Portable Generators: Reviews

Updated December 2011
Household power is something you take for granted, so when disaster strikes and you're left without electricity, the inconveniences pile up in a hurry. Having a portable generator on hand to supply power for the most basic needs -- running a refrigerator or hot water heater, for instance -- can make an extended power loss feel less arduous. It's especially hard to find a decent inexpensive generator. We found user reviews to be the best source for judging real-world durability and ease of use.
 

Small 1,400-watt budget generator

All Power America APG3014 *Est. $225 Compare Prices

Amazon.com: More than 100 owners review the All Power America APG3014 here, giving it an average overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars.

HomeDepot.com: About 10 owners review the All Power America APG3014 on HomeDepot.com.

PortableGeneratorsReviews.net: The unnamed reviewer here says that this is the lowest-cost generator he has ever reviewed, but concludes that it's an exceptional value for the money.

Basic portable generator, 3,250 watts

Generac GP3250 *Est. $420 Compare Prices

Electric Generators Direct.com: Jim Baugher, a product expert at ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, recommends the Generac GP3250 as one of the three best generators in its size range.

Northern Tool and Equipment: A dozen owners give the Generac GP3250 a perfect 5 out of 5 stars here and all say they would recommend it to a friend.

Amazon.com: About 15 owners rate the Generac GP5250 at Amazon.com.

Good Housekeeping: This brief article from the editors of Good Housekeeping explains the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

Inverter generator that's safe for electronics

Yamaha EF2000iS *Est. $1,000 Compare Prices

Camping Life Magazine: Camping Life tests and compares three portable inverter generators: the Generac iX2000, the Yamaha EF2000iS and the Honda EU2000i.

Electric Generators Direct.com: Product expert Jim Baugher recommends the Yamaha EF2000iS, noting that an "independent lab testing group found the engine life on this Yamaha was twice as long as its competitors." About 25 owners also weigh in and give the Yamaha EF2000iS a perfect 5-out-of-5 rating.

Cabelas.com: More than 70 owners post ratings and reviews of the Yamaha EF2000iS on this retail site.

Amazon.com: Owners posting ratings here -- more than 50 as of this writing -- give the Yamaha EF2000iS an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Larger portable generator, 5,500 watts

Generac GP5500 *Est. $720 Compare Prices

Electric Generators Direct.com: Product expert Jim Baugher gives the Generac GP5500 a 5-star rating and ranks it the best portable generator in its size range.

Northern Tool and Equipment: About 20 owners review the Generac GP5500 on this site and give the generator very high ratings.

HomeDepot.com: Nearly two dozen owners review and rate the Generac GP5500 at HomeDepot.com; the average rating is 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Generac: More than 50 owners of the Generac GP5500 rate and review it on its Generac.com product page.

Portable Generators Runners Up:

Honda EU2000i *Est. $1150

7 picks including: Camping Life Magazine, Field & Stream…

Yamaha EF2400iSHC *Est. $1350

4 picks including: Camping Life Magazine, Field & Stream…

ETQ TG32P12 *Est. $400

2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…

ETQ TG1200 *Est. $150

2 picks including: Amazon.com, EHam.net…

Generac iX2000 *Est. $570

2 picks including: Amazon.com, Camping Life Magazine…

Briggs & Stratton 30471 *Est. $1250

2 picks including: HomeDepot.com, Electric Generators Direct.com…

Generac GP7500E *Est. $1000

2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…

Generac GP15000E *Est. $2320

1 pick including: Electric Generators Direct.com…

     
 
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YAMAHA 2400 Watt Inverter G
In Stock.
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