We may garner tax revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›
In This Article
When a storm strikes and thepower goes out , a generator from one of the best author brands can prevent hours in the iniquity and a electric refrigerator full of spoilt solid food . Depending on its sizing , aportable generatorcan provideup to 15,000 wattsof energy , enough to keep the lights on and power the air conditioner and refrigerator . However , a author is only as good as it is dependable .
With so many brands on the market , ascertain a model that provides dependable backup power without divulge the bank can pose a challenge . In this usher , we delve into the world of generator — both portable andstand - by systems — to identify the best brands in the occupation . We leveraged our own experience using author as a backup author of major power for home and RV , along with extensive research to inform our selections of the best source brands .
1. Honda
Price Range:$$ to $ $ $ $ Our Top pick : Honda 2,200 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 999 andHonda 1,000 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 999 .
Not only is it a producer of some of the most dependable automobiles on the market , but Honda also produces some of the beneficial author available . Hondarevolutionized the author market when it introduced the now legendary EU1000i model in 1998 , redefine the market for portable power .
Since then , the company has go on to improve on that engineering , while others have seek to copy it . Though this source is more expensive than others , consumers are willing to husk out the excess lettuce because of Honda ’s reliableness and reputation for restrained mental process . TheEU2200iproduces around the same amount of noise as a coffeemaker at its loudest ( between 48 and 57 dB ) .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Honda generators atAmazon , The Home Depot , orNorthern Tool + Equipment .
2. Generac
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ $ Our Top Picks : Generac 2,500 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 649 andGenerac 22,000 - Watt Standby Generator with Automatic Transfer Switchfor $ 6,247 .
Generac made a name for itself some 60 year ago when it start organize and producing affordable source forhome use . In addition to producing a seam of generators for commercial-grade use , the party today puts outinverters , portable generators , andstandby generatorsfor home use of goods and services . Generacalso produces other home products such as force per unit area automatic washer , heat tower , and water pumps .
It carry on to stick to its mission of grow low-priced product , with portable generators that fall within the $ 500 to $ 1,000 range and whole - home source options that start out at the $ 2,000 price point . Generac ’s product line includes its inverter and portable generators , which produce up to 8,000 Isaac Watts , and its Guardian series of home backup generator . Many Generac home generator good example , include the22,000 - watt standby model , offer an automatic transport switch .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Generac generators atLowe’s , Ace Hardware , orThe Home Depot .
3. Westinghouse
cost Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top pick : Westinghouse 9,500 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 1,049 andWestinghouse 6,500 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 579 .
One of the sr. companies on this list , Westinghousewas founded by George Westinghouse in 1886 as an electric companionship . The company produced its first source , a steam turbine – driven machine , in 1901 . Today , Westinghouse produces many different types of portable generators . Its merchandise range from pocket-sized inverters that generate about 1,200 pop out Isaac Watts to fiend machines that produce 15,000 peak Watt .
Westinghouse ’s prominent product line , couple with affordable price ( on a watt - per - clam basis ) , allow the companionship to serve a broad image of customer . The society has been an trailblazer in the market : In late year , it also developed a line of solar - powered generators . Westinghouse has also improve the efficiency of its gas - power models , carry their runtimes to an industry - leading 12 minute . Dual - fuel options like the WestinghouseWGen9500DFcandWGen5300DFcvalso offer great versatility .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Westinghouse generators atAmazon , The Home Depot , orMenards .
4. Champion Power Equipment
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top choice : Champion Power Equipment 4,550 - Watt Portable Generatorfor $ 566.27 andChampion Power Equipment 10,625 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 929.00 .
AlthoughChampionlaunched its generator line in 2003 , it quickly rise to the upper echelons of the industriousness thanks to its innovation indual - fueltechnology and relatively miserable prices . Its author are among the most affordable on the mart .
The company ’s dual - fuel generator , like the10,625 - watt modelthat made our lean of top picks , can extend on either propane or gasoline . Its generator also come equipped with a broad range of plugs , including 30 - amp and 50 - amp exit in addition to received 120 - volt outlets . These versatile connections , mate with their power to run off propane , have made these generators popular in the RV market . Like its rival Westinghouse , Champion also boasts a full line of generator that range from small 2,000 - W inverter to 12,000 - watt beasts .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Champion Power Equipment generators atAmazon , The Home Depot , orCamping World .
5. Briggs & Stratton
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top filling : Briggs & Stratton 2,400 - Watt Inverter Generatorfor $ 799.00 andBriggs & Stratton 6,500 - Watt Portable Generatorfor $ 1,079.95 .
As one of the earth ’s largest producer of belittled gas engines for everything from lawn mower to go - karts to generator , Briggs & Strattonshould know about building durable engines . The company has a reputation for producing dependable and powerful engines for a all-embracing range of equipment . In fact , its engines are so well regarded that the company provide the locomotive for several other popular generator trade name .
Briggs & Stratton produces some of the top generators on the market . Although the ship’s company has a variety of generators to choose from , including portable , inverter , and abode standby generators , it ’s perhaps well know for its energy - effective compact PowerSmart Series like the2,400 - watt modelabove , as well as its Elite Series of sinewy portable generators that can produce as much as 9,000 watts .
Photo: amazon.com Photo: homedepot.com
Shop Briggs & Stratton author atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
6. DuroMax
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ $ Our Top pick : DuroMax 13,000 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 1,499 andDuroMax 4,850 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 734 .
DuroMax makes its own engines , which are renowned for their durability . Like its rival Champion , DuroMaxis an innovator in twofold - fuel engineering science with many of its generator capable of hunt off both propane or gasoline . Several of its generator are loaded with a variety of connection , including 30 - watt and 50 - watt sockets , making DuroMax generators popular with RVers .
Some of DuroMax ’s three-fold - fuel generator can make up to 15,000 watts , thanks to a 23 - horsepower fin - Twin Falls locomotive . DuroMax generator also have innovative feature of speech , including the caller ’s MX2 business leader - encouragement engineering , which double the amperage of a 120 - volt sales outlet to 240 volts to handle heavy loads . fashion model like theDuroMax 13,000 - watt dual fuel generatoralso put up the added safety of a carbon monoxide alert .
Photo: lowes.com
Shop DuroMax source atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
7. Predator
toll Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top pick : predatory animal 9,500 - Watt Inverter Generatorfor $ 2,299.99 andPredator 3,500 - Watt Inverter Generatorfor $ 799.99 .
deduction tool and equipment company Harbor Freight , which was founded in 1977 , markets its own brand of generators under the namePredator . Like its other product lines , Harbor Freight makes generators that boast high functioning at a budget price .
One of the companionship ’s most popular generators is a super - quiet inverter that create a maximum of 3,500 watts , which it sells at a fraction of the price of similar - powered inverter from other brands . The Predator line , which is popular with RVers as well as homeowner and contractor , also includes bargain - priced 4,000 - watt generators and larger inverters that produce as much as9,500 watts .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Predator author atHarbor Freight .
8. Wen
Price Range:$ to $ $ Our Top Picks : Wen 3,800 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 774.06 andWen 11,000 - Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generatorfor $ 789.99 .
Wen was a pioneer in the power tool market place in the mid-20th century , helping to originate chainsaw , soldering guns , electrical jigsaws , and other products since its launching in 1951 . The company ’s delegation is to help woodworker and artisans execute their risky dreams .
Over the years , Wen has blow up to include a variety of other power tool , including generators . Wenproduces home source and portable generators , like the3,800 - watt inverter , that are among the least expensive on the market .
Photo: harborfreight.com
Shop Wen generators atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
9. Sportsman
cost Range:$ to $ $ Our Top pick : Sportsman 4,000 - Watt Portable Generatorfor $ 421.27 andSportsman 2,200 - Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generatorfor $ 477.99 .
Although Sportsman ’s generators can be used asbackupemergency power for a home , they ’re designed for outdoor enthusiasts , with the big generator topping out at about4,000 watts .
Sportsman generator run off a motley of fuel , include gasoline , propane , and natural gas , making them one of the few tri - fuel author on the market . Its generators , include the two we feature , have 30 - amp hookups that work with RVs . This versatility makesSportsmangenerators ideal for a salmagundi of uses , browse from tailgating to tenting to emergency electricity during an outage .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Sportsman generators atLowe’s , Tractor Supply Co. ,orThe Home Depot .
10. Ryobi
Price Range:$ to $ $ Our Top Picks : Ryobi 2,300 - Watt Inverter Generatorfor $ 699 andRyobi 6,500 - Watt Gasoline Powered Portable Generatorfor $ 899 .
Ryobi establish in 1943 as an motorcar parts company before later expanding into mogul tools and author . Today , the society ’s power tools are sell primarily through The Home Depot . Like its course of top executive tools , Ryobi ’s generator are relatively low-priced .
Though the company produces just a fistful of model , Ryobi ’s generator sport innovative controls that make them more user - well-disposed than many other author brands . Its most pop models like the2,300 - watt inverter featuredigital displays that provide material - fourth dimension datum regarding fuel level , power load , and runtime , all of which can be monitored via Bluetooth from a smartphone . These generators also total with safety feature of speech , include a carbon monoxide machinelike shut - off electric switch .
Photo: homedepot.com
Shop Ryobi generator atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
11. Firman
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top Picks : Firman Electric Start Extended Run Time Generatorfor $ 1,049.99 andFirman 4,550 - Watt Recoil Start Generatorfor $ 535.46 .
Though Firman has been make generator for years for such steel as Kohler and Ridgid , it did n’t come out producing generator under its own brand until 2015 . The company has made inroad into the market place by addressing top customer demands .
No one likes have to perpetually replenish the tank in the generator , which is whyFirmanoutfits its generators with natural gas tanks that are 25 percentage larger than a standard gasolene army tank , giving its source significant runtimes of 12 hour on a half - load . It also know that the secondly biggest bitch about source is noise , which is why the company has an entire line of generators — the Whisper series — that is designed to produce as little noise as possible , with output of around 67 decibels . Firman ’s generators range from 3,000 - watt inverter for bivouacking to modelslike the 10,000 - watt source featured herefor homes or remote worksites .
Photo: homedepot.com
Shop Firman generators atAmazonorWalmart .
12. DeWalt
cost Range:$$ to $ $ $ Our Top pick : DeWalt 7,000 - Watt Electric Start Portable Generatorfor $ 1,059 andDeWalt 6,500 - Watt Manual Start Portable Generatorfor $ 999 .
DeWaltstarted in 1924 with a carpentry machine call the “ Wonder - Worker , ” which was project to help increase productivity and efficiency on the farm . By 1992 , the troupe let go its first portable electric force putz . Today , DeWalt is one of the most trusted name in the power tool industry . The company also tender a selection of traditional gas generators , battery - power generators , and portable generator . While the company ’s source selection is not as extensive as that of some other manufacturers , DeWalt does bid a chain of mountains of options to see the motley power motive of different customers . Several models , including the7,000 - watt portable , meet stringent CSA and CARB emission regulations .
Shop DeWalt generator atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
13. Jackery
cost Range:$ to $ $ $ $ Our Top Picks : Jackery Explorer Solar Generator 1000 and 2 SolarSaga Panelsfor $ 1,649 andJackery Explorer 240 Portable Power Stationfor $ 219 .
Jackery was founded in 2012 to spread the utilization of clean muscularity to fight clime change . The companionship — which is now one of the top - selling solar author brand in the earthly concern — was the first to launch a pipeline of lithium portable power generators . The Explorer serial publication is design to birth superpower for outdoor activities , traveler , mobile families , or anyone else in pauperization .
Shop Jackery generators atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Photo: homedepot.com
14. A-iPower
cost Range:$ to $ $ $ Our Top Picks : A - iPower 2,000 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 376.09 orA - iPower 15,000 - Watt Heavy - Duty Portable Generatorfor $ 2,799.00 .
TheA - iPowerbrand is a relative fledgling in the generator market though it has quickly launch a report for affordable and reliable equipment . Although it is an American company headquarter in California , all manufacturing is based in China . It is the preferred generator brand of the National Hot Rod Association ( NHRA ) , which is the governing consistence for retarding force racing in the U.S. and Canada .
The kitchen stove is all-inclusive , with everything from an ultra - lightweight 1,500 - James Watt inverter saint for tailgating or encampment to the15,000 - watt heavy - dutygenerator featured above . A - iPower centre on in high spirits efficiency , low emissions , and safety with GFCI ( ground fault circuit interrupter ) as a common feature . Many of the A - iPower generators are also RV - ready .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop A - iPower generators atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
15. GenMax
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ .Our Top Picks : GenMax 1,200 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 299 orGenMax 10,500 - Watt Tri - Fuel Inverter Generatorfor $ 2,899.99 .
Those search for feature of speech - rich , budget - friendly generator will want to crack out the reach offered byGenMax . The company has been around since 2010 and produces an extensive selection that should satisfy just about every need .
The brand name is acknowledge for innovation . The10,500 - watt generatorwe selected as a top pick was the first tri - fuel inverter source on the marketplace and is capable of running off petrol , propane tanks , or mains born accelerator pedal . GenMax ’s inverter mountain range uses Quiet Technology to keep noise to a lower limit , and its Open Frame models extend competitive execution , the power to run in analogue for double the output , and up to 40 percent weight reduction when compared to traditional exemplar .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop GenMax generators atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
16. Powerhorse
Price Range:$$ to $ $ $ .Our Top cream : Powerhorse 4,500 - Watt Inverter Generatorfor $ 849.99 orPowerhorse 27,000 - Watt Generatorfor $ 3,299.99 .
Northern Tool + Equipment is a crime syndicate - run business organisation that commence trading in 1981 , and in improver to its on-line business , it now has 120 stores nationwide . Powerhorseis one of several house brands , and it ’s focus on durability and value for money .
The range of generators offer up is n’t as extensive as some , but it includes a lightweight portable inverter at 2,300 watts in addition to the27,000 - watt monsterwith a 999cc fivesome - twin motor we chose as a top choice . Reliability is enhance by copper - wound piston chamber heads that prevent overheating . User - friendly features let in an electrical start and an ESC ( Engine Smart Control ) that varies the throttle to relieve fuel .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Powerhorse source atAmazon , Walmart , orNorthern Tool + Equipment .
17. Pulsar
Price Range:$ to $ $ $ .Our Top choice : Pulsar 1,200 - Watt Portable Generatorfor $ 179.99 orPulsar 7,200 - Watt Dual - Fuel Inverter Generatorfor $ 995.00 .
Pulsaris base in Ontario , California , and claims to be one of the fastest - rise brands in the industry . Quality and dependability are underlined by the fact that it is also license by Ford to build that company ’s generators .
The brand ’s range is telling . It include both inverter and traditional author , all with very competitive price tags . Pulsar produces gas , dual- , and tri - fuel models from the low-toned - price 2 - cycle1,200 - James Watt modelwe select as a top pick to a 15,000 - watt electric start manakin with carbon monoxide safety alert . Other features let in a digital readout for public presentation monitoring and low oil shutdown to keep motor damage .
Photo: northerntool.com
Shop Pulsar generators atAmazon , The Home Depot , orAcme Tools .
18. Yamaha
toll Range:$$ to $ $ $ $ .Our Top pickaxe : Yamaha 2,200 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 1,275.00 orYamaha 6,300 - Watt Portable Inverter Generatorfor $ 4,599.91
The Yamaha pot has been around since 1887 when it in the beginning made reed organs and piano . The sword still puddle a wide range of melodic instruments but also produce everything from motorcycles and outboard motors to industrial robot and water purification systems .
TheYamahagenerator range focuses on muted , substance abuser - favorable portable inverter generator like those have above , each of which is RV - ready . The company also manufactures traditional models with car decompression for easy start , and diesel author that , according to the manufacturer , declare oneself up to 40 percent better fuel thriftiness than gas - powered option .
Photo: amazon.com
Shop Yamaha generators atAmazon , Walmart , orAcme Tools .
How We Chose the Best Generator Brands
After extensive product research review the variety of case of author on the marketplace , we are able-bodied to tender this collection of recommended products . These generators from the dear generator brands were selected based on several criteria include value for money , portability , tractability of use , and popularity with users . While reviewing the author useable on the grocery , we specifically look for and chose products that provide a reach of features from galvanising generator scratch line options , dual - fuel ( and unusual triple - fuel options ) , remote get-go , and condom features .
Runtime , strength , rest of manipulation , and the number and types of sales outlet provided were also valued features we consider when go over the available generator from the top sword . The excerption in this guide include generators at a assortment of damage points that can ably power part orall of a homeduring an outage ; some can power an RV , and others are design to power a tailgating consequence or camping dangerous undertaking .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Photo: amazon.com
Keeping your gage green and your plants thriving does n’t just take a green thumb — it starts with the right tools and supply .
