Power outages can be unavoidable. And some regions actually have frequent power outages because of storms and other events. Without a generator, winter can be brutal and summer can be cruel.
Back in the day, generators were huge, heavy, and noisy. Fortunately today, there are portable ones that have little to no noise.
In this list are some of the best portable generators I have found. I have tried different types of generators over the years because we need them, so I can definitely say that my research is valid.
Top 3 Best Portable Generator List
Check out our recommendations for the best portable generators, along with their features, benefits, pros and cons:
Champion 1400 Watt Portable RV and Home Generator 42432
This is a great and powerful generator for home use. I wouldn’t recommend it for camping though because it’s not that lightweight. For RV use, it can be fine.
For emergencies, this is a reliable and powerful generator. It can power your appliances during power outages. It runs at 1,400 watts powered by an 80cc Champion single-cylinder OHV engine fueled by gasoline.
Features of the Champion 1400 Watt Portable Generator 42432
Power : 10 amps at 120 volts
Fuel Tank: 1.5-Gallon tank
Noise Level: 65 dBA noise level from 23 feet which is alright considering it’s for home use
Run Time: Can reach 10 hours of power at 50% load
Safety:
- Low oil auto shut-off
- This sensor notifies you if the oil is low a
Dimension: 45 cm L x 37.2 cm W x 38.3 cm H
Weight: 136.7 lbs
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500
It’s easy to see why a lot of people rave about this generator.
It’s powered by electricity and solar panels, but the latter does not come included in the package. You have to buy it separately.
It’s called Explorer 500 because it cannot power devices that require more than 500 watts. This translates to a more safe usage. It’s pretty portable too so I would say this is best for outdoor use.
Features of the Jackery Solar Emergency Generator
Safe and Stable Power:
- Does not power devices rated over 500W
- 500 watt (surge 1000W)
Connections:
- Standard 12V/10A carport
- 3 x 5V/2.4A USB ports
Portable Charging:
- Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar panel full charge within 14 hours (in full sun)
- Carport within 16 hours
- AC wall outlet within 8 hours
Emergency: Dependable power supply for emergencies or power outages
Safety:
- Pure sine wave inverter
- Reduced audible and electrical noise
- BMS system for protection from: over-voltage, over-current, overheating
- Keeps you and your devices safe
Dimension: 11.84” L x 7.59” W x 9.2” H
Weight: 13.32 lbs
Sungzu Portable Power Station 1000W
It looks like a CPU case but it is a reliable source of power.
This generator works for almost all the electric devices provided they run with less than 1000 watts. There are 2 ways to power this generator: through an electric wall socket or through solar panels – which are sold separately.
Features of the Sungza Portable 1000W Power Station Generator
Power
1010 Watts (273,000mAh/3.7V)
Longer power supply
Outlets
2 x AC outlets (110V 9.1A 60Hz)
2 x DC ports (12V/8A max)
4 x USB ports (5V 3A max)
Screen
OLED screen that displays: charging/discharging, battery life, USB 5 v, out 12 v, and temperature
Charging
Lithium battery pack
Full charge takes 5 ½ – 7 hours through a wall socket
Full charge around 8 hours by 200W and 14hrs 100W through solar panel at normal sun conditions
Safety
Protection from:
- Short circuit
- Over-charging
- Overheating
- Over-discharge
- Over-voltage
Certifications
CE RoHS FCC
Dimensions
16” L x 6.4” W x 10.8” L
Weight
25.4 lbs
Portable Generator Buying Guide
Size
Portable generators still come in different shapes and sizes, including starting and running watts. Know what you need it for and what equipment, vehicle, tools, etc. that you want powered.
What you do is determine all the things you want to run all at once. Record each of their starting watts (watts needed to start an equipment with a motor) and running watts (watts needed to keep them running). Add everything and get the total.
The generator you need should be able to produce the total running and starting watts or more to power these items. If you are going to be using your generator for camping or your RV, we have some helpful information about that for you too.
Fuel
Generators are either fueled by gasoline, diesel, or propane. Among the three, propane is the fastest to burn, which means it is the fastest to produce power. It also has a cleaner burn compared to the other two.
The only con is that propane is expensive. If you are to run your generator, for say, 10 hours, propane would not be the best choice.
Portable
Like I said, generators come in many shapes and sizes. The ones we have today are less heavy and bulky than the ones available some few decades back. But they are still heavy.
They have to be. They are power sources after all!
But there are portable generators that have wheels, cases, and foldable handles. These make for easier transport and storage.
Run Time
The longer the run time, the less the need to constantly refuel the generator. But if you don’t mind refueling a couple of times at a time, there are generators for it too.
Number of Outlets
Choose a generator that has the correct type of outlets, and enough number of outlets for all your needs.
Included Cords
Not all generators might have a cord(s) included in the package. Some do, some don’t. These cord sets are usually used for extension wiring. So if they don’t come included in the package, I suggest you get one.
We also have a guide if you need to know how to make your generator quieter.
Summary for Best Portable Generator
For me, portable generators are a must. They can be used as a sole source of power, or be reserved for emergency uses like storms. But they are too big and heavy to be used for camping.
I tried using my current generator as a source of power even when our electricity is out, just to test it out. It’s the weekend and nobody else is at home except me.
I connected 3 things: the mini-fridge, my laptop, and my computer. It held up pretty well for 4 hours and I was able to use them like I always do.