116 units · 32 brands · updated October 2026
Standby generators, portables, inverters, power stations and home batteries, compared on running watts, runtime, noise and fuel, with owner reports and head-to-head matchups.
$280 to $26,770 · 5 types · 6 fuels
The load ladder, on every card
The bar under each unit is its running watts drawn against five household loads. How many of the 116 sustain each one:
Surge capacity is drawn hatched beside the solid bar. Yellow is a fuel-burning engine, green is stored battery power.
The schedule
Narrow by brand, type, fuel, and price, or sort the whole catalog by watts. Tick the box on any three and their spec sheets land in one table.
116 units
Tick up to three units to see their spec sheets in one table.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The smallest of Bluetti's Elite V2 line and a straight rival to the Jackery 300 v2 and EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus. 288Wh of LiFePO4 in a 9.5 pound body, a 600W inverter with the maker's 1,500W Lifting Power for resistive loads, and a 140W USB-C…
600 W / 1,500 W surge
Best for CPAP users, remote workers and campers who want a light UPS-capable backup with strong USB-C output.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
A 286Wh brick for the people who want to keep the internet, phones, a CPAP or a laptop alive through an evening outage and do not want a 50-pound box in the closet. At 10.4 pounds with a handle it moves from a desk to a campsite without…
600 W / 1,200 W surge
Best for Renters and apartment owners who need a quiet UPS and phone-and-modem backup, plus an easy campsite companion.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Jackery's smallest current Explorer is sold as a CPAP and phone backup rather than a home-backup box. It swapped the old model's lithium-ion cells for LiFePO4, rated 4,000 cycles to 70%, and the handle-forward body weighs 8.2 pounds. The…
300 W / 600 W surge
Best for CPAP users, campers and anyone who wants a small, light backup for a modem, phones and a laptop through a short outage.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 52 dB
A budget 2 kW inverter from a brand that sells mostly online, and one of the lighter units in its class at 42.2 lbs. It makes 1,800 running and 2,300 starting watts and has a CO alert, an L5-30R 30A outlet, two 20A outlets, 12V DC, USB-A…
1,800 W / 2,300 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Budget campers and tailgaters who want the lightest, cheapest 2 kW inverter with a 30A outlet and parallel cables in the box.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The budget king of the 1kWh class - a perpetual marketplace best-seller with a review count nothing else touches. You get more capacity (1,152Wh) than the Anker or EcoFlow rivals, 1800W output with a 2,700W Power Lifting mode for heaters…
1,800 W / 2,700 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Budget-focused storm preppers who want maximum stored energy per dollar and can tolerate fan noise.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 20 dB
The 2026 'best overall' pick on multiple tested lists, and the current answer in the sub-$500 1kWh knife-fight. Anker took the already-popular C1000, cut 3.5 lbs, bumped output to 2000W, added a 10ms UPS mode, and kept HyperFlash charging…
2,000 W / 3,000 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Anyone who wants the most watts, speed, and quiet per dollar under $500 and won't need expansion.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
Bluetti's current 1kWh pick and the successor to the AC180 class: 1,024Wh of LiFePO4 rated 4,000+ cycles, 1,800W continuous, and a Lifting Power mode the maker quotes at 2,700W for resistive loads like a kettle. The four AC outlets, the…
1,800 W / 2,700 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Buyers who want a light, fast-charging 1kWh unit with four 20A outlets for fridge-and-router outages and camping.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 23 dB
A small LiFePO4 station built around quiet and quick charging: 512 Wh, 1,000 W continuous from two AC outlets, and a published 23 dB noise level that fits a bedroom CPAP or a tent. DJI's store lists a 70-minute full charge and two 100 W…
1,000 W · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and apartment dwellers who want a small, near-silent LiFePO4 station for CPAP, router and laptop backup, and who also fly DJI drones.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 51 dB
The budget-inverter benchmark and a long-running Wirecutter-class recommendation: 1,900 running watts, a class-leading 39-lb carry weight, and 51 dB at quarter load — numbers that shadow the Honda EU2200i for less than half the money. The…
1,900 W / 2,350 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and emergency-kit builders who want Honda-adjacent quiet and weight at a third of the price.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 52 dB
The current small Westinghouse replaces the older iGen2500 and gives you a 30A RV outlet and a CO sensor on a 2 kW inverter without paying Honda money. It makes 1,900 running watts and 2,550 peak, weighs 40 lbs and has an LED data center…
1,900 W / 2,550 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for RV and tailgate users who want a light 2 kW inverter with a 30A outlet and CO shutoff at about half the price of a Honda or Yamaha.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Jackery's LiFePO4 do-over of the best-selling power station ever, and the one people actually mean when they say 'just get a Jackery.' At 23.8 lbs it's several pounds lighter than every 1kWh rival, and owners split its time between outages…
1,500 W / 3,000 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for First-time buyers and campers who value light weight and simplicity over max wattage.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Pecron is the budget-minded name in 1.5 kWh LiFePO4 units, and the E1500LFP is its standout: 1,536 Wh, a 2,200 W inverter with a 4,400 W surge, a UPS mode, and a built-in AC adapter so there is no power brick to lose. It expands to 9,216…
2,200 W / 4,400 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Budget-conscious buyers who want expandable LiFePO4 capacity for outage and camping use and will register the unit for the 5-year warranty.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 68 dB
One of the best-selling generators ever made, and the archetype of the 'good enough for everything' budget dual fuel. Electric start, RV-ready TT-30R outlet, propane capability out of the box, and nearly a decade on the market at around…
3,800 W / 4,750 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for First-time buyers who want one affordable do-everything generator for RV trips and outage basics.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
A 1,548 Wh LiFePO4 unit with a 1,500 W inverter (3,000 W peak), a one-hour wall recharge, and a single expansion battery that doubles capacity to 3,096 Wh. The user manual lists a switchover under 20 ms and the three AC outlets cover a…
1,500 W / 3,000 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Shoppers who want an inexpensive, lighter 1.5 kWh LiFePO4 unit for camping and short outages, with a path to double capacity.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline
Generac's play for the Honda EU2200i shopper who balks at $1,200: 2,500 running watts (700 more than the Honda), PowerRush surge tech, USB ports, and COsense CO shutdown for roughly half the money, in a 60-lb suitcase. What to know:…
2,500 W / 3,300 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Budget campers who want more watts than an EU2200i for half the price and accept more noise.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 26 dB
The drone company's second-gen power station, and the sleeper hit of the category. The headline specs are absurd for a 1kWh box: 2,600W continuous output (more than most 2kWh units), 4,400W peak, 0-80% charging in 37 minutes, and operation…
2,600 W / 4,400 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Bedroom, campsite, and content-creator use where silence and charging speed matter most.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 53 dB
The budget answer to the two Japanese 2 kW inverters: when the choice is between about $600 and $1,200, most owners take this one. It runs 1,850 watts on gasoline and 1,665 on propane, so a 20 lb tank gives the same generator a long,…
1,850 W / 2,500 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and apartment-sized backup users who want a light propane-capable inverter at about half the price of a Honda or Yamaha 2 kW unit.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The stripped-down version of EcoFlow's 1kWh line usually sells for less than the Plus it was spun out of. You keep the 1,800W inverter with 3,600W surge, X-Boost up to 2,600W for resistive loads, the 10ms switchover and the LiFePO4 cells,…
1,800 W / 3,600 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Home backup buyers who need a fridge, modem and CPAP covered for an evening and do not need a crowd of outlets.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The default answer when someone asks for a 1kWh backup unit. The headline feature is the 10ms UPS switchover, and owners run routers, 3D printers and workstations on it. It charges 0-100% in 56 minutes, which sounds like marketing until…
1,800 W / 3,600 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Apartment dwellers and network-gear owners who want a set-and-forget UPS that doubles as camping power.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 52 dB
The small DuroMax is one of the few 2 kW inverters that runs on propane. It makes 1,800 running watts on gasoline and 1,700 on propane, and the propane runtime is the headline: 38 hours at a quarter load on a 20 lb tank, which is a long…
1,800 W / 2,300 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and small-outage households who want a propane-capable 2 kW inverter at half the price of a Honda EU2200i.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline
The current Bluetooth Ryobi, aimed at people already living in the 18V ONE+ ecosystem. It makes 1,800 running and 2,300 starting watts, weighs 52 lbs and has a built-in CO sensor, an LCD showing fuel level and remaining run time, and the…
1,800 W / 2,300 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Homeowners already on Ryobi 18V who want a quiet-class 2 kW inverter with a fuel and runtime readout on their phone.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The Yeti 700 is the small, sturdy one in Goal Zero's current LiFePO4 range: 677 Wh, a 600 W inverter with 1,000 W surge, and a 20.3 lb case that takes mud and rain better than most. It charges from the wall at 500 W, so a full charge is…
600 W / 1,000 W surge
Best for Campers and CPAP users who want a rugged, light LiFePO4 station with a long warranty and are fine paying a brand premium.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 57 dB
The 3,800-watt step in WEN's closed-case inverter line, with electric start, wheels and a folding handle. It makes 3,400 running watts, enough for a fridge, furnace blower and most RV air conditioners on a soft start, and it costs roughly…
3,400 W / 3,800 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and tailgaters who want electric start and 3.4 kW at well under a thousand dollars, and who will run a separate CO alarm.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The Mega 2 pairs 2,048 Wh of LiFePO4 with a 2,500 W inverter that surges to 5,400 W, and unlike most stations at this price it includes a TT-30R outlet for an RV cord; it is 120 V only, so a 240 V transfer-switch inlet is out. It expands…
2,500 W / 5,400 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Homeowners who want a 2 kWh station with a 30 A RV outlet with long warranty at a price well below EcoFlow and Bluetti.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 69 dB
This isn't really a competitor to Honda — it's a range extender for EcoFlow's battery ecosystem, and that's exactly how owners use it. Paired with a DELTA 3, DELTA 3 Plus or DELTA 3 Ultra Plus, it auto-starts itself when the battery drops…
2,000 W / 3,000 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for EcoFlow battery owners who want an automatic fossil-fuel backstop for extended outages.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 64 dB
A closed-case 4,000-watt inverter at 54 lbs is an unusual combination, and it is why owners keep asking about this one. It runs 3,300 watts on gasoline and 2,970 on propane, has electric start with a battery in the box, and weighs far less…
3,300 W / 4,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV and campsite users who want 4 kW surge, electric start and propane in a one-person carry, and can put up with 64 dBA.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 62 dB
The WEN to look at when you want a 4 kW inverter with CO shutdown and propane for under $800. It makes 4,000 running and 4,800 surge watts on gasoline, and 3,600 and 4,320 on propane, with electric start and a tool-free LPG connector. Four…
4,000 W / 4,800 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for RV and campsite users who want 4 kW, propane and CO shutdown at a price that sits near half of Honda's.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 57 dB
The cult classic of the RV world. The Predator 3500 is the answer to 'why pay Honda prices?': 3,000 running watts, 57 dB super-quiet operation, electric start, and a digital readout for around $800, with periodic coupons taking it lower.…
3,000 W / 3,500 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers and tailgaters who want quiet AC-running power for the least money and accept a short warranty.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 69 dB
A compact open-frame for people who want propane in the garage and an outlet that reaches a transfer switch, at a modest price. It makes 4,500 running watts on gasoline and 4,275 on propane, which runs a furnace, fridge, sump pump and some…
4,500 W / 5,500 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Small-home and RV owners who want a light dual-fuel generator with a 30-amp outlet and the longest warranty in the class.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 61 dB
The people's RV generator. Champion's 200988 pairs 4,500 starting watts with dual-fuel flexibility and electric start at well under half of Honda money. It is rated for up to 21 hours on a 20-lb propane tank and clean sub-3% THD power for…
3,500 W / 4,500 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and tailgaters who want AC-starting power and propane flexibility at a working-person price.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 68 dB
The small open-frame that still reaches a transfer switch. At 5,300 running watts on gasoline and 4,800 on propane it carries a furnace, fridge and a few circuits, and the L14-30R and RV-style TT-30R outlets mean it plugs into a 30-amp…
5,300 W / 6,600 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Small-home owners and RV campers who want dual fuel and a 30-amp transfer-switch outlet in a unit light enough to move alone.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 52 dB
A non-Honda RV inverter: 3,700 running watts, a genuine 52 dB at quarter load, a telescoping suitcase handle, and an 18-hour economy-mode runtime. The digital display with remaining-runtime readout and the remote-start fob are the standout…
3,700 W / 4,500 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers who want near-Honda quiet, AC-starting power, and long runtimes at a mid-tier price.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 59 dB
This is the Champion that RV owners buy when they want electric start, a 30A outlet and propane in a package that is still wheeled and under 100 lbs. It makes 3,100 running watts on gasoline and 2,790 on propane, enough for a fridge,…
3,100 W / 3,400 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and small-home backup users who want electric start, a 30A outlet and propane on a wheeled inverter for roughly a third of Honda money.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 52 dB
A wheeled 3,300-watt inverter with electric start, a key-fob remote and propane capability for $859. It makes 3,300 running and 4,000 peak watts on gasoline, and 2,970 and 3,600 on propane, which covers a fridge, a furnace blower, a sump…
3,300 W / 4,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and backup users who want electric start, a remote fob and propane on a wheeled 3.3 kW inverter at under $900.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Bluetti's mainstream 2kWh unit and the expandability play at this price: it accepts B300K packs (up to ~8kWh) that also work with the bigger AC500 and Apex 300, so nothing you buy gets orphaned. The 30A TT-30 outlet plus a 48V RV DC port…
2,400 W / 3,600 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and expandability planners who want cheap, cross-compatible battery packs down the road.
Portable Generator · Gasoline
The big-box storm generator: when a hurricane is three days out, this is what's stacked on pallets at Home Depot, and that availability is genuinely part of its value. 8,000 running watts, 10,000 starting via PowerRush, electric start,…
8,000 W / 10,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Storm-prep buyers who want maximum conventional watts from a big-box store the week before landfall.
Portable Generator · Tri Fuel (Gas/LP/NG) · 74 dB
The Costco tri-fuel that made natural-gas backup a thousand-dollar proposition. The T07571 runs 7,500 watts on gasoline, 6,750 on propane, and 5,500 on natural gas, ships with both LP and NG hoses in the box, and has a 50-amp outlet;…
7,500 W / 9,400 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Budget-minded homeowners with natural gas who want set-and-forget fuel flexibility for storm season.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Anker's suitcase-style 2kWh veteran - launched 2022, still sold in 2026 because constant $799-999 deals keep it moving. The rolling-luggage design with a pull handle earns its keep for owners who haul it to cabins; 67 lbs rolls fine but…
2,400 W / 3,600 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers and deal-hunters who want a proven, rollable 2kWh unit and don't need UPS mode.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Bluetti's 2025-generation 2kWh flagship and the unit that reset expectations for what $999 buys: a 6,000-cycle LiFePO4 pack (cycle it daily and it still holds 80% in 2043), a stronger 2,600W inverter than anything else in class, and a…
2,600 W / 3,900 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Vanlifers and daily-cyclers who want the most durable, powerful fixed-capacity 2kWh unit.
Portable Generator · Gasoline
A middle-weight open-frame that fits a manual transfer switch or interlock cleanly: the L14-30R twist-lock outlet takes a standard 30-amp inlet, and 6,500 running watts handles a furnace, fridge, sump and well pump with room to spare.…
6,500 W / 8,125 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homeowners with a 30-amp transfer inlet who want a mid-size gasoline generator with CO shutdown and a national parts network.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 50 dB
The smallest Honda, light enough to carry to a campsite in one hand. At 28.7 lbs it is the generator owners reach for to keep phones, a CPAP, a laptop, LED lights and a small fan going, and it is quiet enough at light load (42 dB) that…
900 W / 1,000 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers, tailgaters and boaters who want the lightest, quietest Honda to charge devices and run lights, and who will not ask it to start a large fridge.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 45 dB
Jackery's answer to the 2kWh buyer who wants a quiet, lighter unit and does not need to expand. 2,042Wh in a 39.5 pound body is notably lighter than most 2kWh rivals, and the handle-top design carries it better than the usual brick. The…
2,200 W / 4,400 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Buyers who want a lighter 2kWh unit for fridge, sump and electronics backup and do not plan to expand later.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
Built for cheap whole-house backup through an interlock. 9,500 running watts on gasoline (8,500 on propane), a 50-amp outlet, remote-start key fob, and a 12-hour tank for around a grand is a spec sheet nothing else matches. Owners report…
9,500 W / 12,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Budget whole-house backup through an interlock or transfer switch — maximum watts per dollar.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The 2025-2026 refresh of EcoFlow's mid-size class and a current 'best for home backup' pick in several tested roundups. You get 2kWh and a 3000W inverter - enough to run a microwave and fridge simultaneously - at a price that undercuts the…
3,000 W / 6,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Households wanting one box that handles kitchen appliances plus a couple days of fridge backup.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 58 dB
Firman's Whisper-series 3 kW inverter, with electric start and a key-fob remote that works from 168 feet away, which is a handy feature on a cold morning. The 171cc engine makes 3,000 running and 3,300 starting watts, enough for a fridge,…
3,000 W / 3,300 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV and campsite users who want a remote-start 3 kW inverter from a US-based service team and will pay a premium over WEN.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 57 dB
The default answer to 'which small generator should I buy' for going on two decades. The EU2200i's GXR120 engine, 47-lb carry weight, and 48-57 dB voice-level noise make it the campground and tailgate standard, and the current version adds…
1,800 W / 2,200 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and tailgaters who want the quietest, most reliable small inverter and will pay Honda tax for it.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The workhorse of Jackery's lineup and on sale since 2023 - still current because Jackery kept cutting the price instead of replacing it. A 3000W inverter with a TT-30 RV outlet plus expansion to 12kWh (24kWh with two units paired for 240V)…
3,000 W / 6,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and home-backup planners who want a proven, quiet 2kWh base they can expand later.
Portable Generator · Gasoline · 72 dB
The sensible size for most houses: 7,500 running watts runs a furnace blower, fridge, sump pump and a handful of lights through a manual transfer switch or interlock, which the L14-30R outlet is built for. The c suffix is the CO-sensor…
7,500 W / 9,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Homeowners with a manual transfer switch or interlock who want a mid-size gasoline generator with CO shutdown and electric start at a mid-range price.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
Champion's mainstream 7,500 watt dual-fuel open frame with CO Shield, the carbon monoxide shutdown system, which is the version to buy if the generator will sit near a garage or porch. It makes 7,500 running and 9,375 starting watts on…
7,500 W / 9,375 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Homeowners with a 30-amp inlet who want dual fuel plus CO shutdown from a brand with wide retail availability.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 25 dB
EcoFlow's non-Plus 2kWh DELTA 3 sits beside the Max Plus and gives up that model's 3,000W inverter and 30A outlet for 2,400W continuous and 4,800W surge, with X-Boost stretching resistive loads to 3,400W. That is enough for a fridge,…
2,400 W / 4,800 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Households that want a quiet 2kWh backup for essentials and do not need a 30A transfer-switch outlet.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The Mega 3 is the big OUPES: 3,072 Wh of LiFePO4, a 3,600 W inverter with a 7,000 W surge, five 20 A outlets plus a TT-30R, and expansion to 15.36 kWh with up to six B2 packs. It is roughly the middle of the portable class between a 2 kWh…
3,600 W / 7,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Homeowners who want a 3 kWh station with a 30 A RV outlet that can run a refrigerator, well pump and furnace without paying for a wall battery.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 52 dB
Generac's premium inverter was built to beat Honda's EU3000iS on paper — more starting watts, electric start, a PowerDial that combines start/run/stop in one twist, and a digital dashboard showing watts and runtime — and owners who have…
3,000 W / 3,500 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Buyers who want EU3000-class quiet and power with modern controls for far less money.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 58 dB
The dual fuel Whisper Hybrid, with electric start and Firman's CO Alert sensor. On gasoline it makes 3,200 running and 4,000 starting watts, and on propane 3,000 and 3,750, which covers a fridge, a furnace blower, lights and most RV air…
3,200 W / 4,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Camp and short-outage users who want a dual fuel 3 kW inverter with CO shutdown and are willing to pay more than WEN charges.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
The 'Beast': 13,000 starting watts, a 500cc V-twin, all-metal construction, and a 50-amp outlet for around $1,300 makes this the biggest-hammer option in portable backup. Owners with well pumps and central AC buy it for those big motor…
10,500 W / 13,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Rural and well-pump homes that need maximum starting torque per dollar and don't care about noise.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
DuroMax's 9,000-watt open frame sits just under the XP13000EH and follows the same formula: dual fuel, a full panel with a 14-50R, and a price near $1,300. It makes 9,000 running watts on gasoline and 8,550 on propane from a 457cc engine,…
9,000 W / 11,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Budget-minded homeowners who want dual fuel and a 50-amp outlet through a manual transfer switch, and live outside California.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The 2kWh unit EcoFlow kept selling after the DELTA 3 generation arrived, mainly because it is the cheapest way into a 6kWh system. 2,048Wh of LiFePO4, 2,400W continuous, 4,800W surge and X-Boost to 3,400W for resistive loads covers a…
2,400 W / 4,800 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Buyers who want a proven 2kWh platform with cheap battery expansion and are fine with last-generation charging speed.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The E3800LFP is Pecron's newest high-capacity unit, on pre-order with warehouse arrival expected mid-October 2026: 3,840 Wh of LiFePO4, a 4,200 W inverter with a 120 V 30 A outlet, and room for six EP3800-48V packs for 26.9 kWh. It takes…
4,200 W · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Outage-prepared households that want a 3.8 kWh station with a 30 A RV outlet and a path to 240 V by pairing two units.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 65 dB
Yamaha built the EF2200iS to go head to head with the Honda EU2200i, and owners cross-shop the two every time. The pitch is the same: 1,800 watts continuous, about 55 lbs, 57 to 65 dBA depending on load, and an engine with a reputation for…
1,800 W / 2,200 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers and RVers who want a Honda-class 2 kW inverter with a built-in 30A outlet and an easy fuel-system drain for storage.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 61 dB
The big Westinghouse inverter and the only one in this price class with electronic fuel injection. It makes 3,900 running and 5,000 peak watts on gasoline, 3,500 and 4,500 on propane, and the 224cc engine and 3.2 gallon steel tank give 18…
3,900 W / 5,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RV owners and outage-prone households who want 4 kW, EFI and propane on wheels at well under Honda or Yamaha prices.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
Firman's Hybrid-series 8,000 watt dual-fuel open frame belongs on the same shortlist as the Westinghouse and DuroMax units when you want a 50-amp outlet and a long run time. It makes 8,000 watts on gasoline and 7,250 on propane from a…
8,000 W / 10,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Owners with a manual transfer switch who want a 50-amp dual-fuel generator without paying for CO shutdown or a bigger tank.
Inverter Generator · Tri Fuel (Gas/LP/NG) · 72 dB
The unicorn spec generator: tri-fuel AND inverter in one machine. Hook the 201176 to your natural-gas line for unlimited runtime, and unlike every conventional tri-fuel, it feeds your house clean sub-3% THD power that's safe for furnace…
7,250 W / 9,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for NG-connected homeowners who want unlimited-runtime backup that's actually safe for modern electronics.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Jackery's current non-expandable 3kWh unit and, at 59.5 pounds, one of the lighter ways to get a 3,600W inverter. 3,072Wh of LiFePO4 with 3,600W continuous and 7,200W surge covers a fridge, furnace blower, sump pump and a few circuits for…
3,600 W / 7,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Households that want a few days of essentials backup in one lighter unit and do not need 240V or later expansion.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
Anker's 2kWh station for people who read the outlet count: five 20A receptacles plus a TT-30R, so a fridge, a freezer, a modem and a window air conditioner can each have their own socket. It lands at 41.7 pounds, with 2,048Wh of LiFePO4…
2,400 W / 4,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Homeowners who want one quiet 2kWh unit that charges fast and powers several appliances from separate outlets.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The 2026 Yeti 1500 replaces the discontinued Yeti 1500X and changes the chemistry: 1,505 Wh of LiFePO4 rated 4,000 cycles to 80%, where the X used a 1,516 Wh lithium-ion pack on a two-year warranty. The inverter gives 2,000 W continuous…
2,000 W / 3,600 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP
Best for Campers, vanlifers and renters who want a weather-rated 1.5 kWh unit with a long warranty and are fine paying a premium for the brand.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Bluetti's 2025 modular flagship and their real answer to the F3800 Plus: 3,840W continuous (7,680W surge) with simultaneous 120/240V output, black-start capability, and expansion to a frankly absurd 58kWh using the same B300K packs the…
3,840 W / 7,680 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Well-pump and workshop owners who want 240V muscle now and massive expansion optionality later.
Portable Generator · Tri Fuel (Gas/LP/NG) · 74 dB
The power-user pick: hook it to your home's natural gas line through a quick-connect and you have effectively unlimited runtime without storing a drop of gasoline — the practical middle ground between a portable and a $12,000 standby…
11,500 W / 14,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Storm-prone homeowners who want unlimited-runtime whole-house backup without a standby install.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The F3000 is Anker's wheeled 3kWh answer to the DELTA Pro class, built for multi-day fridge backup that can grow. 3,072Wh of LiFePO4 at 3,600W continuous and 7,200W surge handles a fridge, furnace, sump and well pump at once, and a single…
3,600 W / 7,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Homeowners who want multi-day backup for fridge, sump and well pump, and may later pair or stack units.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 61 dB
Champion's answer to the EU7000iS costs a third as much and adds propane capability: 7,000 running watts of closed-frame inverter power at a claimed 61 dBA from 23 feet, with both 50A and 30A 240V outlets ready for a transfer switch. One…
7,000 W / 8,500 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Whole-home-essentials backup buyers who want near-Honda quiet with propane flexibility at a third the price.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 50.3 dB
The expandable counterpart to the HomePower 3000, and the model Jackery now leads with for home essentials. 3,584Wh with 3,600W continuous and 7,200W surge on wheels with a pull handle, rated 6,000 cycles. A single unit runs 120V loads:…
3,600 W / 7,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Homeowners who want a modular essentials-backup system that can grow to multiple days and add 240V by pairing units.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 67 dB
Harbor Freight's giant-killer. The Predator 9500 delivers 7,600 running watts of closed-case inverter power — EU7000iS territory plus 2,000 extra watts — at 40% of Honda's price, and owners report the engine and inverter do the job, with…
7,600 W / 9,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Value-driven whole-house backup buyers comparing against the EU7000iS and keeping the $3,000 difference.
Inverter Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 61 dB
DuroMax's near-whole-house inverter gives you 240V and a 50A outlet without paying Honda EU7000iS money. It makes 7,600 running watts on gasoline and 7,200 on propane, enough for a furnace, a well pump, a fridge, a freezer and a window air…
7,600 W / 9,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Homeowners who want an inverter that can feed a 50A transfer switch and run a furnace and well pump, for about 60 percent less than the Honda EU7000iS.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The original F3800 is the unit that made owners start saying the words whole-house about a rolling box. 3,840Wh with 6,000W continuous and 9,000W surge in a single unit, with both 120V and 240V on board: six 20A outlets, an L14-30 and a…
6,000 W / 9,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homeowners who want a plug-in whole-home essentials backup with 240V and who will not wire a standby generator.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4) · 30 dB
The single most-recommended whole-home-capable unit that still rolls on wheels. What sells it: 4000W with real 120/240V split-phase from one box, so it backfeeds a transfer switch and runs a well pump or mini-split without pairing two…
4,000 W / 8,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homeowners who want genuine transfer-switch backup for well pumps and 240V loads without a permanent install.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 57 dB
This is the Honda that people buy when the EU2200i is too small and the EU7000iS is too big and too loud. The GX200 engine and 3.4 gallon tank give nearly 7 hours at full load and almost 20 at a quarter load, so overnight…
2,800 W / 3,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers and home backup users who want Honda reliability and electric start in a 3 kW class and are willing to pay roughly double a competitor's price.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 61 dB
The big Yamaha inverter has a reputation among owners as a quiet, heavy workhorse. The iSEB adds electric start and Yamaha Boost, which senses when an air conditioner or a power tool is about to draw a startup surge and gives the engine…
2,800 W / 3,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers and homeowners who want electric start and a quiet 3 kW inverter from a maker with a long track record, and can live with 156 lbs.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The enthusiast favorite for DIY whole-home backup, and the unit DIY owners build around. 6000W split-phase with both a NEMA 14-50 and L14-30 on the face means it plugs straight into a generator inlet - no adapters - and can trickle-charge…
6,000 W / 9,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for DIYers who want generator-inlet whole-home backup and possible EV top-ups without an installed system.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 58 dB
Honda's first genuinely new generator in years, and the first in this size with fuel injection — the GX130 EFI means no carburetor to gum up in storage, which eliminates the single most common failure mode in owner forums. At 59 lbs it…
2,600 W / 3,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for RVers who want one light, quiet unit that starts the air conditioner and never sees carb trouble.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
The original DELTA Pro is still on EcoFlow's US storefront, now the older sibling of the DELTA Pro 3, and it is the unit that made owners start talking about portable stations as a whole-house stopgap. 3,600Wh and 3,600W continuous is…
3,600 W / 7,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Owners who want multi-day essentials backup now and will add batteries later, and who prefer the proven older platform even though the newer Pro 3 lists for less.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Jackery's 2025 entry into whole-home territory: 5kWh, a 7200W split-phase inverter, and a claimed 0ms UPS switchover - the spec that gets it recommended for sump pumps and server closets. It expands to 60kWh with battery packs and pairs…
7,200 W / 14,400 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Whole-home backup on a semi-portable budget - well pumps, 240V appliances, and multi-day outages.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Bluetti's modular tower system: a 5,000W inverter head (10,000W surge - the strongest surge rating of any portable here) that stacks on B300K batteries. The 50A NEMA 14-50 outlet plus L14-30 makes transfer-switch and RV-pedestal hookups…
5,000 W / 10,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Transfer-switch homes needing maximum surge capacity for well pumps, compressors, and HVAC.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 83 dB
DuroMax's big V-twin, aimed at the owner who wants to run most of a house through a 50-amp transfer switch. It makes 12,500 running watts on gasoline and 11,400 on propane from a 713cc engine, with four 20-amp outlets plus L5-30R, L14-30R…
12,500 W / 15,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Large-home owners in all 50 states who want a 50-amp portable that is certified for California and will pair it with a large propane tank.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
The DIY community's darling and the reigning value champion of home storage: 14.3kWh of UL9540-listed, heated, IP65 outdoor-rated LiFePO4 for around $3,300 hardware - roughly $230/kWh, a fifth of installed-brand pricing. Price shown is…
10,240 W / 11,520 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for DIY and installer-assisted builds chasing maximum storage per dollar with legitimate UL certification.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
Goal Zero's 6th-gen flagship, built like outdoor equipment rather than consumer electronics: aluminum housing, magnetic port covers that snap shut against dust and rain, and UL2743 certification for outdoor portable use. 3,994Wh with…
3,600 W / 7,200 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Overlanders and cabin owners who prioritize ruggedness and solar speed over per-kWh price.
Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB
Westinghouse's biggest gas-and-propane portable, for the house where a 9,500 to 12,000 watt unit will not start the central air. It makes 14,500 running watts on gasoline and 13,000 on propane, with 18,000 peak, from a 713cc V-twin. The…
14,500 W / 18,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Larger homes that want whole-house portable power through a 50-amp transfer switch and will fuel it manually or from a big propane tank.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
The sleeper value in home standby: a genuine Cummins — the company that powers hospitals and data centers — at a price under the equivalent Generac or Kohler. The RS13A's QSJ999G 999cc V-twin was designed in-house for gaseous fuel, and the…
13,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Value-focused buyers near a Cummins dealer who want commercial-grade pedigree and low noise.
Portable Generator · Gasoline
The biggest portable Generac sells, built for the buyer who wants to run a whole house, central air included, from a 50-amp transfer switch without buying a standby unit. The 816cc engine uses electronic fuel injection, which owners value…
18,000 W / 22,500 W surge · up to whole home with central air
Best for Owners of large homes who want whole-house portable power through a 50-amp transfer switch and are willing to refuel it by hand.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 69 dB
Briggs & Stratton's small-footprint standby unit fits where a Guardian or Kohler will not: it is about 28 by 25 inches, so owners with tight lot lines or a narrow side yard shortlist it first. The 627cc Vanguard engine makes 13kW on…
13,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Owners of mid-size homes with a narrow side yard who want a 7-year warranty that covers labor, and can live with 69 dB.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 61 dB
The entry point to the Guardian line, and the one bought for smaller homes with a short essentials list because it bundles a 100-amp, 16-circuit transfer switch in the box. The 460cc G-Force 400 engine covers essentials — furnace, fridge,…
10,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Smaller homes that want automatic backup for essential circuits without paying whole-house prices.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
The 14kW is the sweet spot Guardian for mid-size homes: it steps up to the 816cc twin-cylinder G-Force 800 engine, holds 14kW on both propane and natural gas, and will start a modest central AC with load management. This 7223 SKU is the…
14,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Mid-size homes that want essential circuits plus one air conditioner covered automatically.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 62 dB
Champion's aXis system is the disruptor bid in standby: a 14kW unit with a 200-amp service-entrance transfer switch AND a 10-year warranty — double the coverage of Generac, Kohler, or Cummins — for about five grand. The clever bit is Power…
14,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Value hunters who want the longest warranty in the industry and a complete package price.
Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 58 dB
The generator hurricane-country homeowners aspire to: fuel-injected GX390 engine, 5,500 running watts with 240V output for a transfer switch, electric start, and noise levels of 52-58 dB. The EFI matters twice — no carb maintenance, and…
5,500 W / 7,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homeowners who want premium, quiet, transfer-switch-ready backup without a permanent install.
Power Station · Battery (LiFePO4)
EcoFlow's modular whole-home flagship: a 7200W inverter head that stacks up to 15 batteries for 90kWh, or triples to 21.6kW output. Price shown is the inverter + one 6.1kWh battery; the Smart Home Panel 2 (roughly $1,500-1,900 more plus…
7,200 W / 10,800 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Whole-home backup shoppers who want Powerwall-class capability without a permanent, permitted installation.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
The 18kW is the value pick in the Guardian range on a dollars-per-kilowatt basis — same 816cc G-Force 800 twin as the 14kW, tuned for 18kW on propane and 17kW on natural gas, at only a few hundred dollars more. One owner's first real…
18,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Average-size homes that want near-whole-house coverage at the lowest cost per kilowatt.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
Cummins' 17kW air-cooled unit, positioned between the RS13A and RS20A. Its V-twin QSJ999G engine is rated 17kW on both natural gas and propane (70.8 amps at 240V), so there is no natural-gas penalty to budget around. Cummins says it will…
17,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Homeowners who want a quiet, full-rated 17kW air-cooled unit on natural gas and do not want to pay for a liquid-cooled machine.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 67 dB
Kohler's answer to the Guardian 14kW, and the one owners pick for its engine. The commercial-grade CH740 V-twin uses hydraulic valve lifters — no break-in, no valve adjustments — and the corrosion-proof aluminum enclosure holds up in…
14,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Buyers who prioritize engine build quality and coastal durability over app polish and dealer density.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 69 dB
The 20RCA is Kohler's volume whole-house unit and the direct rival to Generac's 22/24kW, built around the bigger CH1000 V-twin. Its party trick is 41kVA of motor-starting capacity — enough on paper to start a 5-ton AC without dropping the…
20,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Whole-house buyers with big AC loads who want maximum motor-starting muscle and proven long-term reliability.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
The mid-range PowerProtect answers the most common standby question: what is the biggest air-cooled unit that does not lose power on natural gas. Briggs' NGMax tuning holds the full 18kW on both fuels, where several rivals in this class…
18,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Owners of 2,000-3,000 sq ft homes who run central AC and want full rated power on natural gas.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
Installers now quote Enphase's fourth-generation battery ahead of the older IQ Battery 5P. Each 10C holds 10 kWh of LFP and carries its own neutral-forming microinverters, so a single unit can island a house without a separate hybrid…
7,080 W / 14,160 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homes with Enphase microinverter solar, or an AC-coupled retrofit, that want modular capacity and a long warranty rather than the highest single-unit output.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
The RS20A's headline is noise: Cummins holds it to 65 dB at 23 feet — dishwasher territory — while still starting a 5-ton air conditioner and managing four loads with its built-in intelligent load control. The same QSJ999G V-twin as the…
20,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Noise-sensitive neighborhoods and HOAs that still need full whole-house starting power.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 67 dB
For years the best-selling home standby generator in America, and the sheer volume of owner reviews shows why: the 22kW carries most whole homes — two AC units with load management — and every electrician and gas fitter in the country has…
22,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Whole-house backup buyers who want the most-installed, most-understood generator on the market.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
Briggs' PowerProtect 22kW has one spec nobody else in the class matches: NGMax tuning delivers the full 22,000 watts on natural gas — no derate — where Generac's 22kW drops to 19.5kW and Kohler's 20kW to 18kW. If your home runs on NG,…
22,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Natural-gas homes that want maximum NG output per dollar and a longer warranty than the big two.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
The modular, reliability-first choice - especially for homes already running Enphase microinverters. Each 5kWh module contains six grid-forming microinverters producing 3.84kW continuous (7.68kW peak for motor starts), and you stack…
3,840 W / 7,680 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials
Best for Enphase-solar homes that want matched, modular storage with the longest warranty available.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 67 dB
The biggest air-cooled generator Generac makes, and the one owners of large homes buy to avoid stepping up to liquid-cooled money. 26kW on propane (22.5kW on natural gas) with a redesigned alternator delivering 230 LRA of starting grunt…
26,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Large homes with heavy AC loads that want maximum air-cooled power before liquid-cooled prices kick in.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 65 dB
Briggs' answer to the Generac Guardian 26kW and Kohler 26RCA, and the only one of the three that ships with a 10-year comprehensive warranty. It uses the same 993cc Vanguard as the 18kW, tuned to 26kW on propane and 24kW on natural gas,…
26,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Large homes that want whole-house air-cooled backup with the longest warranty in the class, and have a Briggs installer nearby.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 67 dB
Kohler's air-cooled flagship goes head-to-head with Generac's 26kW and quietly wins the spec that matters for most buyers: 24kW on natural gas versus Generac's 22.5kW. Built on the CH1006 V-twin with PowerBoost starting, it carries large…
26,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Large homes on natural gas that want the smallest NG derate and top-tier build in an air-cooled unit.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 67 dB
Generac's current volume flagship: 24kW on propane and 21kW on natural gas from the G-Force 1000 platform, bundled here with a 200-amp service-entrance transfer switch with PWRview energy monitoring. It's pitched as the 22kW's replacement,…
24,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Larger homes that want a complete whole-house package with the transfer switch in the box.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4) · 25 dB
A floor-standing cabinet that combines a 4.8 kVA inverter and 10 kWh of LFP in one indoor unit, with a 20 kWh variant (SCORE-P20) and stacking to 60 kWh across three systems. The spec sheet gives a noise emission under 25 dB, so it can sit…
4,800 W / 8,640 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Homes that want a silent indoor battery on a modest essentials panel, or buyers in sonnen's virtual power plant programs.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4) · 50 dB
Bluetti's whole-home system is a 9 kW hybrid inverter that takes two to four B500 packs of 4.96 kWh each, so the entry configuration is about 9.9 kWh and the ceiling is 19.8 kWh per inverter. The thing to read carefully is that 9 kW…
7,600 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for DIY-minded owners with a good electrician who want a modular whole-home LFP system and a lower entry cost than the big three.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
A Utah company's answer to Powerwall pricing: a 12 kW split-phase inverter that takes up to 18 kW of solar and a floor-standing 14.3 kWh LFP battery, sold as a package with wiring and distribution boxes. The spec sheet shows one inverter…
12,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Cost-conscious owners with a good installer who want a large inverter and lots of capacity growth without Powerwall pricing.
Home Battery System · Battery (NMC)
The default add-on for the millions of homes already running SolarEdge inverters. Its DC-coupled architecture is the technical selling point: solar charges the battery without a DC-AC-DC round trip, giving 94.5%+ efficiency - the best path…
5,000 W / 7,500 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Existing SolarEdge solar homes that want maximum round-trip efficiency without replacing their inverter.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
Anker's professionally-installed system, built from slim 5kWh modules into the best-looking cabinet in the business. Price shown is a typical installed 15kWh configuration (~$9,750-11,000 hardware plus $1,500-5,000 installation). The…
6,000 W / 12,000 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
Best for Design-conscious homeowners in covered markets who want granular 5kWh-at-a-time expansion.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
The reference point every other home battery is measured against. Price shown is typical installed cost ($13,000-16,500 in 2026, roughly $9,300-11,500 hardware). One unit delivers 11.5kW continuous with a 185A locked-rotor start rating -…
11,500 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Whole-home backup with solar where maximum power and lowest installed $/kWh win.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
The Powerwall alternative that installers experienced with FranklinWH speak highly of. One cabinet holds 15kWh - the most storage per unit of any mainstream battery - with 10kW continuous and a 15kW/10-second surge rated to start a 5-ton…
10,000 W / 15,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Whole-home backup retrofits on existing solar where single-cabinet capacity and surge matter.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
EcoFlow's 2026 leap from portable stations into permanently-installed storage, and on paper it's a monster: 10kWh IP67 modules stacking to 80kWh per inverter, a hybrid inverter platform rated to 24kW output with 205A LRA motor-start, 40kW…
24,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Early adopters wanting one vendor for battery, smart panel, EV charging, and solar at whole-home scale.
Home Battery System · Battery
The generator company's modular battery play: a cabinet holding three to six 3kWh modules (9-18kWh), so you can start small and slot in ~$2,500 modules later - a genuinely different upgrade path from fixed-capacity rivals. Price shown is…
10,500 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Generac-generator households that want battery + generator orchestration from one dealer.
Home Battery System · Battery (LiFePO4)
The Max Hybrid is the value play among whole-home batteries: a 15 kW split-phase hybrid inverter with three MPPT inputs, a generator input, 200A backup, and 5 kWh LFP modules that stack to 80 kWh per inverter. The 15-40 configuration is…
15,000 W / 24,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Big homes with electric heat or cooking that want whole-home backup and growth room at a lower price per kWh than Tesla or Enphase.
Before you buy
Wattage, fuel, noise, transfer switches, and the carbon monoxide rule that people break every storm season.
Running watts is what a generator supplies continuously; starting watts is the extra surge it can deliver for a few seconds while a motor spins up. Anything with a compressor or pump — fridge, A/C, well pump — briefly draws 2-4x its running wattage at startup, so you size for the surge, not just the steady load. Wattage sizing walkthrough
No — not with the door open, not 'just for a bit'. Generator exhaust carries enough carbon monoxide to kill in minutes, and CO deaths outnumber storm deaths after most hurricanes. Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away from windows. Battery power stations are the only backup that's safe indoors. Generator safety guide
If you want the generator to power your house wiring (furnace, well pump, hardwired circuits) — yes, a transfer switch or interlock kit is the only safe and legal way. If you're happy running extension cords to individual appliances, you don't need one. What you must never do is plug a generator into a wall outlet. Why backfeeding kills
Essentials (fridge, lights, internet, phone charging) fit in 2,000-2,400 watts. Add a furnace blower, sump pump, or window A/C and you want 3,500-5,000. A well pump or small central A/C pushes you to 7,500+. Whole-home with central air is standby-generator territory at 18-26kW. Add up your real loads before buying. Size it properly
For short outages, apartments, and anyone who values silence and zero maintenance — genuinely yes. But energy density still favors gas by a mile: a $3,000 battery stores about as much usable electricity as one gallon of gasoline produces in a small generator. For multi-day outages you want an engine, or a battery plus a small generator to recharge it. Battery versus gas, in full
Gasoline makes the most watts per engine size but goes stale in months and vanishes from stations before storms. Propane stores forever and burns cleaner, at ~10% less power. Natural gas means unlimited runtime but only for fixed standby units on a gas line. Dual-fuel portables that burn gasoline or propane are the most storm-proof choice for most people.
Open-frame portables run 70-80 dB — lawn-mower loud, hard on neighbors overnight. Inverter generators run 48-60 dB, about a normal conversation. Standby units land in the mid-60s behind a sound enclosure. Batteries are near-silent. Every 10 dB is roughly a doubling of perceived loudness, so the gap between 50 and 70 dB is enormous at 2 a.m.
No — this is the one absolute in the category. A 'suicide cord' backfeeds your panel, energizes the utility line outside, and can electrocute the lineman repairing it; it also bypasses every breaker protecting the circuit and has two sets of live exposed prongs in your laundry room. The legal, safe versions of the same idea cost less than people expect: an interlock kit runs $50-150 plus an electrician visit, and it makes the whole panel safely generator-fed. Every storm season someone dies for the $200 this saves. The safety guide
A mid-size portable burns 8-15 gallons a day running flat out, so think 15-25 gallons stored for a real storm — run in shifts (mornings and evenings) and that covers most of a week. Ethanol gas goes stale in months; stabilizer extends it past a year, and rotating cans through your car's tank makes freshness automatic. The deeper fix is propane: it stores forever, and a dual-fuel generator turns the grill cylinders you already own into pre-staged outage fuel. The outage week playbook
Stale gas in the carburetor, almost certainly — it's the single most common failure in the category. The escalation: fresh fuel in the tank and float bowl, check the choke/fuel-valve/oil-sensor basics, carb cleaner through the intake, then a 30-minute carburetor clean (or a $20 replacement carb — nobody rebuilds small carbs anymore). Prevention is a monthly 10-minute run under load and stabilized or drained fuel before storage; propane units skip this failure mode entirely. The won't-start fix, in order
A modern fridge draws 40-60 watt-hours per hour once running, so a 1kWh station covers roughly 15-20 hours and a 2kWh unit rides out a full day-and-night — with the honest caveats: the compressor's starting surge rules out the smallest stations, door discipline matters, and an old garage fridge can double the math. A CPAP is easier still: 30-60 watts with humidification off means even a compact station handles the night. The pattern that wins outages is battery-for-the-quiet-loads, generator-for-the-heavy-lifting, recharging the battery during generator run windows. What a battery will and will not run
Budget roughly double the sticker: a $6,000-$7,000 whole-home unit typically lands at $11,000-$16,000 installed once you add the transfer switch, concrete pad, gas line work, permits, and electrician. Smaller 10-14kW essential-circuit setups can come in around $8,000-$10,000. Get multiple quotes — post-storm pricing spikes are real. Which type do you need?