In certain situations, natural gas is the most convenient fuel type. Discover the portable generators that make the best use of natural gas.
Best portable natural gas generators top picks
Before going into the top picks, it is important to note that besides the Winco HPS6000HE-03/B, these offer higher THD power.
This means you want to get your own inverter or tools to clean up the power before running sensitive electronics.
- Westinghouse wGen9500TFC – Best portable natural gas generator for home & in general (9500 peak watts, tri fuel)
- Firman T04073 – Quietest portable natural gas generator (4000 peak watts, tri fuel)
- DuroMax XP13000HXT – Largest portable natural gas generator (10000 peak watts, tri fuel)
- Winco HPS6000HE-03/B – <5% THD portable natural gas generator (4800 peak watts, dual fuel)
- Champion 201169 – Budget-friendly (6875 peak watts, tri fuel)
It is definitely possible that portable natural gas generators lower on this list are better for your preferences and (power) needs.
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 portable natural gas generators.
Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:
- 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.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse wGen9500TFC | 9.5 | 6.5 | <23% | 9 | 8 | 5.5 | $$ | Check Price |
| Firman T04073 | 5.5 | 8 | 11% To 14% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7 | $ | Check Price |
| DuroMax XP13000HXT | 10 | 6.5 | High THD | 8 | 8 | 5 | $$$$ | Check Price |
| Winco HPS6000HE-03/B | 6 | 6.5 | <5% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
| Champion 201169 | 8 | 6.5 | High THD | 9 | 8 | 6 | $ | Check Price |
*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input
5 Best portable natural gas generators reviews
If you already know more or less want you want and need, the list of top picks and the table with performance categories could be enough to make a choice.
On the other hand, the more in-depth reviews of the best portable natural gas generators can make your decision easier too.
1. Westinghouse wGen9500TFC – Best portable natural gas generator for home & in general
Our top pick for the best portable natural gas generator for home use and just in general is the Westinghouse wGen9500TFC.
One thing to note first is that not everyone will need a generator that is this strong.
When running on natural gas, the Westinghouse WGen9500TFC offers 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts which is typically even enough to run a 4-ton central AC and more.
Additionally, you do want to keep the higher THD (somewhat standard for this generator category) and the few exceptional shipping issues in mind.
Pros
- Westinghouse WGen9500TFC offers 9500 starting watts, 7500 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (natural gas)
- Tri fuel means generator can run on gasoline and propane too
- Noise levels of 74 dBA
- Weight of 215 lb (97.5 kg)
- Has electric and remote start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Relatively budget-friendly
Cons
- THD of less than 23% is not suited for sensitive electronics
- A few exceptional cases of initial shipping and technical issues
One of the things that stand out in the Westinghouse WGen9500TFC is the remote start.
This can make operating this portable natural gas generator just a bit more convenient at home or on the move. Especially when the weather is not optimal.
Additionally, if the many positive customer reviews were not enough to convince you of the quality, the three years residential warranty of the Westinghouse WGen9500TFC could put your mind at ease.
Lastly, this quality package also comes at a relatively budget-friendly price. Especially if you consider the amount of power you get.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse wGen9500TFC | 9.5 | 6.5 | <23% | 9 | 8 | 5.5 | $$ | Check Price |
2. Firman T04073 – Quietest portable natural gas generator
The list of the best portable natural gas models is definitely not the place to look for the quietest generators.
That being said, within this category, the Firman T04073 is still the quietest model with a noise level rating of 67 dB at half load (assuming at 23 feet = 7 meters).
This amount of decibels is about what you can expect from a loud vacuum clean or freeway traffic.
So while the Firman T04073 is not quiet enough to have a conversation next to it, it will be one of your best bets if you want a portable natural gas generator that does not disturb your neighbors or ears too much.
Pros
- Firman T04073 offers 4000 starting watts, 3200 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (natural gas)
- Tri fuel means generator can run on gasoline and propane too
- Noise levels of 67 dB at half load
- Less than 11% to 14% THD at full load
- Weight of 123.4 lb (56 kg)
- Has electric start
- Two GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- 3 years limited warranty
Cons
- Not that many customers yet
- You may want more power
As you can expect, these noise levels also come with a lower power capacity.
4000 starting watts and 3200 running watts on natural gas are still enough to power appliances and tools of decent sizes.
At the same time, you may need to go for a stronger portable natural gas generator anyway to run an entire house with many and/or strong devices.
It is also worth noting that the Firman T04073 is not just quiet.
While more customers would be welcome, the current ones tend to be very happy with their investments.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firman T04073 | 5.5 | 8 | 11% To 14% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7 | $ | Check Price |
3. DuroMax XP13000HXT – Largest portable natural gas generator
This next portable natural gas generator is definitely not for everyone but if you want a really large model, the DuroMax XP13000HXT can be the right choice.
With 10,000 starting watts and 8500 running watts on natural gas, not having enough power will often not be the issue.
Two things you do want to keep in mind are the high THD and a few exceptional cases of technical issues.
One customer even mentions their microwave got fried because of the high THD so you may want to get your own inverter.
Pros
- DuroMax XP13000HXT offers 10,000 starting watts, 8500 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (natural gas)
- Tri fuel means generator can run on gasoline and propane too
- Noise levels of 74 dB
- Weight of 240 lb (108.9 kg)
- Has electric start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- 5 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- High THD is not suited for sensitive electronics
- Not many people need this much power
- A few exceptional cases of technical issues
Something that positively stands out in the DuroMax XP13000HXT is its five years of residential warranty.
This gives just a bit more confidence that the DuroMax XP13000HXT could be at least a decent portable natural gas generator for home backup power or similar situations.
Additionally, while the electric start is not a unique feature, it does make starting up this large generator more convenient.
In short, if you are looking for the largest portable natural gas generator out there, the DuroMax XP13000HXT could be for you.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuroMax XP13000HXT | 10 | 6.5 | High THD | 8 | 8 | 5 | $$$$ | Check Price |
4. Winco HPS6000HE-03/B – <5% THD rating
When it comes to portable natural gas generators, almost all models have high THD power that is not suited for running sensitive electronics.
However, there are also exceptions like the Winco HPS6000HE-03/B that have a rating of less than 5% THD which is almost as low as inverter generators tend to be.
The main downside of this package is the relatively expensive price compared to the other best portable natural gas generators on this list.
Especially considering this is “only” the 4800 peak watt model from Winco. You can also consider their Winco HPS12000HE or Winco HPS9000VE for more power.
Pros
- Winco HPS6000HE-03/B offers 4800 starting watts, 4400 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (natural gas)
- Dual fuel means generator can run on gasoline too
- Noise levels of 72 dBA
- Less than 5% THD
- Weight of 224 lb (101.6 kg)
- Has electric start
- Two GFCI outlets
- 2 years limited residential warranty
Cons
- Not that many customers yet
- Expensive compared to other portable natural gas generators
The relatively low THD is the main reason to consider the Winco HPS6000HE-03/B but it is nice in other areas too.
You can start the generator relatively easily with the electric start and the GFCI outlets help you avoid overloading your model.
Winco is not the most well-known generator brand out there but customers seem to be relatively happy with their machines.
So if you don’t want to tinker with separate ways of “cleaning up” the energy of your portable natural gas generator, the Winco HPS6000HE-03/B might be worth the investment.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winco HPS6000HE-03/B | 6 | 6.5 | <5% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
5. Champion 201169 – Budget-friendly
The Champion 201169 does not quite have the power capacity and proven track record of the Westinghouse wGen9500TFC but it does have a more budget-friendly price.
Additionally, this portable natural gas powered generator from Champion does have really happy customers so far.
In combination with the good brand reputation, you should be able to rely on the Champion 201169 for home backup power during power outages.
At least if you don’t mind the higher THD power and absence of a 50 amp outlet.
Pros
- Champion 201169 offers 6875 starting watts, 5500 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (natural gas)
- Tri fuel means generator can run on gasoline and propane too
- Noise levels of 74 dBA
- Weight of 197 lb (89.4 kg)
- Has electric start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- Very positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- High THD is not suited for sensitive electronics
- Very exceptional cases where customers got a suboptimal first model
When it comes to other details, the Champion 201169 is solid but not as exceptional as the best generators which is still welcome at this price point.
The electric start can be helpful for elderly individuals or just people who don’t like the recoil start.
You may also like the extra layer of safety you get from the CO sensor that turns the portable natural gas generator off when carbon monoxide levels get too high.
So if you find the Westinghouse wGen9500TFC a bit too powerful, you can save some money by getting the solid Champion 201169 instead.
| Brand Model | Power Capacity | Quiet Operation | THD | Reliability Reputation | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 201169 | 8 | 6.5 | High THD | 9 | 8 | 6 | $ | Check Price |
FAQ
Does anyone make a portable generator that runs on natural gas?
There are a few brands including Westinghouse, Firman, and DuroMax that make portable generators that can run on natural gas.
How long can a portable generator run on natural gas?
How long a portable generator can run on natural gas will depend on details like its oil consumption and maintenance needs.
Since these things vary from brand to brand, there is no general run time for all portable generators that run on natural gas.
Is there a portable natural gas inverter generator?
According to my research, there is currently no portable natural gas inverter generator.
However, there are still a few portable natural gas generators that are rated less than 5% THD which is relatively low.
Other alternative options are propane-compatible portable inverter generators with a conversion kit or “cleaning up” the power with other tools.
Who makes the best portable natural gas generator?
In our selection, Westinghouse makes the best portable natural gas generator with their wGen9500TFC.
What is the best natural gas-powered portable generator?
You may still be unsure about what the best portable natural gas generator is for your home backup power or other situation.
In cases like this, the Westinghouse wGen9500TFC is often a great choice although you don’t want to forget to “clean up” the power if you plan to run sensitive electronics.
