Whether it’s wildfires, hurricanes, or frigid winter storms, natural disasters are now a frequent part of life for many, so it’s a good idea to stay prepared. Often in these emergencies, power will be cut, and your most vital home appliances like refrigerators, water heaters, and AC units will be unable to run. The solution that energy experts previously recommended to us is portable generators.

Amazon

Different from portable power banks like Jackeries, which are more suitable for smaller personal electronics and single appliances, portable generators use a fuel source like gasoline or propane to convert electric energy. Generators also offer significantly higher wattage compared to power banks — anywhere from 1,000 to 40,000 watts — so they are designed to operate for longer periods, as long as there’s a fuel source. They’re also favored for helping to run appliances on RVs and travel trailers. 

You may think that generators are only available in-store at retailers like Lowe’s or Home Depot, however, Amazon has several well-rated options that can be delivered right to your front door. We rounded up some of the top portable generators on Amazon, which you can shop in the list ahead, or you can get more familiar with how they operate from some of our earlier reporting.

1. A Westinghouse 12,500-watt generator that runs on gas or propane

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The Westinghouse dual-fuel generator is one of the most-shopped generator options on Amazon, with well over 24,000 ratings and 4.7 out of 5 stars. It's powered by a 4-stroke OHV engine, so it can run on either gas or propane with just one touch of a transfer switch, and promises 12,500 peak watts, plus up to 12 hours of uninterrupted run time. 

Many reviewers are lauding the Westinghouse dual-fuel for its impressive and "beast-like" performance that's helped to keep major appliances running during power outages and hurricanes. 

"We wired this into a generator transfer switch on the house and we were able to run the fridge and freezer, run lights in multiple rooms, charge phones, watch TV and use the internet, use the microwave, and use a fan to sleep," wrote one reviewer who was experiencing a power outage.

The intuitive control panel features four standard socket plugs, plus one 30A outlet and one 50A outlet for a direct plug-and-play functionality. You can also be rest assured that it's compliant with Environmental Protection Agency regulations and is built with safety features like automatic shut-off when fuel sources are low.

Get it from Amazon for $999.

2. A 6,800-watt inverter generator

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This 6,800-watt generator by Wen is an inverter generator, so it promises to run quieter and convert into cleaner, more stable power compared to traditional generators. In addition to powering important appliances during emergencies, this dual-fuel operation (propane or gasoline) can charge up electric car batteries and power RV appliances when it's not running. 

Based on reviewer feedback, we've gleaned that the Wen generator is non-intimidating and easy to operate, even for people who claim to have little or no mechanical or technical knowledge. Many others appreciate this option for its demure size, yet powerful performance, while others claim it runs smoothly and offers a voltage output that is very consistent, even under different loads.

"Hats off to Wen for designing and offering a nice, affordable generator to suit many needs.Great Job. 5 Stars," one Amazon customer wrote.

The Wen inverter generator comes in other wattage options, depending on how many appliances you want to run simultaneously.

Get it from Amazon for $803.40.

3. A 5,000-watt gas-only inverter generator

Amazon

Another compact inverter generator that's faring well among Amazon customers — it has 4.6 out of 5 stars and 7,000+ ratings — is this 5,000-peak-watt gas-only generator by Westinghouse. It features a 12V household outlet, a 30-amp outlet for accommodating RVs, and two USB outlets for powering up smaller devices.

The brand suggests this model as a great option for camping, using with travel trailers as well as for home use when your regular flow of electricity is not accessible. Quiet and fuel-efficient, Amazon reviewers are saying that they are grateful for the 3.4-gallon capacity gas tank that allows the generator to run up to 18 hours. 

"As an RVr, I have had several generators that were powerful or quiet; this one is both," wrote one reviewer who also called the Westinghouse a "winning generator."

"Even the fuel fill is deep enough to fill without spilling, which may seem like a small thing, but the last thing I want is a gas smell after filling the generator up. It was able to power my RV AC, water heater, and microwave at the same time. The remote for stop-start is just convenient and works great," they said.

This particular generator that's featured is a gasoline-only operation, however, it also comes in a dual-fuel version, as well as a lower-wattage option.

Get it from Amazon for $849.

4. An inverter generator that is CARB-compliant for California

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If you reside in California, then you're probably already aware of the state's CARB-compliance laws when it comes to vehicles and generators' carbon emissions. The Pulsar 2,300-watt inverter generator is a cost-conscious appliance that adheres to these low-emission requirements and is capable of close to five hours of run time for each 1.8 gallons of fuel that it holds.

This portable and gasoline-powered design uses what the brand calls "Wave technology,' which delivers safe and stable power to sensitive devices like laptops, phones and more. Measuring no bigger than a carry-on suitcase and weighing less than 50 pounds, Pulsar recommends this model for using tailgating, camping and powering up 12-volt appliances.

The words Amazon reviewers have used to describe the Pulsar generator sum up its operation pretty succinctly:  "efficient, small, quiet and capable."

Get it from Amazon for $399.

5. A tri-fuel 11,500-watt generator by Westinghouse

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This 11,500-watt generator by Westinghouse is the only option on this list that can be powered by either propane, gasoline, or natural gas for a run time of up to 19 hours, depending on the type of fuel used. Like its dual-fuel counterpart mentioned above, this reliable generator also uses a heavy-duty 4-stroke OHV engine and six different voltage outlets, so it's compatible with everything from running RVs to backing up entire homes. There are also two USB ports for charging up smaller devices like personal electronics. 

Read how this generator ran one reviewer's entire 2,400-square-foot home during a four-day power outage:

"On gasoline, this generator will run everything in my house with no problems. I had all the lights on, air conditioner running, ran a faucet so my well would kick on, ran hot water so my electric water heater would kick on, turned two TVs on, two refrigerators, two deep freezers, and even went and kicked on the microwave and the lights didn’t even dim."

Get it from Amazon for $1,499.

6. A 5,600-watt generator that reviewers call "the best value"

Amazon

"This has to be the best value for a workhorse generator! And I mean workhorse," one Amazon reviewer wrote about the Wen 5,600-watt generator that's gas-powered and somehow manages to promise over 12 hours of runtime using a 4.3-gallon gas tank. 

"When I got it, I was surprised to learn just how small this generator is compared to others with the same rough output," the same reviewer wrote, adding that they appreciated the electric start and carbon monoxide shut-off sensor.

The interface has two standard amp outlets for all your home purposes, one RV outlet, and one heavy-duty twist-and-lock outlet.

Get it from Amazon for $382.

7. A hybrid 12,000-watt generator from an expert-recommended brand

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Harry De Loach, a master electrician, founder of The Academy of Industrial Arts, and the director of education and training for the Leaders of Electrical License Preparation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, previously recommended to us this hybrid 12,000-watt generator by DuroMax.

According to him, this is a generator that's built for taking on heavy powering jobs like running lights, AC, and a refrigerator at the same time. With 9,500 running watts (and 12,000 watts of peak power), an electric start and three different types of outlets (heavy-duty, twist lock and household), this generator rivals the power you'd get from a permanent unit but in a portable form. It also features what the brand refers to as an MX2 Power Boost," which doubles the 120V power for appliances and RVs," according to the maker.

One Amazon reviewer described how the DuroMax unit ran their entire home during Hurricane Irene in 2017 after a local electrician recommended it and called it "the best bang for the buck" option.

"The unit fired up the first time, no problem. We are using propane, and when we added the house load to it, one circuit at a time, this Beast did not even twitch! Whole house AC water heater, everything, and I was still at 50%. I can run the whole house during an outage," the same reviewer wrote. 

Get it from Amazon for $950.

8. A powerful 15,000-watt gas generator also by an expert recommended brand

Amazon

Another portable generator brand previously suggested to us by experts is this 15,000-watt generator by Champion, which also happens to be the highest wattage option on this list, and therefore the biggest investment. It's powered by gas only, with four home outlets and three other types of outlets, each with built-in surge protection to keep plugged-in appliances and equipment safe from overloading. It also promises a reliable electric start battery, even in cold conditions.  In terms of runtime, you can expect up to nine hours of operation on one full tank of gas, and rest easy knowing there's an automatic shut-off feature when the generator detects too much carbon monoxide accumulating in the area. 

Get it from Amazon for $2,050.60.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.