When hurricane season rolls around, we always get a ton of questions about the best generator for many different needs and prices. Even as the hurricane season begins to wane, the winter storm season will heat up. The reality is that, somewhere, every season is dynamo season.
We've assembled a team of experts including contractors, outdoorsmen, and hurricane veterans to recommend the best generators. Since our lists include portables, whole home equipment, and even models designed for camping and tailgating – peruse the list to find the specific recommendation you're looking for.
Editor's note: If you just want to focus on your home, check out our article on the best home generators.
Best Portable Generators for Home Use
Generac 6500/8125 Watt Portable Generator with COSense (GP6500 COSENSE)
To determine the best portable generator for home use, we needed a model that balanced everything. You want features, quality, portability and price. Combine this with the understanding of occasional use. Needless to say, our options may also include carbon monoxide detection.
The Generac GP6500 is an all-around generator. Its 6500 running watts and 8125 starting watts are more than you get from the small 5000 watt class. It provides plenty of power and enough outlets to run almost anything on 120 volts. Plus, it has a 120V/240V plug should you need it.
While THD is too much for sensitive electronics, it has the carbon monoxide sensor we're looking for in a package that costs less than $900. Generac's lineup is pretty broad, so if you want more or less power, they should have a model that fits.
Price: $899
Also consider:
- Ryobi 6500/8125 Watt Generator with CODetect (RY906500S): Almost identical to the Generac GP6500, just with a slightly larger engine and smaller fuel tank. Get it at Home Depot for $949.
- Craftsman 5000/6250 Watt Generator with CO Detection (CMXGGAS030731): Lower wattage but still very efficient and $150 less. Get it at Lowe's for $799.
Best Generators for Camping and Trailing
Westinghouse 1800/2200 Watt Portable Inverter (IGEN2200C)
The best generators for camping and tailgates have to be small enough to be transported and quiet enough not to disrupt the party. Everything else—like the USB port and CO sensor—is a bonus.
We like the Westinghouse IGEN2200C because it combines a very manageable 47 pounds dry weight with a whisper-quiet 52 decibel operation on the low end. Even better, it has a total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 3%, so your electronics won't have any issues.
Price: $529
Also consider:
- Honda 2500/2800 Watt Portable Inverter Generator (EG2800i): A little less powerful, but more powerful and runs longer – plus the Honda engine. Get it at Home Depot for $1199.
- Champion 1850/2500 Watt Generator (201122): 39 lbs dry weight, still less than 60dB, electronics with less than 3% total harmonic distortion (THD). Get it at Lowe's for $699.
Generac Guardian Series Natural Gas/LPG Generators
When you're looking for the best overall generator (also known as a backup generator), it's a different kind of equipment. They turn on automatically when the power dies, and they're not portable at all. Some people (including my neighbor) have buried an LPG tank without a gas line to keep it out of the view.
When you're shopping for these systems, keep in mind that you'll need to add the cost of a transfer switch and professional installation to the price.
The Generac Guardian range ranges from 14kW to 26kW at very reasonable prices. Generac's Mobile Link also allows you to monitor system status from anywhere in the world using cellular data or WiFi.
Price: $4,697 – $6,997
Also consider:
- Kohler Natural Gas/LPG Home Generator: $3,325-$6,147 (8.5-22kW) at Home Depot
- Briggs and Stratton Natural Gas/LPG Generators: $2,599 to $10,499 at Acme Tools (10kW – 25kW)
Best 10,000 Watt Generator
Honda 9000/10000W with CO-Minder (EB10000G)
One thing to keep in mind when we start thinking about generators in specific watts: Manufacturers usually use peak or surge wattage rather than operating wattage. So a 10,000 watt generator might only have 8,000 watts of operating power.
When you hit 10,000 watts, you're pretty much at the top of what a portable generator can deliver while still being readily available. The best 10,000-watt generators in our book need to have powerful engines and impressive feature sets to make using such a beast easier.
The Honda EB10000G is a true commercial grade generator. The Honda GX630 powerplant includes a displacement of 688cc. As you'd expect, this model includes CO-Minder carbon monoxide detection as well as electric start and low noise/high efficiency for its muscular class.
Price: $5,499
also consider
- DuroMax 8500/10000 Watt Electric Start Portable Generator (XP10000DX): True 8,500 Watts with 120V (20A), 120V (30A) Twist Lock, 120V/240V (30A) Twist Lock and 120/240 (50A) Heavy Duty Outlet and electric start. Get it at Home Depot for $1299.
Best 5000 Watt Generator
Honda 5000/7000W Electric Start with Co-Minder (EM5000SX)
The 5000 watt portable generator is in the sweet spot between power, portability, runtime and price. You can still find a decent feature set, and this power level can be used almost anywhere except camping and tailgating.
Nobody does it here better than Honda. It starts with a commercial-grade Honda iGX390 engine with electric start and CO-Minder carbon monoxide detection. To summarize the main highlights, it is also compatible with Honda's My Generator app, where you can remotely monitor or turn on/off the generator. Overall, this is the most complete package we've seen.
Price: $2,599
Also consider:
- Craftsman 5000/6350 Watt Portable Generator with CO Detection (CMXGGAS030731): Great value option for a Briggs and Stratton 306cc engine and carbon monoxide sensor. Get it at Lowe's for $799.
best 3000 watt generator
Honda 3200W ultra-quiet inverter generator (EU3200i)
We see 3000 watt generators mostly around RVs, with smaller crews on residential jobsites. With plenty of quiet models in the range, they also cross over to camping and tailgates.
If you are looking for the luxury of a portable generator, the Honda EU3200i is the best 3000 watt generator. It's powered by a Honda GX130 fuel-injected engine, one of the few in its class that offers an easy two-step start. It also features remote smartphone monitoring and control.
Runs 54-58 decibels depending on load, very quiet. Honda's Eco Throttle system provides excellent fuel efficiency, so you can get up to 8.6 hours of battery life from its 1.2-gallon fuel tank at an 800-watt load. At full load, it takes 3.3 hours per tank. You can even use a paralleling kit if you want to wire 2 together.
Price: $2,599
Also consider:
- Ryobi 3400/4000 Watt Portable Inverter Generator (RYi4022X): Excellent value option with 3400 watts of running power and 12 hours of run time. Get it at Home Depot for $799.
Best 2000 Watt Generator
Westinghouse 1800/2200 Watts (IGEN2200C)
The best small generators are usually in the 2000 watt class. These are highly portable, and our picks all include an inverter to give you "clean power" suitable for sensitive electronics. They also tend to be the most affordable variable frequency generators because they are the least powerful.
The Westinghouse IGEN2200C is great for camping and tailgates, and our top pick for the best 2000-watt generator. Reasonably priced in this group of inverter generators, it has 2200 watts of operating power, an ultra-low noise level (52 decibels), weighs less than 50 lbs, and runs for 6 hours on a gallon of gas at 50% load.
Price: $529
Also consider:
- Honda 1800/2200 Watt Portable Inverter Generator (EU2200i): Powered by a Honda engine, it's quiet and light, but costs over $1,000. Get it at Acme Tools for $1299.
- Champion 1850/2500-Watt Portable Inverter Generator (100889): A sub-$500 budget pick that's quiet and weighs only 39 pounds dry. Get it at Lowe's for $699.
best gas generator
Honda 5500/7000W Electric Start EFI (EU7000iS)
We take cost out of the equation when determining the best gas generator. We asked our team to tell us what they think is the best generator based on their experience and why it is better than the others.
Two brands really set our team apart: CAT and Honda. After a few tense words and a damaged ego or two, the Honda came out on top with a seemingly bulletproof GX engine and some extra use.
Of the options available, the Honda EU7000iS offers the best combination with the GX390 EFI engine at its heart. It runs at 5500 watts, which is impressive for a generator that includes an inverter to handle the electronics and maintain a quieter noise level. Otherwise how can we love you? Let's count the ways!
- push button electric start
- GFCI outlets and circuit breakers
- parallel capability
- Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)
- CO-Minder version coming soon!
Price: $4,999
Best Dual Fuel Generators
DuroMax 8000/10000W Dual Fuel Electric Start (XP10000DX)
Dual fuel generators can use either gasoline or propane to run the engine. After a storm, even if the gas station runs out of gas, it's still possible to find propane. They also tend to run cleaner on propane. The trade-off is that the power level is often slightly off, but it has excellent run times compared to a tank of gas.
Our team's choice for the best dual-fuel generator is the DuroMax XP10000DX. Priced at just under $1,300, it's a powerhouse for us — a powerhouse at 8,000 watts. You can actually get a little more with the DuroMax XP12000DX, but we like that you get nearly 2 hours of run time from the same 8.3-gallon fuel tank.
Price: $1299
best electric starter generator
Champion 8000W Electric Start Tri Fuel(100416)
Electric starting can drastically change your generator experience. No hassle of pulling wires – as long as you remember to charge the battery. These come with lead-acid and Li-ion power supplies, we prefer Li-ion. The good news is that you can find them in a fairly wide range of power levels.
Champion is available in several electric start models with batteries to eliminate pull cords. The generator charges the battery, but always make sure it's fully charged before you think you might need it. Of the many Champion generators available, we like the 8000-watt tri-fuel model for its flexibility (natural gas, propane, and gasoline). It provides a good balance for job site and emergency power use.
Price: $1299
Best Quiet Generator
Honda 2800/3000 Watt Electric Start Inverter Generator (EU3000S1AG)
Generators are by no means quiet by nature, but they can be greatly improved with smaller engines (and power) and full enclosures. Most models are in the 2000-3000 watt range, but you can find some with higher power.
Honda's EU3000S1AG received another honor from our team, this time for the quietest generator. Powered by Honda's GX200 commercial engine, it's one of the few in its class to offer electric start.
We love its ultra-quiet 50 – 57 dB noise level, making it one of the quietest around. Other highlights include running at 50% load for 13 hours on a full 3.4 gallon fuel tank and CO-Minder to monitor carbon monoxide levels. It can also be paralleled if you want to connect 2 together.
Price: $2,599
also consider
- Champion 1850/2500 Watt Portable Inverter Generator (100889): A great budget option for under $500, operates with < 60 decibels of noise, and weighs 39 pounds dry. Get it at Lowe's for $699.
best battery inverter generator
EGO Nexus 2000/3000 Watt Power Station
Not everyone needs a solar charging option for their battery-powered inverters. Since the average outage lasts only 3 hours, most people don't need a full off-grid solution.
If this sounds like you, go for the EGO Nexus Power Station. It's capable of running 2000 continuous watts with 3000 watts of surge power, giving you more flexibility than the Zero Goal Yeti.
The unit also contributes to the flexibility of using up to four externally connected EGO 56V batteries. If you do run out of power onboard, there's always the possibility of having an extra set of batteries on hand. Plus, they run EGO's excellent line of lawn care equipment, making them more valuable than just backup power.
Now that solar charging is an option, it's the most versatile option.
Price: $549 bare metal or $1,499 with four 56V 5.0Ah batteries
If You Need More Onboard Capacity: Goal Zero Yeti 3000X 1500/3000 Watt Lithium Power Station
Well, if you really want a quiet generator, there's nothing like a battery inverter. Noise levels are only part of the equation, though. Because there are no emissions, this is the only way to use a generator indoors.
However, there are some trade-offs. You need to have enough battery to last the length of time you're going to be without power (solar charging can help with that). You also won't come close to the power of a gas, propane or diesel generator.
They are also more expensive on a watt to watt basis.
This is another very tough pick, with 3 quality competitors that have major strengths but also a caveat or two. The Goal Zero Yeti 3000X ended up getting the most votes from our pro team thanks to its massive 3075Wh capacity and available solar panels.
Inadequacies? It's expensive, and we didn't get as much cranking power in testing as other suggestions.
Price: $3,499 (without faceplate)
Also consider:
- Milwaukee MX Fuel On-The-Go Power Supply: 1800 continuous and 3600 surge power easily run 15 amp tools. $2,299 with two high-capacity batteries.
- DeWalt 1800/3600 Watt Portable Power Station and Charger: The best surge power available, perfect for field use. Total capacity is limited to 864Wh at a time, and there's no app control. Get it at Acme Tools for $529.
Best Generator Brand
When we sat down to discuss the best generator brands, we considered a lot of different characteristics. In the end, we all agree that the first consideration is that it has to work reliably. It can have all the power and functionality in the world, but it doesn't mean anything if it doesn't turn on when you need it. But hey, we still want those features.
Given these parameters, we believe the best alternator brand is Honda. Their engines are extremely durable and start reliably for both consumer and commercial use. They have available features that compete with those offered by anyone else. Like most companies, Honda has added carbon monoxide detectors to its entire line of portable generators.
You're going to have to pay a premium, though. Honda generators tend to run hundreds of dollars more than other generators.
Buy a Portable Generator
We've put together a comprehensive guide where you can read about buying a portable generator. If you just want Cliff Notes, ask yourself these questions:
- How much power do you need?
- 120V, 240V, USB? Which outlets do you need to run your appliances or home?
- run electron? Check for Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) below 6%
- Powering a jobsite every day or emergency power a few times a year?
- Gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas or solar fuel sources?
- How long does it take to run on a tank of gas?
- Kickback or electric start?
- Is noise a factor?
- How can electronic fuel injection improve fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance issues?
- Need a set of wheels? not every generator comes with them
- Need an elevator? hook bar is useful