Best Portable Generators for a Transfer Switch

A small dual-fuel generator for keeping a fridge, freezer, sump pump and lights going through a transfer switch, with remote start and a five-year warranty.

A small, cheap dual-fuel generator for running a fridge, sump pump and lights through a 30 A transfer switch, if you can live without CO shutoff.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator for RV owners and homes with a 30 A transfer switch who want CO shutoff and electric start at a low price.

A mid-size tri-fuel generator for homes with a natural gas line and a transfer switch. It covers a furnace, well pump and fridge with fuel that never runs out.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator with remote start and a 240 V outlet for a transfer switch. Good for home backup of the essentials, as long as it can stay put or be carried by two people.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator for running most of a home’s essentials through a transfer switch at a low price per watt.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator that can run a fridge, furnace and well pump through a transfer switch. Best for buyers who want 240 V home backup at a low price and don’t mind a pull start.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator for home backup at a low price, for buyers who want propane as a fallback. The 50-state fuel-injected model costs more.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator for running a house’s essentials through a transfer switch at a modest price. Best for buyers who don’t mind a pull start.

A mid-size gasoline generator for running a home’s essentials through a transfer switch at a low price. A good fit for buyers who don’t need propane.

A gasoline generator big enough for most essentials through a transfer switch, with remote start. Best for homeowners who don’t need propane and want simple 240 V backup.

A gasoline generator for backing up most of a home’s essentials through a 30 A transfer switch at a low price. Buyers who want propane should look at a dual-fuel model.

A mid-size dual-fuel generator for feeding a 50 A transfer switch on a budget, though the CO-sensing DF1100X is the safer pick.

A fuel-injected gasoline generator for backing up a home’s essentials through a 30 A transfer switch, and the GP8000E to buy in California. Elsewhere the carbureted GP8000E does the same job for less.

A mid-size gasoline generator with fuel injection for buyers who want an easy start after months in storage, and the pick for California. Others get more watts per dollar.

A contractor-grade generator for daily job-site use where durability and OSHA compliance matter more than price. Home backup buyers get far more watts per dollar elsewhere.

A budget large tri-fuel generator for homes with a natural gas line that want whole-house backup through a 50 A transfer switch, trading some build quality for a much lower price.

A large tri-fuel generator that can run most of a house through a transfer switch on gasoline, propane or a natural gas line. Best for homeowners with a gas line who want long outages covered without refueling.

A budget large dual-fuel generator for whole-house backup through a 50 A transfer switch, trading some build quality for a much lower price.

A large tri-fuel generator for whole-home backup through a transfer switch, best for homes with a natural gas line. It is one of the cheapest ways to get 9,500 W and three fuels.

A large dual-fuel generator for whole-home backup through a 50 A transfer switch, with remote start and CO shutoff. Good value per watt for homeowners who can do without natural gas.

A large tri-fuel generator with cleaner-than-usual power for whole-home backup through a 50 A transfer switch. Best for homeowners with a natural gas line who want to run electronics safely.

A large tri-fuel generator for homes with a natural gas line that want whole-house backup through a 50 A transfer switch without hauling fuel.

A large tri-fuel generator for home backup through a 50 A transfer switch, for homeowners with a natural gas line who want to run as long as the outage lasts. Costs little more than the dual-fuel WGen9500DFc.

A large dual-fuel generator with clean power and remote start for whole-home backup through a 50 A transfer switch. A good fit for homeowners without a natural gas line who want more than 10,000 W.

A large tri-fuel generator for whole-home backup on a natural gas line, where it can run for days. Less suited to gasoline-only use, where it burns through a tank quickly.

A large tri-fuel generator with fuel injection for whole-home backup, and the version to buy in California. Elsewhere the carbureted GP9500E does the same job for less.

A large dual-fuel generator with remote start and a 50 A outlet for home backup through a transfer switch at a low price per watt. Buyers who want longer run time per tank should look at the 9.5 gal WGen10500DFc.

A large dual-fuel generator for backing up most of a home, central air included, through a transfer switch. Its 14-50R also suits 50 A RV owners.

A large dual-fuel generator for running most of a house through a 50 A transfer switch, with cleaner power and a longer warranty than the XP13000EH.

A large dual-fuel generator for feeding a 50 A transfer switch, and one of the few this size sold in California, though it lacks CO shutoff.

A large dual-fuel generator for running most of a house through a 50 A transfer switch at one of the lowest prices per watt in its size.

A very large tri-fuel generator for whole-house backup through a 50 A transfer switch, with a big tank for long runs on gasoline between refills.

A large tri-fuel generator for homes with a natural gas line that want transfer-switch backup without storing fuel, at a premium price.

A large dual-fuel generator for running most of a house through a 50 A transfer switch, sold at a low price per watt.

A very large tri-fuel generator for running a whole house, central air included, through a 50 A transfer switch. Best for homeowners with a natural gas line who want standby-like power without a permanent install.

A large dual-fuel generator for whole-home backup through a 50 A or 30 A transfer switch. Worth it only at a clear discount to the newer CO-sensor models, since it lacks CO shutoff.

A huge tri-fuel generator that can back up a large home in full, wired in by an electrician or through two 50 A outlets. For buyers who want standby-generator output without a permanent install.

A large fuel-injected tri-fuel generator for whole-house backup through a 50 A transfer switch, and one of the few this size that California buyers can get.

A commercial generator for contractors and rental fleets who run it every day and need it to last. For home backup, consumer tri-fuel models deliver the same power for a fraction of the price.