Badger 1 Vs. Badger 100: The Battle Of The Budget Disposals

If you are standing in the plumbing aisle or scrolling through hardware store listings, you might be confused. You see the InSinkErator Badger 1 and the Badger 100. They look identical. They have the same horsepower. They are both grey cylinders. Yet, they often have different price tags and slightly different box art.

Are they actually different?

The short answer is: Yes, but mostly in terms of warranty and where you buy them.

I have dug through the technical specifications and installation manuals for both to clear up the confusion. These are InSinkErator’s entry-level models, designed for people who just need a basic disposal to replace a broken one without spending a fortune. Here is the honest breakdown of which one you should actually buy.

A Brief Comparison Table

My Experience With InSinkErator Badger 1

I first encountered the Badger 1 when I was helping my father-in-law renovate a rental unit he owns.

The old disposal had rusted through the bottom—a classic death for these units—and he sent me to the plumbing supply house with strict instructions:

“Get the cheapest one that fits.” That is the Badger 1 in a nutshell. It is the commodity option, the one that comes in a plain box often meant for contractors.

The installation was a reminder of why “hardwiring” is a pain. Because the Badger 1 is aimed at pros, it didn’t come with a power cord.

I had to lay on my back inside a cramped, dark cabinet, stripping the copper wires from the wall and twisting them into the disposal’s belly with wire nuts. It’s not difficult if you know basic electrical work, but holding your arms up in a tight space while trying to twist a wire nut is physically exhausting.

Once installed, the performance was exactly what I expected: functional but unrefined. When you flip the switch, there is a loud, mechanical CLUNK as the motor kicks in, followed by a steady, aggressive hum. It vibrates the sink deck slightly. We tested it with some carrot peels and leftover soggy cereal. It chewed them up fine, but you could hear the motor straining a bit on the carrots. It lacks the sound insulation of the fancier models, so if you are having a conversation in the kitchen, you have to pause while this thing is running. It’s a workhorse for a rental, but I warned the new tenants immediately: “No potato peels, no bones.” I knew that 1/3 HP motor would jam instantly if they pushed it too hard.

Also read: My Experience With Blomberg Washer Dryer

Pros of InSinkErator Badger 1

• The Plumber’s Standard:The Badger 1 is the “Contractor Special.” It is the unit most plumbers carry in their trucks. Because it has been around for decades, it is the universal standard for a cheap, reliable replacement. If you hire a pro to fix your sink, this is likely what they will install.
• Cost-Effective:Generally, the Badger 1 is slightly cheaper than the 100 if you buy it from a plumbing supply house or online wholesaler. If you are a landlord replacing disposals in ten different apartment units, the Badger 1 is the most economical choice.
• Hardwire Ready:Most older homes have the disposal wired directly into the wall (no plug). The Badger 1 comes set up for this. You simply wire it up with wire nuts.1 You don’t have to pay for a pre-installed cord that you might just have to cut off anyway.2
• Compact Size:Like the 100, the Badger 1 is small. If you have a deep farmhouse sink or a crowded cabinet with reverse osmosis filters, this small footprint (barely over 6 inches wide) is a lifesaver.

Cons of InSinkErator Badger 1

• Short Warranty:This is the biggest drawback. The Badger 1 only comes with a 1-year warranty.3 In the world of appliances, that is very short. If it leaks or jams in month 13, you are out of luck.
• Galvanized Steel Components:Both models suffer from this, but it’s worth noting. The internal grinding chamber is made of galvanized steel, not stainless steel.4 Over time (usually 5-7 years), these components can rust and corrode, eventually leading to a leak from the bottom of the casing.
• Low Power (1/3 HP):1/3 Horsepower is the absolute minimum. It struggles with anything tough. Potato peels, celery, and bones are its enemies. It is strictly for “light” food scraps—the stuff left on your plate after dinner, not the prep waste.

My Experience With InSinkErator Badger 100

My experience with the Badger 100 was different because it was for my own laundry room utility sink, and I bought it at a big-box home improvement store. Standing in the aisle, I chose the 100 specifically because the box said “Power Cord Included” and boasted a 2-Year Warranty (one year longer than the Badger 1). For a DIY project on a Saturday afternoon, that convenience was worth the extra $15.

The installation was a breeze compared to the Badger 1. Since I already had an outlet under the sink, I didn’t have to touch a single wire nut. I used the “Quick Lock” mount to twist off the old unit and literally just twisted the Badger 100 on. I plugged it in, and I was done in 15 minutes. It felt like a victory.

However, living with the Badger 100 taught me the limits of 1/3 horsepower. One evening, I got lazy and shoved a handful of fibrous celery ends down the drain. Bad move. The unit let out a low angry hum and then went silent—it had jammed. I had to crawl under the sink, find the little “jam buster” allen wrench (which I thankfully taped to the side of the unit), and manually crank the flywheel to break the jam. It freed up easily enough, but it was a lesson learned. The Badger 100 is great for “rinsing plates,” but it is not a “garbage” disposal in the heavy-duty sense. It requires you to be disciplined about what you toss in, or you’ll be reaching for that wrench often.

Pros of InSinkErator Badger 100

• Extended Warranty (The Main Selling Point):The Badger 100 is essentially the “Retail” version of the Badger 1, often sold at big-box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s.5 To make it more appealing to homeowners, InSinkErator usually bumps the warranty to 2 Years. That extra year of protection is significant for a budget appliance.
• DIY-Friendly (Cord Often Included):Many SKUs of the Badger 100 (look for “w/Cord” on the box) come with the power cord pre-installed. If you have an outlet under your sink, this turns a 1-hour job into a 15-minute job. You just plug it in. With the Badger 1, you often have to buy a separate cord kit and wire it yourself.
• Same Easy “Quick Lock” Mount:If you are replacing an existing InSinkErator, you do not need to replace the metal flange in the sink drain. You can literally twist the old one off and twist the Badger 100 on. It uses the exact same mounting collar as every other InSinkErator model.

Cons of InSinkErator Badger 100

• Still Only 1/3 HP:Don’t let the higher model number fool you; the “100” is not more powerful than the “1”. It still has the same limitations. It will jam if you feed it too fast, and it is just as loud as the Badger 1.
• Slightly Higher Price:You pay a small premium for that extra year of warranty and the retail packaging. Sometimes the price difference is $20-$30, which puts it dangerously close to the price of the Badger 5 (which is 1/2 HP and much better).

Maintenance Tips For Badger Disposals

• The “Ice and Lemon” Trick:Since these units have galvanized steel interiors, they can get smelly as the metal gets rougher over time. Once a month, drop a cup of ice cubes and a few lemon wedges down the drain and run it. The ice scours the walls of the chamber, and the lemon fights odors.
• Avoid the “Forbidden Three”:With 1/3 HP units, you must be disciplined. Never put Potato Peels (they turn into a starchy paste that clogs the drain), Coffee Grounds (they create a sediment that blocks pipes), or Fibrous Veggies (celery/asparagus strings tangle around the blades) down these disposals.
• Run Water Before and After:Always turn the cold water on before you flip the switch, and leave it running for 15 seconds after you turn it off. This flushes the waste all the way through your plumbing trap.

Also read: My Experience With Red Chef Ceramic Cookware

Comparison with other models

• Badger 1/100 vs. Badger 5:If you can spare an extra $15-$20, buy the Badger 5. It is the exact same size physically, but it has 1/2 HP. That extra power makes a massive difference in preventing jams. It is the sweet spot for value. I almost always recommend the Badger 5 over the 1 or 100 unless you are on a strict budget.
• Badger 1 vs. Waste King L-1001:The Waste King L-1001 is the direct competitor. It often costs less and has a 1/2 HP motor (more powerful). However, it uses a completely different mounting system. If you already have an InSinkErator installed, stick with the Badger to avoid changing the sink flange. If it’s a new installation, the Waste King offers better specs for the money.
• Badger 1 vs. Evolution Compact:This is apples to oranges. The Evolution series uses stainless steel internals and is much, much quieter.6 The Badger series is loud and prone to rust. The Evolution costs 2-3x more, but it will last 10+ years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The decision here is simple.

If you are a homeowner doing a DIY replacement and you see them side-by-side on the shelf, buy the InSinkErator Badger 100. The longer 2-year warranty and the likely inclusion of a power cord make it the hassle-free choice for a few dollars more.⁸

If you are a landlord or buying in bulk for properties where the disposal will be hardwired, buy the InSinkErator Badger 1. It is the cheapest, most standard option that minimizes your upfront cost.

Next Step:

Before you buy either, check under your sink! If you see a standard electrical outlet, grab the Badger 100. If you see a wire going directly into the bottom of your current disposal (no plug), you will need to be comfortable using wire nuts, or you might want to call a handyman.