Garbage disposals come in different sizes and with different features. ... Most manufacturers recommend at least a 1/2 HP garbage disposal motor. Because disposals with these motors are smaller than disposals with one HP motors, they can fit into relatively small spaces under your sink.

How do I know what size garbage disposal to buy?

If you live in a 3-6 person household, your garbage disposer should have a ½ to ¾ HP engine. For a 5-8 person household, the minimum HP your disposer should have is ¾, but a 1 HP motor is preferable. For anything households that have over 8 members, a 1 to 2 HP model will be needed.

Are garbage disposals a standard size?

At a range of somewhere around seven inches from most narrow to widest, these units may not seem to vary much, but depending on the space under the kitchen sink, seven inches can make a big difference. Example of typical garbage disposal dimensions.