The Best Portable Generators of 2023

This dual-fuel generator has just about everything we were looking for in a generator: it’s on wheels for portability, runs on propane or gas, features a large-capacity tank, and can be started easily with a simple switch.

Reviewers were particularly impressed with this generator’s efficiency, able to operate a fridge for more than 10 hours on a single tank of gas in addition to other small devices. If you don’t want to rely on gas, the ability to quickly hook up a propane tank is invaluable, making this a potent, flexible generator.

Best of all, it can deliver up to 12,500 peak wattage, meaning you can run power to a wide range of appliances at once, including a refrigerator, microwave oven, air conditioner, and more. It can only sustain about 9,500 watts at a time, but that’s more than enough for all those appliances and more if you stagger when you start them up.

No matter how you slice it, this is one of the best generators we’ve found. It’s an exceptional value, delivering clean, efficient power to your most important appliances anytime.

When it comes to small engines—in just about any form—Honda is the name to beat. That’s also true for portable generators, where Honda typically reigns supreme. You’ll definitely pay less for other brands, but nothing matches Honda for reliability, service, and durability in small engines.

This particular generator is a bit larger than some other Honda models, with a 3,000-watt running capacity. That’s more than enough to run a small air conditioner or full-size refrigerator. This inverter-style generator is relatively lightweight and compact, with quiet operation, meaning you can use it when camping, tailgating, or other times when you want portable power but don’t want to drown out everything for 50 yards in every direction.

Honda claims this generator can run for up to 20 hours on a single tank of gas, though most reviewers pegged it at closer to 15 hours with typical usage, and dipping to around eight hours if you really push it. The inverter offers two 120-volt outlets on a 20-amp pair of outlets and about 30 amps on a 220V-type outlet, powering both simultaneously.

A couple notes from reviewers: You’ll need to read the manual, especially to connect the battery, which is not initially hooked up for shipping. The generator also doesn’t come with oil, which it needs to run, and none is included in the box. Get past that and you’ll be golden, with one of the best small generators on the market at any price.

If you want a relatively small, compact generator, this option from Champion Power is an affordable one. Like other small inverter generators, it’s lightweight, can power a critical appliance like a fridge or TV easily, and is easy to move around and start up.

The main thing to know about this generator is it’s exclusively gas powered, and it only delivers enough power to run a standard 20A circuit through two 120V plugs. It has a run time of about seven to eight hours per fuel tank, according to reviewers, and it’s relatively quiet. But if you want to power your entire house, a larger generator may be called for.

If you really want a generator this small and compact, and you need more power, you can opt for a “parallel kit” that hooks up two of these generators side-by-side. It’ll use up twice the fuel, obviously, but you can then deliver more power to your house or RV at once.

If you like the larger, wheeled generators but don’t need enough power to run your entire house, this affordable Westinghouse model is a great alternative. It’s big and heavy, but it’s dual-fuel compatible, has an electric start, and it still delivers up to 4,650 watts on startup, letting you run a bunch of appliances like a fridge and freezer with ease.

Again, it likely won’t run your whole house at just 3,600 running watts, but you can keep a few circuits running along with your most critical heating and cooling appliances while you wait for your power to come on. The only downside here is the noise, as this model can be quite loud compared to the smaller inverter generators that deliver nearly as much power in more compact packages.

If you really want to power your entire house with a portable generator, this mammoth gas generator from Champion Power will get you there. It can deliver a peak of 15,000 watts (12,000 running watts), which is an unbelievable amount of power. That’s enough to run a whole-home central air conditioner, your fridge, and likely every light in your house.

As you’d expect, that amount of power will tear through gas in no time, though this model does support both propane and gasoline. Reviewers claim it will run about eight hours at full load on a single tank, so if you’ll be out of power for a while, expect to make a trip to the gas station.

The main drawback we found with this is that it is extremely heavy and loud, so you’ll want to make sure it’s located somewhere safe so that you can easily access it when need be. It’s not the sort of thing you want to lug around in the middle of a snowstorm.