The Best Generator for Home Backup (2026): 6 Portable Picks

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some brands also pay us when you click or buy, so those links are ads. Full disclosure below

The best generator for home backup, for most houses and among conventional portables, is the WEN DF8000X, with 6,500 running watts on gasoline, push button electric start, a carbon monoxide shutdown sensor and a 240 volt twist lock outlet for a transfer switch. Consumer Reports put this exact model through its lab: it handled surges well and delivered especially clean power at a steady, high voltage. If you need to run more of the house, step up to the Westinghouse WGen9500DFc and its 50 amp outlet. Every pick here runs on both gasoline and propane (pick 4 adds natural gas), and five of the six have a 240 volt outlet for a transfer switch or inlet, which an electrician installs. The biggest picks run most essential circuits; the whole house option is a permanently installed standby generator, which this page does not cover. For an inverter, whether a quiet one for camping or one with a 240 volt outlet for home backup, see our best inverter generators guide, and for battery and panel kits that burn no fuel, our best solar generators guide. If you only need a fridge, a sump pump and lights on extension cords and want the smallest gas bill, see pick 6, the Champion 201393, below.

We make digging spades, not generators, so nothing on this list is ours. This page covers one kind of generator: the conventional (non-inverter) open frame machine on wheels that most people mean when they say portable generator, and every pick has electric start and an automatic carbon monoxide shutoff. That shutoff is a backstop: the Consumer Product Safety Commission says to run any portable generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house (see where to run it safely). We checked each pick on Amazon on October 12, 2026.

Jump to: What size you need | Transfer switch math | Gas for a day | Where to run it safely | FAQ

The best portable generators at a glance

None of the makers that rate noise for these picks says at what distance it measured, so treat the noise column as a rough ranking, not a measurement.

The best portable generators, by job

1. WEN DF8000X: best overall

The DF8000X is the one we would buy for a typical house: enough running watts for the essentials, a 240 volt outlet for a transfer switch, and a weight you can still wheel out of a garage. WEN rates it at 6,500 running and 8,000 surge watts on gasoline, and 5,850 running and 7,200 surge on propane, from a 340cc engine that starts at the press of a switch. WEN's CO Watchdog sensor turns the generator off automatically if it detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Consumer Reports tested this exact model. Its lab found the DF8000X delivered enough wattage for its test appliances and handled surges well, put out especially clean power at a steady, high voltage, and was easy to start and move. The 6.7 gallon tank is rated for up to 10.5 hours at half load. The panel carries four standard 120 volt 5-20R outlets, a TT-30R RV outlet, a 120/240 volt L14-30R twist lock that WEN describes as transfer switch ready, and a 12 volt DC socket. WEN backs it with a three year warranty.

Its sibling, the 120 volt only WEN GN5602X, was picked by both Consumer Reports and Bob Vila; it was out of stock on Amazon on October 12, 2026, and the DF8000X adds the 240 volt outlet anyway.

Where it loses: Consumer Reports rated it neither quiet nor noisy from 23 feet, and said it may still be noticeable when run overnight. Its biggest outlet is 30 amps, so a 50 amp inlet needs pick 3, 4 or 5. And there is no remote start: you walk out to it.

2. Westinghouse WGen7500DFc: best step up with remote start

The WGen7500DFc adds 1,000 running watts over pick 1 and a remote start key fob. Westinghouse rates it at 7,500 running and 9,500 peak watts on gasoline, and 6,750 running and 8,550 peak on propane, with push button electric start, the remote fob and a backup recoil start. It has a carbon monoxide sensor with automatic shutdown and a display for voltage, frequency and lifetime hours. Choose it over pick 3 if your inlet or transfer switch is 30 amp: it is 10 pounds lighter and Consumer Reports tested a version of it. Pick 3 has the same remote fob plus a 50 amp outlet.

Consumer Reports tested the WGen7500c, the gas-only version rated at the same 7,500 running watts. It found that one delivered more than enough wattage for its test appliances, handled surges very well, gave power that was especially clean, at a steady, high voltage, and was easy to start and move. Westinghouse rates the WGen7500DFc for up to 11 hours on its 6.6 gallon tank or up to 8 hours from a 20 pound propane tank, both at 25 percent load. Outlets are two GFCI 5-20R duplexes, a transfer switch ready L14-30R and two USB ports. Westinghouse includes the battery and a float charger.

Where it loses: it weighs 202.1 pounds dry. Its only 240 volt outlet is a 30 amp L14-30R, which carries at most 7,200 watts, a little under the generator's 7,500 (see the transfer switch table). There is no RV outlet. Westinghouse rates it at 72 dBA.

3. Westinghouse WGen9500DFc: best for a 50 amp connection

When you want a 50 amp portable generator to run most of a house's circuits through a 50 amp inlet or interlock, this is the pick. Westinghouse rates it at 9,500 running and 12,500 peak watts on gasoline, 8,500 running and 11,200 peak on propane, with electric, remote fob and recoil start. The panel has two GFCI 5-20R duplexes, an L14-30R twist lock and a 120/240 volt 14-50R, the 50 amp outlet that lets the full 9,500 watts through. It carries a carbon monoxide sensor with automatic shutdown and a digital hour meter.

Popular Mechanics named the WGen9500DF, the version without the CO sensor, its best for high voltage appliances, pointing to the 30 and 50 amp outputs, the push button start and stop, and the key fob. We list the WGen9500DFc because the non-CO version's Amazon listing names only a low oil shutdown. Westinghouse rates it for up to 12 hours on 6.6 gallons at 25 percent load, 8 hours at 50 percent, and up to 7 hours from a 20 pound propane tank at 50 percent.

Where it loses: 212.1 pounds dry. Popular Mechanics called its 74 decibel noise level its only drawback, and warned that many RV parks cap generator noise below 70 decibels, so it may not be welcome there.

4. Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel with EFI: best for a natural gas hookup

If your house has a natural gas line, this is the one that can live on it through a long outage. Generac rates it at 9,500 running and 12,500 starting watts on gasoline; the listing gives 8,550 running watts on propane and 7,000 on natural gas, and a single dial switches fuel without shutting it down. It uses electronic fuel injection, which Generac says reduces maintenance. Start is a rocker switch with the battery in the box and a recoil backup. Generac's COsense system monitors carbon monoxide, sounds an alert and shuts the generator down automatically.

Popular Mechanics links this listing and named the GP9500E Tri Fuel one of its picks in its hands-on home generator test. Its tester found the natural gas option earned its keep when a storm knocked the power out, and that its outlet covers were less flimsy than on many rivals. The 7.5 gallon tank is rated for up to 14 hours at 25 percent load and 10.5 hours at 50 percent. Outlets are a GFCI 5-20R duplex, an L14-30R and a 14-50R.

About the Generac recall: Generac recalled some portable generators because fuel can leak from the carburetor. The only GP9500E on that recall is the carbureted tri fuel model G0080630, in certain serial ranges. This listing is the fuel injected (EFI) version, which Generac lists as model G0080610, and Popular Mechanics notes the model it recommends is not among the recalled ones. The model and serial number are on a label on the side of the generator, and Generac's recall page lists every model covered.

Where it loses: Generac lists it at 227 pounds (the listing gives 219 to 227), and Popular Mechanics calls it exceedingly heavy. The same tester found it gets somewhat loud when heavily loaded, and it has no remote start, no fancy display and no app. Only one household duplex outlet.

5. DuroMax XP13000HX: most running watts

The XP13000HX has the most running watts on this page: DuroMax rates it at 10,500 running and 13,000 peak on gasoline, and 10,000 running and 12,500 peak on propane, from a 500cc engine with 100 percent copper windings. Push button start with a recoil backup, a CO Alert system that stops the engine before carbon monoxide reaches harmful levels, a digital meter with an hour counter, and seven outlets: four GFCI 5-20R, an L5-30R, an L14-30R and a 14-50R. DuroMax gives it a 5 year warranty, the longest of our six.

No tester in our set ran this exact model, but two ran its siblings. Bob Vila tested the XP12000EH and named it best for home use: it ran a refrigerator, most of a home's entertainment devices and a window air conditioner without lag. Consumer Reports tested the smaller XP10000HX and found it delivered more than enough wattage and handled surges very well. DuroMax rates the XP13000HX for 17 hours at 25 percent load and 8.5 hours at 50 percent on its 8.3 gallon tank.

Where it loses: 240 pounds dry, the heaviest pick. Consumer Reports found the XP10000HX sibling fairly noisy from 23 feet and recommends hearing protection when standing close; DuroMax rates this one at 74 dB. No remote start (DuroMax's own spec table says so), and a carburetor rather than fuel injection. Bob Vila's XP12000EH had only two standard outlets; this model has four.

6. Champion 4750-Watt Electric Start (model 201393): best for the least gas

If you only need the fridge, a sump pump, lights and phone chargers on extension cords, this is the fuel-sipping choice. It weighs about the same as pick 1 and has fewer watts and no 240 volt outlet, so pick it for running costs, not size: it burns roughly half the gasoline of pick 1 when each runs at its own half load (about 1,900 watts here, about 3,250 on pick 1; see the fuel table), and Champion rates it at 68 dB(A), the lowest figure among the four picks whose makers publish a noise rating (the WEN and Generac do not). Champion rates model 201393 at 3,800 running and 4,750 starting watts on gasoline, 3,420 running on propane, with push button electric start (battery included) and Champion's CO Shield, which shuts the engine off automatically if carbon monoxide builds to unsafe levels.

Popular Mechanics reviewed this listing and named it best for midsize homes: enough for three or four essential 120 volt circuits, and a dedicated 30 amp RV outlet. Champion rates it for up to 14 hours on gasoline at half load. Outlets are an L5-30R, a TT-30R and a 5-20R duplex.

Where it loses: there is no 240 volt outlet, so it cannot feed 240 volt circuits like a dryer or a water heater, as Popular Mechanics points out, and 3,800 watts is thin for anything beyond essentials. Champion lists it at 133 pounds; Popular Mechanics gives 119, and we would plan on Champion's figure. Pick 1 also has a TT-30R RV outlet.

How we chose these

We compared the makers' own spec pages and manuals with what independent testers reported: Consumer Reports, which runs generators in a lab and through a carbon monoxide test chamber, Popular Mechanics' home generator test, and Bob Vila's portable generator test. Where a spec differs between the Amazon listing and the maker, we use the maker's figure and say so.

Three rules decided the list. Every pick is a conventional open frame generator, not an inverter. Every pick has electric start and an automatic carbon monoxide shutoff, confirmed on the maker's page or the listing. And every pick was in stock on Amazon on October 12, 2026. Several tested favorites failed one of those rules, and the also considered section names them and the reason.

Where a tester ran a sibling model rather than our exact pick (the same frame without a CO sensor, or with a different fuel set), the table says "sibling". We lead with the WEN DF8000X because Consumer Reports tested that exact model, it carries a 240 volt outlet, and it is the lightest 240 volt machine on the list.

Also considered: the models that missed the cut, and why

WEN GN5602X. The best tested generator we could not recommend on the day: Consumer Reports found no notable flaws and a run time of up to 19 hours per tankful, and Bob Vila named it best bang for the buck (and measured it at 88 dB from 5 feet). It has electric start and a CO shutdown sensor. It missed because Amazon showed it out of stock on October 12, 2026, and because it is 120 volt only; pick 1 is its 240 volt sibling.

Westinghouse WGen5300DFcv. Bob Vila's pick for running on gas or propane, with 5,300 running watts on gasoline, a CO shutdown, and an L14-30R outlet. It missed on start: its listing describes no electric start, and Bob Vila's tester pulled the cord to start it. Bob Vila also measured it at 88.5 dB on average from 5 feet, against an advertised 68 dB.

DuroMax XP12000EH. Bob Vila's best for home use, with 9,500 running watts, keyed electric start and a 50 amp outlet, and Bob Vila reports a built-in CO sensor. The Amazon listing for this ASIN does not mention CO shutdown, while DuroMax's page for pick 5 confirms it, so the XP13000HX took the slot.

DuroMax XP13000HXT. If you want pick 5's watts plus natural gas and a remote start, this is the version to look at: its listing gives push button and remote start and CO Alert, and PowerOutage.us names it its best serious whole-home generator, listing 8,500 running watts on natural gas. We kept pick 4 for natural gas because Popular Mechanics ran the GP9500E Tri Fuel (pick 4's model line) through a real outage, and we found no DuroMax figure for this one's natural gas output.

Champion 12,500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel (model 201438). 10,000 running watts on gasoline and 8,000 on natural gas, CO Shield, electric start, and a 25 foot natural gas hose in the box, per Champion. It missed because no tester in our set covered it, while Popular Mechanics ran the GP9500E Tri Fuel through a real outage. Champion lists it at 231 pounds and 74 dBA from 23 feet.

Champion 8125-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel. 6,500 running watts on gasoline and 5,500 on natural gas, CO Shield and rocker switch start, per its listing. No tester in our set covered it.

Generac GP8000E (not linked). Consumer Reports' pick for whole house backup in its 2026 roundup, with an automatic carbon monoxide shutoff and electric start. Quartz's write-up of the roundup notes active recalls on this model, and Generac's carburetor fuel leak recall lists three GP8000E model numbers within serial ranges. We do not link a model with an open recall; if you own one, check its serial on Generac's recall page.

DuroMax XP10000HX, Champion 201223 and Predator 59206 (not linked). Consumer Reports' 2026 roundup, as republished by Quartz, picks all three: the XP10000HX (a smaller sibling of pick 5) and the Champion 201223 tri fuel for strong power delivery and power quality, and the Predator 59206 for clean, steady power, though Consumer Reports notes Predator generators are sold only through Harbor Freight stores. We could not find the XP10000HX or a listing we could match to the Champion 201223 in an Amazon search on October 11, 2026, so there is nothing to link.

Westinghouse WGen9500DF (not linked). Popular Mechanics' exact pick. Its Amazon listing names a low oil shutdown but no carbon monoxide shutdown, and every generator on this page has one, so we point you to its CO sensor version, pick 3.

Looking for the Honda EU2200i, a Yamaha or another quiet enclosed machine? Those are inverter generators, and the inverter guide linked at the top of this page covers them.

What size portable generator do you need for your house?

Consumer Reports puts a typical home at about 5,000 watts, and gives rough figures for the usual outage essentials: a refrigerator 600 watts, a sump pump 750 to 1,500, a portable heater 1,500, a window air conditioner 1,000, lights 5 to 80 watts a bulb, and a computer 60 to 300. We stacked those figures, using the top of each range, into four outage loads and set them against each pick's rated running watts on gasoline. This table is computed by us, not measured. If heat is the load you would rather keep off the generator, our kerosene heater guide covers wick heaters that need no electricity, and the ventilation rules that come with them.

Popular Mechanics suggests buying about 20 percent more generator than your list adds up to. Cells marked under the 20 percent margin run on paper, but leave no room for a motor starting or a load you forgot.

Two things the table does not show. Motors such as a fridge compressor or a sump pump draw a brief surge when they start, which is what the higher starting watts figure covers; Consumer Reports' lab checks exactly that. PowerOutage.us advises starting motor-driven appliances one by one so their surges do not stack. And on propane every pick makes less: the Champion's 3,420 running watts fall 180 short of load B, while the WEN's 5,850 clears load D by only 150 and the WGen7500DFc's 6,750 by 1,050, both inside that 20 percent margin. For a sump pump that has to keep up in a storm, our best sump pumps guide covers how many watts a sump pump uses and which makers publish a draw.

If you want to add laundry or a dishwasher, Popular Mechanics says to expect 10,000 watts or more.

Transfer switch for a portable generator: how many watts get through?

Well pumps, water heaters and overhead lights are hardwired, so an extension cord cannot reach them; Consumer Reports says you need a transfer switch for those, installed by a licensed electrician, or an interlock kit, also installed by an electrician. The generator outlet you connect with sets a ceiling on what gets through: a 30 amp, 240 volt twist lock (L14-30R) carries at most 7,200 watts (30 amps times 240 volts), and a 50 amp, 240 volt outlet (14-50R) at most 12,000. We computed the usable watts below from each maker's outlets and running watts; your electrician sizes the switch or inlet itself, which can be the tighter limit.

Consumer Reports adds that most transfer switches expect a 220 volt feed, and that takes a generator of at least 5,000 watts; of our six, only the Champion falls below that. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet with a male to male cord: Consumer Reports, citing the Consumer Product Safety Commission, warns that this backfeed can get around your home's electrical safety features, start a fire, and put utility workers repairing the lines at risk of electrocution.

What else to have ready before the storm: the connection to your transfer switch or inlet is your electrician's job, so ask them which generator cord it needs. For extension cords, Consumer Reports says to use cords rated for indoor and outdoor use, the heaviest cords for the biggest loads, and one cord and one generator outlet per large appliance such as a refrigerator or window air conditioner, and never to move the generator closer than 20 feet to shorten the run. Add battery CO alarms inside (see the safety list below) and a fuel stabilizer for stored gas.

How much gas does a portable generator burn in a day?

Every maker quotes run time on a full tank at a stated load. Divide the tank by the half load hours and you get gallons an hour; multiply by 24 and you get the gasoline to store for one day of an outage at half load. The math is ours, from the makers' figures, and real use varies with the load.

That is a lot of gasoline to keep on hand. Consumer Reports says to store it in ANSI-approved containers, mixed with fuel stabilizer, outside the house, and never to fill a generator while it is running: it cites the National Fire Protection Association's warning that gasoline spilled on a hot muffler could ignite. The WEN DF8000X manual adds a cool-down of at least 2 minutes before you open the fuel cap. The stabilizer keeps stored gas from clogging the fuel system, which Consumer Reports says is why some generators will not start after months in a garage; our best fuel stabilizer guide covers which one to use.

Consumer Reports notes that propane burns cleaner, so it does not gum up the carburetor with fuel residue. Every pick here runs on it, but the run times drop. On a 20 pound tank at half load, Westinghouse rates the WGen9500DFc for up to 7 hours, Generac rates pick 4 for about 5 and Champion rates pick 6 for up to 10.5; Westinghouse rates the WGen7500DFc for up to 8 hours, but at quarter load. A 20 pound tank is also what most patio fire pits run on, and our propane fire pit guide works out the hours each one gets from it.

Two winter notes from the manuals and testers. WEN's manual says to choose the oil grade for the expected operating temperature, with synthetic 5W-30 on its chart for the coldest range, and warns that a battery that is too cold can make electric starting hard, so keep the generator or its battery somewhere warmer. Keep the start battery charged, too: Westinghouse includes a battery float charger with picks 2 and 3, and Bob Vila's tester found the GN5602X's battery was not topped up on arrival and had to put it on a trickle charger.

Inverter generator vs regular generator: which do you need?

Consumer Reports explains the difference: an inverter generator speeds its engine up and down with the load instead of running flat out, which makes it much quieter, and inverters generally cost more. Popular Mechanics adds that you do not need an inverter to run major appliances. For quiet hours and camping, our best inverter generators guide covers the options; if you want power you can use indoors with no fuel at all, our best portable power stations guide compares battery units.

How far from the house should a portable generator be?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that carbon monoxide from a portable generator "can kill whole families in minutes," and links about 92 deaths a year in the U.S. to portable generators. Its rules, in short:

• Never run a portable generator indoors, and that includes a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed. Leaving doors or windows open will not let in enough air to make it safe.
• Run it outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from the home and any building someone could enter. Porches and carports are too close to the house, so keep it off both.
• Shut windows and other openings near the generator or in line with its exhaust.
• In wet weather, follow the generator's instructions on avoiding electrical shock; they may call for a non-combustible generator tent rated to NFPA standards, or for waiting until the rain passes.
• Put battery-operated or battery backup CO alarms outside each sleeping area and on each level of the home, and test them every month.

Consumer Reports gives the same 20 foot distance from the house, and from a central air conditioner's outdoor unit or a window air conditioner. It also says never to refuel a running generator (see the fuel section). Some manuals give a shorter clearance from buildings (the WEN DF8000X manual says at least 5 feet); the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Consumer Reports both give 20 feet. WEN's manual also says that even a correctly placed generator can let CO into the home, so a CO alarm inside is always needed.

The automatic shutoff on every pick here is a backstop, not permission. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises looking for a CO shut-off feature, and says models certified to the PGMA G300 or UL 2201 safety standards are estimated to significantly reduce CO deaths; Consumer Reports says the only way to verify one is to look for an ANSI/UL2201 or ANSI/PGMA G300 certification on the packaging. Champion's spec page lists pick 6 as PGMA G300-2023 compliant; the WEN, Westinghouse, Generac and DuroMax pages we saved do not state a certification, so check the box or manual. Consumer Reports says that even with a built-in shutoff, you should follow its long-standing safety guidelines, and it only recommends portable generators that pass its expanded CO safety test.

For a building's wiring, the WEN manual says the generator must be connected through a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician. We do not give wiring instructions; that is the electrician's job.

A word from the people who wrote this

We are Spear Head Spade, a family business in New Jersey, and we sell double patented digging spades. A spade has nothing to do with a generator, and nothing on this list is ours. Where we come in is after the storm: when the beds need digging back into shape, our spade finder matches a spade to your height and your soil.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best portable generator according to Consumer Reports?

In its 2026 roundup, as republished by Quartz, Consumer Reports picked the Generac GP8000E COSENSE 50ST for whole house backup; Quartz's write-up notes active recalls on that model. Its other midsize and large picks included the Predator 59206, the DuroMax XP10000HX (a smaller sibling of our pick 5) and the WEN GN5602X (in our also considered list). Consumer Reports also tested our pick 1, the WEN DF8000X, and found it handled surges well with especially clean power; its overall score is for members only, so we cannot tell you whether it is on Consumer Reports' recommended list.

Can you run a portable generator in a garage with the door open?

No. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run one indoors, including a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, and that opening doors or windows will not let in enough air. Run it outside, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away.

Can a portable generator run a whole house?

Part of one. Among portables, the one we put first for a home is the WEN DF8000X; a permanently installed standby generator is the whole house option. Consumer Reports puts a typical home at about 5,000 watts, and the largest picks here make 9,500 to 10,500 running watts, enough for most essential circuits through a transfer switch. Popular Mechanics puts laundry and dishwashers at 10,000 watts or more.

Do you need a transfer switch for a portable generator?

Only to power hardwired things such as a well pump, water heater or overhead lights. Without one you are limited to extension cords from the generator's own outlets. Consumer Reports recommends having a licensed electrician install the switch; an interlock kit, also installed by an electrician, is the cheaper option. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.

How long can a portable generator run?

One tank lasts 8 to 14 hours at half load on the picks that state it, by the makers' ratings, and a day at half load takes about 8 to 23 gallons of gasoline, depending on the model. For a longer outage, refuel only with the generator off and cooled, as the fuel section explains. The WEN DF8000X manual also says to check the oil at every use or every 8 hours of running, and to change it after its first 8 hours, again after 25, and every 50 hours from then on.

Which portable generator brand is the most reliable?

We found no free brand-level reliability data in the sources we read; Consumer Reports keeps its ratings for members. What the makers do publish is the warranty: DuroMax gives the XP13000HX 5 years, and WEN, Westinghouse, Generac and Champion give these models 3 year warranties. Westinghouse lists a nationwide customer service network, and Champion says it has service centers nationwide. Popular Mechanics puts the working life of a consumer portable generator at 1,000 to 3,000 hours, and sometimes longer.

Disclosure: Our commissions do not change what we recommend or what you pay. Availability was checked on Amazon on October 12, 2026 and can change; we do not print prices because they move, so every "Check price" link shows today's.