Generators You Can Count on During a Power Outage

CR subscribers sound off on how satisfied they are with their stationary and portable generators

illustration of rows of dark houses and one house lit up Illustration: iStock

What makes a great generator? For starters, it should start.

And that’s not always a given.

In our 2016 survey of 8,787 Consumer Reports subscribers, we found that 14 percent of readers who owned generators reported problems getting them started during a power outage. Those aren’t comforting odds if you rely on the tool to power your house—or even a collection of key appliances—during or after a major storm.

Our generator reliability survey also reveals that portable generators are far more popular than stationary generators. Portable generators run on gasoline, for anywhere from 8 to 16 hours on a single tank; stationary models are installed permanently and can be configured to run on propane or natural gas, allowing them to operate indefinitely.

Respondents were three times more likely to own a portable generator. That's probably because they're about one-tenth the cost: The median cost for each configuration in our survey, including installation, was $731 for a portable generator and $7,317 for a stationary model.

More on Generators
Stationary vs. Portable Generators
Need a Generator in a Hurry? Here's What to Do
How to Pick the Right Size Generator for Your House

Even though stationary generators cost more, our survey shows they offer a number of advantages.

For one, they’re far more capable. The median wattage output of stationary models, at 16,365 watts, was nearly triple that of portables, at 5,688 watts. To put that in context, a small space heater or a window air conditioner uses about 1,800 watts. Stationary models also seem to run quieter: Their owners were five times less likely to complain about noise when compared with folks who own a portable generator.

The vast majority of readers who own a generator reported using it in the previous 12 months. Owners of portable models needed the appliance an average of two times over that span, while owners of stationary generators reported relying on the tool an average of four times in the same timeframe. "Stationary models are generally the better bet if you live in an area prone to frequent power outages," says Dave Trezza, who oversees CR's testing of generators.

How to Choose the Right Generator

If you’re torn between the two configurations, start with our generator buying guide. For help choosing between models, the chart below—available to CR digital subscribers—details reader satisfaction with a broad array of portable and stationary generator brands, including Honda, Yamaha, Briggs & Stratton, Ridgid, Troy-Bilt, Champion, Harbor Freight, BlackMax, Craftsman, Generac, Coleman, PowerMate, Cummins, Kohler, and GE.

For each brand, you'll see the overall satisfaction score, along with how our readers rate that brand for issues around starting the generator and noise while operating.

CR's Generator Satisfaction Survey Results

Compare the satisfaction data below with test results in our generator ratings to find the right model for your house.

Generator Satisfaction
Portable generators
Brand and
Median price paid		 Reader Score Starting Problems Noise
Honda
$1,814		 92
Yamaha
$1,907		 92
BlackMax
$749		 89
Rigid
$904		 88
Troy-Bilt
$690		 88
Champion
$562		 87
Harbor Freight
$515		 87
Briggs & Stratton
$716		 86
Generac
$771		 86
Coleman
$578		 84
Powermate
$551		 84
Stationary Generators
Brand and
Median price paid		 Reader Score Starting Problems Noise
Kohler
$8,768		 91
Cummins
$8,749		 91
Generac
$6,992		 91
GE
$8,100		 90
Briggs & Stratton
$6,472		 89
GUIDE TO THE RATINGS Ratings are based on the Consumer Reports National Research Center’s 2016 summer survey of 8,787 subscribers reporting on a home generator they currently own that provides power during outages. Results don’t necessarily mirror the experiences of the general U.S. population. Reader Score reflects overall satisfaction with generators and isn’t limited to the criteria listed in the table. A score of 100 would mean all respondents were completely satisfied; 80, very satisfied, on average. Differences of fewer than 5 points aren’t meaningful. Ratings for starting problems and noise are relative and reflect mean scores on a 6-point scale ranging from Very Poor to Excellent. Price represents the median price customers paid for their generator; for standby models this includes the cost of installation. Although portable and stationary generators are presented separately in our ratings table, our analysis included both types of generators examined as one common pool of data. Some exceptions were made for analyses of satisfaction drivers, where they were analyzed separately.

Generator Satisfaction
Portable generators
Brand and
Median price paid		 Reader Score Starting Problems Noise
Honda
$1,814		 92
Yamaha
$1,907		 92
BlackMax
$749		 89
Rigid
$904		 88
Troy-Bilt
$690		 88
Champion
$562		 87
Harbor Freight
$515		 87
Craftsman
$728		 86
Briggs & Stratton
$716		 86
Generac
$771		 86
Coleman
$578		 84
Powermate
$551		 84
Stationary Generators
Brand and
Median price paid		 Reader Score Starting Problems Noise
Kohler
$8,768		 91
Cummins
$8,749		 91
Generac
$6,992		 91
GE
$8,100		 90
Briggs & Stratton
$6,472		 89
GUIDE TO THE RATINGS Ratings are based on the Consumer Reports National Research Center’s 2016 summer survey of 8,787 subscribers reporting on a home generator they currently own that provides power during outages. Results don’t necessarily mirror the experiences of the general U.S. population. Reader Score reflects overall satisfaction with generators and isn’t limited to the criteria listed in the table. A score of 100 would mean all respondents were completely satisfied; 80, very satisfied, on average. Differences of fewer than 5 points aren’t meaningful. Ratings for starting problems and noise are relative and reflect mean scores on a 6-point scale ranging from Very Poor to Excellent. Price represents the median price customers paid for their generator; for standby models this includes the cost of installation. Although portable and stationary generators are presented separately in our ratings table, our analysis included both types of generators examined as one common pool of data. Some exceptions were made for analyses of satisfaction drivers, where they were analyzed separately.

Paul Hope

As a classically trained chef and an enthusiastic DIYer, I've always valued having the best tool for a job—whether the task at hand is dicing onions for mirepoix or hanging drywall. When I'm not writing about home products, I can be found putting them to the test, often with help from my two young children, in the 1860s townhouse I'm restoring in my free time.
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