Best Portable Generators

Open-frame portable generators deliver the most watts per dollar of any backup power — thousands of watts for a few hundred bucks. They're louder and heavier than inverter models and their power is too dirty for sensitive electronics, but for running a fridge, sump pump, and power tools through an outage, nothing matches the price. Run them outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house.

Outage Geek tracks 16 portable generators from 5 brands, priced $551 to $4,399. The least expensive is the Champion 76533 3800W Dual Fuel at $551, and the list below runs cheapest first.

~$551

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 68 dB

Champion 76533 3800W Dual Fuel

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 $550. Owners keep it on hand for outages. The trade-offs: it's a 68 dB droner that campground quiet hours won't love, output on propane drops about 10%, and there's no 240V so interlock users look elsewhere.

3,800 W / 4,750 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials

running: 3,800 W

Best for First-time buyers who want one affordable do-everything generator for RV trips and outage basics.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$799

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 69 dB

DuroMax XP5500HX

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 lights through a 30-amp inlet but not a central air conditioner. The 5-year warranty is longer than the 3 years most portable generators carry, a CO sensor shuts the engine down, and remote start is included. At 69 dB it is quieter than the larger DuroMax open frames, and at 128 lbs one person can lift it into a truck bed with a ramp. The drawbacks are the small 4 gallon tank, a spec sheet that lists it as not CARB or 50-state compliant, and a smaller dealer network than Generac. DuroMax lists it at $799 and sells it for less most weeks.

4,500 W / 5,500 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC

running: 4,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$829

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 68 dB

Westinghouse WGen5300DFc

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 inlet or a camper without adapters. Dual fuel is what owners buy it for: a 20 lb propane cylinder stores for years where gasoline goes stale, and the regulator and hose come in the box. The CO sensor is a useful extra at this price. One detail trips buyers up: it has a floating neutral, so some interlock and transfer-switch setups need a bonding plug and an electrician's say-so, and the sheet lists no GFCI outlets. It is also rated at 68 dBA, close to a typical open-frame, and at 136 lbs it is the one in this class a single person can wheel into a shed.

5,300 W / 6,600 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC

running: 5,300 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$979

Portable Generator · Gasoline

Generac GP8000E COsense

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, COsense shutdown, and an L14-30R for interlock feeding — a complete storm kit under $1,000 from a brand every service shop knows. Owner reports are solid on power delivery: it carries household essentials for days through an interlock or transfer switch. On the debit side: it's an open-frame roarer (Generac publishes no dB figure), UPS units often reject its non-inverter output, it's gasoline-only with a thirsty 420cc engine, and Generac portables were hit by recalls (2022 handle pinch; an April 2026 carburetor fuel-leak recall on certain GP units) — check your serial. One owner got six years from his on a manual transfer switch before a winter no-start ended in a carb rebuild.

8,000 W / 10,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 8,000 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Storm-prep buyers who want maximum conventional watts from a big-box store the week before landfall.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$999

Portable Generator · Tri Fuel (Gas/LP/NG) · 74 dB

Firman T07571 Tri-Fuel

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; owners buy it to hook a portable straight to the gas meter. The hardware: electric start, 8-gallon tank, a 213-lb frame, and a 3-year warranty that beats Predator's 90 days. The recurring complaints: it's a loud 74 dB open frame, propane starts give some units trouble, and NG output is a real 27% derate that owners report sagging further at higher loads. Costco's return policy is frequently cited as the real warranty.

7,500 W / 9,400 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 7,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Budget-minded homeowners with natural gas who want set-and-forget fuel flexibility for storm season.

Full spec sheet

~$999

Portable Generator · Gasoline

Generac GP6500 COsense

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. COsense, Generac's carbon monoxide shutdown, is standard, which matters because most portable-generator deaths come from running one too close to the house. PowerRush raises the starting capacity to 8,125 watts so a well pump or small AC is less likely to stall it. The sheet gives no decibel figure, which is a flag in itself, and owners describe it as a typical loud open frame. Gasoline only means stale fuel and carburetor gumming if it sits, so anyone buying for storm backup should plan on stabilizer and a yearly run. At $999 it undercuts the 7,500 W Westinghouse and costs about what other 6,500 to 7,500 W open frames do, with the brand's dealer and parts network as the extra.

6,500 W / 8,125 W surge · up to furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC

running: 6,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Homeowners with a 30-amp transfer inlet who want a mid-size gasoline generator with CO shutdown and a national parts network.

Full spec sheet

~$1,049

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

Westinghouse WGen9500DF

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 running entire homes, central AC included, during outages. It is not subtle: expect 75+ real-world dB, a 211-lb frame, and open-frame vibration. The complaint file: electrical oddities on some brand-new units, a Westinghouse support line that draws owner complaints, and carb gumming if stored wet. The current 'DFc' revision adds a CO sensor. Buy it, change the skimpy break-in oil early, and store it dry.

9,500 W / 12,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 9,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Budget whole-house backup through an interlock or transfer switch — maximum watts per dollar.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,199

Portable Generator · Gasoline · 72 dB

Westinghouse WGen7500c

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 version, which shuts the engine off when carbon monoxide builds up near the unit, and owners who run generators near garages say that is the feature to pay the extra $150 over the plain WGen7500 for. Electric start with a key fob and a battery float charger are in the box, so the common first-outage failure of a flat starter battery is easier to avoid. The 420cc engine is loud at 72 dBA and thirsty at about 0.6 gallon per hour at a quarter load, and it is a 197 lb frame generator you will want a flat path for. It does not run on propane, so buyers who want stored fuel that does not go stale look at the dual-fuel DF versions instead.

7,500 W / 9,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 7,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,199

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

Champion 201281 7500W Dual Fuel

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 gasoline and 6,750 running watts on propane from a 439cc engine, with an L14-30R outlet for a 30-amp transfer inlet and an L5-30R for an RV. Cold Start Technology, electric start with the battery in the box, and the Intelligauge meter for volts, hertz and hours are the features that get mentioned. The weak spots are common to the class: 74 dB at 23 feet, 205 lbs, and a 20 lb propane cylinder that runs it only about 5.5 hours at half load, so a bigger tank is needed for propane outages. Champion sells through retailers, and prices differ by about $100 between them.

7,500 W / 9,375 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 7,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Homeowners with a 30-amp inlet who want dual fuel plus CO shutdown from a brand with wide retail availability.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,299

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

DuroMax XP13000EH

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 loads, and the MX2 switch lets you dedicate full power to 120V or split 120/240V. DuroMax support actually gets better marks than Westinghouse's in forum comparisons. What the fans concede: it's LOUD (mid-to-high 70s dB real world), 234 lbs of steel, drinks propane fast (about 3 hours on a grill tank), and its non-inverter power has high THD, a concern for sensitive electronics. Mechanical complaints such as a failed starter, carb icing and a governor that hangs on propane appear, and owners usually solve them with basic wrenching or warranty service.

10,500 W / 13,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 10,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Rural and well-pump homes that need maximum starting torque per dollar and don't care about noise.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,299

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

DuroMax XP11500EH

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, enough for a furnace, fridge, well pump and an AC through a manual transfer switch or interlock. The 20-hour run at a quarter load and the propane hose and regulator in the box get the most praise. The tradeoffs are the usual DuroMax ones: it is loud at 74 dB, about 224 lbs, and the spec sheet notes it is EPA certified but not 50-state, so it cannot be shipped to California. The dealer and parts network is smaller than Generac's or Honda's. The catch is that DuroMax's own XP13000EH lists at the same $1,299 with 1,500 more running watts, so this one only makes sense when a retailer discounts it below its bigger sibling.

9,000 W / 11,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 9,000 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Budget-minded homeowners who want dual fuel and a 50-amp outlet through a manual transfer switch, and live outside California.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,400

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

Firman H08051 Dual Fuel 8000W

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 439cc engine, with 10,000 and 9,050 starting watts, which carries a furnace, fridge, well pump and an AC through a manual transfer switch. The 8 gallon tank gives up to 12 hours at half load. The full panel draws praise: an L14-30R and 14-50R plus covered outlets, with a propane regulator and hose holder in the box. Compared with the H08052 sibling it has no CO alert listed, which is the main reason to pick the newer variant. At 212 lbs and 74 dB at quarter load it behaves like the other open frames in its class. Firman's list price is $1,400.

8,000 W / 10,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 8,000 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$1,699

Portable Generator · Tri Fuel (Gas/LP/NG) · 74 dB

Westinghouse WGen11500TFc Tri-Fuel

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 install. On gasoline it makes a huge 11,500 running watts; the honest math is the NG derate to 9,500 running watts, still enough for most whole homes via the 50A outlet and an interlock. Remote start, CO sensor, and a 9.5-gallon tank round it out. Owner notes: NG performance depends on an adequately sized gas supply, and some units sputter or won't start on NG even where a twin runs fine. It's also a 230-lb beast and mid-70s dB loud, and Westinghouse's shift toward mail-in warranty service worries owners of a machine this heavy.

11,500 W / 14,500 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 11,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

Best for Storm-prone homeowners who want unlimited-runtime whole-house backup without a standby install.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon

~$3,199

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 83 dB

DuroMax XP15000EH

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 and 14-50R on the panel, and it carries CARB and 50-state certification, which most big DuroMax units do not. The cost is size and noise. At 380 lbs and 83 dB it is about 9 dB louder than the 74 dBA Westinghouse WGen14500DFc, which is a large gap, there is no recoil start, and the spec sheet suggests a 60 lb propane tank minimum, so a standard 20 lb cylinder will not run it for long. At $3,199 it lists $300 under the Westinghouse WGen14500DFc, which is rated 2,000 watts higher, so the choice comes down to whether you need DuroMax's 50-state certification or the Westinghouse's extra output.

12,500 W / 15,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 12,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet

~$3,499

Portable Generator · Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane) · 74 dB

Westinghouse WGen14500DFc

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 14-50R outlet means a 50-amp transfer switch or a 6-50 cord feeds the panel, and copper windings with THD at or below 5% are kinder to electronics than the 23% units. It is also a very big machine: 352 lbs, 74 dBA, no recoil backup, and a 20 lb propane cylinder runs it only about four hours at half load, so a dual-fuel plan needs a larger propane tank. At $3,499 it costs about what a mid-size standby unit does before the transfer switch and install, so the choice comes down to whether you will drag it out and refuel it during a storm.

14,500 W / 18,000 W surge · up to well pump or a small central AC

running: 14,500 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet

~$4,399

Portable Generator · Gasoline

Generac GP18000EFI COsense

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 for easier cold starts and less carburetor trouble after a season in storage, and the 14-50R receptacle plus 22,500 watts of starting capacity can start a 4 to 5 ton AC. THD under 5% means the output is clean enough for electronics. It also weighs about 443 lbs, burns through its 14.2 gallon tank in about nine hours at half load, and has no published noise figure, so expect it to be loud next to a neighbor's fence. At $4,399 it costs about the same as a Guardian 14kW before the transfer switch, so the real question is whether you will wheel it out and refuel it in a storm. The 50-state version is the one on the maker's current page.

18,000 W / 22,500 W surge · up to whole home with central air

running: 18,000 W
Transfer switch: transfer-switch ready

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.

Full spec sheet Check price on Amazon