The best portable generator

Last reviewed July 2026.

By cost per running watt, the best value portable generator we rank is Westinghouse WGen9500 — about $0.12 per running watt. But cheapest isn't safest: portable generators kill roughly 80 people a year from carbon monoxide, so the setting that matters most is a CO auto-shutoff (ideally UL 2201-certified). Here's the value ranking — check CO safety separately below.

Best value: cost per running watt

The number that matters more: CO shutoff

A cheap generator with no CO auto-shutoff is not a bargain. See which generators have no CO shutoff and the CO-shutoff record. UL 2201 is the stricter standard (a shutoff plus reduced CO emissions); a manufacturer-stated G300 is self-declared. Never run any generator indoors or in a garage.

FAQ

What is the best portable generator?
By cost per running watt, Westinghouse WGen9500 leads our value ranking (about $0.12/W). But prioritize a model with a CO auto-shutoff (UL 2201) over raw price — CO is the real risk.

What is the best portable generator on a budget?
The cheapest per running watt we track is Westinghouse WGen9500. On a budget, still insist on a CO auto-shutoff; a slightly pricier unit with one is worth it.

What is the best portable generator for home use?
For home backup, match the running watts to what you need to power, run only outdoors far from windows, and choose a unit with a UL 2201-certified CO shutoff.

Generator Score indexes CO-shutoff systems against the two ANSI standards and the public record (UL listings, manufacturer citations, CPSC data), with attribution — we test nothing and give no safety advice. No CO-shutoff system makes a generator safe to run indoors, in a garage, or near openings — CPSC's placement guidance (outdoors only, 20+ feet from the home, exhaust pointed away) is the operative document, and a shutoff is a backstop for mistakes, not permission to make them. If a maker publishes a standard citation or a listing appears, the page changes — the record wins.