Small generator in a truck bed
54 models analyzed · updated November 2026

Best generator under $500

Under $500, you get a 2,000 W-class inverter or a budget open-frame generator around 3,000 to 4,000 running watts. We ranked every model typically sold under $500 on Amazon.

The ranking How to choose FAQ
🥈 2nd place WEN GN5600 5600W generator WEN GN5600 5600W 7.6/10 4,500 W · Gas · $300–$500 🥇 1st place · top pick Genkins GK4500iEPRO 4500W Inverter inverter generator Genkins GK4500iEPRO 4500W Inverter 7.6/10 3,800 W · Gas inverter · $300–$500 🥉 3rd place AIVOLT VO4200iX 4200W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT VO4200iX 4200W Open Frame Inverter 7.5/10 3,300 W · Gas inverter · under $300
Quick picks
54 generators
7.6 CO shutoff Genkins GK4500iEPRO 4500W Inverter inverter generator Genkins · Gas inverter Genkins GK4500iEPRO 4500W Inverter 3,800 W 63 dB(A)62 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.6 Best value WEN GN5600 5600W generator WEN · Gas WEN GN5600 5600W 4,500 W 104 lb $300–$500Read the review → 7.5 Best value AIVOLT VO4200iX 4200W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT · Gas inverter AIVOLT VO4200iX 4200W Open Frame Inverter 3,300 W 68 dB(A)54 lb Under $300Read the review → 7.4 CO shutoff A-iPower GXS5000 generator A-iPower · Gas A-iPower GXS5000 4,000 W 68 dB(A)112 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.3 CO shutoff AIVOLT VS4350101 4300W Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT · Gas inverter AIVOLT VS4350101 4300W Inverter 3,450 W 60 dB(A)51 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.3 Best value Genkins GK4500iF Lite 4500W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator Genkins · Gas inverter Genkins GK4500iF Lite 4500W Open Frame Inverter 3,700 W 70 dB(A)56 lb Under $300Read the review → 7.2 Best value Oxseryn EDOG10 4400W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator Oxseryn · Gas inverter Oxseryn EDOG10 4400W Open Frame Inverter 3,400 W 72 dB(A)56 lb Under $300Read the review → 7.2 Best value Oxseryn OXOG08 5000W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator Oxseryn · Gas inverter Oxseryn OXOG08 5000W Open Frame Inverter 4,000 W 70 dB(A)59 lb $300–$500Read the review → 7.2 Best value PowerSmart DB5041C 4500W Open Frame Inverter with CO Alert inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart DB5041C 4500W Open Frame Inverter with CO Alert 3,800 W 72 dB(A)63 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.2 CO shutoff A-iPower SUA4600iF Open-Frame Inverter inverter generator A-iPower · Gas inverter A-iPower SUA4600iF Open-Frame Inverter 3,600 W 68 dB(A)56 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.1 Best value Westinghouse WGen3600cv generator Westinghouse · Gas Westinghouse WGen3600cv 3,600 W 68 dB(A)101 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.1 Easy to carry Pulsar PGD40iSCO inverter generator Pulsar · Gas inverter Pulsar PGD40iSCO 3,200 W 60 dB(A)47 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.1 Easy to carry WEN 56280iX 2800W Inverter with CO Watchdog inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56280iX 2800W Inverter with CO Watchdog 2,250 W 60 dB(A)42 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 7.1 Easy to carry EFURDEN EDOG12 4300W Inverter inverter generator EFURDEN · Gas inverter EFURDEN EDOG12 4300W Inverter 3,300 W 60 dB(A)45 lb $300–$500Read the review → 7.0 Easy to carry Aceup Energy AI4000s 4000W Inverter inverter generator Aceup Energy · Gas inverter Aceup Energy AI4000s 4000W Inverter 3,200 W 60 dB(A)48 lb $300–$500Read the review → 7.0 CO shutoff Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv 3,600 W 68 dB(A)105 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Easy to carry PowerSmart DB5032 3000W Inverter with CO Alert inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart DB5032 3000W Inverter with CO Alert 2,600 W 59 dB(A)47 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Easy to carry PowerSmart DB5068 3800W Inverter inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart DB5068 3800W Inverter 3,200 W 59 dB(A)48 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Dual fuel inverter Aceup Energy AI4000Ds 4000W Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator Aceup Energy · Dual fuel inverter Aceup Energy AI4000Ds 4000W Dual Fuel Inverter 3,200 W 60 dB(A)52 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Best value PowerSmart DB5041 4300W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart DB5041 4300W Open Frame Inverter 3,500 W 72 dB(A)63 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Easy to carry SIOKIUU S2500iS 2500W Inverter inverter generator SIOKIUU · Gas inverter SIOKIUU S2500iS 2500W Inverter 1,900 W 59 dB(A)39 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.9 Best value Evernexta H4500iDR 4000W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator Evernexta · Gas inverter Evernexta H4500iDR 4000W Open Frame Inverter 3,400 W 55 lb Under $300Read the review → 6.9 Budget pick WEN DF472 4750W Dual Fuel generator WEN · Dual fuel WEN DF472 4750W Dual Fuel 3,800 W 103 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.8 Clean inverter power WEN GN400i 4000W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN GN400i 4000W Open Frame Inverter 3,500 W 66 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.8 CO shutoff maXpeedingrods MXR4000 4000W Inverter inverter generator maXpeedingrods · Gas inverter maXpeedingrods MXR4000 4000W Inverter 3,200 W 58 dB(A)51 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.8 Best value PowerSmart DL5040 4400W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart DL5040 4400W Open Frame Inverter 3,600 W 76 dB(A)61 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.8 Best value BILT HARD TGA-0262 4500W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator BILT HARD · Gas inverter BILT HARD TGA-0262 4500W Open Frame Inverter 3,500 W 57 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.7 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen2800c inverter generator Westinghouse · Gas inverter Westinghouse iGen2800c 2,200 W 52 dB(A)47 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.6 Clean inverter power AMERISUN AL5040C 4500W Open Frame Inverter inverter generator AMERISUN · Gas inverter AMERISUN AL5040C 4500W Open Frame Inverter 3,600 W 76 dB(A)61 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.5 Easy to carry GENMAX GM2000i inverter generator GENMAX · Gas inverter GENMAX GM2000i 1,600 W 58 dB(A)34 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.5 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen2550c inverter generator Westinghouse · Gas inverter Westinghouse iGen2550c 1,900 W 52 dB(A)40 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.4 Easy to carry A-iPower SUA2600i inverter generator A-iPower · Gas inverter A-iPower SUA2600i 2,000 W 62 dB(A)37 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.4 Easy to carry Oxseryn EDOC09 2800W Inverter inverter generator Oxseryn · Gas inverter Oxseryn EDOC09 2800W Inverter 2,000 W 58 dB(A)40 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.3 Easy to carry GENMAX GM2800iSAC inverter generator GENMAX · Gas inverter GENMAX GM2800iSAC 2,300 W 62 dB(A)45 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.3 Easy to carry Aceup Energy AI2400s 2500W Inverter inverter generator Aceup Energy · Gas inverter Aceup Energy AI2400s 2500W Inverter 1,900 W 60 dB(A)38 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.2 Whisper quiet WEN 56235i 2350W Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56235i 2350W Inverter 1,900 W 51 dB(A)39 lb $300–$500Read the review → 6.2 Easy to carry maXpeedingrods MXR2850 2850W Inverter inverter generator maXpeedingrods · Gas inverter maXpeedingrods MXR2850 2850W Inverter 2,200 W 40 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.2 Easy to carry Pulsar PGD16iSCO inverter generator Pulsar · Gas inverter Pulsar PGD16iSCO 1,200 W 56 dB(A)24 lbCO Under $300Read the review → 6.1 Whisper quiet AIVOLT I-G1200C 1750W Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT · Gas inverter AIVOLT I-G1200C 1750W Inverter 1,350 W 52 dB(A)28 lbCO Under $300Read the review → 6.0 Dual fuel inverter Pulsar PG2200BiS inverter generator Pulsar · Dual fuel inverter Pulsar PG2200BiS 1,800 W 59 dB(A)46 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.9 Easy to carry GENMAX GM1200i inverter generator GENMAX · Gas inverter GENMAX GM1200i 1,000 W 57 dB(A)25 lbCO Under $300Read the review → 5.9 Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA2301iD 2300W Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator A-iPower · Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA2301iD 2300W Dual Fuel Inverter 1,800 W 62 dB(A)40 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 5.9 Easy to carry Genkins GK2300i 2800W Inverter inverter generator Genkins · Gas inverter Genkins GK2300i 2800W Inverter 2,000 W 40 lb Under $300Read the review → 5.8 Easy to carry A-iPower SUA2301i inverter generator A-iPower · Gas inverter A-iPower SUA2301i 1,800 W 62 dB(A)42 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 5.8 Easy to carry PowerSmart HB5020 2500W Inverter inverter generator PowerSmart · Gas inverter PowerSmart HB5020 2500W Inverter 1,900 W 69 dB(A)40 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.8 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen1500c inverter generator Westinghouse · Gas inverter Westinghouse iGen1500c 1,000 W 52 dB(A)32 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 5.8 Easy to carry WEN 56250i 2500W Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56250i 2500W Inverter 1,900 W 65 dB(A)38 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.6 Easy to carry Pulsar PG1202SA generator Pulsar · Gas Pulsar PG1202SA 900 W 59 dB(A)35 lb Under $300Read the review → 5.6 Easy to carry Ford FG2300iS inverter generator Ford · Gas inverter Ford FG2300iS 2,000 W 46 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.5 Easy to carry Pulsar G2319N inverter generator Pulsar · Gas inverter Pulsar G2319N 1,800 W 59 dB(A)47 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.5 Easy to carry LIFAN 2300i-2 2300W Inverter inverter generator LIFAN · Gas inverter LIFAN 2300i-2 2300W Inverter 1,800 W 43 lb Under $300Read the review → 5.5 CO shutoff Champion 201285 1200-Watt Portable Generator generator Champion · Gas Champion 201285 1200-Watt Portable Generator 1,200 W 65 dB(A)58 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 5.4 Whisper quiet WEN 56125i 1250W Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56125i 1250W Inverter 1,000 W 51 dB(A)32 lb $300–$500Read the review → 5.2 Easy to carry Aceup Energy AG1200 1200W Gas Generator generator Aceup Energy · Gas Aceup Energy AG1200 1200W Gas Generator 900 W 36 lb Under $300Read the review →

No generator matches these filters.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Typical price ranges observed in November 2026.

54models compared
2,575 Waverage running watts
9%run on propane too
48%with a CO shutoff
6.5/10average score

How to choose

Inverter or watts?

At this price, choose between a quiet inverter for camping and electronics, or more raw watts for basic home backup.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Skipping the warranty check: it ranges from 1 to 3 years on budget models.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a good generator for under $500?

Yes: well-reviewed 2,000 W inverters and 3,500 W open frames fall in this range.

Will a generator under $500 run a house?

Only a few essentials through extension cords.

Do prices change often on Amazon?

Yes, especially before hurricane season and during sales. We show typical price ranges; the price that counts is the one on Amazon when you buy.

Narrow your search

By type

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

By use case

Home backup68 modelsWhole house37 modelsRV84 modelsQuiet generators46 modelsCamping61 modelsLightweight55 modelsWell pump62 modelsJobsite51 modelsRemote start52 modelsElectric start92 modelsCO shutoff129 modelsParallel capable98 models

By size

2,000 W class24 models3,500 W class32 models4,500 W class44 models7,500 W class19 models9,500 W and up50 models

By budget

Under $1,000111 modelsUnder $1,500142 models