Best generator

The best generator to buy depends on what you want to power, your budget, and whether you need it for home backup during a power outage or for camping, an RV, or a job site.

If you're buying one for your house, I'd start by looking at a dual-fuel generator that runs on gasoline and propane. It gives you flexibility during a long outage, when getting gasoline may be difficult.

Here are the main types I'd consider:

Best for whole-home essentials

A 7,500–9,500-watt-class dual-fuel portable generator.

Good for powering a refrigerator, freezer, lights, sump pump, and selected other household circuits, depending on their starting loads.

Best for quiet operation and sensitive electronics

An inverter generator.

Typically quieter and produces clean power for electronics, but larger models can cost substantially more.

Best for automatic home backup

A permanently installed standby generator.

Starts automatically during an outage when properly configured, but installation makes it much more expensive than a portable unit.

My top picks to buy

Best overall value for home backup

Westinghouse WGen9500TF 240 Volt Remote Electric Start 12500…

$999.00

Gasoline, propane, or natural gas • 9,500 running watts

A strong choice if you want substantial power and three fuel options. Popular Mechanics lowes.com

Shop at Lowe's

Best portable dual-fuel alternative

Westinghouse 12,500/9,500-Watt Remote Electric Start Dual Fu…

$1,049.00

Gasoline or propane • 9,500 running watts on gasoline

Includes a carbon monoxide sensor and offers electric and remote starting. homedepot.com

Shop at Home Depot

Best for automatic backup

Generac Home Standby Generator w/WiFi Connectivity 18000 -Wa…

$5,498.10

18 kW standby generator • Natural gas or propane

A better fit if you want the generator to start automatically when the power goes out. Installation is additional. lowes.com Consumer Reports

Shop at Lowe's

One important safety note: Never operate a fuel-powered generator inside a house, garage, or enclosed space. Place it outdoors well away from doors, windows, and air intakes, following the manufacturer's clearance requirements.

Let me narrow it down to the best one for you

What do you want the generator to power?

1. What will you use it for?

Home backup during power outages

Whole house, including central air conditioning

RV or camping

Construction or job site

2. What's your budget?

Under $500

$500–$1,500

$1,500–$3,000

$3,000–$7,000

$7,000+ for a professionally installed system

3. What needs to run? (For home backup)

Refrigerator, lights, and electronics

Essentials plus furnace or sump pump

Well pump, electric stove, or other large appliances

Central air and most of the house

[Find my best generator]

The "best" generator depends on how much power you need and where you plan to use it: Consumer Reports www.bobvila.com

Top Generator Picks by Category

Best Overall for Quiet & Portable Power: Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator (~1,800 running watts) www.bobvila.com YouTube

• Why it’s great: Lightweight, ultra-quiet, fuel-efficient, and produces clean power safe for sensitive electronics like laptops and phones. www.bobvila.com YouTube

Best Value for Whole-Home / Heavy Backup:Westinghouse WGen9500DFc (~9,500 running watts)

• Price: Around $1,049
• Why it’s great: Runs on gasoline or propane, features remote electric start, and has enough muscle to power major appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators during an outage.
• Best Tri-Fuel Flexibility:Westinghouse WGen10500TFc (~10,500 running watts) YouTube
• Price: Around $1,249
• Why it’s great: Operates on gasoline, propane, or natural gas (which lets you connect directly to a home gas line to skip manual refueling). YouTube
• Best Solar / Eco-Friendly Option:EcoFlow Delta 2 Max United States Power Outage Map
• Why it’s great: A battery-powered solar generator that produces zero emissions and runs silently indoors without carbon monoxide risks. United States Power Outage Map

How to Choose the Right Size

2,000 – 3,000 Watts: Great for camping, tailgating, or charging phones, lights, and a small fridge. Consumer Reports

3,000 – 7,000 Watts: Good for RVs, job sites, or running several essential home appliances at once. Consumer Reports

7,500 – 12,000+ Watts: Necessary if you want to hook up a manual transfer switch and power heavy home circuits like your central AC, sump pump, and refrigerator simultaneously. United States Power Outage Map

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

What do you need to power? (e.g., a few fridge/lights, a whole house, or an RV/job site)

What fuel do you prefer? (gasoline, dual-fuel propane, natural gas, or battery/solar)

To determine the "best" generator to buy, it helps to narrow down what you are trying to power and how you plan to use it. Generators generally fall into three main categories: Home Standby Generators (permanently installed), Portable Gas/Dual-Fuel Generators, and Solar/Battery Generators.

Top options across these categories include:

1. Best for Whole-Home Backup (Standby Generators)

If you want something that automatically kicks on during a power outage and can run your entire house (including HVAC systems), a permanently installed standby generator is the gold standard.

• Generac Guardian Series (e.g., 22kW–26kW): Generac is the market leader for a reason. They offer wide availability, reliable automated natural gas or propane power, and great smart-monitoring apps. Modernize
• Kohler (e.g., 20kW–24kW): Known for premium build quality, exceptionally fast response times, and a slightly quieter operation in extreme weather conditions. Modernize

2. Best for Traditional Portable Power (Gas & Dual-Fuel)

If you need a mobile unit for job sites, camping, or emergency backup that you can wheel out and plug into manually, gas or dual-fuel (gas/propane) is best.

• Honda EU2200i or EU7000is (Best Inverter / Quietest): Honda is widely considered the gold standard for portable power. Modernize Their inverter generators produce "clean" power safe for sensitive electronics (laptops, phones) and run remarkably quietly. Modernize
• Westinghouse WGen7500 / Champion Power Equipment (Best Value & Home Backup): Excellent choices if you want high wattage to run critical home appliances (refrigerators, sump pumps) at a lower price point than Honda. Many models offer dual-fuel flexibility (running on standard propane tanks or gasoline). Modernize

3. Best for Clean, Indoor/Quiet Backup (Solar Generators)

If you live in an apartment, condo, or area where you cannot store gasoline, or if you simply want something silent that produces no fumes and can be charged via solar panels:

• EcoFlow Delta Series / Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro or 2000 Pro: Modernize These heavy-duty battery power stations can run refrigerators, medical devices, and electronics indoors without noise or carbon monoxide risks. They can be recharged via wall outlets or portable solar panels. Outdoor Life

To help narrow down the exact model that fits your needs, what is your primary goal for the generator?

1. Are you looking to back up an entire house, just a few essential appliances during a storm, or do you need it for camping/tailgating?
2. Do you prefer a permanent standby unit or a portable one?

For most portable home-backup needs, the Wirecutter’s top pick is the Westinghouse iGen5000DFc, a 3,900-watt dual-fuel inverter generator; its runner-up is the Generac iQ5200 DF. The best choice depends on what you need to power—tell me whether it’s for home backup, camping, or an RV, and your budget.nytimes.com

The “best” generator depends entirely on your needs—whether it’s a quiet, portable unit for occasional camping or home backup, a powerful dual-fuel model for whole-house essentials during outages, or a professional standby system for automatic whole-home power. There’s no single winner, but here are the top recommendations from 2026 expert tests and reviews (Bob Vila, Wirecutter, and Popular Mechanics). www.bobvila.com www.bobvila.com www.nytimes.com www.popularmechanics.com

Quick Buying Guide (What Matters Most)

• Portable inverter generators (clean, quiet, electronics-safe power) are ideal for most people.
• Running watts = daily use (fridge, lights, TV, pump). Starting/surge watts = appliances that kick on (A/C, well pump, air compressor—add 20–50% extra).
• Dual-fuel (gas + propane) is most versatile.
• Inverter type = quieter and better for sensitive electronics.
• Safety first: CO shutoff sensor, low-oil shutdown, and a proper transfer switch (or automatic one for standby).
• Fuel & runtime: Gas lasts longer; propane is lighter. Factor in storage and winter performance.
• Budget: $200–$1,000 for basic portable; $1,000–$3,000+ for home-capable; $5,000+ for automatic whole-house.

Size your home’s power needs (total connected load + surge). A fridge + freezer + lights is ~1,000–2,000 running watts; add heating/cooling for bigger systems.

Top Recommendations (2026 Tested Models)

Best Overall / Quiet Portable Pick
Honda EU2200i (2,200 running / 2,800 starting watts, ~$800–$1,000)

• Inverter + super-quiet (48–57 dB).
• Lightweight (47 lbs), easy to move, 8+ hours runtime on a small tank.
• Perfect for camping, tailgating, or powering a few home essentials (fridge, lights, small tools).
• Multiple outlets + parallel-ready. Honda reliability is legendary.
• Wirecutter and Bob Vila both highlight its portability and performance. www.bobvila.com www.nytimes.com

Best Value / Home Backup Portable
Westinghouse iGen5000DFc (3,900 running / 5,000 starting watts, ~$1,000)

• Dual-fuel (gas or propane), closed-frame (quiet), inverter, remote start, CO detector, Wi-Fi monitoring.
• Powers lights, fridge, TV, sump pump, and more—great for multi-day outages.
• Wirecutter’s top pick; also praised for features and price.
• Not for huge whole-house loads (add a transfer switch). www.nytimes.com

Best Bang-for-Buck / Budget Option
WEN GN5602X (4,500 running / 5,600 starting watts, ~$500–$700)

• Gas-only, heavy-duty, electric start, multiple 30A outlets.
• Handles construction sites, RVs, or essential home circuits.
• Bob Vila’s best-value winner—plenty of power without the premium price. www.bobvila.com

Best Powerful / Whole-Home Portable
DuroMax XP12000EH (9,500 running / 12,000 starting watts, ~$2,000–$2,500) or DuroMax XP11000iH (9,000 running / 11,000 starting watts)

• Dual-fuel inverter, enclosed (surprisingly quiet at ~61 dB on low load), remote start, app-ready.
• Can handle most of a typical home (A/C, well pump, water heater, furnace).
• Popular Mechanics’ best overall portable; parallel-capable for even more power. www.bobvila.com www.popularmechanics.com

Best Automatic Whole-House / Standby
Generac 22kW Standby Generator (~$6,000–$7,000 installed)

• Natural gas or propane, automatic transfer switch, Wi-Fi monitoring, runs 24/7 in a shed.
• Powers an entire 2,000–2,500 sq ft home (including central AC and well).
• Popular Mechanics top standby pick; Generac is the gold standard for reliability. www.popularmechanics.com

Other Strong Contenders

• EcoFlow Delta 2 Max (solar + battery station): Best eco-friendly, quiet, app-controlled option for smaller home backup (no gas, no maintenance). Great for solar-heavy setups. www.bobvila.com
• Honda EU7000iS or Yamaha EF2200iS: Premium quieter inverters if you want Japanese reliability.
• Tri-fuel models (gas/propane/natural gas): Excellent for flexibility (e.g., Generac or DuroMax tri-fuel).

Final Advice

• Start small (Honda EU2200i or WEN) if you’re testing the concept—cheap insurance for outages.
• For serious home backup, go dual-fuel inverter portable + transfer switch or a Generac standby.
• Always: Calculate your needs, add a transfer switch, keep a manual, and check local regulations (e.g., California’s CARB rules limit some models).
• Prices fluctuate; check Amazon, Home Depot, or Lowe’s for current deals and specs.

If you tell me your location, budget, home size, outage frequency, or whether you need whole-house vs. essentials-only, I can narrow it down further or compare specific models!