kitchen · 550W typical
Running a garbage disposal costs about $0.05/month.
That's the typical garbage disposal at 550W, run 0.02 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 0.02 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same garbage disposal can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily after dinner
$0.05
per month
1 min of operation per day
heavy cooking days
$0.14
per month
multiple uses on cooking days
Where you live
$0.10 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $0.14 | $1.65 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.10 | $1.26 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.10 | $1.24 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.09 | $1.15 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.09 | $1.12 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.08 | $0.98 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.07 | $0.90 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.73 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.70 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.65 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.63 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.62 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.61 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.05 | $0.59 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.05 | $0.57 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.05 | $0.57 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.05 | $0.56 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.04 | $0.55 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.04 | $0.54 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.04 | $0.53 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.04 | $0.53 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.04 | $0.53 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.04 | $0.53 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.04 | $0.51 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.04 | $0.50 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.04 | $0.49 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.04 | $0.49 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.04 | $0.49 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.04 | $0.48 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.04 | $0.47 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.04 | $0.46 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.04 | $0.46 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.04 | $0.45 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $0.87/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
375W
$0.04 per month
$0.45 per year
Typical
550W
$0.05 per month
$0.66 per year
High draw
1100W
$0.11 per month
$1.32 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Constant daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use cold water, not hot — solidifies grease for easier grinding
Shorter run times and no hot water waste
- 2
Compost rather than grind for most organic waste
Eliminates daily use entirely
- 3
Don't run disposal longer than needed
Each extra 10 sec = 2-3 Wh wasted
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| InSinkErator | Evolution Compact 3/4 HP | 560W |
| Waste King | L-1001 1/2 HP | 375W |
| Moen | GX50C 1/2 HP | 375W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13