Best home generator (2022) | ZDNET

We chose the All Power 9,000W because it checks many of the boxes people look for: it’s affordable, offers a decent run time and quiet operation. This table demonstrates how each of the best home generators compare on price, run time, and operating noise: 

Your purposes and budget will play primary roles in determining which home generator fits your needs the best. To illustrate, the Honda 3,000W is an exceptional choice due to its long run time and quieter operation. However, with a price eclipsing $2,400, it might be out of reach for some. 

Meanwhile, if your aim is to find one that keeps the lights on while not breaking the bank, the Pulsar 12,000W is a wise option to consider. Below is a look at the purposes each of these home generators serve the best: 

We chose this selection of generators based on different requirements. All of the generators have electric starts with manual pull cord backup starting handles, all are portable, and most have wheels and a handle. 

Some of the generators in this list will work with either gasoline or propane, some have large gasoline tanks enabling the generator to run for longer without running out of fuel. Some of the generators have carbon monoxide alerts and safety systems.

Most of the generators on this list use gasoline to run an engine which produces the electricity you’ll use. There are generators available that use propane for a cleaner-burning unit, and even what are known as “dual fuel” generators that can run on either. These types of generators cannot be used indoors, since they produce dangerous fumes and carbon monoxide.

There are emissions-free, electric generator systems that can be used either inside or outdoors. You can check out our list of the best portable power stations here.

The best way to work out how high a wattage output you’ll need is to make a list of essential appliances and devices you’ll want to keep running during an emergency. Once you have your list, find out how many watts each item uses and add them all together. Remember that things like standard refrigerators, microwaves, washers and dryers, and space heaters can use a lot of energy; on the other hand, if you just want to keep a radio and a few lights on while charging your phones, you don’t need a huge output. 

Lowe’s has a handy wattage worksheet that provides average continuous run and starting wattage for tons of different devices and appliances. Keep in mind that everything that uses electricity will use a big surge of power on start-up, then level out to a much lower running output, so you’ll want to choose a generator that has both an adequate continuous output and starting wattage.

Unlike permanently installed home generators, emergency backup units cannot be run indefinitely. Most standby generators have a recommended maximum continuous run-time of 500 hours. This means you can still get almost 21 full days of continuous run-time before you need to do any engine maintenance. 

To prolong the life of your standby generator, you’ll want to do regular engine maintenance twice a year: once in spring and once in the fall. Doing things like checking sparkplugs, changing oil, and replacing air filters will keep your standby generator running at optimal efficiency for much longer.

Remember to never leave a running generator unattended and to never plug a standby generator directly into your house circuit without having a professional electrician install a manual power transfer switch first. Without the switch, you could burn your house down, get seriously injured, or be killed.

A manual start on your generator gives you more control over how and when the emergency power kicks in during an emergency, which is best when the lights are flickering or cutting in and out quickly. But this also means you may be trying to pull-start your generator in dangerous conditions like high winds and lightning. There are manual start standby generators that have push-buttons rather than rip cords, which your shoulders will thank you for when you don’t have to frantically yank a cable to restore power. 

An automatic start switch allows your generator to “sense” when the grid-provided electricity in your home cuts out. It will kick on, minimizing the time you’re without power. These switches are best for anyone who has in-home medical equipment, like ventilators or oxygen concentrators, and cannot lose power for any amount of time. 

We chose the best generators based on costs, functionality, noise operation, and power capacity. If you need further options, these are three viable alternatives: 

We chose the All Power 9,000W because it checks many of the boxes people look for: it’s affordable, offers a decent run time and quiet operation. This table demonstrates how each of the best home generators compare on price, run time, and operating noise: 

Your purposes and budget will play primary roles in determining which home generator fits your needs the best. To illustrate, the Honda 3,000W is an exceptional choice due to its long run time and quieter operation. However, with a price eclipsing $2,400, it might be out of reach for some. 

Meanwhile, if your aim is to find one that keeps the lights on while not breaking the bank, the Pulsar 12,000W is a wise option to consider. Below is a look at the purposes each of these home generators serve the best: 

We chose this selection of generators based on different requirements. All of the generators have electric starts with manual pull cord backup starting handles, all are portable, and most have wheels and a handle. 

Some of the generators in this list will work with either gasoline or propane, some have large gasoline tanks enabling the generator to run for longer without running out of fuel. Some of the generators have carbon monoxide alerts and safety systems.

Most of the generators on this list use gasoline to run an engine which produces the electricity you’ll use. There are generators available that use propane for a cleaner-burning unit, and even what are known as “dual fuel” generators that can run on either. These types of generators cannot be used indoors, since they produce dangerous fumes and carbon monoxide.

There are emissions-free, electric generator systems that can be used either inside or outdoors. You can check out our list of the best portable power stations here.

The best way to work out how high a wattage output you’ll need is to make a list of essential appliances and devices you’ll want to keep running during an emergency. Once you have your list, find out how many watts each item uses and add them all together. Remember that things like standard refrigerators, microwaves, washers and dryers, and space heaters can use a lot of energy; on the other hand, if you just want to keep a radio and a few lights on while charging your phones, you don’t need a huge output. 

Lowe’s has a handy wattage worksheet that provides average continuous run and starting wattage for tons of different devices and appliances. Keep in mind that everything that uses electricity will use a big surge of power on start-up, then level out to a much lower running output, so you’ll want to choose a generator that has both an adequate continuous output and starting wattage.

Unlike permanently installed home generators, emergency backup units cannot be run indefinitely. Most standby generators have a recommended maximum continuous run-time of 500 hours. This means you can still get almost 21 full days of continuous run-time before you need to do any engine maintenance. 

To prolong the life of your standby generator, you’ll want to do regular engine maintenance twice a year: once in spring and once in the fall. Doing things like checking sparkplugs, changing oil, and replacing air filters will keep your standby generator running at optimal efficiency for much longer.

Remember to never leave a running generator unattended and to never plug a standby generator directly into your house circuit without having a professional electrician install a manual power transfer switch first. Without the switch, you could burn your house down, get seriously injured, or be killed.

A manual start on your generator gives you more control over how and when the emergency power kicks in during an emergency, which is best when the lights are flickering or cutting in and out quickly. But this also means you may be trying to pull-start your generator in dangerous conditions like high winds and lightning. There are manual start standby generators that have push-buttons rather than rip cords, which your shoulders will thank you for when you don’t have to frantically yank a cable to restore power. 

An automatic start switch allows your generator to “sense” when the grid-provided electricity in your home cuts out. It will kick on, minimizing the time you’re without power. These switches are best for anyone who has in-home medical equipment, like ventilators or oxygen concentrators, and cannot lose power for any amount of time. 

We chose the best generators based on costs, functionality, noise operation, and power capacity. If you need further options, these are three viable alternatives: