Discover the best cheap generators so you can get a good amount of value for the small amount of money you have to invest.
Best cheap generators top picks
Before going into the top picks it is worth noting that inverter generators cost slightly more but are still necessary to run sensitive electronics safely.
- WEN GN400i – Best cheap generator (4000 peak watts, inverter, loud)
- WEN 56225i – Best small cheap generator & for camping (2250 peak watts, inverter, 53 dB)
- WEN DF475T – Best cheap dual fuel generator (4750 peak watts, non-inverter, 71 dB)
- Champion 100519 – Best large cheap generator (6250 peak watts, inverter, 69 dBA)
- Pulsar G12KBN-SG – Best cheap generator for homes with inverters (12000 peak watts, non-inverter, 74 dB, dual fuel)
Depending on your preferences and needs in areas like power capacity, noise levels, fuel types, etc. cheap generators lower on the list can be better for you.
How we selected our top picks
Price is an important detail behind this list of the best cheap generators.
At the same time, you likely still want a machine that does the job with reasonable reliability.
Because of this, I also considered a variety of other details when putting together this list. These include:
- Run time, power capacity, outlets, portability, noise levels, etc.
- User reviews
- Anecdotal reviews from experts
- Brand trustability and reputation
- The performance categories below
If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN GN400i 4000 | $ | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6 | <1.2% | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | Check Price |
| WEN 56225i 2250 | $ | 6 | 7 | 9.5 | <1.2% | 9 | 6 | 7 | 10 | Check Price |
| WEN DF475T | $ | 8 | 9.5 | 5 | <15% | 9 | 7.5 | 8 | 7 | Check Price |
| Champion 100519 6250 | $$$ | 9 | 8 | 5.5 | <3% | 9.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | Check Price |
| Pulsar G12KBN-SG | $$$ | 10 | 9.5 | 4.5 | High THD | 9 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | Check Price |
*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input
5 Best cheap generators reviewed in detail
People who know more or less what they need could use the list of top picks and the performance table to choose the best cheap generator for them.
At the same time, you will likely find it easier to decide after checking out the more detailed reviews.
In these reviews, I also mention alternatives where an extra investment can offer a lot of improvement in certain important areas.
1. WEN GN400i – Best cheap generator
Our top pick for the best cheap generator is the WEN GN400i 4000 thanks to its high power level, fuel efficiency, and reliability for the small amount of money.
The main downside that barely put quieter alternatives like the WEN 56380i 3800 first is that the WEN GN400i 4000 is very loud.
With 67 dBA (mentioned by customers), you may find this portable generator too suboptimal for camping or running devices overnight.
You may also find the lack of wheels inconvenient but at the same time, a weight of 66.1 pounds is still moveable for many people.
Pros
- WEN GN400i offers 4000 starting watts, 3500 running watts, 30 amps, and 120 volts
- Parallel capability
- Run time of 7 hours at 50% load
- Nice fuel efficiency
- Less than 1.2% THD
- Weight of 66.1 lb (30 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 2 years limited residential and 90 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Noise levels of 67 dBA mentioned in reviews (and potentially more in practice) are loud
- The lack of wheels can be inconvenient
Something that positively stands out in the WEN GN400i 4000 is its nice fuel efficiency.
Being able to get more kWh (power quantity) out of a gallon of fuel can save you some money in the long term.
Additionally, even if the noise levels are too much for overnight power, you will at least keep the number of refueling sessions during the day small thanks to the 7 hours run time at 50% load.
In other specifications, the WEN GN400i 4000 is relatively basic but solid. At this price point and reliability, that is a good thing.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN GN400i 4000 | $ | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6 | <1.2% | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | Check Price |
2. WEN 56225i – Best small cheap generator & for camping
If you don’t need that much power, for example during a simple camping trip, smaller cheap generators like the WEN 56225i 2250 could be the better option.
With 2250 peak watts and 1800 running watts, you should still be able to power things like a refrigerator, microwave, or 11k BTU RV air conditioner.
A benefit of small generators like the WEN 56225i 2250 is that they tend to be quieter as the 53 dBA noise levels imply.
In terms of noise, this cheap inverter generator can be enough to power things overnight.
You do want to keep the somewhat shorter run time of 6 hours at 50% load in mind.
Pros
- WEN 56225i offers 2250 starting watts, 1800 running watts, 15 amps, and 120 volts
- Parallel capability
- Relatively low noise levels of 53 dBA
- Run time of 6 hours at 50% load
- Less than 1.2% THD
- Light weight of 48.5 lb (22 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 2 years limited residential and 90 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Uses a lot of oil
The light 48.5-pound weight of the WEN 56225i 2250 can be another positive point.
Even if you are not an elderly individual, this makes it easier to take the generator in and out of the car for camping, tailgating, DIY sessions, and more.
Besides a few mentions about the WEN 56225i 2250 using a lot of oil, it is hard to find trends in downsides in all the positive reviews.
In short, if you want a compact, lightweight, and quiet budget generator and the WEN 56225i 2250 offers enough power, this is likely the best choice for you.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN 56225i 2250 | $ | 6 | 7 | 9.5 | <1.2% | 9 | 6 | 7 | 10 | Check Price |
3. WEN DF475T – Best cheap dual fuel
There are some potential downsides too but the positives of the WEN DF475T are enough to make it the best cheap dual fuel generator.
First of all, you want to know that the 15% THD of the WEN DF475T is not suited for safely running sensitive electronics like a TV, phone, and certain refrigerators.
By using high THD power for these, you increase the risk of damaging the devices or at least speeding up wear and tear.
To run sensitive electronics on either gasoline or propane, you can consider the Champion 200977 4250 instead.
Pros
- WEN DF475T offers 4750 starting watts, 3800 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (gasoline)
- Dual fuel feature allows you to run on propane (LPG) too
- Good run time of 11 hours at 50% load
- Weight of 105.8 lb (48 kg)
- Has electric start
- Four GFCI outlets
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 2 years limited residential and 90 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- 15% THD is not suited for running sensitive electronics
- Noise levels of 71 dB are loud
- Shipping bolts can be hard to remove
- A few exceptional cases of challenging starts
Secondly, the WEN DF475T is another loud generator with noise levels of 71 dB.
There are also a few cases of hard-to-remove shipping bolts and challenging starts but the WEN DF475T is still relatively reliable overall.
That being said, if you don’t necessarily need low THD for your sump pump, well pump, air compressor, etc. the dual fuel aspect of the WEN DF475T can be valuable.
Propane typically stores longer than gasoline which makes it so preparing for power outages or off-grid living become more convenient.
The WEN DF475T is definitely not for everyone but non-inverter dual fuel generators like this and the stronger Westinghouse wGen5300DF are cheap and solid.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN DF475T | $ | 8 | 9.5 | 5 | <15% | 9 | 7.5 | 8 | 7 | Check Price |
4. Champion 100519 6250 – Best large
The previous best cheap generators can be strong enough but it is also possible you need something larger like the Champion 100519 6250.
More specifically, the 6250 peak watts and 5000 running watts may be needed for things like a 2-ton central air, hot water heat, or just many small to medium devices.
You should also not worry about including sensitive electronics in this because the Champion 100519 6250 is an inverter generator.
One thing to note is that the noise levels of 69 dBA are on the louder side.
Pros
- Champion 100519 offers 6250 starting watts, 5000 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts
- Nice run time of 13.5 hours at 25% load
- Less than 3% THD
- Weight of 121 lb (54.9 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Noise levels of 69 dBA are relatively loud
- Oil change is somewhat inconvenient
- Slightly pricier than other cheap inverter generators due to high power capacity
Whether you should use the Champion 100519 6250 to run something like an AC, refrigerator, and/or freezer overnight depends on how much noise you and your neighbors can handle.
Something else is that the Champion 100519 6250 is not the cheapest generator on the list due to its higher power capacity.
That being said, for an inverter at this power level, this option still offers a lot of value for the money.
On top of that, the relatively positive customer reviews imply that this is a reliable generator too.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 100519 6250 | $$$ | 9 | 8 | 5.5 | <3% | 9.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | Check Price |
5. Pulsar G12KBN – Best for homes with inverters
The Pulsar G12KBN-SG could really take your home backup power to the next level. At least if you don’t mind the high THD power or have your own inverter
It is hard to imagine many residential situations where the 12000 starting watts, 9500 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts of the Pulsar G12KBN-SG will not be enough.
Even in commercial situations like a job site or event, the Pulsar G12KBN-SG will go a long way at a relatively cheap price.
Something you do want to know is that there are a few exceptional cases where customers have technical issues with this generator.
Pros
- Pulsar G12KBN-SG offers 12000 starting watts, 9500 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (gasoline)
- Dual fuel feature so you can run on propane (LPG) too
- Good run time of 12 hours at 50% load
- Good gasoline fuel efficiency
- Weight of 209 lb (94.8 kg)
- Has electric start
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 1 year limited warranty
- A lot of customers
Cons
- High THD is not suited for running sensitive electronics
- A few very exceptional technical issues
- Warranty is not that long
- Noise levels of 74 dB are loud
Customers are still relatively positive overall but the short one year limited warranty still has room for improvement.
Additionally, as you can expect, a big generator like the Pulsar G12KBN-SG is loud with noise levels of 74 dB (typically measured at 25% load and 23 feet away).
On the flip side, the ability to run on propane can be convenient for home backup power since this fuel type stores long.
Even if you do run on gasoline, the run time of 12 hours at 50% load makes it so you can enjoy all the power from the Pulsar G12KBN-SG without too many refueling sessions.
In short, when it comes to powerful, cheap, and solid dual fuel non-inverters, the Pulsar G12KBN-SG is one of the best options.
| Brand Model | Price Category | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulsar G12KBN | $$$ | 10 | 9.5 | 4.5 | High THD | 9 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | Check Price |
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FAQ
Where can I buy a cheap generator?
You can buy a cheap portable generator at online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Sometimes you can also get good deals at second-hand marketplaces but you want to know that excessive wear and tear can be pricey in the long term.
Our top pick
It is possible that you are still unsure about what cheap portable generator would be the best for you.
In cases like this, our top pick, the WEN GN400i is often a good choice if you really want to keep things budget-friendly and don’t mind high noise levels.
If you don’t mind investing a bit more, the WEN 56380i 3800 can be a good similar but quieter alternative.
