The Best Portable Power Generators for Emergencies
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At a Glance: The Best Emergency Power Generators
Editor’s Pick: Generac iQ3500, $1,039.29
Convenient: WEN 56200i Generator, $399.99
Budget Pick: DuroStar DS4000S, $399
Extra Power: DuroMax XP12000EH Generator, $1,199
When heavy storms, earthquakes, and other disasters strike, electricity is often the first necessity to go. One of the best means of preparation is a good emergency power generator.
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If you have candles and a gas stove (which is somewhat rare) you’ll be able to have light and some warm food, but, even then, power outages can be an inconvenience at best and a serious fire risk at worst. Essential appliances such as the refrigerator, furnace, and medical equipment will no longer work, while gadgets including computers, phones, and TVs won’t be able to provide emergency contact or entertainment while you hunker down. The best emergency generators are able to power all these necessities, providing safety and comfort for a switched-off household.
Residents of areas with a high risk of power outages often invest in a dedicated backup generator, but those are costly and require a bit of space. Emergency generators are a pared-down version of these backup generators, and the best emergency power generators can sustain everything from the refrigerator to the TV and the phone.
In This Article
The Best Emergency Power Generators
Emergency Power Generator Buying Guide
How We Chose the Best Emergency Power Generators
What Are the Best Emergency Power Generators?
Below are some of the best emergency generators you can buy on Amazon right now, as well as some important specs to consider when shopping for the best emergency power generator. To make this list, we did some testing ourselves but mostly relied on user reviews from customers who have used these generators in an emergency, or at least for camping and other real-world recreational activities.
1. Generac iQ3500
For most emergency uses, Generac’s iQ3500 is the best emergency power generator around. It only takes gas, which keeps things simple, and the engine runs for around nine hours at 50% load. The remaining run time, as well as data like wattage and fuel level, is easy to check on the generator’s LCD screen. Everything is contained in a rugged package that’s easy to haul around the house or campsite with sturdy handles. Plus, the iQ3500 is extremely quiet, making it great for tranquil camping or RV trips as well as emergencies.
$1,039.29
Promising Customer Feedback: “Awesome generator for a camp trailer. Amazing bang for your buck in comparison to popular brands. SUPER quiet. Quieter than I expected. Weighs less than expected. Starts very easily. Ran my AC unit no problem. Very fuel efficient.” — Bangarang
2. Champion 3800-Watt Dual Fuel Generator
Another one of the best emergency generators is the Champion Dual Fuel. As the name suggests, the emergency generator can run with propane (for 10.5 hours a tank) or gas (for nine hours a tank). Using the Champion is easy thanks to an electric start button and Cold Start technology that ensures a boot-up in freezing weather (many generators can’t combust correctly in extra cold weather). Pumping out 3,800 watts, the generator should create enough power for all the necessities and then some for entertainment. The only downside is noise, as users say it’s a bit loud.
$699.39 $799.00 12% off
Promising Customer Feedback: “A week after buying this generator we lost electricity for 40 hours. This generator was a lifesaver. Plugged it into a transfer switch and we had partial power during the time the grid was down.” — Ralph
3. WEN 56200i Generator
This 56200i gas generator from WEN is a compact, highly portable alternative to the previous options. It generates 2000 watts, which should be sufficient for most refrigerators and furnaces, although not enough for starting both at the same time. But the trade-off with the WEN is a significantly smaller size and lighter weight at just 48 pounds (around half the weight of our other picks). This allows for easy mobility around the house for different needs. It’s great for, say, keeping the fridge on during a storm, but it’s ideal for using gadgets and electric gear while camping.
$399.99 $499.99 20% off
Promising Customer Feedback: “All the good things that you can read about small inverter generators apply to this model. I have 3 of them. They have never let me down. On one of them, I used a 3rd party kit to add additional fuel options and can run it on propane, natural gas, or gasoline.” — Yeah Buddy
4. DuroStar DS4000S
Another great emergency generator is this DuroStar DS4000S. It packs 4,000 watts of power in a compact two-foot build. Weighing in at 94 pounds, it’s also relatively easy to move in and out of storage (especially with the optional wheel kit, sold separately here). The 208cc OHV engine is strong enough to power multiple household appliances at once, and the four-gallon gas tank will last eight hours. There’s also a comprehensive onboard power panel with several outlets and a convenient electric start switch.
$399.00 $479.99 17% off
Promising Customer Feedback: “[…] Bottom line – if you treat this generator right and maintain it, it should return the favor and save your butt in times of need. We have a 1-year-old daughter and without this generator, it would have been a difficult few days.” — Trevor
5. DuroMax XP12000EH Generator
If you need lots of power, check out this 12,000-watt generator from DuroMax. It offers plenty of power for everything you’ll need during a power outage, and it’ll run on gas or propane for up to eight hours a tank. The generator also comes transfer switch ready, meaning you can hook it up to the whole house instead of individual appliances or a power strip. Overall, customers say the DuroMax runs reliably and is easy to use, but some say it’s a bit noisy.
$1,199.00 $1,399.00 14% off
Promising Customer Feedback: “If what you want is a spectacular value for a very powerful portable generator, this absolutely fits the bill. I ordered the same unit for my in-laws who live across town and their experience has been just as good.” — Chris
Emergency Generator Buying Guide
Power Output: The most important feature of an emergency generator is power output which is measured in watts. For reference, a refrigerator typically requires about 2000 watts of power to start up and around 200 watts to run continuously. A furnace might need 1600 watts to start and 600 watts to run. The more watts a generator is good for, the more appliances you can use simultaneously.
Power Source: The three most common generator power sources are gas, propane, and solar. We’ve excluded solar generators from our list because (with current technology) most can’t power a household. Gas generators are the most efficient and therefore most common but propane burns cleaner than gas.
Run Time: Power outages typically only last a day or two, but it’s always better to have a generator that can run for long periods. The run time of a particular power generator indicates how long it will last on a single tank of gas or propane.
Ease of Use: Some generators use a recoil start (a.k.a manual start) which requires you to yank a pulley. This is more difficult than electric start generators which turn on with the flick of a switch. Also be sure to read reviews to find out how easy it is to fill a generator’s fuel tank, move it around the house, and refill the oil tank.
Noise: Power outages, although inconvenient, can be somewhat tranquil. There’s no need to ruin that with a loud generator. Check reviews for user reports of a power generator’s noise level.
How We Chose the Best Emergency Power Generators
After taking into account all the above, we combed Amazon for top-rated generators with industry-leading specs. We stuck with reputable brands known for reliability and quality, and we read through hundreds of user reviews to see how the generators held up for different peoples’ needs.
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1. Champion 3800-Watt Dual Fuel Generator
Our favorite power generator is the Champion Dual Fuel. As the name suggests, the emergency generator can run with propane (for 10.5 hours a tank) or gas (for nine hours a tank). Using the Champion is easy thanks to an electric start button and Cold Start technology that ensures a boot-up in freezing weather (many generators can’t combust correctly in extra cold weather). Pumping out 3,800 watts, the generator should create enough power for all the necessities and then some for entertainment. The only downside is noise, as users say its a bit loud.
Champion 3800-Watt Dual Fuel Generator
2. Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator
If you need lots of power, check out this 7,500-watt generator from Westinghouse. It offers plenty of power for everything you’ll need during a power outage, and with a run time of 11 hours on a single tank, the generator can easily sustain essentials such as the furnace and refrigerator through the night. The generator also comes transfer switch ready, meaning you can hook it up to the whole house instead of individual appliances or a power strip. Starting the Westinghouse is easy too, as it can be fired up with a remote key fob, an onboard button, or a recoil pulley.
Westinghouse WGen7500 Portable Generator
3. WEN 56200i Generator
This 56200i gas generator from WEN is a compact, highly-portable alternative to the previous options. It generates 2000 watts, which should be sufficient for most refrigerators and furnaces, although not enough for starting both at the same time. But the trade-off with the WEN is a significantly smaller size and lighter weight at just 48 pounds (around half the weight of our other picks). This allows for easy mobility around the house for different needs. It’s great for, say, keeping the fridge on during a storm, but it’s ideal for using gadgets and electric gear while camping.
WEN 56200i Generator
4. DuroStar DS4000S
Another great emergency generator is this DuroStar DS4000S. It packs 4,000 watts of power in a compact two-foot build. Weighing in at 94 pounds, it's also relatively easy to move in and out of storage (especially with the optional wheel kit, sold separately here). The 208cc OHV engine is strong enough to power multiple household appliances at once, and the four-gallon gas tank will last eight hours. There's also a comprehensive onboard power panel with several outlets and a convenient electric start switch.
