Best overall
Generac GP8000E Portable Generator with COsense
8,000 W with COsense, L14-30R and a CSA version for Canada
Portable and inverter generators
Portable generators give the most power for the money in a long outage, for households that can store fuel and run one safely outdoors.
Used for: Backup power for your home
Our picks
Best budget
Westinghouse iGen2200c Inverter Generator with CO Sensor
Light 1,800 W inverter with CO shutdown for the basics
Best inverter
Champion 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Shield
Quiet dual-fuel inverter, CO Shield, stated PGMA G300-2018
Compare side by side
| Specification | Best overall Generac GP8000E Portable Generator with COsense | Best budget Westinghouse iGen2200c Inverter Generator with CO Sensor | Best inverter Champion 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Shield | Best dual fuel Westinghouse WGen9500DFc Dual Fuel Generator with CO Sensor | Best tri-fuel DuroMax XP13000HXT Tri-Fuel Portable Generator with CO Alert $1,499–$2,199 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | Our score: 8.0/10 out of 10 | Our score: 7.4/10 out of 10 | Our score: 8.1/10 out of 10 | Our score: 7.9/10 out of 10 | Our score: 8.1/10 out of 10 |
| Running watts | 8,000 W | 1,800 W | 3,500 W | 9,500 W | 10,500 W(best in this row) |
| Starting watts | 10,000 W | 2,200 W | 4,500 W | 12,500 W | 13,000 W(best in this row) |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline | Gasoline or propane | Gasoline or propane | Gasoline, propane or natural gas |
| CO shutoff | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Largest outlet | 120/240 V 30 A (L14-30R) | 120 V 20 A only | 120 V 30 A (TT-30R) | 120/240 V 50 A (14-50R) | 120/240 V 50 A (14-50R) |
| Runtime at 25% load | not listed | 12 h | 14 h | 12 h | 17 h(best in this row) |
| Noise (maker's rating) | not listed | 52 dB(A)(best in this row) | 61 dB(A) | 74 dB(A) | 74 dB(A) |
| Weight | 198 lb | 47.4 lb | 99.2 lb | not listed | 246 lb |
| Where to buy |
US retailers |
US retailers |
US retailers |
US retailers |
Before you buy
- Match watts to your list Check running watts against what must run together, and starting watts against the biggest motor. The load worksheet helps.
- Check the furnace Many high-efficiency furnaces need clean, stable power. An inverter generator, or a model the furnace maker approves, avoids nuisance shutdowns.
- Choose fuel you can store Gas goes stale; propane keeps. Dual-fuel models let you switch when the stations are closed.
Need a standby generator or transfer switch installed?
Pick the job, then your city.
We don’t store what you type.
Guides
Best-of
The best generators for a power outage in Canada
Five portable generators with CO shut-off for winter outages, ranked for Canadian homes: size, safe hookup, fuel and the Canadian mark.
Buying guide
What size generator do I need? A load worksheet
A fill-in load worksheet for sizing a generator from your own nameplates: running vs starting watts, 240 V, furnaces, and portable vs standby vs battery.
Comparison
Portable power station vs generator for a power outage
Silent and indoor-safe, or energy for days: how a 1 kWh power station and a 4,500 W dual fuel inverter compare through a real outage.
Portable generator questions
Why buy a generator with a CO shut-off?
The US CPSC counts nearly 100 deaths a year in the US from portable generator carbon monoxide and advises buying models with a CO shut-off. Health Canada says the same, and adds that a shut-off never makes indoor use safe or replaces CO alarms. Every model we list has a CO shut-off stated by its maker.
Can I run a generator in the garage or under a porch roof?
No. Health Canada says never in a garage or shed, even with the door open. The US CPSC adds porches and carports, and says opening windows is not enough. Keep it at least 6 m (20 ft) from the house with the exhaust pointed away.
What about running a generator in rain or snow?
Follow the maker’s instructions. The CPSC says these may call for a noncombustible generator tent rated by NFPA, or for waiting until the weather passes. Never move it indoors or into a garage to keep it dry.