The Best Portable Generator - 2022
We looked at the top 21 and dug through the reviews from 39 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best .
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Our Picks For The Top
- The Best
- 1. Jackery Long-Lasting Portable Battery Generator, 500-Watt
- 2. Jackery Rechargeable Portable Generator, 240-Watt
- 3. Westinghouse iGen4500 Fuel Efficient Portable Generator, 4500-Watt
- 4. Honda EU2200i Lightweight Portable Generator, 2200-Watt
- 5. Anker Powerhouse Silent Rechargeable Portable Generator, 100-Watt
- 6. WEN 56200i Super Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 2000-Watt
- 7. Generac GP3000i Super Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 3000-Watt
- 8. Champion Low Oil Portable Generator, 1200-Watt
- 9. DuroMax Copper Windings Portable Generator, 5500-Watt
- 10. Champion 3-Mode Portable Generator, 3800-Watt
- 11. Jackery Compact Portable Generator, 167-Watt
- 12. ROCKPALS High Capacity Portable Generator Station, 250-Watt
- 13. Briggs & Stratton Noise-Reducing Portable Generator, 1800-Watt
- 14. Westinghouse Lithium Portable Solar Power Generator, 100-Watt
- 15. A-iPower SUA2000iV Ultra-Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 2000-Watt
- 16. Yamaha Smart Throttle Portable Generator, 1600-Watt
- 17. Generac Wheeled Portable Generator, 6500-Watt
- 18. Ryobi 7000W EFI Quick Release Handle Portable Generator, 4000-Watt
- 19. DEWALT Premium Portable Generator, 7000-Watt
- 20. Durostar EPA Approved Portable Generator, 3300-Watt
- 21. NorthStar Clean Power Portable Generator, 8000-Watt
Take With You EverywhereNo matter what type of cord you need to plug in, this portable generator has the input for it all.
Easy to UseThis portable generator comes with an LED data center that keeps you apprised of the remaining running time, power output, fuel level and voltage.
Easy to TransportWith its lightweight design, the Honda EU2200i Portable Generator is easy to grab and attach to your appliances when an outage strikes.
Why we recommend these ?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 21 and also dug through the reviews from 39 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best .
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Jackery Rechargeable Portable Generator, 240-Watt
Our Take
This portable generator offers an easy-to-move compact generator for all your electrical needs when outside the house. The large handle makes it easy to carry this product from place to place. In addition, it features outlets for AC, auxiliary cables, USB ports and a DC port.
Overall Product Rankings
3. Westinghouse iGen4500 Fuel Efficient Portable Generator, 4500-Watt
5. Anker Powerhouse Silent Rechargeable Portable Generator, 100-Watt
6. WEN 56200i Super Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 2000-Watt
7. Generac GP3000i Super Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 3000-Watt
12. ROCKPALS High Capacity Portable Generator Station, 250-Watt
13. Briggs & Stratton Noise-Reducing Portable Generator, 1800-Watt
14. Westinghouse Lithium Portable Solar Power Generator, 100-Watt
15. A-iPower SUA2000iV Ultra-Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 2000-Watt
18. Ryobi 7000W EFI Quick Release Handle Portable Generator, 4000-Watt
Our Findings
Jackery Rechargeable Portable Generator, 240-Watt
What We Liked: This portable generator offers an easy-to-move compact generator for all your electrical needs when outside the house. The large handle makes it easy to carry this product from place to place. In addition, it features outlets for AC, auxiliary cables, USB ports and a DC port.
Westinghouse iGen4500 Fuel Efficient Portable Generator, 4500-Watt
What We Liked: With a 52 decibels noise output, you can count on this portable generator to run quietly. When filled with just 3.4 gallons of gas, this unit is able to run for a total of 18 hours. It even comes with an economy mode to help you get the most out of your fuel.
Anker Powerhouse Silent Rechargeable Portable Generator, 100-Watt
What We Liked: Whether you need a portable generator on hand for emergencies or to plan an outdoor adventure, this model has you covered. It runs quietly and has the ability to recharge using solar power. It’s made to be universally compatible, so you won’t have any trouble powering appliances, electronics or medical equipment.
WEN 56200i Super Quiet Inverter Portable Generator, 2000-Watt
What We Liked: You’ll find that this portable generator is environmentally friendly and powerful. It’s safe to operate just about anywhere, including your back yard, a construction site or at a campground. In addition to 120V and 12V DC receptacles, this unit comes with a USB port to charge your electronics.
Briggs & Stratton Noise-Reducing Portable Generator, 1800-Watt
What We Liked: If you plan to run your appliances and devices directly to your generator, the Briggs & Stratton is a top pick. It comes with four 120-volt AC outlets and a USB port. It also has a 1.5-gallon tank that will run for up to 10 hours, which will come in handy in the event of an extended power outage. With 3,000 watts of power, it should easily handle all of your necessities.
Our Buying Guide
It’s never a good time for a power outage. Chances are the weather isn’t ideal, leaving you to either swelter or freeze in your house for hours or, worse, days. You can’t even use a fan or space heater to keep your family comfortable. As you watch the battery on your smartphone slowly die, you continue to monitor your local utility company’s online outage report, to no avail.
A generator can keep you up and running, whether an outage lasts an hour or three weeks. Just fill up a gas can at your local station, bring it home and fill up the generator to get started. Depending on the type of generator you buy, filing up one gas can may be enough to last you multiple days, and refilling is easy.
One decision you’ll need to make before you start shopping is whether you want an inverter or a conventional generator. Although inverter generators are more expensive, they’re generally quieter, more efficient and have a longer runtime than their conventional counterparts. If your home suffers only the occasional power outage, it might not be worth the extra price to have those benefits, but you’ll appreciate them if your power ever goes out for days at a time.
How you’ll connect up your generator is also important. You can set up a small generator in a safe area of your house and individually connect the items you use directly to it. Your generator will need to be at least 10 feet from any openings to your house to keep you safe. At that point, you can run one long extension cord from the generator into your home, and then plug multiple items into that. You can alternately run several extension cords into your home for the different appliances you’ll need to use, depending on the power outlets available on your generator.
The other way to use a generator is to hook it up to the transfer switch for your house. This is the safest method since the cord method requires ensuring you have the correct gauge and length of wire. You’ll need a power transfer system, which will have everything necessary to connect a portable generator to a home. The benefit of these systems is that you won’t have to connect individual appliances. You can run the items you need as you normally would, although you’ll still want to conserve energy to avoid multiple trips to the gas station during your outage.
DWYM Fun Fact
The average power outage lasts only four hours, although natural disasters pushed that number to 7.8 hours in 2017. When natural outages were factored out, though, the average was back to four hours. This can vary by state. California consistently has the most power outages, and Texas and Vermont also topped the list in 2017. The worst power outage in history came in 1965, when more than 30 million people were left without electricity due to human error. One of the strangest power outages happened in 2017, when a truck carrying a load of chickens overturned near a power pole.
The Tips and Advice
- If your power goes out, chances are you’ll be using your generator for only those things you absolutely need. Still, it’s important to check the capacity.
- For those who live in colder climates where conditions like ice storms tend to cause extended power outages, a unit with cold start technology helps to ensure you can still run it when the temperature drops.
- One common issue with generators is a fluctuation in power that can make it difficult to run appliances and electronics. A generator with automatic voltage regulation keeps those fluctuations at bay.
- When it comes to capacity, wattage is everything. Look for generators with a higher wattage if you’re concerned about keeping your refrigerator going while also intermittently using devices like your stove, toaster and smartphone.
- If you plan to connect your generator directly to appliances rather than hooking it up to your home’s transfer switch, pay close attention to the electrical outlets included.
- If you’ve ever heard a generator, you know they can be distractingly noisy. Generators are getting better about this, though. Check the dBA of generators you are considering. The lower the dBA, the quieter the generator will be.
- In the event of an outage that lasts days, fuel capacity will be more important than any other factor.
- Before you buy, consider whether portability is an issue. If you plan to leave it in one place most of the time, you probably won’t prioritize that feature.
About The Author
Stephanie Faris is a novelist and professional writer. She lives in a beautiful one-acre home in the suburbs on the outskirts of Nashville. Her home and garden work has appeared on popular home sites. She's a true homebody and loves looking at new houses for sale for inspiration on her own home remodeling projects.
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