When a power outage strikes, you want to get up and running as fast as possible. A portable generator can keep your critical devices—including your refrigerator, microwave, CPAP machines, and phones and laptops—humming for hours on end.
Not only that, but a portable generator can be the perfect companion for RVing, camping, tailgating, or anywhere else that you want to run electric devices without power present. To find the best portable generators, inverters, and chargers on the market, we spent hours reading thousands of the best (and worst) user reviews and trying a few out for ourselves. The result? Our picks for the best portable generators you can get right now.
Just note that all of the generators that run off fuel—both gasoline and propane—need to be operated outside, away from dwellings and open windows. Operating a portable generator inside, or even too close to an open window, is incredibly unsafe due to the emissions the engines create.
What you need to know about portable generators
Before you start using your portable generator, it’s important to note a few important differences between our picks. The most obvious one is fuel. Most of our generators run on gasoline, with an internal tank that is burned to create electricity. (Hence why they need to be operated well away from your house, where it’s safe for them to emit carbon monoxide).
Since each generator (except the rechargeable power stations) is a small engine, you also need to properly maintain it. That means adding oil before running it for the first time, making sure the oil level is where it needs to be, and draining it dry before storing it for an extended period of time. If you plan to have your generator for years, expect to have to do some routine maintenance and cleaning.
Mostly, the fuel differences come down to how you plan to use them. Gasoline is relatively efficient when powering a generator for hours on end, but it’s not something you want to transport regularly or store for months without using it. Propane is much more stable when stored, and easy to transport, meaning you can break out a propane tank with your generator in a pinch without needing to worry about the same problems you might if you are relying on gasoline.