This guide includes the Ten Best Portable Generator options for 2024. Stay safe and connected with a small gas-powered generator that will keep all the essentials of your House or RV powered at full operation.
At the same time, you’ll be glad to know each portable generator is Quiet enough not to keep you (and your neighbors) up all night.
In most places in the U.S., there are bound to be a power outage or two every year, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop life in its tracks until the power is back up and running.
Most portable generators run on one gas tank for 8-10 hours. That’s usually enough power to get you through most electrical outages.
If you’re looking for the best portable inverter generator you can buy, let’s check out our recommendation for the six best portable generators on the market.
The Best Portable Generator In 2024
Editor’s Pick: Champion – 2500 Watt Generator
Inverter generators are fantastic because they provide a ton of power but do it in a small package; you could argue that Champion has constructed the best inverter generator for the price we’ve ever seen.
In addition to being highly portable, it also has an excellent runtime and even an option to connect two generators for double the power.
Specs:
- Its Maximum output is 2500 Watts – with 1,850 running watts
- Ultra-Quiet 53 Decibels – There’s a lot to like about this generator.
- 79CC hp engine with 1.1 gal fuel tank
- Up to 11.5-hour runtime (Gas). Up to 34-hour runtime (Propane)
- EZ Start Dial – Economy Mode Option
- Parallel Generator Option: This allows you to connect two generators and double the power output
- Ultralight Generator: This thing only weighs 39 pounds, yet can power an entire RV
- Very quiet: 53-decibel rating at 25% load
- Dual 120 Volt Covered Outlets – Run Two Extension Cords Simultaneously
Our Take Away
I haven’t seen a portable generator that I like better for the money because of the price difference, and this article’s focus is “The Quietest Generators.”
The Champion model is, for us, and maybe for you, the best value for the complete list of features it offers.
In addition, with shallow harmonic power generation, it is considered safe to power electronic devices. It includes a DC adapter with dual USB ports to charge mobile electronics.
The Champion has superb power, and you can connect two (parallel) Generators for double the administration – it is super convenient.
I recommend this generator to anyone looking for a quiet, lightweight, and dependable 2500-watt portable generator.
This is the same Portable Generator I own and use at home. It starts every time and runs as expected for about 11 hours.
Champion 2500 Watt Portable Generator Video:
Champion – Editor’s Choice
Runner-Up: Power Smart – 2500 Watt – Gas Fuel Portable Generator
If you need a lightweight ((40 LB) yet powerful Portable Inverter Generator with all the bells and whistles and fuel economy in one beautiful package, then look at this 2500 Watt Generator from Power Smart.
It can power your RV furnace, AC, microwave, and, best of all, your big-screen TV! Convenient, lightweight, and super quiet power (52 Decibels) is yours with this 2500-watt inverter generator.
Specs:
The Champion generator has almost unlimited positive aspects, so we’ll review the most critical aspects.
- 2500 Watt Inverter for 79cc AMPS of Power
- Manual Start with Cold-Start Technology
- Optional Parallel Kit – To connect two Inverters
- Clean electricity for sensitive electronics – RV Ready with two 120V 20A household outlets and a clean power (less than 3% THD) 12V DC outlet with dual USB adapter to charge mobile devices
- Ultra-quiet operation – 52 dBA is perfect for RVs, tailgating, your next project, or backup power for your home, featuring 2500 starting watts and 1850 running watts with up to 11.5 hours of run time at a 50% load
- 1.1 Gal. tank allows up to 7.5 hours of Run Time at 25% Load
Our Take Away
Essentially, this portable generator from Power Smart offers every feature that the Champion Portable generator in our Editors Choice selection above offers —except it runs exclusively on Gasoline vs. the Champion, which can run on Gas or Propane fuel.
As the Champion, Power Smart technology offers less than 1.2 % Harmonic Distortion, Making it safe to power even the most sensitive electronics.
The bottom line is that if you’re okay with a slightly heavier portable generator with a smaller gas tank and one that you intend to fuel with gasoline only, you can save money and consider this may be the one.
POWER SMART – Runner Up
Best Value: WEN56200i – 2000 Watt
You don’t often see a generator several hundred dollars below the $1000 mark and still be impressed with it.
But the WEN56200i has managed to do just that. With its consumer-friendly price and incredible power, this generator is one to notice.
Specs:
Inexpensive: we all love a great deal, and this unit is the poster child for the best value.
Quiet Operation: Like the other two generators we’ve seen, this one runs at a very low 45 to 50 decibels.
This generator is perfect for RVs and campgrounds; being so light and quiet, I can’t see a better use.
There are two 3-prong outlets. A parallel connection cable allows you to connect two portable generators with a very quiet 51-decibel rating at 1/4 load.
Our Take Away:
As you can see, there isn’t much “not to like” about the WEN56400i, and because it is lightweight and super quiet, we’d also consider the WEN as the best generator for camping.
If you are looking for an affordable, quiet inverter generator packed with features and want to get one at the best-priced portable generator, then the WEN is hands down the generator you want.
WEN – Best Value
Longest Operation Generator: Generac 7117 GP2200i 2200 Watt
Whether you’re tailgating for the big game or want to enhance your campsite experience without disrupting the environment around you, Generac’s GP2200i inverter generator is a fantastic choice.
It is very budget-friendly, and like premium units, you can parallel two units together to double the power.
Specs
- Quiet, Compact, and Easy to use.
- AC rated output running Watts: 1700, AC maximum output starting Watts: 2200
- Truepower technology is ideal for clean, stable power and for sensitive electronics, tools, or appliances.
- 1.2-gallon fuel tank allows for 10.75 hours of run time and at 1/4 load
- Built-in hand-hold for easy transport
- Integrated off/run/choke knob simplifies starting
- LED lighted alert for low-oil, overload
- PowerParallel is ready to connect two inverters to double the output.
Our Take Away
The Generac brand is probably the longest-running, most respected name in Commercial generators, and it’s obvious they intend to maintain that reputation, as witnessed by this portable inverter generator.
GENERAC – Longest Operation Generator
Westinghouse iGen2200 – Lightweight 2200 Watt Generator
The iGen2200 by Westinghouse is much more potent than you would expect a portable generator to be in this price range.
It’s rated at 1800 watts with a 2200 peak watts output, and it still weighs only 46 pounds, making it perfect for almost any situation.
Specs
- 2200 watts packed into one of the lightest converters on this list
- 46 lbs and lightweight
- Two 120v outlets and two USB outlets provide plenty of space to charge devices, plug-in speakers, or anything else you need.
- 10 hours of runtime at full power
- Economy mode extends the runtime
- Parallel connectivity
- 3-year warranty
- 52 Decibel rating
Our Take Away
Overall, this is an excellent product. It’s compact, powerful, and unbelievably quiet. If you want the most powerful, lightweight inverter generator, get this one.
Westinghouse – Light Weight Generator
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Best Upgrade: Honda EU2200i – 2200 Watt Generator
If you’re looking for the Best overall generator and have the budget to match, then the Honda EU2200i – 120 Volt generator is worthwhile. A powerful Portable Inverter Generator with all the bells, whistles, and fuel economy in one beautiful package.
Honda once again offers another great premium product.
The Honda generator can power your RV’s furnace, AC, microwave, and big-screen TV! Convenient, lightweight, and super quiet power (52 Decibels) is yours with this 2200-watt inverter generator.
Specs:
There are almost unlimited good things about the Champion generator, so we’ll review the most critical aspects.
- 2200 Watt Inverter for 79cc AMPS of Power
- Commercial Grade Engine Components, and only 47 Lbs.
- Bluetooth Technology from the Honda Mobile App
- Optional Parallel Kit – To connect two Inverters
- Clean electricity for sensitive electronics – RV Ready with two 120V 20A household outlets and a clean power (less than 3% THD) 12V DC outlet with a dual USB adapter to charge mobile devices
- Ultra-quiet operation—48 dBA is perfect for RVs, tailgating, your next project, or backup power for your home. It features 2200 starting watts of power.
- 1.0 Gal. tank allows up to 8.0 hours of Run Time at 25% Load
Our Take Away
Essentially, this portable generator from Honda offers every feature that the Champion Portable generator in our Editors Choice selection Above – Except it runs exclusively on Gasoline vs. the Champion, which can run on Gas or Propane fuel.
As the Champion, Honda technology offers less than 1.2 % Harmonic Distortion, Making it safe to power even the most sensitive electronics.
Honda goes a few steps further with the ultra-safe feature “Co-minder detection system,” which shuts down the generator before it senses dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
The importance of this safety feature cannot be overstated.
Honda – Best Upgrade Generator
Buyers Guide: Portable Generators
We all understand that a generator generates electricity on demand, even when everyone else has to sit in the darkness. But there are plenty of other reasons to get them, too.
First and foremost, portable generators are far less expensive than their standby counterparts, meaning electricity at your fingertips is far more accessible.
Want to find out what size generator you need? Check out Honda’s Wattage Calculator here!
Benefits of Owning a Portable Generator:
Climate
If you have small children or the elderly living with you, you can’t afford to let your home reach extreme temperatures. During power outages, use a generator to run space heaters or fans to help control temperatures.
Security
Your home is more susceptible to security breaches during power outages. When the lights are out, your home is at a higher risk of being broken into. Running floodlights through your generator can help cut down on those risks.
Communication
Sometimes, blackouts can be fun, especially when you have something to keep a little power running. If you have a generator, you can still charge your phone, listen to music, or watch a movie!
Camping
Many people like to go camping and get away from all the creature comforts of home, like electricity. But if you want at least some modern amenities while camping, a top-rated portable RV generator is the best way to accomplish that goal.
Charge your phones, laptops, and tablets, and even turn the lights on when you want to keep the party going after dark.
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Work
Do you own a food truck? Or maybe you’re a contractor who does a lot of work at sites without electricity hooked up yet. If so, a portable generator is a perfect fit for you.
They are lightweight and cordless and provide plenty of portable power to charge or run your tools.
The Inverter difference over Conventional Generators
Westinghouse offers a simple illustration to show you the difference and help us compare fuel consumption and power outage here between traditional (non-portable) and Inverter (portable and quiet) Generators:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Much Noise Does a Portable Generator Make?
In our list of the best portable generators, most produce a decibel rating of 48 -53.
You may be familiar with big gas-horsepower generators with an alarming decibel rating of between 77 & 90 decibels.
To help dispel the myth that all generators are LOUD, everyday speech is between 50 and 60 decibels.
The quietest generators we reviewed above run between 48 and 53 decibels at a regular 25% load operation, so you can see that these models are considered quiet operators.
Decibel Ratings for Generators – Comparison Chart:
How Much Do Portable Generators Cost?
Portable generators are available at various prices and with different amounts of power, ranging from $350 for a WEN 2,000-watt to $1,200 for a Honda 2200-watt generator.
You’ll commonly hear that portable generators are costly to buy. And it’s true they are not “cheap,” but that is to be expected with a technology that offers so much utility. Furthermore, if you know what you’re looking for, you can significantly reduce the amount of money you spend.
For instance, if you only need a camping generator, you might not need to purchase the highest-watt or best generator on the market.
If the prices of generators are getting you down, I can best advise you to look at this purchase as an investment. It will last years, whether keeping you warm during blackouts caused by winter storms or powering your tools on the job site.
How Much Power Do Portable Generators Have?
Portable generators typically range in power from 2,000-2,200 watts. Many people believe they aren’t powerful enough. This may be due to a bad experience, the generator you tried in the past, or what you used it for.
Today’s Small Portable generators cannot power your entire house; some can’t even power “multiple” large appliances simultaneously. To be ready for that, you should opt for a stand-alone generator.
Most portable generators can power small to medium appliances and electronic items without any problem and for up to 10 hours on a single gas tank.
How Much Fuel Do Portable Generators Use?
Portable generators are designed for a maximum usage of 8 hours a day.
Portable generators typically employ a 1-gallon gas tank. So, if you want to be prepared to run a generator for 2-3 days, you’ll need a 5-gallon gas can on hand.
More Specifications on Portable Generators
Power
If you want to use a portable generator to power refrigerators and lights (not the entire house), it is recommended that you get a generator with 5,000 watts or higher. But if you only need it for job sites, then a 3,000-watt generator will work fine.
Weight
How often will you be moving your generator? Is it going from job site to job site with you? If so, you might want to find something that doesn’t risk damaging your back whenever you pick it up and take it with you. The right size to get in these cases is a 3,000-watt generator.
Fuel Economy
One of the most critical factors is fuel economy; the last thing you want to do is refill the generator every few hours. Try to get a generator with a generously sized tank and, of course, one that consumes fuel at a reasonable rate.
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Our Selection Process
We’ve listed why you might consider a portable generator and even discussed some things to look out for before buying one.
We scoured over 20 manufacturers’ specifications and consumer reports and read in-depth buyer reviews to find the six best, quietest generators available today.
*Note: It’s important to note that we only looked at portable generators. If you need something to power an entire house, you must look at large stationary generators.
Conclusion
Portable generators are a fantastic tool; they don’t surge but keep the power on in your house during outages consistently running, make camping much easier, and allow you access to electricity anywhere you go.
And now, with many of today’s innovations in Portable generators, the issue of ear-shattering sound is a thing of the past.
Now that you’ve seen the top-rated, quietest generator on the market, there’s only one thing left to do: select the one that’s right for you!
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References & Additional Resources
- How Much “Power” Do I Need in A Generator? HondaPowerequipment.com
- How Does A Generator Work? – Howstuffworks.com
- The Best Cordless String Trimmer You Can Buy – Besthomegear.com
- How to Prep Generators and Other Small Engines for Storage – Mechanics.StackExchange.com
- Who Makes The Best Pressure Washer Under $300? – Besthomegear.com
- The Best Battery-Powered Outdoor Equipment Brands – Besthomegear.com
