Best Portable Generators of 2022
Top-scoring recreational and portable generators—traditional and inverter models—all with lifesaving features
By Paul Hope, Tobie Stanger
If you live where electrical outages don’t happen often—or the power typically is restored in a few hours—there’s no need to buy a home standby, or stationary, generator. Those units cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to buy and install, according to Fixr, which provides home-improvement cost comparisons.
Rather, look to buy a large portable generator. It’s typically less expensive than buying and installing a home standby model. And whether you buy a traditional portable generator or an inverter model—a more efficient, quieter, and pricier type of generator—you’ll get plenty of power to run most of the essentials in your home.
Even smaller midsized and recreational portables—which we also feature here—will power some essentials in a pinch.
Keep in mind, though, that portable generators carry safety risks. They produce carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, invisible, and toxic gas. About 85 people die each year in the U.S. from generator-related CO poisoning, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many new portable generator models feature automatic shutoff and a low-CO engine to reduce their risks. Consumer Reports now puts every gas-burning generator through a rigorous safety test and recommends portable generators only if they have either or both of these potentially lifesaving safety features.
“The newest generators we’ve tested prove that these tools can blend safety and performance,” says Misha Kollontai, who oversees CR’s generator tests. “The majority of newly tested models make major improvements over older generators in terms of safety and still manage to deliver power reliably.”
No matter which kind of generator you choose, use it only outdoors and place it at least 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust directed away from any open windows or doors. Also:
• For full-sized, traditional portables and large inverter generators, have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch, which connects a generator to your home’s circuit breaker panel, allowing you to safely power entire circuits at once. (Purchase and installation will cost you from $500 to $1,500.)
• For midsized or recreational generators, use outdoor-rated extension cords to plug individual appliances directly into the generator. (Transfer switches aren’t compatible with these types of generators.) Make sure the cords are at least the gauge specified by the generator manufacturer and long enough that the generator can remain 20 feet from your home.
CR's Generator Performance Tests
While safety is essential, our performance testing ensures that a generator will work as promised in the moment you need it most. To do that, our expert engineers load up every generator we assess with a variety of essentials you might want to power during an outage, like a space heater, refrigerator, or window air conditioner (check out our guide to which size generator can power which appliances). We make sure the generator can handle the load it promises and also determine what happens when a sudden spike in voltage hits, which is what would happen if the compressor in your refrigerator kicked on when the generator was already close to capacity.
The best models take these spikes in stride, while others bog down or even stall. We also look at how easy it is to move and use a generator, as well as how efficiently it uses gasoline and how long it runs on a single tank.
Defining ‘Portable’
What, exactly, is a “portable” generator? That designation can include everything from a little generator of under 40 pounds that you’d use at a campground to charge your phone all the way up to a 300-pound behemoth capable of powering your entire house through a sustained outage. Think of a portable generator as any model that’s not a home standby generator.
Here, we’ve split portable generators into three common styles you’ll find, with some notes on what each can do.
Our ratings include results for more than 50 portable generators—around 30 traditional and more than 20 inverter types—as well as home standby generators. If you’re just beginning to shop for a generator, start with our generator buying guide to get a sense of the differences among types. CR members can also jump to our generator ratings, or read on for ratings and reviews of the best portable generators from our tests.
Best Portable Generators to Power Your Entire Home
These provide 7,000 to more than 8,000 watts of power and usually weigh upward of 200 pounds. They’re what you want to power most or all of your home’s essentials during a prolonged outage. Prices currently range from just under $1,000 to nearly $2,000.
Best Portable Generators for Small Houses, Boats, and Recreational Vehicles
These midsized generators, both inverter and traditional portable models, provide 2,500 to 4,900-plus watts of power, and they weigh from about 80 to 180 pounds. They pack plenty of power for a boat, an RV, or a camper, or they can power a few household essentials. Despite their lower power output, the inverter models can be pricier than higher-output traditional portables. Among the two types—inverters and traditional portables—prices range from a little more than $500 to $2,500.
Best Portable Generators for Camping and Tailgating
These generators, called recreational inverter generators in our ratings, provide up to 2,500 watts of power and usually weigh around 50 pounds, making them perfect for campsites. In a pinch, you can power a fridge and a few lights with these, but for anything more, look to the generators above. These more modest units are fuel-efficient and quiet, and you’ll pay $550 to about $1,200.
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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
