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

Best lightweight portable generator

Under 55 lb, a generator goes from the truck to the campsite in one hand. We kept every model below that weight, almost all of them small inverters in the 1,500 to 2,500 W class.

The ranking How to choose FAQ
🥈 2nd 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 🥇 1st place · top pick ERAYAK 4500PDM Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator ERAYAK 4500PDM Dual Fuel Inverter 7.6/10 3,500 W · Dual fuel inverter · $500–$800 🥉 3rd place AIVOLT VS4350101 4300W Inverter inverter generator AIVOLT VS4350101 4300W Inverter 7.3/10 3,450 W · Gas inverter · $300–$500
Quick picks
55 generators
7.6 Dual fuel inverter ERAYAK 4500PDM Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator ERAYAK · Dual fuel inverter ERAYAK 4500PDM Dual Fuel Inverter 3,500 W 58 dB(A)54 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 → 7.3 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 → 7.1 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 Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM4500iSAD inverter generator GENMAX · Dual fuel inverter GENMAX GM4500iSAD 4,000 W 62 dB(A)51 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 → 7.1 Clean inverter power WEN 56432i 4500W Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56432i 4500W Inverter 3,600 W 62 dB(A)53 lb $500–$800Read 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 → 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 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 → 6.8 CO shutoff A-iPower SUA4300i inverter generator A-iPower · Gas inverter A-iPower SUA4300i 3,450 W 62 dB(A)53 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 6.8 Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA4300iD 4300W Dual Fuel Inverter inverter generator A-iPower · Dual fuel inverter A-iPower SUA4300iD 4300W Dual Fuel Inverter 3,450 W 62 dB(A)55 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 → 6.7 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen2800c inverter generator Westinghouse · Gas inverter Westinghouse iGen2800c 2,200 W 52 dB(A)47 lbCO $300–$500Read the review → 6.7 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen2800DFc inverter generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel inverter Westinghouse iGen2800DFc 2,200 W 52 dB(A)45 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 6.6 Dual fuel inverter WEN DF360iX 3600W Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Watchdog inverter generator WEN · Dual fuel inverter WEN DF360iX 3600W Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Watchdog 2,900 W 65 dB(A)50 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 Dual fuel inverter PowerSmart HB5040DC 3800W Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Alert inverter generator PowerSmart · Dual fuel inverter PowerSmart HB5040DC 3800W Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Alert 3,300 W 70 dB(A)51 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 6.5 Easy to carry Champion 100809 4000-Watt RV Ready Inverter inverter generator Champion · Gas inverter Champion 100809 4000-Watt RV Ready Inverter 3,000 W 64 dB(A)48 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 → 6.5 Easy to carry RVMP Flex Power 3300i inverter generator RVMP · Gas inverter RVMP Flex Power 3300i 2,700 W 59 dB(A)46 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 Dual fuel inverter Champion 201050 4000-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Inverter inverter generator Champion · Dual fuel inverter Champion 201050 4000-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Inverter 3,000 W 64 dB(A)52 lbCO $500–$800Read the review → 6.4 Whisper quiet Westinghouse iGen2550DFc inverter generator Westinghouse · Dual fuel inverter Westinghouse iGen2550DFc 1,900 W 52 dB(A)43 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 WEN 56360i 3600W Inverter inverter generator WEN · Gas inverter WEN 56360i 3600W Inverter 2,900 W 65 dB(A)46 lb $500–$800Read the review → 6.2 Dual fuel inverter Pulsar GD400BN inverter generator Pulsar · Dual fuel inverter Pulsar GD400BN 3,200 W 68 dB(A)47 lb $500–$800Read 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 → 6.0 Whisper quiet Generac GP2500i (82512, 49ST) inverter generator Generac · Gas inverter Generac GP2500i (82512, 49ST) 2,200 W 53 dB(A)48 lbCO $500–$800Read 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 → 5.7 Whisper quiet Honda EU2200i (EU2200ITAN) inverter generator Honda · Gas inverter Honda EU2200i (EU2200ITAN) 1,800 W 48 dB(A)47 lbCO $800–$1,200Read 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 → 5.4 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 → 5.3 Whisper quiet Honda EU1000i (EU1000T1AN) inverter generator Honda · Gas inverter Honda EU1000i (EU1000T1AN) 900 W 42 dB(A)29 lbCO $800–$1,200Read the review → 5.3 Easy to carry A-iPower SC2000i inverter generator A-iPower · Gas inverter A-iPower SC2000i 1,600 W 62 dB(A)46 lb $500–$800Read 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 → 5.0 CO shutoff Briggs & Stratton P2400 PowerSmart Series 030758 inverter generator Briggs & Stratton · Gas inverter Briggs & Stratton P2400 PowerSmart Series 030758 1,800 W 50 lbCO $500–$800Read the review →

No generator matches these filters.

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

55models compared
2,297 Waverage running watts
22%run on propane too
60%with a CO shutoff
6.3/10average score

How to choose

Weight is with an empty tank

Manufacturers usually publish the dry weight. A full gallon of gasoline adds about 6 lb.

Power-to-weight

Our portability score divides running watts by weight: it shows which light units give the most power per pound.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying the lightest unit and then needing to run a 13,500 BTU RV AC: it won't.

Frequently asked questions

What is the lightest portable generator?

Small 1,000 to 2,000 W inverters weigh 30 to 50 lb. Our ranking lists them with their manufacturer weight.

Can a lightweight generator run a fridge?

Usually yes, a 1,600 W-plus inverter handles a full-size fridge's startup surge.

Are light generators less durable?

Not necessarily: check the warranty length and the engine type in each review.

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 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 $50054 modelsUnder $1,000111 modelsUnder $1,500142 models