5 Best Electric Start Generators For Easy Power

Discover the best electric start generators so you can conveniently get a nice amount of power from a quality machine.

Best electric start generators top picks

1. WEN 56380i – Best electric start generator (3800 peak watts, 57 dBA)
2. Westinghouse iGen4500DF – Best dual fuel electric start generator (4500 peak watts, 52 dBA)
3. Champion 201067 – Best electric start generator for home backup (9000 peak watts, 72 dBA)
4. Champion 201175 – Best dual fuel electric start generator for home backup (9000 peak watts, 72 dBA)
5. Honda EU3000iS – Quietest electric start generator (3000 peak watts, 50 dBA)

As you can expect, electric start generators lower on the list could be better for your needs and preferences.

How we selected our top picks

There are many other features besides starting mechanisms.

Some of the things I considered to put together the list of the best electric generators include:

• Run time, power capacity, outlets, portability, 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.

*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input

5 Best electric start generators reviewed

People who know more or less what they want could find the list of top picks and the performance table enough to make a choice.

That being said, you will likely find it easier to decide between the best electric start generators after checking out the in-depth reviews below.

1. WEN 56380i – Best electric start generator

Our top pick for the best electric start generator is the WEN 56380i 3800 thanks to its nice amount of power, solid features, good reliability, and budget-friendly price.

The main thing to check is whether a 3500+ watt generator will run your devices.

Things like a 10k BTU window air conditioner, electric grill, or bench grinder should work (separately).

For devices bigger than that you likely need a stronger portable generator.

So while it has its limits too, the WEN 56380i 3800 can be useful for a variety of purposes.

For example, while RV camping, you can set up the WEN 56380i 3800, conveniently get going with the electric start, and enjoy something like an RV AC.

The relatively low noise levels and 8.5-hour run time at 50% make the WEN 56380i 3800 extra useful for this purpose.

Additionally, you should have no problems running sensitive electronics thanks to the low 1.2% THD.

Two things you do want to keep in mind are the small wheels and the short commercial warranty.

That being said, if you only plan to use gasoline, it will be hard to find better electric start generators than the WEN 56380i 3800 at this budget-friendly price.

2. Westinghouse iGen4500DF – Best dual fuel electric start generator

If you want your medium-sized electric start generator to run on propane too, the Westinghouse iGen4500DF is likely the best choice.

Being able to use propane can be useful in the sense that it typically stores longer than gasoline.

In turn, you don’t have to put as much time and attention into keeping your gasoline stores “fresh” for a power outage or unexpected boondocking trip.

The Westinghouse iGen4500DF is also one of the best inverter generators thanks to details like its quiet noise levels of 52 dBA.

In combination with the long run time of 18 hours at 25% load, the Westinghouse iGen4500DF should be able to power something like an RV AC through the night on both fuel types.

On top of the convenience of the electric start, you could even consider investing in the Westinghouse iGen4500DF version with remote start.

This would make it so you don’t even need to leave your RV, camping chair, or house if you already have the Westinghouse iGen4500DF set up.

And while the Westinghouse iGen4500DF is not quite at the level of the WEN 56380i, it is still a reasonably priced electric start generator.

Especially considering the dual fuel feature.

3. Champion 201067 – Best electric start generator for home backup

Electric start generators tend to be somewhat bigger but there is still a wide range of power levels you can choose from.

The Champion 201067 9000 tends to be the best choice if you are looking for a good portable generator for home use.

With 9000 starting watts, 7250 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts, the Champion 201067 should be able to power bigger things like a 4-ton central air too.

At the same time, you still get the low THD inverter power that allows you to power sensitive electronics safely.

One thing to keep in mind is that bigger electric start generators also tend to be louder.

With noise levels of 72 dBA, the Champion 201067 9000 will likely disturb you and your neighbors too much for usage throughout the night.

Additionally, while the run time of 10.5 hours at 25% load can be good enough for a convenient experience, it is on the shorter side.

That being said, it is unlikely that you will find a portable generator that offers this much clean power at this budget-friendly price.

In combination with the great reliability, the Champion 201067 9000 deserves the top spot for the best electric start generator for home backup power.

4. Champion 201175 – Best dual fuel electric start for home backup

You may like the idea of being able to run on propane too but want a bigger electric start generator than the Westinghouse iGen4500DF.

In that case, the Champion 201175 8500 tends to be the best choice if you don’t mind the small amount of customer reviews so far.

This adds a certain extent of uncertainty but at the same time, Champion generators tend to be some of the most reliable options on the market.

If you want a big dual fuel electric start generator with more reviews, you can consider the Duromax XP9000iH too.

Another thing to note is that the Champion 201175 8500 is somewhat pricier although this is standard for big dual fuel inverter generators.

Something that positively stands out in the Champion 201175 8500 is its quiet noise levels of 61 dBA (typically at 25% load and 23 feet away) at this power level.

You may even find this electric start generator quiet enough to run things throughout the night.

With the run time of 14 hours at 25% load on a full tank of gasoline, this should be possible with both fuel type options.

In short, if you want the convenient electric start, the option to use propane, and a lot of clean power, the Champion 201175 8500 can be worth the investment.

5. Honda EU3000iS – Quietest electric start generator

The Honda EU3000iS is not the best electric start generator due to its expensive price but it does deserve a mention because it is the quietest option in this category.

This is partly because the Honda EU3000iS is one of the smallest electric start generators but also because of the extra efforts of the Honda brand.

Another thing that positively stands out in the Honda EU3000iS is its long run time of 19.6 hours at 25% load.

In combination with the electric start and quiet noise levels, using this portable generator should feel convenient.

At least when you get it in position or get the optional wheel kit. Moving the weight of 130.7 lb (59.3 kg) can be challenging otherwise.

It is also worth noting that there are a few cases where customers have issues with the Honda EU3000iS.

That being said, this is still a relatively reliable generator overall.

You will likely not value the 2 dBA difference with the Westinghouse iGen4500DF enough to invest more into the Honda EU3000iS.

At the same time, knowing this is the quietest electric start generator on the market can be interesting.

Related posts:

• 5 Best Portable Emergency Generators
• 5 Best Honda Generators For Reliable Power

Our top pick

The WEN 56380i is our top pick for the best electric start generator thanks to its popular power level, solid features, good reliability, and budget-friendly price.

If you want to be able to run on propane too, it can be smart to invest in the Westinghouse iGen4500DF instead.

Additionally, the Champion 201067 9000 could be the right choice if you really want a lot of power.