The Best Portable Generators & Power Stations
A generator is the kind of purchase you make once and are grateful for every time the power goes out. The big decision is gas vs. battery: gas inverters run for hours on a tank but must stay outside, while battery power stations are quiet, fume-free, and safe to use indoors. Here's the best pick for each, from running a fridge to riding out a multi-day outage.
| Pick | Type | Best for | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverter generator | Gas inverter | Quiet, sensitive electronics | $$ | View → |
| Battery power station | Battery | Indoor-safe, no fumes | $$$ | View → |
| Budget inverter | Gas inverter | Essentials on a budget | $ | View → |
| Dual-fuel generator | Gas/propane | Whole-house backup | $$$ | View → |
Price tiers are our rough guide ($ = budget, $$$ = premium); check Amazon for the current price.
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Gas inverter generators
Inverter generators produce clean power that's safe for phones and laptops, run quietly, and sip fuel. Run them outdoors only.
Inverter generator
quiet, fuel-efficient, and clean enough for sensitive electronics — the do-everything pick for outages and camping.
Best for: quiet, reliable backup power
Check price on Amazon →Budget inverter generator
enough to keep the fridge, lights, and devices going for far less — a great affordable safety net.
Best for: running the essentials
Check price on Amazon →Battery power stations (indoor-safe)
A power station is a big battery — silent, fume-free, and safe indoors. Charge it ahead of a storm and run essentials with zero noise.
Battery power station
no fumes, no noise, safe to run inside — perfect for phones, a CPAP, the router, and a fan through an outage. Recharge from the wall or solar.
Best for: quiet, indoor-safe power
Check price on Amazon →For whole-house backup
If you want to power most of the house through a multi-day outage, you need serious capacity.
Dual-fuel portable generator
runs on gas or propane with the output to handle a fridge, well pump, and more — the workhorse for long outages.
Best for: powering most of a house
Check price on Amazon →Carbon monoxide alarm
any fuel generator must run outdoors, far from windows — a battery CO alarm inside is non-negotiable safety gear.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
Generator or battery power station?
A gas inverter generator runs for hours on a tank and powers more, but it must stay outside (carbon monoxide) and makes noise. A battery power station is silent, fume-free, and safe indoors — ideal for phones, a CPAP, the router, and lights — but holds a limited charge. Many people keep a power station for quiet indoor essentials and a generator for long or heavy-duty outages.
What size generator do I need to run a refrigerator?
A typical fridge needs roughly 1,000–1,500 running watts (more for the startup surge), so a 2,000-watt-class inverter generator comfortably runs a fridge plus lights and phone charging. To power a fridge, well pump, and several circuits at once, step up to a larger 5,000-watt-plus generator.
Is it safe to run a generator during a storm?
Only outdoors, well away from windows and doors — never in a garage or enclosed space, because carbon monoxide from fuel generators is deadly. Keep it dry and elevated, pair it with a battery CO alarm indoors, and never refuel it while it's running. Battery power stations, by contrast, are safe to use inside.