Discover the best portable propane generators for houses so you can reliably run appliances without power outage interruptions.
Best portable propane generators for houses top picks
Make sure you also get safety guidelines in order on top of getting a good generator. It tends to be smart to talk to an electrician to do this.
- DuroMax XP9000iH – Best portable propane generator for houses (30 amp outlet)
- Westinghouse WGen9500DF (non-inverter, 11,200 peak watts)
- Champion 201175 8500 – Promising option (8,500 peak watts)
- Champion 200977 4250 – Best small portable propane generator for houses (4250 peak watts)
- Westinghouse WGen12000DF (<5% THD, 13,500 peak watts)
Depending on your power needs, preferences, and set up, portable propane generators lower on the list could be better for your situation and house.
How we selected our top picks
When it comes to the best portable propane generators for houses, reliability, nice amounts of power, and convenient outlets tend to be the most important.
However, I also took some of the following details into account when making the list of top picks:
- THD levels, run time, 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 | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuroMax XP9000iH | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7 | <5% | 7.5 | 8.5 | 5.5 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DF | 9.5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | <23% | 9.5 | 8 | 6 | $$ | Check Price |
| Champion 201175 8500 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | <3% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6 | $$$$ | Check Price |
| Champion 200977 4250 | 9.5 | 6 | 9.5 | 8 | <3% | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | $ | Check Price |
| Westinghouse WGen12000DF | 9.5 | 10 | 7.5 | 6 | <5% | 10 | 8.5 | 4 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
*Compared to similar generators and sometimes based on customer input
5 Best portable propane generators for houses reviewed
People who are more experienced with portable propane generators could be able to make a choice with the list of top picks and table with performance scores.
That being said, the reviews of the best models for houses and home backup power below will likely make your decision easier.
1. DuroMax XP9000iH – Best portable propane generator for houses
Our top pick for the best portable propane generator for houses and/or home backup power is the DuroMax XP9000iH but you do want to keep some things in mind.
The first one is that this generator is not perfect in terms of reliability.
There are many happy customers too but also some cases of early technical issues and cases where the DuroMax XP9000iH does not quite reach the watts mentioned.
Additionally, this portable propane generator does not have a 50 amp outlet which limits to some extent how much power you can get to your house through one outlet.
Pros
- DuroMax XP9000iH offers 8550 starting watts, 7200 running watts, 30 amps, and 240 volts (propane)
- Parallel capability
- Dual fuel means generator can run on gasoline too
- Noise levels of 68 dB
- Run time of 9 hours at 25% load on a 20-lb propane tank
- Less than 5% THD
- Electric and remote start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- Weight of 237 lb (107.5 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Pricey portable propane generator for houses
- Does not have a 50 amp outlet
- Some cases of early technical issues
- A few cases where the generator does not offer the running watts mentioned
On the flip side, this DuroMax XP9000iH does still get the top pick spot for good reasons.
There are not many good portable propane generators with this much power potential and inverter technology.
The low THD inverter power will also allow you to use the more sensitive electronics in your house without fear of damaging these.
Additionally, the remote start makes operating the generator more convenient. Especially in weather conditions where you don’t want to go outside if it is not necessary.
If you want more reliabilty and/or a 50 amp outlet, you may prefer one of the other options. At the same time, the DuroMax XP9000iH is still a great option too.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuroMax XP9000iH | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7 | <5% | 7.5 | 8.5 | 5.5 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
2. Westinghouse WGen9500DF (non-inverter, 11,200 peak watts)
The Westinghouse WGen9500DF offers a lot of power and quality at a very reasonable price but you do want to keep the non-inverter aspect in mind.
This means that you will need to get an inverter or other way to “clean up” the energy if you want to run sensitive electronics in your house with the power of this portable propane generator.
However, if you don’t mind setting this up and the above-average noise levels, the Westinghouse WGen9500DF can be a solid choice for big houses.
With the 11,200 starting watts and 8500 running watts on propane, most people will have more than enough power to run even bigger things like a 4-ton central air and more.
Pros
- Westinghouse WGen9500DF offers 11,200 starting watts, 8500 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (propane)
- Dual fuel means generator can run on gasoline too
- Tri fuel version to run on natural gas available too
- Noise levels of 74 dBA
- Nice run time of 7 hours at 50% load on a 20-lb propane tank
- Good fuel efficiency
- Weight of 211 lb (95.7 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
Cons
- THD of less than 23% is not suited for sensitive electronics
- A few exceptional cases of initial shipping and technical issues
- Not everyone needs this much power
Similar to the previous portable propane generator, you theoretically don’t even have to go outside to turn it on and off thanks to the remote start.
Something that stands out in the Westinghouse WGen9500DF specifically is how happy the customers are with the generator overall.
Since reliability is so important for home backup power solutions, this aspect definitely gets a few bonus points.
In short, the Westinghouse WGen9500DF is a great option for people who want a lot of power, have their own inverter, and/or don’t mind the high THD.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse WGen9500DF | 9.5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | <23% | 9.5 | 8 | 6 | $$ | Check Price |
3. Champion 201175 8500 – Promising option
The Champion 201175 8500 is a candidate for the best portable propane generator for houses but due to the small number of reviews, it gets a lower spot (for now).
This is because there are sometimes generators that look good on paper but turn out to have a good amount of technical.
Champion generators are generally some of the most reliable ones out there but before getting the top spot, confirmation from customers about this model is necessary.
At the same time, you can definitely describe the Champion 201175 8500 as a promising option with the combination of high quality, low THD power, and reasonable price.
Pros
- Champion 201175 8500 offers 8500 starting watts, 6300 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (propane)
- Dual fuel means generator can run on gasoline too
- Quietest portable propane generator for houses with noise levels of 61 dBA
- Run time of 12 hours at 25% load on a 20-lb propane tank
- Less than 3% THD
- Electric start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor
- Weight of 213.9 lb (97 kg)
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
Cons
- Not a lot of customers yet
Something that really stands out is the relatively low noise level rating of 61 dBA.
This makes the Champion 201175 8500 a good portable propane generator for small neighborhoods where you don’t want to disturb the people around you (and yourself) too much.
Additionally, while not quite on the level of the Westinghouse generators on this list, the Champion 201175 8500 also has solid fuel efficiency.
If the good reviews of the other Champion models and three years limited residential warranty are enough for you, the Champion 201175 8500 can be a great house generator.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 201175 8500 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | <3% | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6 | $$$$ | Check Price |
4. Champion 200977 4250 – Best small portable propane generator for houses
So far the portable propane generators were relatively big because people tend to want to be able to run bigger devices like ACs in their houses.
At the same time, you may also just want to be able to run a few smaller essential appliances like a refrigerator and/or freezer in case of a power outage.
If that is the case for you, choosing the Champion 200977 4250 can help you save a good amount of money and keep the noise levels down.
Something you do want to keep in mind is that this 79 lb (35.88 kg) generator does not have any wheels.
Pros
- Champion 200977 4250 offers 4250 starting watts, 3150 running watts, 30/26.6 amps, and 120 volts (propane)
- Parallel capability
- Reasonable noise levels of 62 dBA
- Long run time of 21 hours at 25% load on a 20-lb propane tank
- Less than 3% THD
- Weight of 79 lb (35.8 kg)
- Very positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 270 days limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- No wheels so moving the propane generator can be challenging
- A few very exceptional cases where the first model customers got had issues
People who are not used to lifting heavy things may have trouble (or at least effort) getting this portable propane generator far enough away from their houses.
However, if you are able to deal with the weight, the Champion 200977 4250 really stands out in how positive the customers are.
This reliability can matter even more if you are looking for a good propane generator for off-grid living since reparations and replacements are extra inconvenient.
In short, the budget-friendly Champion 200977 4250 is often the best portable propane generator for people who only want to run a few smaller devices in their houses.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 200977 4250 | 9.5 | 6 | 9.5 | 8 | <3% | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | $ | Check Price |
5. Westinghouse WGen12000DF (<5% THD, 13,500 peak watts)
Most people will find one of the previous portable propane generators a great choice for their houses and power needs.
However, it is possible that you are one of the individuals that want more clean low THD power than the DuroMax XP9000iH offers.
In that case, you can consider the Westinghouse WGen12000DF with its enormous 13,500 starting watts and 10,800 running watts.
This propane-compatible generator also seems to be more reliable than the DuroMax XP9000iH which could be worth the extra investment for home backup power.
Pros
- Westinghouse WGen12000DF offers 13,500 starting watts, 10,800 running watts, 50 amps, and 240 volts (propane)
- Many outlet types make connecting to houses more convenient
- Dual fuel means generator can run on gasoline too
- Noise levels of 74 dBA
- Run time of 6 hours at 50% load on a 20-lb propane tank
- Good fuel efficiency
- Less than 5% THD
- Electric and remote start
- Four GFCI outlets
- CO sensor version available too
- Relatively positive customer reviews
- 3 years limited residential and 1 year limited commercial warranties
- A lot of customers
Cons
- Pricey portable propane generator for houses
- Not always in stock
- A few very exceptional cases of technical issues
- Operating in low temperatures can be challenging
- Heavy weight of 352 lb (159.7 kg) can be challenging to move around
People with existing portable generator-to-house connection setups may also really like how many different outlets the Westinghouse WGen12000DF has.
Two potential downsides customers do mention are that operating the generator in low temperatures and moving the machine around are not always convenient.
The remote start can make this second point somewhat less suboptimal but even then, you may need to go for one of the lighter best portable propane generators for houses.
So while the Westinghouse WGen12000DF is not perfect or necessary for everyone, it can still be great for people who want a lot of low THD and reliable power.
| Brand Model | Reliability Reputation | Power Capacity | Run Time | Quiet Operation | THD | Fuel Efficiency | Ease Of Use | Portability | Price Category | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse WGen12000DF | 9.5 | 10 | 7.5 | 6 | <5% | 10 | 8.5 | 4 | $$$$$ | Check Price |
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FAQ
Can a propane generator power a house?
With the right safety guidelines, potentially some extra initial installment work, and enough capacity, a propane generator can typically power a house.
Our top pick
You may still be unsure about what portable propane generator would be the best for your house, situation, and preferences.
When in doubt, our top pick, the DuroMax XP9000iH, is often a great option that provides a lot of “clean” low THD power.
