Best Inverter Generators for Home Backup and RVs

We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend — see our affiliate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

An inverter generator turns its output into DC and back into a clean sine wave, so it can safely run electronics with circuit boards, and it throttles the engine to match the load — quieter, more fuel-efficient at partial load, and lighter than a conventional generator of the same output, at a higher price per watt. Size it on running watts, not the starting figure in the model name: total the running watts of everything on at once, add the single largest motor start surge (typically 2–3× that motor's running draw), and run your own list through the generator sizing calculator.

Then check the voltage. A 120 V-only generator — most small inverters — runs plug-in loads on cords; it cannot run a 240 V well pump, dryer or range, and it cannot feed a 240 V transfer switch. Powering hardwired circuits takes a 120/240 V unit with an L14-30R or 14-50R outlet, connected through a transfer switch or interlock an electrician installs — never through a wall outlet, which backfeeds the utility lines.

Every generator on this page shuts itself off when carbon monoxide builds up, and none of that makes it safe near the house. CPSC's guidance stands: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the home with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents — never in a garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with the door open — plus battery-powered CO alarms inside.

How we picked

Manufacturer-published running watts for each fuel — the figure sizing is done on
A CO auto-shutoff the manufacturer documents (CO-MINDER, CO Shield, CO sensor or equivalent)
120/240 V with an L14-30R or 14-50R where the plan includes a transfer switch or 240 V loads
Propane or dual fuel capability, for fuel that stores without going stale
Run time at a stated load, and a weight you can actually move

We do not accept payment for placement and we do not publish star ratings we did not measure. Specifications come from each manufacturer's published spec sheet.

Side by side

Product	Type	Best for	Output (gasoline)	Voltage	Outlets	CO shutoff	Parallel	Run time	Noise	Start	Weight	Warranty	Emissions	Output (propane)	Neutral
Westinghouse iGen12000DFc	Large inverter (6,000 W+ running)	Home backup of the essentials — fridge, freezer, furnace blower, well or sump pump — through a transfer switch	9,000 W running / 12,000 W peak	120/240 V; 37.5 A running at 240 V on gasoline	120/240 V 14-50R (50 A), 120/240 V L14-30R (30 A), 120 V 5-20R GFCI duplex	CO sensor — shuts the generator down if dangerous CO levels are detected nearby	With 240 V Westinghouse inverter models (240 V parallel cables sold separately)	19 hr at 25% load on 7.9 gal gasoline; 9 hr at 25% on a 20 lb propane tank	As low as 64 dBA (distance not stated)	Electric, remote key fob, recoil	189 lb dry, wheel kit included	3-year limited residential, 1-year commercial	EPA compliant; not CARB compliant	8,100 W running / 11,000 W peak	Bonded
Honda EU2200i (EU2200ITAN)	Small inverter (under 3,000 W running)	A refrigerator, internet and electronics through an outage, or quiet power at a campsite	1,800 W rated (15 A) / 2,200 W max (18.3 A); gasoline only	120 V only	One 20 A 125 V duplex — no RV (TT-30R) outlet, no 240 V	CO-MINDER — shuts the generator down before detected CO levels near it become dangerously high	Two EU2200i (or an EU2000i) with Honda's optional cable — up to 4,400 W max	3.2 hr at rated load, 8.1 hr at 1/4 load on 0.95 gal	57 dB(A) at rated load, 48 dB(A) at 1/4 load (distance not stated)	Recoil	47.4 lb dry	3 years residential, 12 months commercial	Not for sale in California (Honda)	—	—
WEN DF680iX	Mid-size inverter (3,000–6,000 W running)	Furnace blower, fridge and sump pump in an outage, or an RV with one air conditioner	5,100 W rated / 6,800 W surge	120 V / 240 V by selector switch; 21.25 A at 240 V on gasoline	120/240 V L14-30R, 120 V TT-30R (RV), two 120 V 5-20R, 12 V DC, 2× USB	CO Watchdog — automatically shuts the generator down if CO levels get too high	With another 240 V WEN inverter via WEN's 240 V parallel kit (240 V only)	6.1 hr at half load on 2.9 gal gasoline; 9 hr at half load on a 20 lb propane tank	64 dB at 1/4 load (distance not stated)	Electric, recoil backup	94.8 lb	3-year limited	—	4,500 W rated / 6,000 W surge	Bonded (WEN)
Champion 8500W Wireless Start Tri Fuel Inverter (201537)	Large inverter (6,000 W+ running)	Homes with natural gas or a large propane tank that want an inverter instead of a standby unit	6,500 W running / 8,500 W starting	120/240 V; 27.1 A running at 240 V on gasoline	120/240 V 14-50R (27.1 A), 120 V TT-30R, two 120 V 5-20R GFCI duplexes, 12 V DC — no L14-30R	CO Shield — automatically shuts off the engine on unsafe, elevated CO; meets ANSI/PGMA G300	No	13 hr at 1/4 load on 4.5 gal gasoline; 12 hr at 1/4 load on propane (tank size not stated)	64 dB(A) (distance not stated)	Wireless remote (up to 80 ft), electric, recoil	132.3 lb	3-year limited	EPA certified	5,850 W running / 8,500 W starting	—
Honda EU7000iS	Mid-size inverter (3,000–6,000 W running)	Quiet, transfer-switch-ready 240 V backup for essentials when reliability matters more than watts per dollar	5,500 W rated / 7,000 W max; gasoline only	120/240 V by selector switch; 22.9 A per leg in 120/240 V mode	30 A 120/240 V locking (NEMA L14-30), 30 A 120 V locking (NEMA L5-30), two 20 A 120 V GFCI duplexes	CO-MINDER — shuts the generator down before detected CO levels near it become dangerously high	Two EU7000iS with Honda's optional kit — up to 14,000 W	6.4 hr at rated load, 16 hr at 1/4 load on 5.1 gal	58 dB(A) at rated load, 52 dB(A) at 1/4 load (distance not stated)	Electric, recoil backup	263.2 lb dry, wheel kit standard	3 years residential, 12 months commercial	This 49-state version is not sold in California; Honda's EU7000iSNAC is the CARB-compliant 50-state model	—	—
Westinghouse iGen2550DFc	Small inverter (under 3,000 W running)	A fridge and essentials on propane, or light use in a 30 A RV	1,900 W running / 2,550 W peak	120 V only — not transfer switch ready (Westinghouse)	120 V TT-30R (30 A RV), 120 V 5-20R duplex, 2× USB	CO sensor (Westinghouse's CO sensor shuts the engine down when CO builds up)	With a compatible Westinghouse inverter (cables sold separately)	11 hr at 25% load, 7 hr at 50% on 1.1 gal gasoline	52 dBA (distance not stated)	Recoil	43.2 lb dry	3-year limited residential, 1-year commercial	Not CARB compliant	1,700 W running / 2,300 W peak	Floating

The picks

#1 · Large inverter (6,000 W+ running)

Westinghouse iGen12000DFc

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

A 9,000-running-watt dual fuel inverter with both a 14-50R and an L14-30R at 120/240 V — enough for the essentials tier of a whole house, fed through a transfer switch or interlock.

Best for: Home backup of the essentials — fridge, freezer, furnace blower, well or sump pump — through a transfer switch

Output (gasoline): 9,000 W running / 12,000 W peak
Output (propane): 8,100 W running / 11,000 W peak
Voltage: 120/240 V; 37.5 A running at 240 V on gasoline
Outlets: 120/240 V 14-50R (50 A), 120/240 V L14-30R (30 A), 120 V 5-20R GFCI duplex
Transfer switch: Both 240 V outlets transfer-switch / interlock-kit ready (Westinghouse)
Neutral: Bonded
CO shutoff: CO sensor — shuts the generator down if dangerous CO levels are detected nearby
Parallel: With 240 V Westinghouse inverter models (240 V parallel cables sold separately)
Run time: 19 hr at 25% load on 7.9 gal gasoline; 9 hr at 25% on a 20 lb propane tank
Noise: As low as 64 dBA (distance not stated)
Start: Electric, remote key fob, recoil
Weight: 189 lb dry, wheel kit included
Emissions: EPA compliant; not CARB compliant
Warranty: 3-year limited residential, 1-year commercial

9,000 running watts on gasoline covers the 5,000–7,500 W essentials tier with room for a window AC
Two 240 V outlets — a 14-50R and an L14-30R — so it fits either a 50 A or a 30 A inlet box
Still 8,100 running watts on propane, the fuel that stores for years without stabilizer
7.9-gallon tank: Westinghouse rates it at 19 hours at quarter load

189 lb — wheeled, but it lives where it runs
Ships with a bonded neutral: through an interlock kit or a transfer switch that doesn't switch the neutral that is a second neutral-ground bond, and the installer has to resolve it
Not CARB compliant — not a California option
Not a central-AC machine — a 2 to 2.5-ton compressor can surge 8,000–13,000 W on its own

Read the full write-up →

#2 · Small inverter (under 3,000 W running)

Honda EU2200i (EU2200ITAN)

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

Honda's 1,800-running-watt, 47 lb inverter with CO-MINDER shutoff and parallel capability — the reference small generator for a fridge, electronics and quiet camping.

Best for: A refrigerator, internet and electronics through an outage, or quiet power at a campsite

Output (gasoline): 1,800 W rated (15 A) / 2,200 W max (18.3 A); gasoline only
Voltage: 120 V only
Outlets: One 20 A 125 V duplex — no RV (TT-30R) outlet, no 240 V
CO shutoff: CO-MINDER — shuts the generator down before detected CO levels near it become dangerously high
Parallel: Two EU2200i (or an EU2000i) with Honda's optional cable — up to 4,400 W max
Run time: 3.2 hr at rated load, 8.1 hr at 1/4 load on 0.95 gal
Noise: 57 dB(A) at rated load, 48 dB(A) at 1/4 load (distance not stated)
Engine: Honda GXR120, 121 cc
Start: Recoil
Weight: 47.4 lb dry
Emissions: Not for sale in California (Honda)
Warranty: 3 years residential, 12 months commercial

Honda publishes 48 dB(A) at quarter load — less noise than normal conversation, by its own comparison
47 lb — one person carries it
Pair a second unit later instead of replacing it with a bigger one
My Generator app over Bluetooth for remote stop, monitoring and service reminders

Gasoline only — no propane option
120 V only, with a single household duplex: no 240 V, no transfer-switch feed, and an RV needs an adapter
2,200 W max won't reliably start a rooftop RV air conditioner without a soft starter or a second unit in parallel
Under a gallon of fuel means refilling during an overnight outage at anything above light load

Read the full write-up →

#3 · Mid-size inverter (3,000–6,000 W running)

WEN DF680iX

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

A 5,100-running-watt dual fuel inverter with an L14-30R at 120/240 V, a TT-30R for an RV and a CO shutdown sensor, at under 100 lb.

Best for: Furnace blower, fridge and sump pump in an outage, or an RV with one air conditioner

Output (gasoline): 5,100 W rated / 6,800 W surge
Output (propane): 4,500 W rated / 6,000 W surge
Voltage: 120 V / 240 V by selector switch; 21.25 A at 240 V on gasoline
Outlets: 120/240 V L14-30R, 120 V TT-30R (RV), two 120 V 5-20R, 12 V DC, 2× USB
Neutral: Bonded (WEN)
Transfer switch: WEN's manual: connect to a building only through a transfer switch that switches all conductors except the equipment ground
CO shutoff: CO Watchdog — automatically shuts the generator down if CO levels get too high
Parallel: With another 240 V WEN inverter via WEN's 240 V parallel kit (240 V only)
Run time: 6.1 hr at half load on 2.9 gal gasoline; 9 hr at half load on a 20 lb propane tank
Noise: 64 dB at 1/4 load (distance not stated)
Start: Electric, recoil backup
Weight: 94.8 lb
Warranty: 3-year limited

240 V and an L14-30R in a generator under 100 lb — the lightest 240 V unit here
Dual fuel with automatic fuel selection: it uses propane when a tank is connected
TT-30R for an RV plus the L14-30R for the house, so one generator covers both jobs

Bonded neutral, and WEN requires a transfer switch that switches the neutral (every conductor except the ground) — an interlock kit, or a typical 30 A switch that leaves the neutral connected, doesn't meet that
Parallel operation is 240 V only and needs a second 240 V WEN unit
2.9-gallon tank: about six hours at half load on gasoline, so overnight runs mean a refill or propane

Read the full write-up →

#4 · Large inverter (6,000 W+ running)

Champion 8500W Wireless Start Tri Fuel Inverter (201537)

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

A tri fuel inverter — gasoline, propane or natural gas — with 6,500 running watts on gasoline, a 120/240 V 14-50R and StartLINK for automatic start from a transfer switch.

Best for: Homes with natural gas or a large propane tank that want an inverter instead of a standby unit

Output (gasoline): 6,500 W running / 8,500 W starting
Output (propane): 5,850 W running / 8,500 W starting
Output (natural gas): 5,265 W running / 8,500 W starting
Voltage: 120/240 V; 27.1 A running at 240 V on gasoline
Outlets: 120/240 V 14-50R (27.1 A), 120 V TT-30R, two 120 V 5-20R GFCI duplexes, 12 V DC — no L14-30R
Auto start: StartLINK — wired connection to an automatic transfer switch or energy storage system for auto start/stop
CO shutoff: CO Shield — automatically shuts off the engine on unsafe, elevated CO; meets ANSI/PGMA G300
Parallel: No
Run time: 13 hr at 1/4 load on 4.5 gal gasoline; 12 hr at 1/4 load on propane (tank size not stated)
Noise: 64 dB(A) (distance not stated)
Start: Wireless remote (up to 80 ft), electric, recoil
Weight: 132.3 lb
Emissions: EPA certified
Warranty: 3-year limited

Runs on natural gas — no fuel to store or refill when it's hooked to a gas line
Hoses for both propane (6.6 ft) and natural gas (25 ft) in the box
StartLINK lets a compatible automatic transfer switch start and stop it — standby-style behavior from a portable

No L14-30R: feeding a transfer switch means a 50 A (14-50) inlet and cord rather than the common 30 A L14-30 kit
Not parallel capable
Running watts drop on gaseous fuels — 5,265 W on natural gas is about 19% below gasoline
A natural gas connection is a gas fitter's job: the hose needs a properly installed outdoor gas outlet

Read the full write-up →

#5 · Mid-size inverter (3,000–6,000 W running)

Honda EU7000iS

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

Honda's 5,500-rated-watt, fuel-injected 120/240 V inverter with an L14-30 and CO-MINDER — the premium choice when quiet and reliability matter more than watts per dollar.

Best for: Quiet, transfer-switch-ready 240 V backup for essentials when reliability matters more than watts per dollar

Output (gasoline): 5,500 W rated / 7,000 W max; gasoline only
Voltage: 120/240 V by selector switch; 22.9 A per leg in 120/240 V mode
Outlets: 30 A 120/240 V locking (NEMA L14-30), 30 A 120 V locking (NEMA L5-30), two 20 A 120 V GFCI duplexes
CO shutoff: CO-MINDER — shuts the generator down before detected CO levels near it become dangerously high
Parallel: Two EU7000iS with Honda's optional kit — up to 14,000 W
Run time: 6.4 hr at rated load, 16 hr at 1/4 load on 5.1 gal
Noise: 58 dB(A) at rated load, 52 dB(A) at 1/4 load (distance not stated)
Engine: Honda GX390 with electronic fuel injection
Start: Electric, recoil backup
Weight: 263.2 lb dry, wheel kit standard
Emissions: This 49-state version is not sold in California; Honda's EU7000iSNAC is the CARB-compliant 50-state model
Warranty: 3 years residential, 12 months commercial

Electronic fuel injection — no choke, and no carburetor to gum up in storage
Honda publishes 52 dB(A) at quarter load and 58 dB(A) at rated load
120 V-only mode puts the full output on the 120 V outlets when nothing on 240 V is running

Gasoline only — no propane
263 lb, the heaviest unit here, for 5,500 rated watts
In 120/240 V mode each leg supplies at most 22.9 A, so 120 V loads must be balanced across both legs
The RV outlet is an L5-30 locking type, not a TT-30R — an RV cord needs an adapter

Read the full write-up →

#6 · Small inverter (under 3,000 W running)

Westinghouse iGen2550DFc

Check price on Amazon(paid link)

A 43 lb dual fuel inverter with a TT-30R RV outlet and a CO sensor — the small generator that also runs on a propane tank.

Best for: A fridge and essentials on propane, or light use in a 30 A RV

Output (gasoline): 1,900 W running / 2,550 W peak
Output (propane): 1,700 W running / 2,300 W peak
Voltage: 120 V only — not transfer switch ready (Westinghouse)
Outlets: 120 V TT-30R (30 A RV), 120 V 5-20R duplex, 2× USB
Neutral: Floating
CO shutoff: CO sensor (Westinghouse's CO sensor shuts the engine down when CO builds up)
Parallel: With a compatible Westinghouse inverter (cables sold separately)
Run time: 11 hr at 25% load, 7 hr at 50% on 1.1 gal gasoline
Noise: 52 dBA (distance not stated)
Start: Recoil
Weight: 43.2 lb dry
Emissions: Not CARB compliant
Warranty: 3-year limited residential, 1-year commercial

Propane in a 43 lb generator — a 20 lb tank instead of stored gasoline
TT-30R plugs straight into a 30 A RV cord
Lightest unit in this group

120 V only — no 240 V loads and no transfer-switch feed
1,900 running watts is light use of a 30 A RV, not the full 3,600 W the hookup is rated for
Floating neutral: RV surge protectors may report an open ground unless you use a neutral-ground bonding plug
Recoil start only

Read the full write-up →

Working out what you need before you buy? Read the generators & backup power guides.