How much does garbage disposal installation cost?
On average nationwide, it costs between $120 and $150 to install a garbage disposal. The average cost of garbage disposal installation depends on several factors: the type of garbage disposal, whether it's a new disposal installation or replacement of an old unit, and if additional electrical connections or plumbing work is necessary.
Garbage disposal installation cost:
| National average cost | $134 |
| Average cost range | $120-$150 |
| Low-end cost range | $75-$110 |
| High-end cost range | $175-350 |
The electrical and plumbing work involved in garbage disposal installation make the job potentially hazardous. That makes it a great reason to hire a professional plumber to install or replace your disposal. Homeowners can either purchase the new disposal themselves and provide it to the professional for installation, or let the plumber purchase the disposal on their behalf and include it in the overall cost.
Before you hire a professional for a garbage disposal installation, it's helpful to know what kind of disposal you need and costs you can expect. Estimate your overall costs for a new garbage disposal installation with the guide below.
What's in this cost guide?
The cost to install a disposal will depend on the type of disposal unit you buy, whether you need to replace an old disposal or install an entirely new system, and any additional electric or plumbing work required. The type of garbage disposal you purchase will have the biggest impact on your installation costs.
Garbage disposals can be made of either aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum is less expensive but more prone to leaking and corrosion. Stainless steel blades are also more durable. People with a septic system will need to check with the septic system installer or manufacturer to find out which garbage disposal models are compatible with their system.
Two common types of disposals you might buy are a continuous garbage disposal and a batch feed disposal.
Continuous garbage disposal cost: $80-$200
On average nationwide, continuous feed garbage disposals cost between $80 and $200. They are typically less expensive and more common than other types of disposals, depending on the size and model.
Continuous feed disposals are easy to operate: you run water in the kitchen sink, flip a switch, and feed the disposal with food scraps and compostable waste. With this type of garbage disposal, however, bottle caps, silverware, and other metal debris can sometimes get caught in the blades. This can damage the blades and require repairs.
Batch feed garbage disposal cost: $100-$350
The average cost of a batch feed garbage disposal is $100-$350 nationwide, depending on the size and model. They are safer to use than continuous feed disposals, but are not recommended for households that generate a lot of food waste. Instead of a switch, the batch feed garbage disposal is activated by putting a stopper in the sink drain.
On top of the cost of the actual disposal, most garbage disposal installers charge an hourly rate and can set up a garbage disposal in a couple of hours. Removing an old garbage disposal does take additional time, but all the necessary plumbing and electrical wiring will already be in place for installing the new one.
Hourly rate
The average cost of labor for a garbage disposal installer is $75 per hour. You're likely to spend between $45 and $130, depending on where you live and the specific project details.
Most plumbers will charge a different rate for a garbage disposal replacement than for a new disposal installation.
Below are some example labor costs from plumbers around the country on what it costs to install a new vs. replacement garbage disposal:
| Location | Rate to replace an old garbage disposal | Rate to install a new garbage disposal |
| San Francisco Bay Area, CA | $95 | $140 |
| Washington D.C. Area | $125 | $250 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $125 | $195 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $100 | $125 |
If your old disposal is broken beyond repair, you'll have to replace it. Although any broken appliance is annoying to deal with, the good news is that installing a replacement disposal will be cheaper than installing a new garbage disposal in a sink that has never had one before. Depending on the pro you work with, it can be as much as half the price.
A garbage disposal needs electrical power and a switch to turn it on. If power is not readily accessible via an outlet, a switch is not conveniently located or a new circuit is required, an electrician will need to set up the wiring. This is part of the reason why replacement garbage disposals cost less to install than new ones, and many contractors will take this into consideration when setting a slightly higher rate to install a new garbage disposal.
Parts for this task are cheap, but hourly labor is relatively expensive. However, the job shouldn't take more than an hour or two at most. In addition, a plumber may need install the correct sink drain before a garbage disposal installation they also usually charge by the hour or a flat rate.
Additional features can help your disposal last longer, prevent the need for repairs, and be more efficient in the long term.
- Dishwasher drain connectors: These connectors make sure dirty dishwater goes into the disposal.
- Baffles: Baffles prevent silverware from entering the garbage disposal, so you're only sending food and compostable waste down the drain.
- Push-button operation: This avoids the need for an electrical switch in the wall.
Find garbage disposal installers near you
Whether you're upgrading your sink set up during a kitchen remodel, or just trying to replace an old and impossible-to-repair unit, a professional with experience installing garbage disposals can help. Find one in your area on Thumbtack.
