Home backup power — standby, portable, and inverter generator specs, sizing, and running costs
Structured specifications for 86 home backup generators across 12 brands — home standby, portable, and inverter. Running and starting watts for every fuel the unit burns, noise, runtime, transfer-switch readiness, and the running-cost math done for you. Specifications curated from manufacturer documentation; every record links to its source.
Browse generators
- All 86 generators
- Dual-Fuel (Gasoline + Propane) Generators
- Tri-Fuel Generators
- Natural Gas Generators
- Quiet Generators (Under 60 dBA)
- 50-Amp-Ready Portable Generators
- 30-Amp-Ready Generators
- Generators with CO Safety Shutoff
- Parallel-Capable Inverter Generators
- Generators with 10,000+ Running Watts
- Small Generators Under 2,500 Watts
What size generator do you need?
Skip the guesswork: tick the appliances you need to keep running and the sizing calculator sums the running watts, adds the largest starting surge, and recommends a size with headroom — then points you at matching models. There's also a fuel cost comparison tool for gasoline vs propane vs natural gas.
Best generator for the job
- Refrigerator and essentials
- Partial home via 30 A inlet
- Whole-house standby
- Quiet camping / RV
- Job site
- Well-pump capable
- Natural-gas standby
- Dual-fuel portable
Featured comparisons
- Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect DX 26kW (040806) vs Cummins QuietConnect RS30 30kW Liquid-Cooled
- Cummins QuietConnect RS30 30kW Liquid-Cooled vs Generac Guardian 26kW (7290)
- Generac Guardian 26kW (7290) vs Kohler 26RCA 26kW
- Champion 7500W with 50A Outlet (100813) vs Firman H08051 Dual Fuel 8000W
- DuroMax XP15000HX Dual Fuel vs Firman H08051 Dual Fuel 8000W
- Firman H08051 Dual Fuel 8000W vs Predator 13000 Tri-Fuel (71386)
- Generac GP17500E vs Westinghouse WGen14500DF
- Predator 13000 Tri-Fuel (71386) vs Pulsar G12KBN Dual Fuel 12000W
- Pulsar G12KBN Dual Fuel 12000W vs WEN DF1100T Dual Fuel 11000W
Quietest inverter generators
| Model | Noise | Running watts | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda EU2200i | 48 dBA | 1,800 W | 47.4 lb |
| Honda EU2200i Companion | 48 dBA | 1,800 W | 47.4 lb |
| Honda EU7000iS | 52 dBA | 5,500 W | 263.2 lb |
| Westinghouse iGen4500 | 52 dBA | 3,700 W | 104.7 lb |
| Westinghouse iGen4500DF Dual Fuel | 52 dBA | 3,700 W | 98 lb |
| Champion 2000W Inverter (100692) | 53 dBA | 1,700 W | 39 lb |
Manufacturers measure noise at different loads and distances — treat small differences as ties. Full list: quiet generators under 60 dBA.
Buying and installation guides
- Can a generator charge an EV during an outage?
- What size generator do you need? The watts-and-surge method
- Portable vs standby generator: the real cost and effort comparison
- Transfer switch vs interlock kit: safe ways to power your panel
- Dual-fuel and tri-fuel generators explained (and the derating math)
- Generator safety: carbon monoxide, placement, and wet weather
- Inverter generators explained: THD, sensitive electronics, and parallel kits
- Can a generator run central air conditioning?
- What a natural-gas standby generator costs to run
New to backup power? Start with the glossary — starting vs running watts, transfer switch, and inverter generator in plain English.