The Best Generators of 2026

If you want the quietest, cheapest-to-run pick here and you are fine with 1,800 running watts, the Westinghouse iGen2200c is the one that scores highest on the math below: it lists for $579, runs 12 hours on a 1.14-gallon tank at a quarter load, ships with a carbon monoxide sensor built in (not an upsell), and comes out cheapest of the four once you add three years of gasoline to the price tag. If your loads run heavier, the WEN 56235iX is the pick under $600 with the highest surge rating here (2,350W) and the quietest published number (51 dBA), and the Champion 201122 is the one to buy if you want to burn propane instead of gasoline during a multi-day outage.

The Honda EU2200i is still on this list because plenty of readers will pay extra for it on purpose. It costs roughly double the other three once fuel is included, but it carries Honda’s reputation for starting on the first pull years into ownership, its CO-MINDER shutdown system is one of the more thoroughly documented on the market, and two units can be paralleled for 4,400 watts combined. Buy it if resale value and a wide Honda dealer network matter to you more than shaving a few hundred dollars off the sticker.

How we picked

We scored four portable inverter generators on five weighted criteria: running watts (30%), runtime and fuel use (20%), noise in dBA (15%), CO shutoff and outlet safety (15%), and 3-year cost of ownership covering price plus an assumed 50 hours a year of gasoline (20%). See how we score for the full method. These picks come from published specs, a recall check, and named third-party measurements, not from testing in our own lab.

For specs and pricing we read the manufacturer’s own product page for three of the four picks: Honda’s page for the EU2200i, Westinghouse’s page for the iGen2200c, and WEN’s page for the 56235iX. Champion does not publish a price on its own site, so we priced the 201122 on Tractor Supply’s listing instead, cross-checked against Champion’s spec sheet for the same model. For independent data, Pro Tool Reviews’ published noise measurement of the Honda EU2200i informed that product’s row in the measured data below, and Consumer Reports’ public generator pages were checked for the other three, which did not carry a free noise figure for these specific models as of Sep 16, 2026. We queried the CPSC recall database at saferproducts.gov for “generator” before finalizing this list, and we priced 3-year gasoline cost using AAA’s national average of $4.3672 a gallon for regular unleaded on Sep 16, 2026.

What to look for

• 1,800 running watts is enough for a fridge, a few lights, and phone chargers together. All four picks clear that bar. Step up to a 3,000W-plus open-frame model only if you plan to run a window air conditioner or a well pump on the same circuit.
• A carbon monoxide sensor that cuts the engine, not just an alarm that beeps. All four picks here have one: Honda calls it CO-MINDER, Champion calls it CO Shield, Westinghouse and WEN both call theirs a CO sensor. Confirm the exact model number when you buy, since some brands sell a cheaper sibling SKU without the sensor under a nearly identical name.
• Under 55 dBA at a light load if noise matters to you. All four picks land between 48 and 53 dBA at a quarter load, roughly the range of a normal conversation to a running dishwasher. Full-rated-load noise runs louder on every model; Honda’s own spec sheet, for example, lists 57 dBA at rated load versus 48 dBA at a quarter load.
• Total harmonic distortion under 3% if you plan to run a laptop, CPAP machine, or other sensitive electronics. All four generators here are inverter models rated below that threshold.
• Runtime per tank at the load you will actually use, not the biggest number on the box. Brands publish runtime at different load percentages, so compare like for like: Westinghouse and Champion both publish a 25%-load figure (12 and 11.5 hours), while WEN publishes a half-load figure (5.7 hours) for the 56235iX, which is a harder test to pass.
• Always run a generator outdoors, well away from windows and doors. Opening a window or door does not provide enough ventilation to prevent a lethal carbon monoxide buildup; see the CPSC’s portable generator safety guidance for placement distance and setup.

FAQ

Was the Honda EU2200i ever recalled?

Yes, but the recalls only affected specific early serial number ranges. American Honda recalled the EU2200i, EU2200i Companion, and EB2200i in March 2019 (serial numbers EAJT-1000001 through EAJT-1005474) and again in March 2020 for a wider range (EAMT-1000001 through 2098790) over fuel valve and inverter assembly fire risks. A generator bought new today carries a serial number well outside both of those ranges, but if you are buying a used EU2200i, check the serial number against CPSC’s recall listing before you plug it in.

Can I run these generators on propane instead of gasoline?

Only the Champion 201122 in this list runs on propane, switching with a fuel-selector dial; Champion rates it at 1,665 running watts and up to 34 hours on a standard 20-lb propane tank at a 25% load. The Honda EU2200i, Westinghouse iGen2200c, and WEN 56235iX here are gasoline-only; some other SKUs in each of those product lines do offer dual fuel, so check the exact model number if propane matters to you.

How loud is too loud for a campground?

Many US campgrounds and RV parks post quiet-hour noise limits in the 60 dBA range, though the exact figure and enforcement distance vary by park, so check the specific site’s rules before you go. All four generators in this guide are rated between 48 and 53 dBA at a light load, comfortably under that common threshold, but noise climbs as the load on the generator increases, so a heavier draw can push any of them louder.

Do I need an electrician to use a portable generator for home backup?

Not to run appliances on extension cords plugged directly into the generator’s outlets, which is how all four picks in this guide are designed to be used. You do need a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch if you want to power your home’s existing wiring or run the generator during a utility outage without back-feeding the grid, which is a safety hazard for utility line workers.

What is the difference between running watts and starting watts?

Running watts (also called rated watts) is the continuous power a generator can supply; starting watts (or surge/peak watts) is the higher, brief output it can supply for a few seconds when a motor-driven appliance like a refrigerator compressor first kicks on. Champion’s 201122, for example, is rated at 1,850 running watts but can supply 2,500 watts briefly at startup.