost by scope
| Scope | Typical cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic replacement — 1/3 to 1/2 HP | $200 – $375 | The budget end: HomeGuide totals a replacement at $200–$550 from a unit at $100–$300, and This Old House puts the units most homes need at $150–$250 — a small-household unit swapped onto the existing mount, wiring and drain in about an hour of labor in Angi |
| Standard replacement — 1/2 to 3/4 HP, the typical job | $250 – $550 | The typical band on this page: HomeGuide’s replacement band, with This Old House averaging $400–$500 all-in and Angi averaging $550 across its wider project mix — a mid-power, quieter unit is what most family kitchens land on |
| Premium 1 HP, batch-feed or first-time install | $550 – $950 | Angi and This Old House both run the full span to $950: a 1 HP unit at $200–$400 in Angi, batch-feed units at $200–$650 in This Old House, or a first-time fit adding an outlet at $150–$350 in HomeGuide |
Where the money goes
| Part of the job | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The disposal unit | 45–55% of total | The unit is the largest line: HomeGuide prices units at $100–$300, with 1/2 HP at $100–$150 and 3/4 HP at $125–$300, while Angi runs motors from $50–$225 at 1/3–1/2 HP to $200–$400 at 1 HP — stainless grind components cost more than aluminum and outlast it |
| Installation labor | 30–40% | HomeGuide prices replacement labor at $100–$250 — a plumber at $100–$250, a handyman at $80–$160 — Angi runs installers at $50–$100 per hour for a job of about an hour, and This Old House puts a handyperson at $50–$75 and a plumber at up to $150 per hour |
| Flange, mounting & connection parts | 5–12% | The sink flange at $20–$50 in HomeGuide, a power cord kit at $10–$15, a dishwasher connector at $5–$10 and a push-button kit at $50–$100 if the switch moves to the counter — small lines that decide whether the mount seals |
| Old-unit removal, disposal & extras | 3–8% | HomeGuide prices removing the old unit at $25–$50 inside a replacement, and Angi notes a corroded unit that will not budge can add up to $100 of extra time — haul-away is folded into most pro estimates in Angi |
What moves the price most
Motor size is the garbage disposal budget. Horsepower is bought for household size: HomeGuide’s table runs 1/3 HP units at $75–$125 for one or two people to 1 HP at $175–$400 for five to eight, and Angi’s ladder agrees ($50–$225 at 1/3–1/2 HP, $200–$400 at 1–1¼ HP). Replacement versus first-time fit is the second lever: a swap reuses the outlet, switch and drain, while a first-time fit adds an outlet at $150–$350 in HomeGuide and possibly permits at $50–$350 for the electrical work. Feed type and build are the third: This Old House prices continuous-feed units at $75–$500 against batch-feed at $200–$650, notes continuous-feed needs wiring while batch-feed needs no switch, and Angi runs aluminum units at $75–$300 against stainless at $400–$1,100 at the top of its table. Finally, the drain decides the surprise line: sink drain pipe modifications run $100–$350 in HomeGuide, and a dishwasher that drains through the disposal needs its inlet connected — a five-dollar part that has to be on the quote.
Worked example: how a typical garbage disposal installation budget breaks down
A typical job: one standard 1/2 to 3/4 HP continuous-feed disposal replacing the old unit under an existing sink — old unit removed, new unit mounted on a fresh flange seal, drain and dishwasher inlet reconnected, power hooked up and the unit leak-tested under running water. The budget below totals $400 — the "most homeowners pay around" figure from the top of this page — split using this page's own cost breakdown. It shows how a real quote at that level is usually composed; every line is built from the ranges on this page, and it is an illustration, not a quote for your project.
| Line item | Example budget |
|---|---|
| Disposal unit (1/2 to 3/4 HP) | $200 |
| Installation labor | $140 |
| Flange, cord and connection parts | $35 |
| Old-unit removal and disposal | $25 |
| Total | $400 |
What most people get wrong
- Forgetting the dishwasher knockout plug — a new disposal ships with its dishwasher inlet plugged, and if the plug is not knocked out the dishwasher cannot drain; it is the most common callback on this job.
- Reusing the old flange and putty seal — the flange is a $20–$50 part in HomeGuide, and a reused seal is how a new disposal leaks into the cabinet from day one.
- Buying by price instead of household size — a 1/3 HP unit in a five-person kitchen jams and strains, and the second replacement costs more than the right unit did.
- Skipping the leak test under load — a disposal can seal at rest and weep at the flange or the dishwasher inlet only while it is grinding with the water running.
Costs in your city
Garbage disposal pricing follows plumber and handyman rates — HomeGuide runs a handyman at $80–$160 against a plumber at $100–$250 for the replacement, Angi runs installers at $50–$100 per hour, and This Old House puts a handyperson at $50–$75 and a plumber at up to $150 — so the same swap prices highest where licensed plumbers do the small jobs and lowest where handymen and retailer installers compete for them; HomeGuide lists Home Depot and Lowe’s replacement labor at $120–$200. Code travels with the city too: some areas require a dedicated circuit with GFCI and AFCI protection in Angi’s account, and first-time fits can carry electrical permit fees of $50–$350 in HomeGuide. Ask each bidder whether removal is included and whether the dishwasher inlet connection is on the quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a garbage disposal?
About $250–$550 is the typical band on this page for a standard replacement installed, with most projects landing around $400. HomeGuide totals a replacement at $200–$550, This Old House averages $400–$500 all-in, and Angi averages $550 across a $200–$625 band that includes larger premium units.
How much is labor alone to replace a garbage disposal?
HomeGuide prices replacement labor at $100–$250 — a plumber at $100–$250 or a handyman at $80–$160 — and Angi runs installers at $50–$100 per hour for a job that wraps up in about an hour. This Old House puts a handyperson at $50–$75 per hour and a plumber at up to $150.
What size garbage disposal do I need?
By HomeGuide’s sizing table: 1/3 HP for one or two people, 1/2 HP for two or three, 3/4 HP for three to five with daily use, and 1 HP for five to eight. This Old House lands in the same place — most three- to six-person homes do well with a 3/4 HP unit. Oversizing buys noise insulation and grind capacity, not a different job.
How long does a garbage disposal last?
HomeGuide puts the average lifespan at 8–12 years, This Old House at about 10 years, and Angi at 5–10 years with some stainless models running to 15. That lifespan is why repair money on an old unit is usually better spent on the replacement — HomeGuide prices repair at $100–$250 against replacement at $200–$550.
Can I replace a garbage disposal myself?
HomeGuide’s framing: yes, when the new unit is the same size and the existing wiring and pipes are in good condition — the saving is the labor line, $100–$250. Hire a pro when the model type changes, the unit moves, or any electrical or plumbing work is needed; the classic DIY failure is a flange seal that leaks slowly into the cabinet for months.
