Best Portable Generators of 2025
Stay powered up during an outage with top-performing traditional or inverter models from companies like Champion, Generac, and Honda
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Two major cyclones are currently brewing in the Atlantic. At least one, Humberto, is expected to develop into a major hurricane, and some meteorologists are warning that the two systems could combine—a rare phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara Effect. In that scenario, the storms could wreak havoc on the East Coast, with widespread power outages likely.
If your power goes out, a portable generator is a great way to run not only household essentials like lights and refrigerators but also lifesaving medical equipment, as well as electronic gear—like computers, phones, and routers—that helps you stay in touch with the outside world.
Portable generators come in handy, especially if you live in an area where weather emergencies are relatively rare—or where power is often restored within a few hours. In those areas, you probably don’t need a permanently installed whole-house generator, which can cost more than $10,000 to buy and install.
Whether you opt for a traditional portable generator or the more efficient, quieter, and pricier inverter option, you can still get plenty of power to run most of the key appliances and systems in your home. Even a midsized recreational generator suitable for tailgating, car camping, or van life can help to power some essentials in a pinch.
- Best Generators for: Powering a Home Small Houses, Boats, and RVs Camping and Tailgating
- How CR Tests Generators
Best Portable Generators to Power Your Home
These workhorses provide 7,000 to more than 8,000 watts of power, so they can power most or all of your essential appliances during an outage, but they usually weigh upward of 200 pounds. If you get one of these generators, you’ll probably want to have an electrician install a transfer switch, which allows you to plug the generator into your electrical panel and power hardwired appliances like a water heater or a well pump. Prices for these models generally range from just under $1,000 to $2,300.
Best Portable Generators for Small Houses, Boats, and RVs
These midsized generators provide 2,500 to 4,900-plus watts of power and weigh about 80 to 180 pounds. They pack plenty of power for a boat, an RV, or a camper, or they can power a few household essentials using heavy-duty extension cords. Prices range quite widely, from around $400 to $2,400.
Best Portable Generators for Camping and Tailgating
These generators provide up to 2,500 watts of power and usually weigh around 50 pounds, making them perfect for campsites. You can power a fridge and a few lights with these during a power outage, but for anything beyond that, consider the larger generators above. These more modest units are fuel-efficient and quiet, and you’ll pay around $500 to $1,200.
How CR Tests Generators
While safety is essential, our performance testing ensures that a generator will work as promised when you need it most. To do that, our expert engineers load up every model we assess with a variety of essentials you might want to power during an outage, like a space heater, refrigerator, or window air conditioner.
We make sure the generator can handle the load it’s supposed to, and we see what happens when a sudden spike in voltage hits, such as if, say, the compressor in your refrigerator kicks on when the generator is already close to capacity.
The best models take these spikes in stride, while others bog down or even stall. We also look at how easy it is to move and use a generator, as well as how efficiently it uses gasoline and how long it runs on a full tank.
Watch our generator-testing video.
