Generator connected to a house inlet box
62 models analyzed · updated November 2026

Best generator for a well pump

Most submersible well pumps run on 240 V and pull a big inrush current at startup. Without water, no toilets, no showers, no cooking: the well pump is often the reason rural homeowners buy a generator. We kept the models with a 240 V outlet and at least 6,000 running watts.

The ranking How to choose FAQ
🥈 2nd place Westinghouse WGen11500TFc generator Westinghouse WGen11500TFc 8.2/10 11,500 W · Tri fuel · $1,200–$1,800 🥇 1st place · top pick Westinghouse WGen11500DFc generator Westinghouse WGen11500DFc 8.3/10 11,500 W · Dual fuel · $1,200–$1,800 🥉 3rd place Westinghouse WGen10500TFc generator Westinghouse WGen10500TFc 8.2/10 10,500 W · Tri fuel · $1,200–$1,800
Quick picks
62 generators
8.3 Top pick Westinghouse WGen11500DFc generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen11500DFc 11,500 W 74 dB(A)230 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 8.2 Top pick Westinghouse WGen11500TFc generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen11500TFc 11,500 W 74 dB(A)230 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 8.2 Top pick Westinghouse WGen10500TFc generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen10500TFc 10,500 W 74 dB(A)230 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 8.2 Best value DuroStar DS13000MX generator DuroStar · Dual fuel DuroStar DS13000MX 10,500 W 74 dB(A)209 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 8.2 Best value Westinghouse WGen10500DFc generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen10500DFc 10,500 W 74 dB(A)230 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 8.2 CO shutoff Genkins GK8000iE 8000W Inverter inverter generator Genkins · Gas inverter Genkins GK8000iE 8000W Inverter 6,500 W 62 dB(A)112 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 8.1 Best value WEN DF8000X 8000W Dual Fuel with CO Watchdog generator WEN · Dual fuel WEN DF8000X 8000W Dual Fuel with CO Watchdog 6,500 W 139 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 8.1 Tri fuel Westinghouse iGen8200TFc inverter generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel inverter Westinghouse iGen8200TFc 6,600 W 60 dB(A)134 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 8.0 Best value Pulsar G12KBN generator Pulsar · Dual fuel Pulsar G12KBN 9,500 W 74 dB(A)209 lb $800–$1,200Read the review → 8.0 Tri fuel Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel (8063, 49ST) generator Generac · Tri fuel Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel (8063, 49ST) 9,500 W 219 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 8.0 Clean inverter power Aceup Energy AI8000 8000W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator Aceup Energy · Gas inverter Aceup Energy AI8000 8000W Open Frame Inverter 6,000 W 106 lb $500–$800Read the review → 7.9 Best value DuroMax XP13000HX generator DuroMax · Dual fuel DuroMax XP13000HX 10,500 W 74 dB(A)240 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.9 Whole-house power Westinghouse iGen12000DFc inverter generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel inverter Westinghouse iGen12000DFc 9,000 W 64 dB(A)189 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.9 Tri fuel Westinghouse iGen12000TFc inverter generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel inverter Westinghouse iGen12000TFc 9,000 W 64 dB(A)191 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.9 Whole-house power Champion 201302 9200-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Generator generator Champion · Dual fuel Champion 201302 9200-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Generator 9,200 W 74 dB(A)209 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.9 Tri fuel Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel EFI (8061, 50ST) generator Generac · Tri fuel Generac GP9500E Tri Fuel EFI (8061, 50ST) 9,500 W 227 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.8 Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen9500TFc generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen9500TFc 9,500 W 74 dB(A)215 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.8 Best value Westinghouse WGen9500c generator Westinghouse · Gas Westinghouse WGen9500c 9,500 W 74 dB(A)209 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.8 Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen9500TFc EFI generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen9500TFc EFI 9,500 W 74 dB(A)222 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.7 Dual fuel inverter Pulsar PGDA70BiSCO inverter generator Pulsar · Dual fuel inverter Pulsar PGDA70BiSCO 6,000 W 62 dB(A)118 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.7 Remote start Westinghouse ecoGen10000 inverter generator Westinghouse · Gas inverter Westinghouse ecoGen10000 7,600 W 72 dB(A)148 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.7 Tri fuel Pulsar PGD105TiSCO inverter generator Pulsar · Tri fuel inverter Pulsar PGD105TiSCO 8,500 W 62 dB(A)247 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.6 Best value Westinghouse WGen9500DF generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen9500DF 9,500 W 74 dB(A)211 lb $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.6 Tri fuel GENMAX GM15000ET generator GENMAX · Tri fuel GENMAX GM15000ET 11,000 W 76 dB(A)242 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.6 Whole-house power Champion 201407 11,000-Watt Wireless Start Inverter inverter generator Champion · Gas inverter Champion 201407 11,000-Watt Wireless Start Inverter 9,000 W 64 dB(A)200 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.6 Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen14500TFc generator Westinghouse · Tri fuel Westinghouse WGen14500TFc 14,500 W 74 dB(A)348 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.6 Whole-house power Westinghouse WGen14500DFc generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen14500DFc 14,500 W 74 dB(A)352 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.6 CO shutoff Generac GP6700E DF (G0080623, 49ST) generator Generac · Dual fuel Generac GP6700E DF (G0080623, 49ST) 6,700 W 181 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.6 CO shutoff Generac GP8000E COsense (7715, 49ST/CSA) generator Generac · Gas Generac GP8000E COsense (7715, 49ST/CSA) 8,000 W 198 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.5 Whole-house power DuroMax XP13000EH generator DuroMax · Dual fuel DuroMax XP13000EH 10,500 W 234 lb $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.5 Tri fuel Champion 201423 11,000-Watt Wireless Start Tri Fuel Inverter inverter generator Champion · Tri fuel inverter Champion 201423 11,000-Watt Wireless Start Tri Fuel Inverter 9,000 W 64 dB(A)212 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.4 Whole-house power DuroMax XP12000EH generator DuroMax · Dual fuel DuroMax XP12000EH 9,500 W 224 lb $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.4 Tri fuel AIVOLT VS12000511 11500W Tri-Fuel Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT · Tri fuel inverter AIVOLT VS12000511 11500W Tri-Fuel Inverter 9,200 W 64 dB(A)216 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.4 Tri fuel GENMAX GM9000iET inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM9000iET 8,000 W 62 dB(A)138 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.4 Tri fuel GENMAX GM10500XiT inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM10500XiT 7,800 W 74 dB(A)124 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.4 Tri fuel GENMAX GM17000iETC inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM17000iETC 13,500 W 63 dB(A)313 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.4 Whole-house power Champion 201417 11,000-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator Champion · Dual fuel inverter Champion 201417 11,000-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter 9,000 W 64 dB(A)205 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.4 Remote start Westinghouse WGen7500c generator Westinghouse · Gas Westinghouse WGen7500c 7,500 W 72 dB(A)197 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.4 Tri fuel Champion 201169 6500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator generator Champion · Tri fuel Champion 201169 6500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator 6,500 W 74 dB(A)206 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.4 Remote start Westinghouse WGen7500DFc generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen7500DFc 7,500 W 72 dB(A)202 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.4 Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM7250iEDC inverter generator GENMAX · Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM7250iEDC 6,000 W 63 dB(A)118 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.4 CO shutoff DEWALT DXGNR8000 generator DEWALT · Gas DEWALT DXGNR8000 8,000 W 183 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 7.3 Remote start GENMAX GM9000iE inverter generator GENMAX · Gas inverter GENMAX GM9000iE 7,600 W 62 dB(A)234 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.3 Whole-house power DuroMax XP12000E generator DuroMax · Gas DuroMax XP12000E 9,500 W 217 lb $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.3 Tri fuel GENMAX GM12500iET inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM12500iET 10,500 W 62 dB(A)252 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.3 Tri fuel GENMAX GM13500iETC inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM13500iETC 11,500 W 62 dB(A)274 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.3 Whole-house power DuroMax XP15000HX generator DuroMax · Dual fuel DuroMax XP15000HX 12,000 W 78 dB(A)345 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.3 Tri fuel DuroMax XP15000HXT generator DuroMax · Tri fuel DuroMax XP15000HXT 12,000 W 78 dB(A)362 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.3 Whole-house power DuroMax XP16000iH inverter generator DuroMax · Dual fuel inverter DuroMax XP16000iH 13,000 W 67 dB(A)368 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.2 Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA7600iED inverter generator A-iPower · Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA7600iED 6,100 W 62 dB(A)130 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.2 Whole-house power AIVOLT VS12000411 11250W Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT · Dual fuel inverter AIVOLT VS12000411 11250W Dual Fuel Inverter 9,000 W 60 dB(A)221 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.2 Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM9000iED inverter generator GENMAX · Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM9000iED 7,600 W 62 dB(A)244 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.2 Tri fuel GENMAX GM10500iETC inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM10500iETC 8,500 W 62 dB(A)247 lbCO $1,800–$2,500Read the review → 7.1 Whole-house power Westinghouse WGen20000c generator Westinghouse · Gas Westinghouse WGen20000c 20,000 W 74 dB(A)541 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 7.1 CO shutoff Briggs & Stratton 8000 Watt Elite Series 030741 generator Briggs & Stratton · Gas Briggs & Stratton 8000 Watt Elite Series 030741 8,000 W 225 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.1 Remote start Cummins Onan P9500df generator Cummins · Dual fuel Cummins Onan P9500df 7,500 W 74 dB(A)194 lb $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.0 Tri fuel GENMAX GM8000iETC inverter generator GENMAX · Tri fuel inverter GENMAX GM8000iETC 6,000 W 62 dB(A)145 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 7.0 CO shutoff AIVOLT VG8000401 7500W Dual Fuel Generator generator AIVOLT · Dual fuel AIVOLT VG8000401 7500W Dual Fuel Generator 6,300 W 128 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 6.9 Tri fuel Champion 201241 13,500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator generator Champion · Tri fuel Champion 201241 13,500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator 13,500 W 79 dB(A)361 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 6.8 Whole-house power Champion 201160 12,000-Watt Electric Start Generator generator Champion · Gas Champion 201160 12,000-Watt Electric Start Generator 12,000 W 78 dB(A)329 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review → 6.8 CO shutoff Briggs & Stratton 7000 Watt Elite Series 030740 generator Briggs & Stratton · Gas Briggs & Stratton 7000 Watt Elite Series 030740 7,000 W 223 lbCO $1,200–$1,800Read the review → 6.1 Whole-house power Honda EB10000 (EB10000AN) generator Honda · Gas Honda EB10000 (EB10000AN) 9,000 W 71 dB(A)403 lbCO Over $2,500Read the review →

No generator matches these filters.

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62models compared
9,334 Waverage running watts
76%run on propane too
89%with a CO shutoff
7.5/10average score

How to choose

Size for the starting surge

A 1 HP submersible pump runs on about 1,000 W but can need 4,000 to 6,000 W to start, sometimes more on older pumps. A 1.5 or 2 HP pump calls for a 9,500 W-class generator. Check the pump's horsepower and voltage on the control box.

Hardwired: use a transfer switch

A well pump is hardwired: it needs a transfer switch or an interlock kit installed by a licensed electrician.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing a 120 V-only generator: it cannot run a 240 V well pump.

Frequently asked questions

What size generator do I need for a well pump?

For a 1/2 to 1 HP 240 V pump, about 6,000 to 7,500 running watts so the starting surge doesn't stall it; for 1.5 to 2 HP, 9,500 W and up.

Can a portable generator run a 240 V well pump?

Yes, if it has a 240 V outlet (L14-30R or 14-50R) and enough starting watts, connected through a transfer switch.

Will an inverter generator run a well pump?

Large inverters with a 240 V outlet can; small 120 V-only inverters cannot.

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Inverter generators120 modelsDual fuel generators80 modelsDual fuel inverters46 modelsTri fuel generators25 modelsGas (open frame)24 models

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Home backup68 modelsWhole house37 modelsRV84 modelsQuiet generators46 modelsCamping61 modelsLightweight55 modelsJobsite51 modelsRemote start52 modelsElectric start92 modelsCO shutoff129 modelsParallel capable98 models

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