Large generator outside a house during a storm
37 models analyzed · updated November 2026

Best portable generator for a whole house

A portable generator will not run everything a standby unit can, but the largest models, 9,000 running watts and up with 240 V outlets, cover most of a house: kitchen, furnace, well pump, sump pump, lights and even a small central AC with a soft start. We kept the models with at least 9,000 running watts and a 240 V outlet.

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
37 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 → 8.0 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 → 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 → 7.6 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 → 7.5 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 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 → 7.3 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 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 → 7.1 Whole-house power Westinghouse WGen20000c generator Westinghouse · Gas Westinghouse WGen20000c 20,000 W 74 dB(A)541 lbCO Over $2,500Read 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 → 6.1 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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37models compared
10,822 Waverage running watts
84%run on propane too
86%with a CO shutoff
7.6/10average score

How to choose

Look for a 14-50R outlet

A 50 A 14-50R outlet (about 12,000 W at 240 V) lets a 50 A transfer switch or interlock use the generator's full output. An L14-30R is limited to 30 A, about 7,200 W.

Central air

A 3-ton central AC can need 4,000 to 6,000 W to start. A soft start kit on the compressor cuts that surge sharply.

Weight

These units weigh 200 lb and more: wheels and a fold-down handle are essential, and you need a dry, ventilated spot 20 feet from the house.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Expecting a portable unit to run electric heat or an electric water heater along with everything else: those loads alone can exceed 10,000 W.

Frequently asked questions

Can a portable generator power a whole house?

The largest portables (9,000 to 13,000 running watts) can run most of a typical house through a transfer switch, as long as you avoid big electric heating loads and stagger the startup of large motors.

What size portable generator runs a house with central air?

Usually 9,500 running watts or more, ideally with a soft start kit on the AC compressor.

Is a portable generator an alternative to a standby generator?

Yes, at a fraction of the cost, with the trade-off that you have to set it up, refuel it and connect it manually at each outage.

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