Best Inverter Generators

Pros

• +48–57 dBA — the benchmark everyone else measures against
• +Legendary starting and longevity; GX120-derived engine
• +47 lb, one-hand carry

Cons

• −Roughly double the cost per watt of very good competitors
• −1,800 running watts won't run an RV air conditioner alone

Pros

• +3,700 running watts handles an RV AC with margin
• +52 dBA at quarter load — extraordinarily quiet for the output
• +Remote start fob, electric start, and telescoping handle

Cons

• −98 lb — wheeled, but not a one-hand carry
• −Single 120V leg; no 240V for transfer switches

Pros

• +2,600W running / 3,200W peak — enough for a rooftop RV AC with room to spare
• +Electronic fuel injection: no choke, no carburetor gumming, starts reliably after long storage
• +59.1 lb with two integrated handles — a one-person carry at this output

Cons

• −Very expensive per watt — roughly triple the cost of comparable 3,000W-class inverters
• −1.2-gallon tank: 8.6 hours at quarter load, only about 3.3 hours at full load

Pros

• +9,000 running watts (gas) through a 50A outlet — real whole-panel capability
• +64 dBA is dramatically quieter than any open-frame machine with this output
• +Tri-fuel with natural-gas hookup: unlimited runtime, clean sine-wave output

Cons

• −Premium price — nearly double an equivalent open-frame tri-fuel
• −191 lb; wheeled but not casually portable

Pros

• +6,600W running (gas) with a 14-50R 50A outlet — transfer-switch ready
• +Tri-fuel: natural-gas hookup gives unlimited runtime; propane for shelf-stable storage
• +60 dBA at 25% load and ≤3% THD — quiet enough to run overnight, clean enough for every device

Cons

• −Natural gas cuts output to 5,280 running watts — central AC is off the table on NG
• −Natural-gas hose is not in the box; budget for it plus a plumber's quick-connect

Pros

• +Only dual-fuel option at this price in the 4,500 class
• +Runs 13,500 BTU RV AC on gasoline (mind the ~10% propane derate)
• +Electric start; wheels and folding handle included

Cons

• −~61 dBA — quiet, but audibly busier than the iGen4500
• −Propane derate means marginal AC starting on LP in hot weather

Pros

• +9,000 running / 11,000 peak watts (gas) — the highest-output dual-fuel inverter in this guide
• +61 dBA at 25% load — dramatically quieter than open-frame machines at this wattage
• +Remote electric start; CO Alert auto-shutoff standard

Cons

• −216 lb — heavy for an inverter, though the wheel kit makes it manageable
• −No natural-gas mode — dual fuel only, unlike the Westinghouse iGen8200TFc/iGen12000TFc tri-fuel inverters

Pros

• +5,100 running / 6,800 peak watts on gasoline — more output than Champion's 100889 for less money
• +Dual fuel: gasoline or a standard 20-lb propane cylinder
• +L14-30R 30A outlet plus TT-30R RV outlet — transfer-switch and RV ready

Cons

• −224cc single-cylinder engine and WEN's newness at this output mean no multi-year reliability record yet
• −2.9-gallon tank is smaller than most 4,500W-class dual-fuel inverters — expect more frequent refueling under sustained load

Pros

• +39 lb — lightest in its output class
• +51–58 dBA, genuinely quiet
• +Fuel shutoff mode runs the carb dry for storage — the #1 longevity feature at this price

Cons

• −Long-term durability is good-for-the-price, not Honda
• −Support network thinner than Champion/Westinghouse