10 Best Portable Generators 2025 in the United States

The DuroMax XP12000E is a robust gasoline-powered portable generator designed to handle heavy-duty needs, making it a solid choice for home backup, RVs, or job sites. It offers a strong starting wattage of 12,000 and a running wattage of 9,500, which means it can power multiple appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators, and power tools simultaneously. With an 8.3-gallon fuel tank and idle control feature, it runs efficiently, saving fuel and lowering noise during lighter use.

Although it weighs 217 pounds, it comes with a wheel and handle kit to improve portability, but it may still be challenging for one person to move frequently. The generator includes 8 outlets and supports both 120V and 240V outputs thanks to its MX2 technology, allowing flexible power distribution for different devices. Safety-wise, it features a low oil shut-off to protect the engine from damage, which is a helpful automatic safeguard. The electric start and recoil start offer convenience and reliability.

This generator is well-suited for users needing high power output and durability, especially in commercial or residential backup scenarios. If easy transport or very low noise is a priority, lighter or inverter-style options might be more appropriate.

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is a well-rounded portable power station designed for outdoor activities like camping, road trips, and emergency backup at home. It delivers a solid 1,500W continuous power output with 3,000W surge capacity, meaning it can handle most household essentials including fridges and AC units. Its 1,070Wh battery capacity provides substantial runtime, enough to keep small appliances running for hours depending on usage.

One of its standout features is fast charging — it can fully recharge in about an hour, which is much quicker than many competitors, and it also supports solar charging via the included foldable 2x100W solar panels, making it great for off-grid use. Weighing just under 24 pounds with a handy handle, it’s portable enough to carry to campsites or store in an RV. The unit runs quietly at around 30 decibels, so it won’t disturb your peace while running overnight.

It offers versatile charging options including three AC outlets, USB-C and USB-A ports, and a car port, allowing you to power multiple devices at once. Safety is well covered with UL certification and fire/shock resistant battery tech. A small downside is the solar panels ship separately, which may require coordination. While the battery life is rated for 4,000 cycles, the upfront cost might be higher than gas-powered generators, though it’s cleaner and requires no fuel. For those seeking a quiet, efficient, and eco-friendly portable generator primarily for light to medium power needs outdoors or emergencies, the Jackery 1000 v2 is a strong contender.

The Jackery Solar Generator 300 is a compact and lightweight portable power station ideal for camping, road trips, and emergency backup. It provides a stable 300-watt output from its 293Wh lithium-ion battery, enough to run small appliances or charge multiple devices like phones, laptops, and cameras simultaneously via its two AC outlets, USB-C, USB-A, and car port. One of its strong points is fast rechargeability: it can recover 80% battery in around 2 hours when using both wall outlet and USB-C input, and it supports solar charging with the separate 100W SolarSaga panel, making it a green and quiet alternative to fuel-powered generators.

Weighing just over 7 pounds, it’s easy to carry but the runtime is limited by the battery capacity—likely a few hours for heavier devices—which means it’s best suited for short trips or topping up devices rather than powering large equipment for extended periods. It runs silently without fumes, which is a big plus for outdoor and indoor use. The unit includes safety features like pure sine wave output for sensitive electronics, but it doesn’t have a built-in fuel tank since it’s battery-powered, so planning for recharging is essential.

This generator is well suited for users who need lightweight, portable, and clean power for small devices during outdoor activities or brief outages, instead of heavy-duty or long-term power needs.