Discover the best hurricane generators so you don’t have to throw away your refrigerator of food when the storm hits.
Best hurricane generators top picks
This article focuses on portable generators but you could consider investing more in a standby generator if you regularly have to deal with power outages.
- Champion 200977 – Best hurricane generator (4250 peak watts, dual fuel)
- Honda EU2200i – Best small hurricane generator (2200 peak watts, gasoline-only)
- Champion 201067 – Best large hurricane generator (9000 peak watts, gasoline-only)
- Champion 100416 – Best tri fuel hurricane generator (10000 peak watts, tri fuel)
- WEN DF475T – Budget-friendly (non-inverter, 4750 peak watts, dual fuel)
- Westinghouse wGen12000DF – Very large hurricane generator (15000 peak watts, dual fuel)
Another thing to note is that hurricane generators lower on the list could still be the best option for your preferences and needs.
How we selected our top picks
When it comes to generators for hurricane season, some of the most important details are reliability and preferably low THD levels (since you don’t want to fry your electronics during a storm).
Additionally, things like fuel flexibility, a remote start, and long run times get bonus points too.
Besides these, I also looked at some of the following details when choosing the portable generators for the list of top picks:
- Power capacity, outlets, portability, fuel efficiency, 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 | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 200977 | 9.5 | 7.5 | <3% | 9.5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 | $$ | Check Price |
| Honda EU2200i | 9.5 | 6 | <3% | 6 | 10 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | $$$ | Check Price |
| Champion 201067 | 9.5 | 9 | <3% | 7 | 6 | 7.5 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
| Champion 100416 | 9.5 | 9.5 | High THD | 9 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 6 | $$$ | Check Price |
| WEN DF475T | 9 | 8 | <15% | 8.5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | $ | Check Price |
| Westinghouse wGen12000DF | 9 | 10 | <5% | 8.5 | 5.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 4 | $$$$$$ | Check Price |
*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input
5 Best hurricane generators reviewed in detail
People who know more or less what they want could be able to choose with a look at the list of top picks and the performance table.
That being said, you will likely find it easier to choose the best hurricane generator for your situation after checking out the detailed reviews below.
1. Champion 200977 – Best hurricane generator
Our top pick for the best hurricane generator is the Champion 200977 thanks to its combination of dual fuel, other solid features, good reliability, and nice power level.
With 4250 starting watts and 3500 running watts, the Champion 200977 should be strong enough to power a refrigerator, freezer, and a few small devices.
You do want to keep in mind that the watts available are slightly lower when running on propane.
Additionally, while this is still one of the most reliable dual fuel inverter generators, there are a few exceptional cases where the first Champion 200977 customers got was suboptimal.
Champion support seems to resolve these issues but you likely want to test your portable generator before hurricane season actually begins.
Pros
- Champion 200977 offers 4250 starting watts, 3500 running watts, 30 amps, and 120 volts (gasoline)
- Parallel capability
- Dual fuel feature allows you to run on propane (LPG) too
- Very positive customer reviews
- Reasonable noise levels of 64 dBA
- Long run time of 22 hours at 25% load (gasoline)
- Less than 3% THD
- Weight of 79 lb (35.8 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Relatively budget-friendly
Cons
- No wheels so moving the generator can be challenging
- A few very exceptional cases where the first model customers got had issues
Another thing to note is that the Champion 200977 4250 does not come with wheels.
Depending on how strong you are, you may want to invest in an additional wheel kit instead of carrying around the 79 pounds (35.8 kg).
That aside, the Champion 200977 4250 positively stands out in the long gasoline run time of 22 hours at 25% load.
This should be long enough to keep your refrigerator and/or freezer going throughout the night.
The noise levels of 64 dBA are not the most impressive but still reasonable with the knowledge that a regular conversation is around 60 decibels.
That being said, you will likely agree that the reliability and dual fuel feature of the Champion 200977 4250 are still worth it during a hurricane power outage.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 200977 | 9.5 | 7.5 | <3% | 9.5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 | $$ | Check Price |
2. Honda EU2200i – Best small hurricane generator
The Champion 200977 4250 is already reasonably small but you can take this a step further with the Honda EU2200i.
This portable generator should be strong enough to power a refrigerator and potentially one or two smaller devices on top of that.
By keeping your hurricane generator small, it is easier to get in and out of position, storage is more compact, and noise levels tend to be quieter.
Additionally, this Honda EU2200i has a great reputation when it comes to reliability and durability.
It should help you through hurricane seasons for many years to come.
Before investing in the Honda EU2200i, you do want to keep a few downsides in mind too.
As you can see from the watt amounts, the Honda EU2200i does not have the most impressive power level.
Pros
- Honda EU2200i offers 2200 starting watts, 1800 running watts, 18.3 amps, and 120 volts.
- Parallel capability
- Very positive customer reviews
- Quiet hurricane generator with noise levels of 48 to 57 dBA (at 25% to 100% load)
- Less than 3% THD
- Honda My Generator app connectivity
- CO sensor
- Light weight of 47.4 lb (21.5 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 12 months limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- You may need more power
- Expensive for its power level
- Run time of 8.1 hours at 25% load is not that impressive
- Only runs on gasoline
If you want to run more devices during a hurricane power outage or want a margin of safety, you likely want to invest in a bigger model.
Besides that, the Honda EU2200i only runs on gasoline.
This fuel type is not always conveniently available during emergencies since it is the first choice of many other people too.
The run time of 8.1 hours at 25% load is not the most impressive either.
Unless you set your clock for refueling sessions, the Honda EU2200i may not be able to run your important electronics throughout the night.
So while they have their benefits, small hurricane generators like the Honda EU2200i are not ideal in certain areas that do matter.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda EU2200i | 9.5 | 6 | <3% | 6 | 10 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | $$$ | Check Price |
3. Champion 201067 – Best large hurricane generator
A medium or small hurricane generator can be enough but if you want to have backup power for bigger appliances, a large model like the Champion 201067 can be better.
One Champion 201067 downside to keep in mind is that it only runs on gasoline.
You can consider the Champion 201175 8500 duel fuel generator too but this option is less proven and requires a bigger investment.
Besides that, the Champion 201067 does not have the most impressive run time with 10.5 hours at 25% load.
At the same time, with 7250 running watts, this could still be more than enough.
Pros
- Champion 201067 offers 9000 starting watts, 7250 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts
- Very positive customer reviews
- Run time of 10.5 hours at 25% load
- Less than 3% THD
- Electric start
- CO sensor
- Four GFCI outlets
- Weight of 152.2 lb (69 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Noise levels of 72 dBA are somewhat loud
- Run time is not the most impressive
- Only runs on gasoline
A more general downside is that large portable home backup generators also tend to be louder.
Whether the 72 dBA of the Champion 201067 will be a problem for you and your neighbors will depend on preferences and the noise of the hurricane.
These things aside, the Champion 201067 9000 is still the top pick for the best large hurricane generator for good reasons like its great reliability.
The reasonable weight and electric start also make it relatively convenient to get the generator in position and get it producing clean inverter power.
When it comes to hurricane generators, quality tends to matter more.
However, you may like to hear that the Champion 201067 9000 is both a quality and budget-friendly generator.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 201067 | 9.5 | 9 | <3% | 7 | 6 | 7.5 | 8 | 7 | $$$ | Check Price |
4. Champion 100416 – Best tri fuel hurricane generator
A potential issue during hurricane season is getting the fuel types necessary to run your portable generator.
Getting a dual fuel model is already a great step toward avoiding this. However, a tri fuel generator like the Champion 100416 could be even better.
Being able to run on natural gas too can be a valuable benefit for certain situations and locations.
You do want to keep in mind that the Champion 100416 produces high THD power.
To run sensitive electronics you will need your own inverter or an alternative like the Champion 201176 tri fuel inverter generator.
Pros
- Champion 100416 offers 10000 starting watts, 8000 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (gasoline)
- Tri fuel feature allows you to run on propane and natural gas too
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- Good run time of 12 hours at 50% load
- Weight of 207 lb (93.4 kg)
- Has electric start
- Has a CO sensor
- Four GFCI outlets
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Noise levels of 74 dBA are somewhat louder
- High THD is not suited for sensitive electronics
- Does not have a 50 amp outlet
Another relevant detail is that the Champion 100416 10000 does not have a 50 amp outlet.
That means getting the full gasoline power potential of this hurricane generator will require a slightly less convenient setup.
Similar to the previous large portable generator, the Champion 100416 10000 is somewhat louder too.
That being said, the Champion 100416 10000 is still one of the most reliable multi fuel generators on the market.
In combination with nice features like the electric start, CO sensor, and GFCI outlets, you definitely want to consider this model if you are interested in a tri fuel hurricane generator.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 100416 | 9.5 | 9.5 | High THD | 9 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 6 | $$$ | Check Price |
5. WEN DF475T – Budget-friendly
The previous hurricane generators are already reasonably-priced but you can potentially do even better in this area with the WEN DF475T in certain situations.
With the 15% THD power, you likely don’t want to risk damaging your microwave, refrigerator, or AC with the WEN DF475T during a hurricane.
That being said, for certain devices like well pumps and sump pumps, non-inverter generators can do the job.
And while the reviews may look suboptimal at first, filtering out the mentions of loud noise levels gives the impression that the WEN DF475T is relatively reliable overall.
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
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- Good run time of 11 hours at 50% load
- Weight of 105.8 lb (48 kg)
- Has electric start
- Four GFCI outlets
- 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 somewhat louder
- Shipping bolts can be hard to remove
- A few exceptional cases of challenging starts
Additionally, the WEN DF475T can run on both propane and gasoline which can come in handy during hurricane season.
And if you can get your hands on enough gasoline, the run time of 11 hours at 50% load makes it so you don’t have to go outside that often for refueling sessions.
The reasonable weight of 105.8 pounds (48 kg) and electric start also make it more convenient to get the WEN DF475T in position and start it up.
So if you don’t necessarily need low THD power, don’t mind the noise levels, and want to keep your investment small, the WEN DF475T could be the right hurricane generator.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEN DF475T | 9 | 8 | <15% | 8.5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | $ | Check Price |
6. Westinghouse wGen12000DF – Very large hurricane generator
The Westinghouse wGen12000DF is too much for many people but you could be one of the individuals who wants the 15k peak watts and 12k running watts available during hurricane season.
In that case, you would also be happy to hear that the Westinghouse wGen12000DF produces low THD (<5%) power even though it is not technically an inverter generator.
That means you will be able to use your central air, refrigerator, freezer, TV, microwave, and likely more without worrying about frying these with high THD power.
You want to know that there are a few exceptional cases of technical issues although the Westinghouse wGen12000DF is still relatively reliable overall.
Pros
- Westinghouse wGen12000DF offers 15000 starting watts, 12000 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (gasoline)
- Dual fuel feature allows you to run on propane (LPG) too
- Nice run time of 11 hours at 50% load
- Less than 5% THD
- Has electric and remote start
- Four GFCI outlets
- Version with CO sensor available too
- Weight of 352 lb (160 kg)
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Noise levels of 74 dBA are already somewhat loud
- A few exceptional cases of technical issues
- Pricey compared to other hurricane generators
The price and noise levels of this portable dual fuel generator are also somewhat higher. As you can expect from a big model like this.
On the flip side, once you get it in position (including weather protection), the Westinghouse wGen12000DF is relatively easy to operate.
Thanks to the remote start, you can turn it on from the comfort of your own home when you notice the hurricane causes power grid issues.
Additionally, if gasoline is your choice of fuel type, the nice run time of 11 hours at 50% load makes it so you only occasionally have to go outside to refuel the generator.
In short, while this generator will not be relevant for most people, the Westinghouse wGen12000DF could be worth considering if you want big amounts of power.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | THD | Run Time | Quiet Operation | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse wGen12000DF | 9 | 10 | <5% | 8.5 | 5.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 4 | $$$$$$ | Check Price |
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FAQ
Should I buy a generator for hurricane season?
Whether you should buy a generator for hurricane season depends on details like how likely it is the power goes out, your budget, and the damage of lack of electricity.
For example, if you have a refrigerator and/or freezer full of food, a small inverter generator could “pay for itself” during a few hurricane seasons.
At the same time, a big home backup generator could be too much if you don’t mind sitting out the hurricane with only a few essential appliances.
Do standby whole house generators work during a hurricane?
From a high-level view, you can say that standby whole house generators work during a hurricane.
At the same time, you want to keep in mind that fuel types, even natural gas, can be lacking during emergencies like this.
In turn, if there is no fuel available, your standby whole house generator will not work.
What size generator do I need for hurricanes?
What size generator you need for hurricanes depends on what you want to be able to power.
For example, to power a medium-sized refrigerator, you want a generator with at least 2200 peak watts.
On the other hand, to keep your 4-ton central air going, you would need at least 5200 peak watts and preferably more to account for energy loss and safety margins.
What generator is the best for hurricane season?
It is possible that you are still unsure about what hurricane generator would be the best for you.
In a case like that, our top pick, the Champion 200977 4250, is often a good choice.
At the same time, the Champion 201067 could be the better option too if you want its 9000 peak watts and don’t mind the lack of dual fuel feature.
