Should you buy an inverter generator? It depends on your willingness to pay more for better performance.
Much like a traditional portable generator, an inverter generator can power your home appliances and electronics when the electricity goes out. You set it up the same way, too, using gasoline as fuel and safely positioning it at least 20 feet from your home—never indoors—with the exhaust pointing away from your dwelling to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. (More about that below.)
But inverter generators are better in a variety of ways:
- They’re quieter than traditional portable generators.
- They’re more efficient, so they use less fuel.
- They deliver cleaner power, which can be important if you’re plugging in sensitive electronic equipment or medical devices.
Is an Inverter Generator Worth It?
The main drawback of inverter generators is the cost. Though prices have come down somewhat, the units can be significantly more expensive than a traditional portable generator with a comparable claimed wattage—from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars more expensive.
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But the benefits—which have to do with how they work—may make them worth the extra money. Inverter generators electronically throttle the engine up and down to meet demand, instead of running full tilt all the time as traditional generators do. That makes them more efficient.
“An inverter generator only ramps up as high as it needs to,” says Misha Kollontai, the Consumer Reports engineer who oversees our generator testing.
That efficiency means you won’t have to fill up the gas tank as often, which could be useful if fuel is scarce after an emergency. Inverter generators also produce lower emissions than conventional models, though you still need to take the same safety precautions by running them outdoors and well away from any dwelling.
The power from an invertergeneratoralso tends to be “cleaner,” with consistent voltage, which is reflected in the power quality test in our ratings. All of the recommended models have earned our highest score for power quality, while some of the conventionalgeneratorsthat we recommend score slightly below that.Power quality can be important when you own devices that can be damaged by low voltage.
Finally, the noise difference between inverter and traditional portable generators can be significant.
Many inverter models in Consumer Reports’ generator ratings earn very good or even excellent scores for noise. In contrast, none of the traditional portable generators rate better than middling, and quite a number score below that.
“Inverter generators are generally quiet enough not to drown out nearby conversation,” Kollontai says. This is especially useful if you plan to use your generator for camping or tailgating.
Are Inverter Generators Safer Than Other Portable Generators?
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a serious risk with all portable generators that aren’t used properly. Like other portables, inverter generators should only be used outside in an unenclosed area, at least 20 feet from your home, with the exhaust port pointing away from your dwelling.
To further reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, some new portable generators feature a built-in sensor that triggers an automatic shutoff if CO builds up to dangerous levels in an enclosed space.
And some also have engines that emit less CO in the first place. Honda has introduced an inverter model, the EU3200i, that according to our testers has much lower CO emissions than normal. That’s obviously a good thing, but you’ll still want to observe all of the safety precautions that you’d use with a regular generator.
The bottom line is that inverter generators are not inherently safer than other portable generators. Most of the inverter generators in our ratings have the automatic CO shutoff, but that’s also true of most of the traditional portable generators in our ratings.
You can best ensure your household’s safety by choosing a recommended model from CR’s inverter generator ratings. Only portable and inverter generators with automatic CO shutoff can earn our recommendation, regardless of how well the models perform otherwise. (In 2020, CR expanded its safety tests to distinguish between generators that simply have these safety features and those we’ve found to be demonstrably safer in various situations.)
What Size Inverter Generator Should You Get?
To help you make better sense of your options, we break ourinverter generator ratingsinto four groups:
1. Large Inverter Generators
Most large inverter generators in our ratings weigh from about 150 to about 300 pounds (wheels included). That’s too big and heavy to haul along on a camping trip or to a tailgate party, but it’s big enough to power your house. They generate 5,000 watts of power or more (at 220 volts).
This category of inverter generator can be connected directly to your electrical panel with a safety device called atransfer switch, which CR strongly recommends. That allows the generator to power entire circuits in your home rather than requiring you to plug in individual electronics with extension cords.
2. MidsizedInverter Generators
These weigh 80 pounds or more and might come with wheels. They produce 2,500 to 5,000 watts but don’t allow the recommended option of connecting to an electrical panel with a transfer switch. Instead, you plug appliances or electronics directly into the generator, which can be dangerous if you don’t followcertain safety guidelines.
This size is well suited for tailgaters or users of recreational vehicles. These models put out all the power you need for plug-in appliances like a toaster or microwave, and they’re light enough to unload and carry away to a safe distance from your vehicle or RV before use.
3. Small RecreationalInverter Generators
Models of this category of our ratings generate 1,500 to 2,500 watts. That’s enough to be a steady source of basic backup power for a fridge, some lights, and a phone charger—but not much else. These units can’t be connected to a circuit breaker panel or used to power any device that doesn’t have a standard two- or three-prong plug. But you can link multiple inverter generators together with a special cable to combine their output.
Many small recreational inverter models come with user-friendly features such as fuel-level indicators; some come with wheels. These units typically weigh between 50 and 60 pounds and are designed to be carried with one hand.
4. Compact Inverter Generators
You can plug two small appliances directly into the compact inverter generators in our ratings. They produce around 1,000 watts, enough power for light-duty tailgating or camping. These units lack convenience features like fuel gauges or standard wheels. With weights between 30 and 40 pounds, though, they’re designed for convenient, one-hand carrying.
Don’t let the small size of these units lull you into thinking you can bring them inside safely, however.
“Even a smaller generator can emit hazardous levels of CO in an enclosed space, so make sure you get a unit with CO safety technology and follow placement guidelines,” Kollontai says.
How to Run a Generator Safely
Our generator buying guide is a great place to learn generator basics, and our full generator ratings will let you compare specific models. CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of four top-performing inverter generators, one each from the four sizes we test.
4 Top Inverter Generators
Allen St. John
Allen St. John has been a senior product editor at CR since 2016, focusing on digital privacy, audio devices, printers, and home products. He was a senior editor at Condé Nast and a contributing editor at publications including Road & Track and The Village Voice. A New York Times bestselling author, he's also written for The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, their two children, and their dog, Rugby.
