Best Portable Generator: Top 10 Portable Generators Review – Buyers Guide

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. At no cost to you, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

A portable generator is a product that can help you and your family a lot in some very tough times especially if you experience plenty of blackouts. 

Not only that, if you like to take camping trips, going to the beach or simply getting ready for an incoming storm, picking the best portable generator for every occasion is very important.

When there is no power around the house, it is hard to cook food for you and your family, charge your phone and tablet devices, power up household appliances like fridges or even watch the television. 

This is where a good quality portable generator for home comes in handy because you can simply fire it up and plug in everything you need.

What Are The Best Portable Generators In The Market?

This portable generator review article will highlight 10 of the best budget portable generators you need to keep an out for when you are shopping for one of them.

1. Honda EU2200i Generator



(Click Image to Learn More)

Another reason people have been buying this product in their drones and love it so much is it has the ability to run 2,200 watts which is extremely powerful. 

On top of these features mentioned above, this is a user-friendly product, has a fuel shut off valve and you can keep it running for 9.6 hours which is amazing.

Reasons to Buy:

  • You can run this generator for up to close to 10 hours (9.6 hours to be exact)
  • It has a fuel shut off valve which can be very handy
  • This portable generator does not make any noise at all
  • You get 2,200 watts with this product which is an upgrade from the 2000 watt model

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • When you compared this product with others on the market with a similar wattage, you will realize that this model is very expensive

2. DuroMax XP12000EH



(Click Image to Learn More)

Starting it is very easy thanks to the electric key. This model has a steel frame for added durability and two very big tires which make it very easy to move around. 

This machine has enough power to light up your whole house plus it is a very affordable product.

You can run for up to 8 hours which is amazing plus you can take it with you on a picnic, camping as well as the beach but it is best used during a power cut or a blackout in your area.

Reasons to Buy:

  • This is a very versatile and portable generator for camping
  • One of the easiest portable generators to use
  • Can be moved around very easily thanks to its 2 large tires
  • It has an electric start key which is good to know
  • Running watts is 3,500 while starting watts is 4,400

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • There are question marks regarding durability because the steel frame is fragile according to many customers. However, this does not affect performance at all

3. Jackery Explorer 240 Portable Generator



(Click Image to Learn More)




One aspect that we're seeing become more important in the current climate is eco-friendliness. The Jackery Explorer 240 is designed not only to be an efficient portable generator, but it also boasts some excellent green features. This product is fully electric — powered by a 240 watt-hour lithium-ion battery — meaning there's no gas guzzling of any kind going on here! 

Alongside the familiar wall socket and car charging options, the Jackery also benefits from drawing on solar power. The panels on the top of the unit pull in at a maximum rate of 50 watts; a little better than most car chargers depending on where you happen to be. 

Also worthy of note is the fact that it can simultaneously power up to 4 devices. Your laptop, cell phone charger, portable lighting, and your tablet can all comfortably run from this unit while you're on the move. However, if you're looking for something with a bit more punch, this probably isn't the choice for you — you won't be able to run anything over 200 watts from this unit. 

Reasons to Buy:

  • Solar panels can charge the unit
  • Up to four devices can be powered simultaneously
  • 240Wh capacity
  • The asking price for this product is very modest
  • Ideal for travelling, as it weighs just 6.6 pounds

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • Cannot charge items over 200 watts

4. Generac 7117 GP2200i



(Click Image to Learn More)




The Generac 7117 is one of the easiest generators to use as well as maintain. What makes it wonderful is the built-in handle which allows you to move it from place to place effortlessly plus you can easily turn it off and on thanks to an integrated knob.

If you have never used a portable generator in your life you will find this one very easy to operate because it is user-friendly. 

If you have any sensitive electronics at home like smart TVs', computers and smartphones, this is a wonderful generator to use on them.

You can run this generator for up to 10 hours and a half thanks to the 1.2-gallon fuel tank. As an added bonus, it is a very quiet product meaning you do not have to worry about noise.

Reasons to Buy:

  • An awesome portable generator for home use that has a 1.2 capacity fuel tank
  • If you are a novice, you will have no problems using this product
  • 1,700 running watts and 2,200 starting watts
  • 1,700 running watts and 2,200 starting watts
  • Reasonably sized and very compact
  • You can run this generator for 10 hours and a half

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • Does not have a lot of power compared to similar models

5. Briggs & Stratton 30545 P3000



(Click Image to Learn More)




If you have sensitive electronics like XBOX or Playstation consoles and high priced computers at home then the Briggs & Stratton 30545 P3000 is a great generator and a wonderful option. 

No one likes a noisy generator at home and what you get with this generator is silence.

If you are a gamer this is exactly what you need because you can plug in your console and never have to worry about it malfunctioning, getting damaged or overheating while in use. 

While you can only get 8 hours out of this product, that is very reasonable plus the USB port acts as an emergency charging port for your phones and tablets.

Reasons to Buy:

  • A very silent generator
  • Amazing for things like gaming consoles and computers
  • Has a USB port which you can use to charge some of your devices

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • Cannot be run for a long time, however, it is not a big issue if you are not using it to power up many things in your home.

6. DuroStar DS4000S



(Click Image to Learn More)




People out there looking for something that is effective when it's powered up, has a manual pull start and do not want to break the bank can purchase the DuroStar DS4000S. This is an awesome choice for anyone on a budget considering its small size.

At just 1 ½ by 2 feet, it is one of the smallest generators on the market, however, do not let its petite size deceive you because it packs a punch. It runs at 3,300 watts which is just spectacular and something that you will love having around your house.

It is very easy to use, comes with a 4-gallon tank and you can run this in your home for around 8 hours which isn’t bad at all. In many customers’ eyes, this is simply the best portable generator for the money you pay because it is cheap.

Reasons to Buy:

  • A super lightweight product that is very easy to move
  • Has 3,300 watts on it
  • Can run for 8 hours which is very reasonable
  • Can run for 8 hours which is very reasonable

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • The manual pull start can be a turn off for some people

7. Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator

(Click Image to Learn More)



A product that receives plenty of praise from customers in terms of the way it performs is the Westinghouse WGen 7500. It is up there with some of the best portable generators not just on this list but on the market too.

Apart from being value for money, what you get with this wonderful generator is a very diverse piece of equipment that is perfect for parties as well as camping. 

When you see the Westinghouse WGen 7500 generator at a reduced price online, do not hesitate to buy it because you will run it for 10 years plus it has remote key start options.

The major drawback of this product is its weight. It is a very heavy generator meaning moving it around is not easy at all. 

Other than that, you have nothing to worry about with this generator because it performs exceptionally well and you won’t be let down.

Reasons to Buy:

  • You can run this for up to 10 hours
  • Does not make a lot of noise when you are using especially on camping trips
  • A good portable generator for camping that has remote key start options

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • Come with an instructions manual that many customers say is not helpful at all
  • Question marks over the overall quality of this product
  • It is a very heavy product to move around

8. Champion RV Ready Generator

(Click Image to Learn More)




A very versatile product, the Champion RV ready is a generator that is best for people who enjoy the great outdoors and love activities such as camping. This amazing product features 3,800 running watts and 4,750 starting watts.

One of the best things about this product is how long you can run it for. If propane is your preferred option, you can run this generator for up to 10 and a half hours. If you prefer to use gas, you can run this for up to 9 hours.

If you do not have a lot of experience using portable generators then you are in luck because this is a user-friendly product and it is loved by many people for that. 

As pointed out above with the running time, you can use either propane or gas plus it has an easy touch start battery.

Reasons to Buy:

  • Has 4,750 starting watts and 3,800 running watts
  • This generator runs on propane, gas or a touch start battery
  • A good Portable generator for RV that has a 3.4-gallon gas tank capacity
  • Has a noise level of 68 dBA at 23 feet

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • If you do not follow the instructions religiously, you can damage the generator

9. Yamaha ef2000isv2



(Click Image to Learn More)




For a long-lasting and powerful generator, the Yamaha ef2000isv2 is one of a few products on this list that is very durable than most generators on the market. 

We all want a product that will not break down after a few uses and this product will not disappoint you on that front.

You can use this product for up to 12 hours easily and it runs on 1,000 starting watt which is decent. It is super light, quiet when it is operational and it is very powerful for its size.

When you use it in economy mode, it will blow you away by how long it will be able to last and as pointed out above, the feature that makes this generator not make a lot of noise is the noise absorbing glass wool it has.

Reasons to Buy:

  • A quiet portable generator that does not make a lot of noise thanks to the materials it is crafted from
  • Perfect if you are a novice because it is a very easy product to use
  • Has 900 running watts
  • A very durable product that will last a very long time

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • A very expensive product considering the power you get from it.

10. WEN 56200i Generator



(Click Image to Learn More)




A product that does not cause harm to the environment will always be winners in the eyes of consumers and the WEN 56200i is both economical as well as environmentally friendly when used.

What this product brings to the table is 1,600 running watts and 2,000 starting watts meaning you will have plenty of energy while camping or during unexpected blackouts. 

Noise will be the least of you and your neighbor's worries with this product because it runs at 51dBA. When out camping, you will not disturb the wildlife.

The WEN 56200i is cleverly designed to provide the user with very clean energy and it is absolutely free from power drops. 

Other features that this product brings to the table include a low energy and low fuel shut off which prevents accidents from happening.

Reasons to Buy:

  • 1,600 running watts and 2,000 starting watts
  • Offers clean energy and a good budget portable generator
  • An environmentally friendly product that does not emit harmful gases in the air
  • Does not make a lot of noise when used at indoors or outdoors

Reasons Not to Buy:

  • Not a very powerful model when compared with others similar to it on the market.

Portable Generator Safety Tips

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is emitted by portable generators that can be dangerous to you and your family. It can cause death if inhaled in large qualities but with better preparation, you and those around you can be protected and safe.

  • Recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning like fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
  • Make sure you read and understand what is written on the manual.
  • Purchase some carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they meet UL 2034 safety standards.
  • Keep the generator 20 feet away from doors and windows to stop any carbon monoxide entering rooms where you and your family are in.
  • Point the engine of your generator away from occupied spaces.
  • Leave the area right away if you feel any carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.

The Ultimate Guideline to Choose a Portable Generator

There are a few things you need to know before you pick the best portable generator that is perfect for you and your family. Below is a guideline you can follow before choosing.

Know the exact generator size you need for your home – Starting watts and running watt are what determines the size of a generator. This is something that is worth noting and when you are selecting the size you want, power is something you will look at closely. 

Running watts are what keeps the generator running for a certain period of time and the higher the watts, the longer the running time which brings us to the next point.

Know the running time – To get the most out your generator, you need to choose one that has a very long running time so that you can use it longer. A generator with a long running time does not require constant refueling and it is highly recommended that you purchase one that has a 10 hour running time. 

This is a decent amount of time and you can use it overnight without having to wake up to refuel it.

Check the power outlets carefully – The last thing you need is to buy a portable generator that does not match the power outlets you have at home. Make sure you do your homework carefully and buy one that meets your needs. 

For example, if you plan to use high wattage devices with your generator, you should be looking to buy a 30amp locking-type outlet generator for your home.

Maneuverability – A portable generator is a very heavy piece of equipment that can be tricky to move around. If you are buying one on the market, you have to make sure that it is very easy to move, meaning you will search for one that has wheels and handles. 

A portable generator without these two features (wheel and handle) will be difficult to get in and out of storage. You might need extra manpower to move it because trying to move a heavy piece of equipment on your own can result in injury. 

To avoid subjecting yourself to such hard labor which can potentially cause injury to not just you and those helping you move it, just buy one with wheels and handle. There are plenty of them on the market if you take your time and search for them.

Educate yourself about cord sets – Portable generators on the market especially the ones that are a bit pricey, happen to come with a heavy-duty generator cord set. The average cord set costs around $90 and it provides you with 4 standard household outlets. 

This means you will not have wires all over the place due to having plenty of extension cords which are a trip hazard.

How Does a Portable Generator Work?

If you analyze the market closely you will realize that many of the portable generators that are sold run on two things, gasoline or liquid propane

Depending on the type you have at home, your generator will need either of the two to turn the alternator on. It is this alternator that generates power for use.

There are a few power outlets on the generator which enable you to connect any devices, tool and extension cords around the house. All in all the more power your generator has, the more things you can use at the same time. 

Always make sure you test, clean and maintain your generator so that it is in tip-top condition all the time. Many markers advise their customers to run their generator at least once a month just to be sure it is in working condition for when they need it.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, always be aware of the number of watts you and your family need to use by pinpointing the appliances that are the most essential to run when you are out camping, at the beach or if there is a blackout due to a storm.

Planning ahead is very important especially if you are experiencing blackouts often. When you buy a portable generator, it comes with a detailed set of instruction which you must follow religiously to keep you and your family safe at all times especially with the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.

PowerGismo
 

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments

Leave a Reply: