We Constantly Test and Evaluate Home Generators. These 9 Deliver the Most Reliable Power During an Outage
Why Home Generators Matter
Severe weather events are becoming stronger and more frequent, making backup power an increasingly important consideration. Portable and standby generators can help households stay operational when the electricity goes out.
A large unit may power an entire home for several days. Smaller or more limited setups can keep critical appliances running until grid power returns, but generators require a significant investment.
Options Across the List
The featured products include the DuroMax 11,000-Watt Portable Dual-Fuel Inverter Generator, named best overall, and the Generac 22-Kilowatt Standby Generator, selected for automatic backup. The Westinghouse 12,500-Watt Dual-Fuel Generator is highlighted for high-voltage appliances. The list also spans different fuel options, inverter designs and prices.
How Products Were Assessed
For generators tested by the editors, the evaluation included how difficult each model was to unpack, assemble and start for the first time. The process focused on whether setup was unnecessarily complicated.
Some selections were not tested directly. They were included after research that considered brand reputation, familiarity with product lines, outside reviews and experience testing similar models from those brands.
Key points
- The list features nine portable and standby home generators for outage backup.
- A large generator may power a home for several days; other setups can run essential appliances.
- The named picks include DuroMax, Generac and Westinghouse models.
- Some products were tested directly, while others were chosen through research and comparisons.