4500 watt inverter generators can power a lot without costing as much as stronger models. Discover the best models on the market.
Best 4500 watt inverter generators top picks
- Westinghouse iGen4500 – Best overall and quietest 4500 watt inverter generator
- Champion 200988 4500 – Most reliable 4500 watt inverter generator
- Westinghouse iGen4500DF – Best dual fuel 4500 watt inverter generator
- WEN 56455i – Best budget-friendly 4500 watt inverter generator
- Firman W03661OF – 4500 watt inverter generator with longest run time
You can choose the 4500 watt inverter generator that aligns best with your personal preferences and needs above.
That means generators lower on the list will sometimes be better for you personally.
How we selected our top picks
Our experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of the best 4500 watt inverter generators.
Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:
- Power capacity, outlets, portability, run time, noise levels, etc.
- User reviews
- Anecdotal reviews from experts
- Price
- Brand trustability and reputation
- The performance categories below
If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westinghouse iGen4500 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | $$ | Check Price |
Champion 200988 4500 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
Westinghouse iGen4500DF | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8.5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
WEN 56455i | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 7 | $ | Check Price |
Firman W03661OF | 8 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7.5 | 8 | $$$ | Check Price |
*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input
5 Best 4500 watt inverter generators reviewed
The list of top picks and the performance table can help you make a quick decision.
At the same time, you may also want to check out the more in-depth reviews of the best 4500 watt inverter generators below to ensure you are making the right choice.
1. Westinghouse iGen4500 – Best overall and quietest
Our top pick for the best 4500 watt inverter generator is the Westinghouse iGen 4500 thanks to its great combination of quality features, reasonable price, and positive customers.
The first detail that stands out in the Westinghouse iGen 4500 is its low rated noise level of 52 dBA.
This type of measurement is not standardized in the generator industry but is still promising.
You should even be able to use the Westinghouse iGen 4500 for your RV on relatively busy camping sites.
Pros
- Westinghouse iGen4500 offers 4500 starting watts, 3700 running watts, 30 amps, and 120 volts.
- Quietest 4500 watt generator with rated 52 dBA
- Long run time of 18 hours at 25% load
- Less than 3% THD
- A lot of performance tracking metrics
- Optional remote start or CO sensor
- Weight of 104.7 lbs (47.5 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Navigating bumpy terrain can be inconvenient
- Some customers find changing the oil challenging
Another thing that stands out positively is the number of performance tracking metrics you can find on the display of the Westinghouse iGen4500.
This makes it easier to get an idea of when it will be time to refill and how much power you are actually using.
One thing you do want to keep in mind with this 4500 watt inverter generator is that the oil change can be challenging.
That being said, you will likely still find the Westinghouse iGen4500 the best option for your situation. Especially at this price point.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westinghouse iGen4500 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | $$ | Check Price |
2. Champion 200988 4500 – Most reliable
While the Westinghouse iGen4500 does relatively well in this area too and the Champion 200988 4500 is not perfect either, this generator does get the most reliable label for a few reasons.
First of all, besides a few exceptional cases of technical difficulties which are somewhat normal, customers tend to be very positive about the Champion 200988 4500.
Next, with the specifications provided, you can estimate that this generator gets about 5.326 kWh out of a gallon of fuel at 25% load.
In combination with the option to also use propane, the Champion 200988 4500 can be a good choice as home backup power for a few medium appliances in case of a power outage.
Pros
- Champion 200988 4500 offers 4500 starting watts, 3500 running watts, 30 amps, and 120 volts.
- Dual fuel (gasoline and propane)
- Relatively low noise levels with 61 dBA
- Nice run time of 14 hours at 25% load
- Nice fuel efficiency
- Less than 3% THD
- Weight of 95 lbs (43.1 kg)
- Very positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Navigating bumpy terrain can be inconvenient
- A few exceptional cases of technical difficulties
As you can expect from 4500 watt inverter generators, this model from Champion has a low THD (less than 3%) which allows you to power more sensitive devices too.
The rated noise levels of 61 dBA are not as impressive as our top pick but this is more or less the number of decibels of a conversation so the Champion 200988 4500 will likely be good enough for you in this area.
If you don’t necessarily want the dual fuel option, want to save some money, but still want the more positive reviews and fuel efficiency, you can also consider the Champion 200986 4500.
That being said, the dual fuel option does make this 4500 watt generator a bit more reliable thanks to the fuel flexibility.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Champion 200988 4500 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
3. Westinghouse iGen4500DF – Best dual fuel
As you can likely tell from the name, the Westinghouse iGen4500DF is the Dual Fuel option of the best 4500 watt inverter generator.
Besides this and seemingly the lack of remote start option, these two generators are about the same.
If you want to be able to run your generator on different types of fuel and you plan to use your model for situations like tailgating, camping, or anything else where you don’t always need the tiny extra reliability of the Champion 200988 4500, this option can be a good choice.
Pros
- Westinghouse iGen4500DF offers 4500 starting watts, 3700 running watts, 30 amps, and 120 volts.
- Dual fuel (gasoline and propane)
- Quietest 4500 watt generator with rated 52 dBA
- Long run time of 18 hours at 25% load
- Less than 3% THD
- A lot of performance tracking metrics
- Optional CO sensor
- Weight of 104.7 lbs (47.5 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Navigating bumpy terrain can be inconvenient
- Some customers find changing the oil challenging
Similar to the top pick, it is impressive that this model can handle what a 4500 watt generator can run at 25% load for 18 hours.
Additionally, the relatively in-depth performance tracking metrics can be especially useful for a dual fuel generator like the Westinghouse iGen4500DF.
This is because the capabilities you get when running on propane are typically different from the gasoline “setting”.
In short, the Westinghouse iGen4500DF is a more budget-friendly way to run different fuel types.
Especially for situations like RV camping, tailgating, and potentially even food trucks.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westinghouse iGen4500DF | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8.5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
4. WEN 56455i – Best budget-friendly
While you want to keep in mind that prices can change over time and due to deals, the WEN 56455i is the most budget-friendly quality 4500 watt inverter generator at the time of writing.
The main downside that comes with this budget-friendly price is that the WEN 56455i does not have a lot of customers yet.
This is relevant because some generators look good on paper but do not deliver that well on their promises.
In the case of WEN generators customers tend to be happy with their investments but the number of customers is still worth mentioning.
Pros
- WEN 56455i offers 4500 starting watts, 3500 running watts, 29 amps, and 120 volts.
- Relatively low noise levels with 57 dB
- Nice run time of 8.5 hours at 50% load
- Good fuel efficiency
- Less than 1.2% THD
- Weight of 99.2 lb (45 kg)
- 2 years limited residential and 90 days limited commercial warranties
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Navigating bumpy terrain can be inconvenient
- Relatively short commercial warranty
- Not a lot of customers yet
While the comparison with the numbers for different loads is far from perfect, it is also worth mentioning that the WEN 56455i seems to have good fuel efficiency.
With the running watts and run time you can estimate that this 4500 watt inverter generator can produce about 6.761 kWh out of one gallon of fuel while running at 50% load.
Food truck owners and other people who want to power their businesses do want to keep the short 90 days limited commercial warranty in mind.
That being said, the WEN 56455i is still a promising inverter generator for the money for people who want relatively budget-friendly power and don’t mind the low number of customer reviews.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WEN 56455i | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 7 | $ | Check Price |
5. Firman W03661OF – Longest run time
The main reason to consider the Firman W03661OF is if you are interested in being able to run your 4500 watt inverter generator for a long time without refueling.
While the other options perform well in this area too, you could prefer the run time of 22 hours at 25% load of this Firman generator for things like events or your food truck.
If these commercial situations apply to you, you do want to keep the relatively short 90 days limited commercial warranty in mind.
Additionally, the Firman W03661OF is relatively loud with its noise level rating of 69 dB. You may need to take precautions regarding this.
Pros
- Firman W03661OF offers 4500 starting watts, 3500 running watts, 30.4 amps, and 120 volts.
- Bigger wheels make navigation a bit easier
- Nice run time of 22 hours at 25% load
- Low THD of 3% at full load
- CO sensor
- Light weight of 106 lb (48.1 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 180 days limited commercial warranties
Cons
- Relatively loud with the rated 69 dB at 25% load
- Relatively low fuel efficiency
- Relatively short commercial warranty
- Not a lot of customers yet
Customers of Firman generators tend to be positive about the brand but you want to keep in mind that this inverter generator does not have a lot of customers yet.
In combination with the somewhat higher price, this makes the Firman W03661OF a bit more of a risky pick compared to the other 4500 watt inverter generators on the list.
So if you really like the run time and easier navigation due to the bigger wheels of the Firman W03661OF, you could consider this option.
At the same time, it should be clear that most people will prefer one of the previous generators.
Brand Model | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Firman W03661OF | 8 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7.5 | 8 | $$$ | Check Price |
What is the best 4500 watt generator?
The best 4500 watt generator is the Westinghouse iGen4500 thanks to its solid features, positive customer reviews, and reasonable price.