The Best Generator Covers for Conventional and Inverter Models

Whether you’ve purchased a portable generator for disaster preparation, are working on a job site without a power hookup, camping, or RV-ing, having your generator work properly at all times is non-negotiable.

A generator cover will protect your machine from dust or moisture that can effect its operation, and will ensure that you won’t encounter any surprises when you try to start it up. While full-cover generator covers are meant to simply cover your generator during storage, some are even designed to stay in place while the machine is being used. Regardless of the cover you choose, make sure you never operate your generator indoors, lest you risk carbon monoxide poisoning, and always follow your machine’s user manual.

The Best Generator Covers

What to Consider

If you plan on keeping the cover on while running the generator, make sure to choose one that is specifically designed for that purpose. A full-cover option won’t allow for the airflow the engine needs to run, and with nowhere for the exhaust to go, will overheat or set off CO detectors. “Running” covers are designed with enough ventilation for the engine to work properly, and also allow you to access the controls without having to remove the cover. A running cover could really come in handy during weather-related power outages, since you won’t need to wait for the rain to stop before turning it on.

You should also make sure the cover you choose will fit your existing generator. This should be fairly simple, since most generator covers will clearly state the sizes of machines that they’re compatible with. If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out to the company first with the brand and model number of your generator. This step may take a few minutes, but could help avoid a much bigger headache down the line.

How We Selected

To ensure that we included the most popular and well-reviewed products on our list, we compared the results of multiple online review and testing sites, and used actual customer reviews to disregard any options that had common red flags or quality control issues. We also included a good mix of both full-cover and running covers, as well as those with all-weather tent-style designs for use in rain, snow, and windy conditions. Plus, since many inverter generators are becoming more popular, we included a few options for them as well.

If you're thinking of buying a new generator or upgrading your old model, check out our picks for the best home generators and the best standby generators.