Generators come in handy when you experience a power outage, but they can be used for other reasons such as powering tools.

Shortcut to Amazon’s best rated portable generators here

Some generators are stationary (standby generators) while others are portable and can be taken to camping trips or used out in your garage or shop. When looking for the best portable generator, analyze reviews written online about the item.  See what you can live with and what is a deal breaker.

There are actually quiet a few makes and models of generator worth having, and these are some of the best portable genny’s for the money.  Other top selling and rated  brands are Westinghouse, Duramax, and Lifan are great larger wattage inverter generators

Best portable generator under $700

This Generac 5939 GP5500 Portable Gas Powered Generator costs just under $700 online and received decent ratings from its Amazon reviewers, making this one of the best portable generator reviews. It has an ergonomic handle that locks and folds down for easy maneuverability and storage.  It has a wheel kit and its compact design makes it easy to fit in small places, making it convenient to store.  It has 9.5 inch tires that never go flat.

It has an a/c voltage of 120/240 and a frequency of 60Hz. It has 6,875 surge watts and 5,500 continuous watts which is plenty to run the basics of home, at home or while RVing or camping. It can run for 10 hours at half load, giving you plenty of time to be safely away from the unit and it comes with a 7.2 fuel tank that is made of steel and a fuel gauge.

It non carb compliant and is not sold in the state of California. It has a circuit breaker outlet that helps prevent power overloads and a low tone muffler that makes a quiet operation.  These Generacs are popular and there is a 5500 watt propane model here.

Best-rated portable generator under $800

This Briggs and Stratton 30469 Portable Generator is gas powered and has a 342cc Briggs and Stratton 1650 Series OHV engine. It received 4.5 stars from Amazon reviewers and costs just under $800 online.  The overhead valve engines are fuel efficient and run at  a lower temperature and are easily maintained, with less frequent oil changes required.

It is non carb compliant and is not sold in the state of California. It runs on 6,000 continuously watts and 7,500 surge watts. It has 10 inch flat free tires for easy portability and it weighs 195 pounds.

Best-rated portable generator under $300

This Durostar DS4000S Portable gas powered generator has a 4 cycle 7 hp OHV engine. It earned 4.5 stars from nearly 200 Amazon reviewers, and is available to buy for just under $300.

It is EVA approved and has a four gallon tank. It can run eight hours on a half load. It has low noise at 69dba with its super quiet muffler. It comes with a one year warranty at time of purchase.

It comes with one 120 volt 30 amp outlet and one 120 volt 20 amp three prong outlet to generate various types of tools. It has an automatic low oil shut off to help protect the engine for a longer life. A wheel kit comes with this generator for easy portability. It has an EZ pull coil start and runs on 4,000 watts maximum and 3,300 watts continuous.

Best portable generator with a remote start

The Champion Power Equipment 46539 Portable Generator with a Wireless Electric Remote Control is gas powered with a 196cc four stroke engine. It has an overload protection and a low oil sensor that all protects the machine. It can run up to 12 hours on a half load. The engine is protected with a cast iron sleeve and a portability kit is included along with eight inch wheels.

It weighs 140 pounds and is carb compliant which means it is sold in all states across the country. This generator earned 4.5 stars from almost 100 Amazon reviewers and it costs about $500 online. It runs on 3,500 watts rated and 4,000 watts maximum. One RV receptacle, one 120 volt twistlock and engine oil are all included.

Ready to buy a new genset?

These are all among some of the best reviews for portable generators. These all make a good choices and can be found online or in your local hardware store.

When the power goes out nobody wants to be left in the dark. That is why there are affordable alternatives to the large expensive, backup generators for you to use in your home, but not every generator is one of the best home generator for power outages.

To go to the best portable generators on Amazon, click here

Make sure not to rush out and buy the first generator you find. Take your time, because this could be an investment that will save you time and energy. Before you select a generator there are a few factors you should consider first.

You must decide what you need to use this generator for, whether it is for a few appliances of the entire home. What type of fuel would you prefer to use, and how long you need the generator to run for you. Once you figure these factors out, the rest will be easy.

To run most necessary household appliances (fridge freezer, laptop, TV) and sump or well pumps, and a furnace fan takes a generator that will create about 5000 to 7000 running watts.

I have selected the best rated, most reliable and trusted portable backup generator models on the market.

The Westinghouse WH8500E Portable Generator is an approx 7,500 Watt Gas Powered genny that received an almost perfect 5 out of 5 rating bycustomers on Amazon. Mainly because it is rare for a portable generator to have a 1 touch electric start, plus a 420cc XP Series engine.The electrical output is increased due to the high efficiency alternator with high efficiency laminations. It is protected and safe to run out in the weather, so no need to bring gas engine fumes into your home.

Westinghouse WH7500E Portable Generator, 7500 Running Watts/9000 Starting Watts

This also reduces the fuel consumption at the same time. This generator is capable of handling many different tasks, whether it be supplying power during a power outage, or powering an entire home. A generator may seem very complicated to use, but to the contrary, this generator has an intuitive interface that allows for very easy operation. It is also very quiet due to the Pulse-Flo muffler so will not bother your neighbors while at home or if you take it RVing or camping.

Users also like the long run time, up to 13 hours at a 50 percent load with a full 6.6-gallon fuel tank. This means you can go all day or night and still have hours left before it would run dry. This model really has been a winner since it came out on the market, Fall 2012, due to the ease of use, reliability and reasonable price of under $1000.

 

Powermate PM0497000.04 

Another one of the best home generators for power outages is the Powermate PM0497000.04 as it has one of the best brands small of engine you can buy, and it still quite reasonably priced and just over $1100, though it does go much higher, so it’s better to buy that wait til there is a storm forecast.

Powermate PM0497000.04 8,750 Watt 389cc 13HP Honda GX390 Gas Powered Portable Generator

This is an easy to start 389cc 13HP Honda gas motor powered 8,750 Watt Generator that is handy and portable.This generator comes equipped with an 8 gallon gas tank with a fuel gauge and it runs for up to 12.3 hours at a 50% load, which is popular with users.

With a reliable 13 HP Honda GQ390 OHV gas engine there is no guessing why this is one of the best generators out there. Especially because it will shut down when it is low on oil, and has a 2 year warranty that you will likely never need.

To top it off, the control panel contains 4 120 volt outlets, 1 120/240V twistlock outlet, and a circuit breaker protection. This is a rare portable generator, because it is strong enough to power up the job site, yet it is still great to power up the home during a power outage.

Very effective and affordable at under $1000, (lots of bang for the buck) and very portable with the wheel kit and is yet still one of the best home generators for power outages is the DuroMax XP10000E.This powerful 10,000 Watt Gas Power Generator had a 389cc 13HP engine for converting gas into electricity for you. The electric start is an awesome feature for frustration free ignition, when it is storming and you need to get this up and running.

What makes it one of the best is the 16.0 horsepower air-cooled OHV engine which outputs 8,000 running watts and peaks at 10,000 watts, which is used to start your appliances. You can choose whether you would like to start it easily with the electric start or you can use the standard recoil start if the starter battery is not charged.

DuroMax XP10000E 10,000 Watt 16 HP OHV Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

The power panel features 2 120-volt, 20-amp household outlets, which will supply all of your outlets. It doesn’t stop there, it also has a 12-volt DC output with that can charge your batteries and is also a quiet running unit.

Run time is a decent 10 hours at 50% load when the 8.3 gallon gasoline tank is topped up, so you don’t have to worry about it running dry in the middle of the night or if you have to be away from home.

 

See more individual models reviewed here in our Portable generator category