Best Residential Generator

Are you breaking the web to find yourself the best standby generator?

If that is the case then presumably you are at the best place because here we are going to test the best budget and best battery generators to give you our verdict regarding the best overall residential generator. 

You can get your hands on the home backup generators without minding the routine oil changes and maintenance for all those users who are unsatisfied with the limited wattage of the best portable generators. 

We have tested many models of generators that provide you with masterpiece generates and have great generator outputs that make them worthy of being home generators.

Most battery-powered generators are liquid-cooled generators, unlike fuel-powered generators. So, without any further ado, let’s head for the detailed account of our selection of the best residential generator and find yourself a very reliable generator.

In a hurry? Hold on! Have a look at our best pick and save the hustle.

DuroStar DS10000E

Top Pick

9.5/10 Our Score

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• 129 lbs. Weight
• 440 CC Engine Displacement
• 5 Power Outlets

DuroStar DS10000E is a gas-powered generator with 10KW watts and pneumatic tires that make it a portable home standby generator.

This generator has an electric start, unlike the conventional generator with a recoil start and a powerful 18HP engine in a durable and sturdy steel body that makes it a heavy-duty generator.

Below given is the comparison table of the 10 best residential generators which shows a cursory overview of the significant specifications of these products.

Comparison Table Of The 10 Best Residential Generator

Image	Product	Features	Price
Best Power Station	Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 1002 Wh battery Capacity 3 Power outlets Wall Outlet Charge (0to 80%) in 5.5 Hrs.	10	Check Price
Best Bare Bone	Westinghouse WGen7500 196 lbs. Weight 420 CC Engine Displacement 6.6-Gal Fuel Tank	10	Check Price
Best Home Standby	DuroMax XP12000EH Generator 224 lbs. Weight 457 CC Engine Displacement 79.17A Amperage	10	Check Price
Best Battery Ecosystem	EF ECOFLOW DELTA Pro 3.5KW-25 KW Expandable Battery Ecosystem LFP Battery   1.7 Hrs. Quick battery Charge	10	Check Price
Top Pick	DuroStar DS10000E 129 lbs. Weight 440 CC Engine Displacement 5 Power Outlets	9.5	Check Price
Best Commercial Unit	Generac 7043 Home Standby Generator 515 lbs. Weight 457 CC Engine Displacement 200A Amperage	9.5	Check Price
Best Surge Protection	Honda EU2200i 54 lbs. Weight 121 CC Engine Displacement 8 Hrs. Runtime at ¼ Load	9	Check Price
Best For Off-Road Essentials	Geneverse HomePower ONE 23 lbs. Weight 1002 Wh battery Capacity 5-year warranty	9	Check Price

In recent times, having a quality generator is more of a necessity than a luxury and we’re happy to inform you, that we have tested hundreds of quality generators available in the market.

Based on our findings, the given 10 generators top the charts of all residential generators.  You can check if these listings are worth your time and money by reading our detailed review section as given below. 

Best Power Station

10/10 Our Score

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• 1002 Wh battery Capacity
• 3 Power outlets
• Wall Outlet Charge (0to 80%) in 5.5 Hrs.

Jackery power stations are immensely hyped in the market and are leading the charts with their ultralight, portable and versatile generators that are multifunctional and feature an all-rounder performance.

This Jackery power station is a hyped member of the Jackery Explorer series that is providing you with the surge wattage of 1000 watts and is therefore a popular generator for home standby. 

Features: 

Jackery generators are portable powerhouses that are designed specifically for explorers, wildlife adventurers, and capers.

These generators are small and compact-bodied devices that ask for zero maintenance and you don’t have to add a fuel stabilizer. These generators are RV-Ready and can be conveniently transported to places. 

For campgrounds, the Jackery portable explorer 1000 is the best choice as it can power your multiple devices on the campsite without requiring grid power.

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 can charge your smartphone 100 times and it means your camping trip with 20 friends and family members can use this powerhouse for charging each cellphone 4 times.

You can also charge your laptop 8 times to 100% or watch your TV on an overnight trip for about 13 hours. 

Unlike predecessor Jackery Explorer models with 300 or 500 surge wattage, this Explorer 1000 is capable of powering your microwave for 45 minutes, your electric kettle for 40 minutes, and then the same runtime you can run your electric stove using the Jackery Explorer 1000. 

Verdict: 

Best Bare Bone

10/10 Our Score

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• 196 lbs. Weight
• 420 CC Engine Displacement
• 6.6-Gal Fuel Tank

For all those users who are fans of a bare-bones generator or an open-frame body, you should try getting your hands on the Westinghouse’s powerful heavy-duty units.

Westinghouse manufacturers are deemed honorable all across the globe with their commercial generators that are power-packed devices offering you the best home power backup. 

Features: 

Westinghouse WGen generator is a 7500 watts unit that is designed for home backup power.

This generator has a Quiet weekly self-test mode that is automated schedule to oversee the maintenance and thus allows you to not mind the generator when not in use. 

The Westinghouse generators come with indicators that are mounted on their front panel and allow you to have full control and command over the generator operation.

The Westinghouse has proper safety certifications by CARB and EFA which make these generator units capable of being used anywhere including both indoors and outdoors. 

The WGen is NEMA 3R outdoor-rated and therefore, you can use it for your camping and tailgate trips. The Gullwing enclosure boosts the durability of the unit and using this capability the WGen repairs easier. 

The Westinghouse WGen7500 has a built-in transfer switch and is a well-equipped package including the engine hour meter showcasing the runtime.

There is an automatic low oil shutdown as a safety measure against low engine oil.

The two GFCI circuits together with all 5 outlets have rubber covers for protection against climatic damage and wet or humid atmosphere.  

Verdict: 

Best Home Standby

10/10 Our Score

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• 224 lbs. Weight
• 457 CC Engine Displacement
• 79.17A Amperage

DuroMax generators are quality purchases that are reckoned a competitor in the consumer market for residential generators.

This XP12000EH unit is a cool home standby generator that is aesthetically appealing and enticing in its appearance. 

Features: 

This DuroMax generator is a preferred generator to serve your home as it is coming with dual-fuel capability, an electric start, a low-oil sensor, and a heavy surge wattage of 12 KW that is deemed best for standby generators.

Although a 16KW or 22KW is a better option for home standby generators these generators demand good enough fortune to get your hands on them.

Most of the time you don’t have to run the generator for a long time as the grid power restores mostly within an hour.

But if in any emergency your grid power is blocked for days, a 12 KW generator is sufficient to keep your house lit and power your main household appliances without being heavy on your budget and doubling the utility bills. 

This dual-fuel generator allows you to easily convert its fuel between Gas or propane fuel and have a large fuel tank capacity.

The all-steel construction usually offers a recoil start that is easy to push, to protect the system. 

The DuroMax XP12000EH Generator comes with wheels which gives it easy mobility despite its heavy-duty steel body.

The removable aids generators reviewed servicing shows the best customer reviews of this generator and makes it a worthy candidate for the backup power source. 

Verdict:

Best Battery Ecosystem

10/10 Our Score

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• 3.5KW-25 KW Expandable Battery Ecosystem
• LFP Battery
• 1.7 Hrs. Quick battery Charge

EF ECO FLOW product is tough and durable that is familiar to the masses as the leading brand, for rugged, durable, and visually appealing generators.

The EF ECO FLOW generator mostly comes in an aluminum enclosure that not only gives it a unique look but also makes it resistant to corrosion and prevents it from corroding. 

Features:

The ECO FLOW generator enjoys a 5-star rating among EF products and this highlights its high performance that is capable to withstand all weather conditions.

This unit is resistant to rust and is very easy to maintain. You can clean it with a wet or dry cloth and get it a top-notch look anytime.

With its 3.6 KW power, this generator produces huge output despite its compact dimension that allows you to store it anywhere in your home with minimal space required.

There is an LCD display unit that tracks maintenance intervals, and its gen-set shows battery status.

Many users have reported that the generator sometimes gives a staggering performance but this staggering feature reduces the engine speed and conserves fuel too.

This works like the ECO Mode which ensures that the fuel consumption is low and saves fuel.

The 4-stroke engine gives you adequate power and a quiet operation that is worth the bucks.

The EF ECOFLOW DELTA Pro has an enclosure much similar to the CPU and this covers parts preventing them from environmental exposure. EF generators have a limited parts warranty for a period of 1-year. 

Verdict:

Top Pick

9.5/10 Our Score

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• 129 lbs. Weight
• 440 CC Engine Displacement
• 5 Power Outlets

DuroStar Generators are advanced units that are laden with all the latest and most powerful technologies to give you a versatile operation.

These generators are heavy-duty in their appearance and operation but with their pneumatic wheel kits and stands, it makes it very easy to transport them from places and is also RV-ready for giving you the best bang for your bucks. 

Features: 

This generator is an extremely powerful unit and is our recommended pick for the best residential generator.

If you are a fan of compact generators this is not the option for you as it has a durable and sturdy body with an open-frame design that requires sufficient storage space. 

This is a 10KW generator that is suitable for powering a medium-sized home in absence of a utility power supply.

This DuroStar DS10000E unit is also best for RVs where you have a plethora of electric appliances including your TV, Microwave, Refrigerator, Drill, BBQ grills, electric kettles, and many other small gadgets including your laptop, tablet, cell phones, camera, so on. 

This 10 KW unit will ensure that you have a sufficient power supply to power all of your appliances in recreational vehicles including a 12,000 BTU AC system.

Similarly when at home you can power most of your household appliances except a few heavy-duty devices that require more than 12000 watts as their surge power.  

Verdict: 

Best Commercial Unit

9.5/10 Our Score

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• 515 lbs. Weight
• 457 CC Engine Displacement
• 200A Amperage

Generac is the industry-leading brand in both residential and commercial generators. Generac battery tender units are also much-hyped in the market as they prevent dead batteries from being a part of generators to fool the consumers. 

Features: 

This Generac generator is the highest wattage unit in our selection of the best residential generator and is designed as the home standby unit that can power your whole house when not on the grid power supply.

This is a heavy-duty unit with a weight of over 515 pounds and has no wheel kit for transporting it. 

Therefore, this generator is only suitable for home backup power and this is justified by its 22 KW power surge which is not required in outdoor conditions like campgrounds, tailgates or so.

But you can use this generator on construction sites where the grid power is not available and you have to power heavy-duty tools required during your construction work. 

There is a built-in transfer switch as well as a whole house 200-ampere switch that allows you to power all of your household appliances with this heavy-duty commercial-grade Generac 7043 Home Standby Generator.

You can power your AC systems, microwave, refrigerators, heating system, and all other high-wattage appliances that are not functional with a 6KW or even a 12 KW generator.  

Verdict: 

Best Surge Protection

9/10 Our Score

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• 54 lbs. Weight
• 121 CC Engine Displacement
• 8 Hrs. Runtime at ¼ Load

For all those users who are looking for a Fuel-free option, this Honda EU2200I can be the ideal choice.

This generator promises you no fumes and is best used indoors with its powerful and long-lasting lithium-ion battery. This super quiet inverter generator can be charged using the solar panel and is therefore very suitable for outdoors too. 

Features:

Honda EU is, although, an ultralight generator it can handle higher power loads with its powerful PM engine cycle and commercial-grade OHV engine.

This strong engine gives you a larger surge of power and automatically kicks the running of all your mini appliances at 2200 watts. 

There is a dedicated circuit panel that includes a standard electrical outlet, USB ports, and a smart switch for switching between grid power and generator supply. This generator is well-ventilated which is a necessity for indoor generators.  

This unit has a closed coolant recovery system with a five-minute test cycle to diagnose any minor fault with the operation. The Honda generators promise you the quieter operation that is a prerequisite for all indoor generators.

With its LCD control panel, you can monitor and control the operation of your unit and the two fuel gauges prevent any leakage making it Suitable for hot weather. 

You can use this generator for an extended period to have supplementary power, or for powering your household appliances when not on a utility power supply.

This Honda EU2200i generator also has surge-arrest technology to safeguard your sensitive appliances from the danger of voltage spikes and power surges causing severe damage to electric gadgets and tools.  

Verdict: 

Best For Off-Road Essentials

9/10 Our Score

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• 23 lbs. Weight
• 1002 Wh battery Capacity
• 5-year warranty

Genverse is a rather lesser-known brand compared to huge sharks like Generac and Westinghouse but this is a budget-friendly option that features a full-fledged feature-packed generator and gives you an efficient and effective performance without demanding you break your banks. 

Features: 

The Genverse generator can be considered a good power backup tool for outdoor adventures where you can last 7 days by recharging your cell phones or by powering your car battery when on the brink of death. 

This generator is a battery-driven ultralight unit that is extremely portable and compact like a conventional FM radio setup.

Although, small in appearance, this unit provides you with industry-leading reliable emergency power with its vehicle-grade battery. 

This unit can also be found in many residential buildings powering the mini appliances when the utility power supply is cut off.

This generator has many household outlets and plenty of other outlets including the RV receptacle (for RV-ready operation) and a DC outlet (for input). 

As far as the battery charging of this Geneverse HomePower ONE generator is concerned you can charge it with either solar panels that are included in the package.

If you don’t want to spend extra bucks on buying the solar panel, you can make do with the car battery that quickly recharges this generator battery. You can also charge through the AC wall outlet when at home.  

Verdict: 

 Best Residential Generator: A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide

Generators undoubtedly make our lives easier but having a reliable and right model generator is necessary to get this ease and luxury.

If your generator offers dual fueling and runs on gasoline and propane then it can be counted as a great standby generator. 

Buying Guide Of Best Residential Generator – Infographics

Despite its heavy-duty engine and powerful performance, the low noise level is always the need of the hour and therefore, your generator should have specs to reduce the engine noise.

Many good generators alert you about the minor issues that are diagnosed after the generator runs diagnostic tests. 

How To Determine Which Generator Is Best For You? 

There’s no straight way to tell which generator will stand the test of time and be by your side for quite a long time. Instead of going all way around to test every product we have come up with this buyer’s guide to help you save the hassle. 

Regardless of what brand you are enticed with you need to have certain specs and features as a mandatory part of your device for getting the bang for your buck.

Take note that, we have added the essential features that will help you in determining the worth of your upcoming generators, and make sure to go through these features and specs of the product description before finalizing the purchase.  

In our opinion, for a generator to be useful and reliable it needs to be equipped with advanced technologies and enough wattage to fulfill all of your requirements. This is not an easy feat to find such a generator.

Of course, there are many top-notch choices available in the market but most of them are designed for only short-term appeal.

Safety:

For a home standby generator, safety tops all the requirements and when determining which generator to buy and which to not, safety should be your priority.

First of all, you need to oversee the product description to see how many safety features are included in the generator. 

If you plan to use your portable generator in indoors, CO sensors should be compulsory and don’t even think about using your generator without automatic CO detectors if you plan to leave your generator running overnight at home.

The CO sensors, although a nice addition, are not a necessity in outdoor generators. You should also ensure your generator has low oil shutdown and overload protection.

Having rubber feet and rubber covers over all of the outlets should also be a nice feature to boost the overall safety of the unit and safeguard it against any kind of damage. 

Noise Level:

A home standby generator has powerful engines to power your whole house and therefore, has inevitably large noises, but many great and advanced units have added the latest noise-reducing technologies to give you lower noise levels.

Make sure your upcoming purchase has the muffler and rubber feet for reducing airborne and vibrational noise. 

Maintenance: 

If you’re looking for a durable and sturdy unit that can be used over years don’t neglect fuel storage and replace motor components get your unit.

If you regularly repair any minor fault or disturbance with the operation of your generator the issues won’t pile up and you don’t have to face serious damage. You should also change spark plugs, and check air filters & fuel filters. 

If you want to use your generator for a long run ensure that it never oil runs low and that your engine gets regular oil changes.

You can monitor oil levels with the help of a smart panel attached to your generator or by manually keeping an eye on it. 

Keep in mind that a long-running generator is typically not the best one but the best-maintained one.

The best generator, on the other hand, will give you the most optimized performance that can be powerful enough to run all of your household appliances but it doesn’t mean it can be used for decades or longer. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What Is The Most Reliable Standby Home Generator?

Generac home standby generators are considered the most trusted and reliable units available in the market for home standby.

You can have a Generac 12KW unit to power a medium-sized home and have a reliable and fuel-efficient operation. 

What Size Generator Do I Need For A 2000 Square Foot Home?

For a 2000 sq. Ft. house a 32 KWH generator will be the best thing to run all of your appliances including the most heavy-duty AC system or heating systems.

But if you don’t have such a lavish supply of countless heavy-duty appliances, a 16KW generator will be enough to power your whole house. 

What Kind Of Generator Is Best For Home Use?

Whole house generators are without any doubt the most reliable home standby units that can power your complete house and gives you a grid power-like experience while not on the utility power supply.

How Big Of A Generator Do I Need To Run A House?

If you are planning to run most household appliances intermittently, a 5000 watts generator will be enough for you.

But if you plan to run them all at once including some household lights, refrigerator, freezer, and your Well pump then a 7500 watts generator will be the bare minimum. 

What Is The Most Powerful Generator For A House?

Generac 22KW generators are the most powerful generators for home backup power. Although you can increase the surge wattage to 36KW or even more but a 22KW unit is more than enough to power your whole house. 

Final Words: 

See More:

Best Generators For Hurricanes
Best Welder Generator To Power A House

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