EnergyReckon

Generator Specs & Straight Talk

Every model we track, with manufacturer-published specs and a plain-English assessment of who each one is actually for. Wattages are gasoline ratings; dual-fuel units make ~10% less on propane. Prices are typical street prices as of July 2026 and move around — always check the current listing.

Inverter generators

Quiet, fuel-sipping, clean power that's safe for electronics. What you want for camping, RVs, and any backup duty where noise matters.

ModelRunningStartingNoiseWeightFuel~PriceBuy
Honda EU1000i★ pick900 W1,000 W42 dBA28.7 lbGasoline$999Amazon (affiliate link) →
Generac GP2200i1,700 W2,200 W—46.6 lbGasoline$550Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 2000-Watt Inverter (100692)1,700 W2,000 W53 dBA39.5 lbGasoline$450Amazon (affiliate link) →
Honda EU2200i★ pick1,800 W2,200 W48 dBA47.4 lbGasoline$1,150Amazon (affiliate link) →
WEN 56235i★ pick1,900 W2,350 W51 dBA39 lbGasoline$430Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 3500-Watt Inverter (100571)2,300 W3,500 W58 dBA57.8 lbGasoline$699Amazon (affiliate link) →
POXURIO 2550-Watt Inverter (KF370033-01)2,550 W2,550 W59 dBA43.5 lbGasoline$399Amazon (affiliate link) →
Honda EU3200i2,600 W3,200 W54 dBA59.1 lbGasoline$2,799Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 4000W Dual Fuel Inverter (201050)★ pick3,000 W4,000 W64 dBA51.8 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$749Amazon (affiliate link) →
Predator 3500 Inverter3,000 W3,500 W57 dBA99.2 lbGasoline$900
Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter (100263)3,100 W3,400 W59 dBA95.7 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$850Amazon (affiliate link) →
NOVUS NV4000iS3,300 W4,125 W65.7 dBA58 lbGasoline$599Amazon (affiliate link) →
Westinghouse iGen4500★ pick3,700 W4,500 W52 dBA104.7 lbGasoline$950Amazon (affiliate link) →
Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower5,000 W6,500 W—128 lbGasoline$1,000Amazon (affiliate link) →
Honda EU7000iS★ pick5,500 W7,000 W52 dBA263.2 lbGasoline$4,999Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 8500-Watt Electric Start Inverter (100719)7,000 W8,500 W61 dBA216.5 lbGasoline$2,129Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 8500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter (201175)7,000 W8,500 W64 dBA213.9 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$1,799Amazon (affiliate link) →

Open frame generators

Conventional workhorses — maximum watts per dollar, lawn-mower loud. The value play for essentials and whole-house backup through a transfer switch.

ModelRunningStartingNoiseWeightFuel~PriceBuy
Champion 3500-Watt (100555)★ pick3,500 W4,375 W68 dBA—Gasoline$450Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 3800-Watt Dual Fuel (201393)3,800 W4,750 W68 dBA133 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$550Amazon (affiliate link) →
Honda EM5000SX4,500 W5,000 W63 dBA226.4 lbGasoline$2,799Amazon (affiliate link) →
Champion 7500-Watt Dual Fuel (201281)7,500 W9,375 W74 dBA205 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$1,150Amazon (affiliate link) →
Generac GP8000E8,000 W10,000 W——Gasoline$1,150Amazon (affiliate link) →
Westinghouse WGen9500★ pick9,500 W12,500 W74 dBA220 lbGasoline$1,100Amazon (affiliate link) →
Westinghouse WGen9500DF★ pick9,500 W12,500 W——Dual fuel (gas + propane)$1,300Amazon (affiliate link) →
DuroMax XP12000EH Dual Fuel★ pick9,500 W12,000 W—224 lbDual fuel (gas + propane)$1,400Amazon (affiliate link) →
Generac GP15500EFI (7705)15,500 W19,300 W—420 lbGasoline$4,219Amazon (affiliate link) →

Home standby generators

Permanently installed, automatic, professional-install territory. Here as the reference point for what 'the whole house, hands-free' costs.

ModelRunningStartingNoiseWeightFuel~PriceBuy
Generac Guardian 22kW Standby★ pick22,000 W22,000 W——Propane / natural gas$5,700Amazon (affiliate link) →
Not sure which size? Run the calculator →See our picks by use case