Generator Picker

From $500 portable to $15,000 whole-house auto.

Match to need

Few outages a year, no medical equipment → portable ($500-1,500).
Frequent outages, medical equipment, refrigerator critical → whole-house ($10-15k).
No gas, low maintenance → battery (EcoFlow / Bluetti).

Whole-house Generac Guardian (24kw)

$5,000-7,000 + install $5-10k

Auto-starts when grid fails. Powers entire home. Natural gas or propane.

Best for hurricane/winter storm areas.

Kohler 26RCAL (whole-house)

$5,000-8,000 + install

Premium alternative. Quieter.

Premium pick.

Champion 100485 (portable, 8500W)

$1,000-1,500

Great mid-range portable. Runs essentials (fridge, lights, furnace) for hours.

Best portable value.

EcoFlow Delta Pro (battery)

$3,500-5,000

Big battery + solar option. Whisper quiet. No gas.

Best battery option.

Honda EU2200i (small portable)

$1,200

Whisper quiet. Reliable. Best small inverter generator.

Best for camping + emergency.

Predator from Harbor Freight

$500-1,200

Cheapest reliable portable. Honda clone.

Budget pick.

Whole-house — what to know

Auto-start within 10-30 seconds of outage.
Natural gas (preferred) — never run out.
Propane — bigger tank fills longer outages.
Permit + electrician + concrete pad — install adds $5-10k.
Maintenance — annual oil change ($200/yr).
Insurance discount — many homeowners insurers offer 5-10% off.

Portable safety

NEVER run a portable generator in or near garage or porch. CO kills.
20 feet from any window/door.
Keep dry — covered shelter open on sides.
Use proper extension cords (rated for outdoor + amperage).
Transfer switch installed by electrician = safer than running cords.

Critical for medical needs

If you use CPAP, oxygen concentrator, dialysis, or insulin (refrigerated): a whole-house generator OR battery system is genuinely life-protecting. Some Medicare Advantage and disability programs partially fund medically-necessary backup power.