Best Home Generators 2026 | Generator Comparison | PES Supply

Best Home Generators 2026

Expert comparison of standby, portable, and inverter generators

Best Standby Generators

Generator Power Fuel Transfer Switch Price
Generac 7290 (26kW) 26 kW Nat Gas/LP 200A Included $6,500-$8,500
Generac 7282 (28kW) 28 kW LP/Nat Gas 200A Smart $7,500-$9,999
Generac 7324 (18kW) 18 kW Nat Gas/LP 200A Included $5,500-$7,500
Generac 7102 (7.5kW) 7.5 kW Nat Gas/LP 50A $2,500-$3,500
Generac 7258 (14kW) 14 kW Nat Gas/LP 200A Smart $4,000-$5,500

Best Portable & Inverter Generators

Generator Type Power Fuel Price
DuroMax XP28000iHT Inverter 28 kW Tri-Fuel $7,999
DuroMax XP15000HX Portable 15 kW Dual Fuel $1,499
DuroMax XP13000HX Portable 13 kW Dual Fuel $999
DuroMax XP9500iHT Inverter 9.5 kW Tri-Fuel $2,099
Honda EU7000is Inverter 7 kW Gas $4,899
Honda EB2200i Inverter 2.2 kW Gas $1,299
Anker SOLIX F3800 Power Station 3.8 kWh LiFePO4 $3,498
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Power Station 3.6 kWh LiFePO4 $2,999

Standby vs Portable vs Inverter

Feature Standby Portable Inverter
Auto Start Yes No No
Power Output 7-26 kW 3-15 kW 2-10 kW
Noise Level 60-70 dB 65-80 dB 50-60 dB
Clean Power (THD<5%) Yes Varies Yes
Fuel Type Nat Gas/LP Gas/LP Gas/LP/Battery
Installation Required Yes (professional) No No
Permit Required Usually yes No No

How to Choose a Generator

  1. Calculate your power needs — Add up running watts of all essential appliances, plus starting surge for motors
  2. Choose fuel type — Natural gas (continuous supply), propane (long shelf life), or gasoline (readily available)
  3. Decide standby vs portable — Standby for automatic whole-home backup; portable for flexibility and budget
  4. Consider noise — Inverter generators are quietest (50-60 dB); standby generators are moderate (60-70 dB)
  5. Check THD — For sensitive electronics, choose generators with Total Harmonic Distortion below 5%